Maynard, Mass., and Hartford, Conn., March 29, 2000 – Enermetrix.com, the leader in Internet commerce for energy, and First International Bank, a subsidiary of First International Bancorp, Inc. (NASDAQ:FNCE) today announced that they have partnered to make online, real time financing available to energy suppliers and buyers transacting in the Enermetrix.com exchange. The partnership will make financing available for energy service companies and aggregators to purchase software licenses for access to Enermetrix.com, to purchase client lists, and to offer credit options as a value-added service to their commercial and industrial customers. Energy suppliers will have an opportunity to sell First International Bank their insured accounts receivable from energy buyers that were originated through Enermetrix.com. Also, First International will finance purchases of metering devices by energy buyers and sellers.

As part of Enermetrix.com’s transforming approach to deregulating energy markets, First International Bank will offer and service 14 different types of commercial loans for energy suppliers and buyers up to $5 million per transaction, which together comprise its e-CreditMenu(sm). The Bank’s e-CreditMenu product offerings include credit for the specific purposes described, as well as financing programs to meet the general working capital, equipment, trade and barter needs of energy suppliers and buyers. These commercial loans are available to borrowers located anywhere in the U.S. and provide significantly greater credit availability that the $100,000 maximum "credit card" levels typifying the online business loan market today.

Facilities appearing in the e-CreditMenu will be underwritten by First International Bank in accordance with Riscope(sm), the Bank’s proprietary commercial credit scoring system. Riscope applies to industrial companies, including those in the energy sector, and assures them of an efficient and rapid credit approval process. The integration of First International Bank’s e-CreditMenu with the financing needs of Enermetrix.com exchange participants will be accomplished using ThruCredit(sm), the Bank’s technological solution for automating e-business financing.

"To continue Enermetrix.com’s leadership position as the standard for e-commerce in retail energy, we are committed to increasing the value proposition of our exchange to members on both the buy side and sell sides," said John Gaus, CEO of Enermetrix.com. "First International Bank’s business-to-business financing capabilities for buyers and sellers are a valuable addition to our suite of Internet-based procurement and delivery solutions for the energy markets."

Brett N. Silvers, First International Bank’s chairman and CEO, stated that, "We are very pleased to partner with Enermetrix.com, the dominant and most innovative player in e-commerce energy solutions for the commercial and industrial sector, which is our Bank’s primary focus. The creative financing options we offer through Enermetrix.com will be an additional incentive for energy suppliers and buyers throughout the U.S. to channel energy transactions through the exchange."

About Enermetrix.com

Enermetrix.com is a privately held company headquartered in Maynard, Massachusetts, with operations throughout the United States. The company created and operates the nation’s most active Internet exchange for commercial, industrial and other aggregate energy transactions. The Company is the leading provider of Internet commerce solutions to Utilities, Energy Service Companies, Energy Traders and Corporate Energy Buyers.

Enermetrix.com revolutionizes how companies manage their business in deregulating energy markets. InformationWeek named Enermetrix.com one of the top 100 E-businesses of 1999. In addition, the Company has twice been awarded the prestigious CIO WebBusiness 50/50 Award and Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates nominated the Company for the highly distinguished Computerworld Smithsonian Institute Award for achievement in technology. The Company’s investors include: InSight Capital Partners, GE Capital, a Company of General Electric (NYSE:GE), Duquesne Enterprises, a subsidiary of DQE, Inc. (NYSE:DQE) and Unitil Corporation (AMEX:UTL). For additional information regarding Enermetrix.com, visit the Company’s web site at www.enermetrix.com or call (978) 461-0505.

About First International Bank and First International Bancorp, Inc.

Hartford-based First International Bank (www.upscapital.com) and First International Bancorp, Inc. specialize in providing innovative credit, trade and financial solutions to small and medium size industrial companies located in the United States and international emerging markets. The Company is the nation’s most active combined user of loan guarantee programs made available by the U.S. Small Business Administration, U.S. Department of Agriculture and U.S. Export-Import Bank. During 1999, the Company originated $551 million in loans primarily within its industrial niche, bringing the managed portfolio including loans on-balance sheet and serviced for investors to $1.076 billion.

The Company has SBA preferred lender status in 21 districts, USDA certified lender status in several states, and Export-Import Bank AA delegated authority for export working lines of credit on a national basis. The Company operates domestic representative offices in Boston, MA, Cleveland, OH, Detroit, MI, Hartford, CT, Morristown, NJ, Philadelphia, PA, Pittsburgh, PA, Providence, RI, Rochester, NY, Springfield, MA, St. Louis, MO, and Washington, DC. The Company also has international representatives in Argentina, Brazil, Central America, Egypt, India, Indonesia, Korea, Mexico, North Africa, the Philippines, Poland, South Africa, Turkey and West Africa.

CONTACT:

First International Bank:
Michele Zommer
(860) 241-4705
zommerm@firstinterbank.com

Enermetrix.com
Jeff DeWeese
(978) 461-0505
jdeweese@enermetrix.com

Schwartz Communications
Francesca Infantine or Tariq Malik
(781) 684-0770
francesca@schwartz-pr.com
tariq@schwartz-pr.com