• Earnings per share decreased 1% in 2008 to $0.86 from $0.87 in 2007
• Net investment income after taxes increased 183% to $0.85 in 2008 from $0.30 in 2007
• Net interest margin increased to 4.69% in 2008 from 3.40% in 2007
• Delinquencies and nonperforming assets remain low
• Senior managers to purchase TAXI shares
• Quarterly dividend of $0.19 per share declared; total dividends of $0.76 per share declared for 2008

Medallion Financial Corp. (Nasdaq: TAXI), a specialty finance company with a leading position servicing the taxicab industry and other niche markets, announced that earnings, or net increase in net assets resulting from operations was $2,832,000 or $0.16 per diluted common share in the 2008 fourth quarter, compared to $4,118,000 or $0.23 in the 2008 third quarter and $3,782,000 or $0.21 in the 2007 fourth quarter. For the 2008 full year, net increase in net assets resulting from operations decreased 1% to $15,248,000 or $0.86 per diluted common share from $15,436,000 or $0.87 per diluted common share in 2007.

Net investment income after taxes was $4,443,000 or $0.25 per diluted common share in the 2008 fourth quarter, up 30% compared to $3,425,000 or $0.19 per diluted common share for the 2008 third quarter, and up 76% from $2,520,000 or $0.14 per share in the 2007 fourth quarter. For the 2008 full year, net investment income after taxes increased to $15,090,000 or $0.85, up from $5,298,000 or $0.30 per diluted common share up from in 2007. Helping to contribute to this was an increase in Medallion Financial’s net interest margin to 4.69% in 2008 from 3.40% in 2007. Including Medallion Bank, the Company’s unconsolidated wholly-owned portfolio company, net interest margin increased to 5.21% in 2008 up from 4.21% a year ago.

Andrew Murstein, President of Medallion Financial stated, “We are very pleased with the year’s results, especially given what has been a challenging environment for financial institutions. Underlying our performance is the collateral value we have in our medallion loans. In over 70 years of involvement in the medallion industry, we have experienced zero losses on any taxi medallion loan we have originated in New York City. Additionally, taxi medallions are one of the few assets that have appreciated in value in 2008, increasing in every one of our operating markets, and have continued that trend thus far in 2009. Prices in 2008 for corporate medallions in New York City increased over 24% and are currently at all-time highs of $750,000 per medallion in March 2009. The taxi industry is somewhat insulated in this type of economic environment for several reasons from increased fleet utilization due to the influx of manpower from job losses in other industries, to more people riding taxis as corporations cut back on limos and other car services. In addition, our loan to value ratio on our entire medallion portfolio is now under 50%.”

Larry D. Hall, Chief Financial Officer of Medallion Financial stated, “We continue to focus very intently on the credit quality of our loan portfolios and, unlike many other financial institutions, our credit quality has remained very good, even in these turbulent times. Loans more than 90 days past due, on a combined basis with Medallion Bank were 1.3% at December 31, 2008, compared to 0.9% a year ago, still at very acceptable levels. Medallion Financial’s capital and liquidity levels remained strong, with new funding sources established during 2008, including the annual renewal of a $225,000,000 line of credit with Citibank in November 2008 and the establishment of a new 5 year facility with DZ Bank in December 2008 for $200,000,000. As of March 10, we had in excess of $100,000,000 of unused facilities. The blended rates on those two facilities were approximately 2.14% in March 2009. We are very pleased we were able to execute these transactions at such favorable terms in this very tight credit environment. We think this speaks volumes as to our credit quality. Medallion Financial’s leverage continues to be well under the industry norms with a debt to equity ratio of less than 3 to 1.

Mr. Hall continued, “In addition, Medallion Bank received $11.8 million from the U.S. Treasury’s TARP program in February 2009. It should be noted that the Company was not required to become a bank holding company in connection with Medallion Bank’s receipt of funds and that since Medallion Bank received the money, Medallion Financial was not required to provide warrants or common stock to the Treasury department. In addition, no dividend restriction was placed on Medallion Financial. That money can now be leveraged conservatively in our bank with low cost deposits and help generate additional net interest income for the bank as the funds are deployed.”

Medallion Financial’s on balance sheet taxicab medallion loan portfolio decreased 19% to $402,964,000 at December 31, 2008 from $498,883,000 at December 31, 2007, as the Company sold loan participations to third party banks. Total managed medallion loans increased to $591,413,000 at December 31, 2008, up slightly from $590,941,000 at December 31, 2007. The on balance sheet commercial loan portfolio decreased 2% to $89,611,000 at year end, down from $91,782,000 at December 31, 2007. The managed commercial loan portfolio increased 1% to $167,576,000 at December 31, 2008, up from $166,983,000 a year ago. In addition, Medallion Bank’s consumer loan portfolio increased 35% to $186,305,000 at December 31, 2008, up from $138,446,000. Total managed assets increased 6% to $1,075,509,000 up from $1,017,433,000 a year ago.

The Company also announced that members of senior management, including the Company’s Chairman and CEO, President, Chief Operating Officer, and CFO will purchase common stock of Medallion Financial through either the exercise of stock options or open market purchases in amounts equal to 20% of their annual incentive compensation. Such purchases will commence as early as next week and will be completed within a 90 day period thereafter.

The Company also announced a $0.19 per share dividend for the 2008 fourth quarter, bringing the full year amount to $0.76, the same as in 2007. This equates to a yield of nearly 17% based on the closing stock price on March 11, 2009 of $4.55 which is 46% of book value per share. Of the 2008 dividend, 64% of the balance is a qualified dividend and thus taxed at a lower tax rate to certain investors since it was previously taxed at Medallion Bank, prior to distribution to Medallion. The current dividend will be paid on March 30, 2009, to shareholders of record on March 13, 2009. Since the Company’s initial public offering in 1996, the Company has paid in excess of $131,500,000 or $8.53 per share in dividends.

Medallion Financial Corp. is a specialty finance company with a leading position in the origination and servicing of loans financing the purchase of taxicab medallions and related assets. The Company also originates and services loans in other commercial industries and its wholly-owned portfolio company Medallion Bank also originates and services consumer loans. The Company and its subsidiaries have lent over $3.3 billion to its taxicab industry and other small businesses.

Please note that this press release contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties relating to business performance, cash flow, costs, sales, net investment income, earnings, and growth. Medallion’s actual results may differ significantly from the results discussed in such forward-looking statements. Factors that might cause such a difference include, but are not limited to, those factors discussed under the heading “Risk Factors,” in Medallion’s 2007 Annual Report on Form 10-K.

Medallion Financial Corp.
Andrew M. Murstein, President
Larry D. Hall, CFO
1-212-328-2100
1-877-MEDALLION
or
AT ZLOKOWER COMPANY
Public Relations
Harry Zlokower / Dave Closs
1-212-447-9292