FALLS CHURCH, Va., Dec. 22 /PRNewswire/ -- For the second year in a row, Capital One Financial Corporation (NYSE: COF) ranked in Fortune's listing of the "100 Best Companies to Work for in America." Capital One ranked 60.

"We created Capital One with the vision of being a great place to work --a place that challenges people to develop and use their talents, and gives them the training, tools, and work environment they need to do their best. By every measure, it's working," said Richard D. Fairbank, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. "Our business continues to grow at a rapid rate by adding innovative products and services that are welcomed by consumers around the world."

Nigel Morris, President and Chief Operating Officer, added, "We have a culture in which we listen to our associates and respond by implementing the programs they need. We remain committed to building upon this success and committed to building an environment that fosters teamwork, open communication and entrepreneurship."

Fortune collaborated with best-selling authors Robert Levering and Milton Moskowitz to compile the list. Levering and Moskowitz, who have been tracking the best companies since 1981, searched their database of more than 1,000 companies and selected 236 companies as the most viable candidates for this list. Then, employees from each company were surveyed. Capital One associates completed the Great Place to Work Index, which is designed to evaluate trust in management, pride in work and camaraderie, along with the Hewitt People Practices Inventory, a questionnaire developed by Hewitt Associates, a management consultant firm.

Capital One presently employs more than 15,000 associates worldwide. The company hired more than 4,600 associates (net) in 1999 alone. Among the programs that differentiate the company from other employers are the associate selection process; a number of ongoing training and development courses; outstanding benefits, including three weeks vacation; and entrepreneurial compensation.

Senior Vice President for Human Resources Dennis Liberson said, "We have developed methods to not only attract and select the best and brightest people to work at Capital One, but more importantly to keep them. We are dedicated to helping associates develop in their careers -- with innovative assimilation programs, ongoing performance feedback, training and tuition reimbursement. Our attrition rates are considerably lower than industry averages, which allows us to grow more efficiently -- enabling us to enjoy much success."

Capital One has operations in Richmond, Fredericksburg and Falls Church, Virginia; Dallas, Fort Worth and Plano, Texas; Tampa, Florida; Federal Way, Washington; Boise, Idaho; and Boston, Massachusetts; as well as London and Nottingham, United Kingdom.

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 and deposit products. Capital One's subsidiaries collectively had 20.8 million customers and $18.5 billion in managed loans outstanding as of September 30, 1999, and are among the largest providers of MasterCard and Visa credit cards in the world. Capital One trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol "COF" and is included in the S&P 500 Index.

SOURCE Capital One Financial Corporation

NOTE TO EDITORS: The "Best Places to Work For" will be featured in Fortune's January 10 issue, on newsstands beginning December 27. Information is currently available on www.fortune.com

CONTACT: Diana Don of Capital One Financial Corporation, 703-289-6815