E*TRADE Extends Marketing Pact With AOL

Palo Alto, CA-based online brokerage E*TRADE Group Inc. extended its relationship with America Online through an additional multimillion-dollar marketing investment.

The company said it also will continue its agreement with the AOL Rewards Program, in which AOL customers who open a new account through the AOL Web site receive 13,200 points in their AOL Rewards account -- redeemable for six months of free AOL service or one of 50 other name-brand products and services.

E*TRADE and AOL first entered into an advertising and marketing relationship in July 1998.

"E*TRADE currently gains a significant percentage of its customers through its relationship with AOL, and we're looking forward to introducing a greater number of AOL members to the self-directed investing opportunities available through E*TRADE," said Jerry Gramaglia, senior vice president of marketing and sales for E*TRADE.

As part of the expanded relationship, E*TRADE will receive increased brand exposure throughout the AOL service.