PHOENIX--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Newtek Web Hosting – the Web hosting division of Newtek Technology Services, a Newtek Business Services, Inc. company (NASDAQ: NEWT) – today announced its strategic relationship with Microsoft Corp. in rolling out the Microsoft WebsiteSpark Program. The WebsiteSpark Program enables Newtek’s small-firm designer/developer customers to capitalize on the many advantages of the program, helping new and small business owners grow and improve their practices.

“We are a company founded on our commitment to the design and development community so our participation was a given,” said Newtek Technology Services President and COO Bob Cichon. “In addition, this program allows us to follow our mission of focusing on the customer by reducing their risk, lowering their costs, and increasing their revenue.”

As part of its participation, Newtek Technology Services has several discounted virtual private server plans – based on Microsoft’s own Hyper-V hardware virtualization platform – and full dedicated servers available for the WebsiteSpark Program participants to use to fulfill their commitments. For their part, this program is a leap forward for Microsoft and expands their focus on, and relationships with, the communities who utilize their products by offering savings on software, training and education.

“Microsoft is pleased to have Newtek as a partner in the WebsiteSpark Program,” said Brian Goldfarb, director of the Developer Platform Group at Microsoft. “With the WebsiteSpark Program, and partners like Newtek, Web professionals will now have the tools, training and resources they need to compete more effectively in their industry.”

Qualifying businesses that focus on providing web development and design services for clients must meet some minimum requirements in order to enroll in the program. These include having 10 employees or less, deploying a new public Web site using program software within six months of enrollment in the WebsiteSpark Program (and reporting that new site to Microsoft), and finally, enrolling in the Microsoft Partner Network if they are not already a Microsoft partner.

For more information about both the WebsiteSpark Program as well as Newtek’s role, please visit www.newtekwebhosting.com/websitespark.aspx.

About Newtek Technology Services

Operated through a wholly owned subsidiary of Newtek Business Services, Inc. (NASDAQ: NEWT), Newtek Technology Services is a premier provider of web technology solutions to the small- to medium-sized business market, providing services to customers in over 120 countries, ranging from small businesses to Fortune 100 corporations.

Newtek's Technology service lines include:

Complete Ecommerce Platform: Providers of a one-stop-shop for all ecommerce components, including Newtek’s payment gateway, shopping cart, hosting plans and full merchant services.

Newtek Web Hosting and CrystalTech Web Hosting, Inc.: Industry leading providers of Microsoft Windows web hosting since 1997, Newtek offers shared, dedicated, and VPS hosting plans, along with domain registrations, SSL certificates, and online shopping cart tools.

Data Backup, Storage, and Retrieval: Fast, secure, off-site data backup, storage and retrieval solutions designed to meet the specific regulatory and compliance needs of any business.

For more information about Newtek Technology Services and CrystalTech, please contact 877-323-4678, or visit http://newtekwebhosting.com or http://www.crystaltech.com.

About Newtek Business Services, Inc.

Newtek Business Services, Inc. is a direct distributor of a wide range of business services and financial products to the small- to medium-sized business market under the Newtek™ brand. Since 1999, Newtek has helped small- and medium-sized business owners realize their potential by providing them with the essential tools needed to manage and grow their businesses, and to compete effectively in today's marketplace. Newtek provides one or more of its services to over 91,000 business accounts, and has positioned the Newtek™ brand as a one-stop-shop provider of business services to the small- and medium-sized business market. According to the U.S. Small Business Administration, there are over 26.8 million small businesses in the United States, which in total represent 99.7 percent of all employer firms.

In addition to Newtek Technology Services, Newtek's business service lines include:

Electronic Payment Processing: Electronic solutions to accept non-cash payments, including credit and debit cards, check conversion, remote deposit capture, ACH processing, and electronic gift and loyalty card programs.

Business Lending: Broad array of lending products including SBA 7(a), conventional commercial real estate and SBA 504 loans, business lines of credit, and business credit cards.

Insurance Services: Commercial and personal lines of insurance, including health and employee benefits in all 50 states, working with over 40 insurance carriers.

Accounts Receivable Financing: Receivable purchasing and financing services.

Payroll: Complete payroll management and processing services.

For more information, please visit http://www.newtekbusinessservices.com.

Statements in this press release including statements regarding Newtek's beliefs, expectations, intentions or strategies for the future, may be "forward-looking statements" under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All forward-looking statements involve a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from the plans, intentions and expectations reflected in or suggested by the forward-looking statements. Such risks and uncertainties include, among others, intensified competition, operating problems and their impact on revenues and profit margins, anticipated future business strategies and financial performance, anticipated future number of customers, business prospects, legislative developments and similar matters. Risk factors, cautionary statements and other conditions which could cause Newtek's actual results to differ from management's current expectations are contained in Newtek's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission and available through http://www.sec.gov.

Newtek Technology Services
Derek Curtis, 602-263-0300 x12122
dcurtis@newtektechnologyservices.com