Fincera Provides 2015 Fourth Quarter Business Update, Announces Launch of TruShip Logistics Shipping Marketplace Feature

SHIJIAZHUANG, CHINA--(Marketwired - Jan 28, 2016) - Fincera Inc. ("Fincera" or the "Company") (OTCQB: AUTCF), a leading provider of web-based financing and ecommerce services for China's transportation and automobile industries, today provided an operational update on the 2015 fourth quarter ended December 31, 2015, and announced the launch of TruShip Logistics, the shipping marketplace feature on its TruShip ecommerce platform for the trucking industry in China.

Fourth Quarter 2015 Business Update
Since their initial launches at the end of 2014, the Company's small business lending platform CeraVest (www.qingyidai.com) and its electronic payment platform CeraPay (www.dianfubao.com) have continued to achieve steady growth.

From its inception in November 2014 through December 31, 2015, CeraVest has originated over RMB2.7 billion in loans. CeraVest had a loan portfolio of approximately RMB1.7 billion at December 31, 2015. Fincera created CeraVest as an online lending marketplace that provides short-term operating capital for small businesses in the transportation industry. Through CeraVest, Fincera can originate loans and then sell those loans to investors. The Company believes it provides loans that generate higher returns than those of the short-term banking options available in China. Currently, individuals who invest on the CeraVest platform earn an approximate 8.6% annual interest rate of return if held to maturity. Fincera earns origination fees on CeraVest loans.

Also launched in November 2014, the Company's electronic payment platform CeraPay was used to make payment transactions totaling over RMB1.5 billion in December 2015. Fincera developed CeraPay as a convenient platform through which customers can make electronic payments and the Company can make credit advances to its customers, allowing customers to pay for their everyday truck-operating needs at participating merchants within the CeraPay network. Fincera earns transaction fees through its CeraPay platform. The CeraPay network had over 32,000 active users (individuals and merchants) during the month of December. The Company defines active users as users that have completed at least one CeraPay transaction within the month.

Fincera also continues to enhance its CeraVest and CeraPay products by introducing attractive new features for its customers. For example, customers now earn interest on balances in their CeraPay account. In addition, a new direct deposit feature allows companies to deposit payroll payments directly into their employees' CeraVest accounts, from which the money can be withdrawn or used to invest on CeraVest.

As previously announced, the Company began winding down its legacy truck-leasing business in August 2015 to focus on the development of its Internet-based businesses. As a result, the Company recorded no new commercial vehicle leases in the fourth quarter of 2015, which compares to 4,787 vehicles leased in the fourth quarter of 2014. At December 31, 2015, the Company had 7,432 leased vehicles under its sales-type leasing program. In 2015, the Company recorded a total of 2,567 new leases, compared to 15,615 trucks leased in 2014.

The Company has also been optimizing and expanding its existing store network specifically to support and promote its new web-based financing and ecommerce businesses. As a result, as of December 31, 2015, Fincera operated a total of 592 sales and service centers in 31 provinces, municipalities, and autonomous regions.

Launch of TruShip Logistics
Fincera also announced the December 2015 launch of TruShip Logistics, the shipping marketplace feature on its new ecommerce platform for the trucking industry (www.che001.com). TruShip Logistics allows participants in China's fragmented long-haul trucking industry to publish, browse, and connect on shipping jobs across the country at no cost. Payment transactions resulting from connections made on TruShip's marketplace feature can be completed with CeraPay, and the subsequent data will be used as underwriting metrics for CeraVest loans to small businesses.

Over RMB380 million in CeraPay transactions were conducted on TruShip in December 2015. Fincera established TruShip as a platform whereby trucking industry merchants, such as dealerships and leasing companies, can establish an online store-front and conveniently conduct sales transactions through Fincera's proprietary closed-loop payment network CeraPay.

The Company continues working to add additional features to TruShip and expects to make advertising and marketing services to truck dealerships and manufacturers available on the platform in the near future.

Mr. Yong Hui Li, Fincera's Chairman and CEO, stated, "We believe the continued growth and interest in our CeraVest and CeraPay products demonstrate the significant need for affordable, accessible financing in China's transportation industry. Given our foundation and experience in the space, we were very pleased with the initial positive reception of our new TruShip platform, as well as the launch of TruShip Logistics, its new shipping marketplace feature, in December. In addition to helping merchants better connect with consumers via an online storefront, TruShip now allows parties in the long-haul trucking industry to make the most of their resources by connecting truck operators with those who need product transported. The resulting shipping transactions may be conducted through CeraPay. This feature is available to users at no cost, and, we believe, fills a gap for immediacy and efficiency within the sector.

"We have been thrilled with the progress of our Internet-based businesses over the course of 2015 and made the decision to wind down our legacy truck-leasing business in August 2015. We felt this move would allow us to better serve our customers in the transportation industry by focusing on meeting the financing needs related to running their businesses day to day. We have built a strong product portfolio with CeraVest and CeraPay, and now TruShip, and look forward to exploring other ways in which we can continue to help our customers grow their businesses in 2016."

About Fincera Inc.:
Founded in 2005, Fincera Inc. (OTCQB: AUTCF) provides innovative web-based financing and ecommerce services for China's transportation and automobile industries. The Company also operates over 590 sales and service centers in 31 provinces, municipalities, and autonomous regions across China. Fincera's current service offerings include a B2B payment network, a web-based small business lending platform, and a B2B ecommerce marketplace for the trucking industry. The Company's website is http://www.fincera.net. Fincera trades on the OTCQB venture stage marketplace for early stage and developing U.S. and international companies. OTCQB companies are current in their reporting and undergo an annual verification and management certification process.

Safe Harbor Statement:
This press release may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 about the Company. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts. Such forward-looking statements, based upon the current beliefs and expectations of the Company's management, are subject to risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ from the forward-looking statements. The following factors, among others, could cause actual results to meaningfully differ from those set forth in the forward-looking statements:

• Changing principles of generally accepted accounting principles;
• Continued compliance with government regulations;
• Legislation or regulatory environments, requirements or changes adversely affecting the transportation or financial services industry in China;
• Fluctuations in consumer demand in the transportation industry;
• Management of rapid growth;
• General economic conditions;
• Changes in government policy;
• China's overall economic conditions and local market economic conditions;
• The Company's ability to expand through strategic acquisitions;
• The Company's business strategy and plans, including whether its new financial services products are accepted by consumers;
• The results of future financing efforts; and
• Geopolitical events.
  
  

The information set forth herein should be read in light of such risks. The Company does not assume any obligation to update the information contained in this press release.