ECHO Press Releases

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 15, 2001

ECHO AUTHORIZES 1 MILLION COMMON SHARE REPURCHASE PROGRAM 

Agoura Hills, Calif.-- Electronic Clearing House, Inc. (NASDAQ:ECHO) today announced that its Board of Directors has authorized the company to repurchase up to 1,000,000 shares of the corporation's outstanding common stock for cash in open market transactions at market and as business conditions warrant.  As of December 31, 2000, the company had 21.8 million shares outstanding.

Joel M. Barry, ECHO's chairman and CEO, noted that the Board approved this course of action after a review of the company's financial position and investment alternatives. "We believe that the current valuation of our stock inadequately reflects the financial performance of our company and the performance expectation of our 2001 fiscal year and beyond," stated Barry.

The stock repurchase is effective immediately through September 15, 2001.  ECHO will buy back its stock "from time to time", depending on share price and general market conditions.  ECHO's stock price has been flat since November, 2000.  In May, 2000, the stock rose to a 52-week high of $5.50.  The 52-week low was $0.50.

About ECHO: Electronic Clearing House, Inc. provides debit and credit card processing, check guarantee, check verification, check conversion, check re-presentment, check collection, and inventory tracking to over 58,000 retail merchants and U-Haul dealers across the nation. 

To take advantage of the "safe harbor" provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, you are hereby cautioned that this release contains forward-looking statements that are based upon current expectations and involve a number of risks and uncertainties.  Actual operations and results may differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements made by the Company.

Media Contact:
Donna Rehman, Corporate Secretary
(818) 706-8999, ext. 3033 or corp@echo-inc.com

Press Releases are also available by calling (800) 233-0406 ext. 3033, or by email to corp@echo-inc.com

2001
2000

Electronic Clearing House, Inc. (ECHO)
28001 Dorothy Drive
Agoura Hills, CA 91301

Phone: (800) 233-0406
Fax: (818) 991-5973
E-Mail: echo@echo-inc.com
URL: http://www.echo-inc.com