Metro News Release

For immediate release: December 6, 2004

ING DIRECT offers Metro riders a free lift on December 16

Metrorail, Metrobus and MetroAccess riders will be able to ride for free the morning of Thursday, December 16, thanks to a joint promotion with Metro and ING DIRECT, an online savings bank.

ING DIRECT is covering the cost for Metro riders from opening to 9:30 a.m. on that day as a part of its "Metro and Save" event later this month that Metro sees as having a customer appreciation focus.

During the morning commute on Thursday, December 16, from 5 to 9:30 a.m., everyone who enters a Metrorail station, boards a Metrobus or takes a scheduled MetroAccess trip will have their trip paid for by ING DIRECT.

The bank hopes that instead of spending their money on transportation the morning of the 16th that commuters will have a few extra dollars to put to work in an Orange Savings Account from America’s fastest growing bank. Since all of ING DIRECT’s transactions are done electronically--on the Internet and on the telephone instead of at traditional bank branches--the company is able to pass its cost savings on to customers in the form of great rates.

This marks the first time that the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority has partnered with a private company to give away free rides to promote the savings associated with using public transit.

For more information on ING DIRECT, visit www.ingdirect.com

News release issued on December 6, 2004.