FALLS CHURCH, Va., May 24 /PRNewswire/ -- Capital One Bank and Amtrak, the
nation's passenger rail service, today announced their alliance to issue the
Amtrak Visa with "Smartrak Rewards." The credit card is available today for
consumers who want to add value to their travel experience.
    The alliance unites Capital One's technological and marketing expertise
with Amtrak's rapidly growing customer base, which expanded by 4.5 percent
last year, to provide a credit card for present and future Amtrak passengers.
    "As we continue to focus on adding value for our customers, we see this
alliance with Capital One as a means to enhance the travel experience," said
George D. Warrington, Amtrak's President and Chief Executive Officer. "We're
changing the way people look at train travel. With Capital One, we can address
our customers' needs for flexibility, time and savings by making it easy to
apply and use the Amtrak Visa. Capital One is our partner of choice and
forging such alliances is a critical element of Amtrak's strategic business
plan to become a more customer-focused, commercially-oriented corporation."
    Capital One and Amtrak will offer a toll-free number, 1-877-ONE-TRAK, for
customers to apply easily for their Amtrak Visa. Customers can also apply
online at www.amtrak.com or pick up an application at any Amtrak station.
    In addition to the traditional Visa benefits, Amtrak Visa with "Smartrak
Rewards" customers will receive exclusive benefits including:

    -- 1 point for every $1 spent on retail purchases
    -- 2 points for every $1 spent on Amtrak purchases
    -- Smartrak Rewards certificates are redeemable through travel agents or
       ticket counters and multiple certificates can be used on any purchase
    -- Every purchase is an entry in the Amtrak Smartrak Visa sweepstakes
    -- Four (4) winners will receive two (2) North America Rail Passes (from
       Amtrak and VIA, Rail Canada) for 30 days of coach travel to tour the
       United States and Canada by rail

    Amtrak Visa customers will benefit as soon as they activate their card
with automatic entry into the sweepstakes. And, with as little as 2,500
points, Amtrak Visa cardholders will automatically receive a Smartrak Rewards
certificate redeemable on their next Amtrak ticket.
    One of the world's most innovative financial services companies, Capital
One is also well known for its relationships with Mercedes Benz Credit
Corporation and World Championship Wrestling, a Time Warner Company. Capital
One attributes the success of these alliances to its ability to strategically
target tailored, value-added products to customers using its proprietary
Information-Based Strategy.
    "Capital One is very excited about our opportunity to partner with Amtrak.
Its history in developing customer relationships as the nation's passenger
rail service is the perfect match for our experience as a customer-focused
credit card issuer," said Nigel Morris, Capital One's President and Chief
Operating Officer. "Our Information-Based Strategy enables us to put an Amtrak
'Smartrak Rewards' Visa credit card in the hands of more customers."
    Today under new leadership, Amtrak is turning the corner to become a
successful business enterprise. In 1998, Amtrak passenger revenues surpassed
$1 billion for the first time ever powered by the largest ridership increase
in a decade, totaling more than 21 million intercity rail customers, and the
best on-time performance in 13 years. As part of its turnaround, Amtrak is
focusing on growing public and private business partnerships, improving and
guaranteeing consistency and quality of service, introducing high-speed rail
in the Northeast this year and developing other high-speed rail corridors
nationwide. For more information about Amtrak, including schedules, fares and
reservations visit Amtrak's Web site at www.amtrak.com.
    Headquartered in Falls Church, Virginia, Capital One Financial Corporation
(www.CapitalOne.com) is a holding company whose principal subsidiaries,
Capital One Bank and Capital One, F.S.B., offer consumer lending products.
Capital One's subsidiaries collectively had 18.0 million customers and
$17.4 billion in managed loans as of March 31, 1999. Capital One trades on the
New York Stock Exchange under the symbol "COF" and was recently ranked #41 in
Fortune's list of "Best Companies To Work For" and the #15 best performer in
BusinessWeek's rating of the S&P 500.

SOURCE  Capital One Financial Corporation