Business Wire, May 11, 1999

Business Wire, Nov 3, 1999

CHICAGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 3, 1999--

Sonoma Financial Corporation/VictorMaxx Technologies, Inc. (OTCBB: VMAX) the largest payday advance operator in the greater Chicago area with 43 locations servicing 8 counties, announced they have retained Direct Mail Group (DMG) of Peoria, Illinois, to initiate an ad campaign in the greater Chicago area. Sonoma's subsidiary Payday Express will have a 2 color insert included in the Nicor, Inc.'s (NYSE:GAS) Greater Chicago division's monthly billing. This campaign is expected to reach 4.2 million households over a three-month period. Direct mail campaigns of this nature tend to show higher results because utility companies must maintain current and accurate address information. Sonoma Financial Corporation's CEO, Frank Anthony Contaldo stated "Because winter is the gas industry's busiest season and as we approach the holidays, our experience has been that a segment of the population that never considered short-term loans become potential customers. This allows us to attract not only our current customer base, but also new customers that might not otherwise see the value in our service. This exclusive arrangement with DMG and the utility is one of several marketing alliances we will be forming over the next several months."

A complete investor package for Sonoma Financial is available at http://www.e-relations.com/vmax

About Direct Mail Group:

Direct Mail Group specializes in "Cooperative Utility Coupon Mailings"; customers can communicate directly to gas and /or electric customers.

About Sonoma Financial Corporation:

Sonoma Financial Corporation is a financial services company that owns and operates a chain of stores devoted to providing low documentation, short-term consumer loans. The company intends to become the national leader in the "Payday Loan" market by strategically opening new stores, penetrating new markets and by chain acquisition. Sonoma Financial is currently the only publicly traded company with a sole focus on `payday advances'. Ace (NASDAQ:AACE), First Cash Financial Services (NASDAQ:FCFS) and Pinnacle Business Management (OTCBB:PCBM), have proven the viability of the concept in other markets, but are not specifically focused in this area.

Safe Harbor Disclaimer:

This release may contain certain forward-looking statements regarding the Company's expected performance for future periods, and actual results for such periods may materially differ. Such forward-looking statements involve certain risks and uncertainties, including but not limited to risks of changing market conditions in the overall economy and the industry, consumer demand, additional financing requirements, the opening of new stores, the success of the Company's acquisition strategy and other uncertainties detailed in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.