Yes Loans Processes 1.7 Million Loan Applications on MySQL

The UK's Number One Provider of Specialist Unsecured Loans Now Operates its Entire Business on MySQL Enterprise

LONDON -- 22 February, 2008 -- MySQL AB, developer of the world's most popular open source database, today announced that Yes Loans, the UK's number one provider of specialist unsecured loans, has now processed more than 1.7 million loan applications on top of the MySQL database. Yes Loans credits MySQL with supporting its phenomenal growth, and now operates its entire business on a MySQL Enterprise subscription.

Yes Loans offers a wide range of financial services, and specialises in helping those previously refused by other companies. Yes Loans arranges loans for tenants, homeowners, and anybody with credit difficulties such as CCJs, defaults or mortgage arrears. The company also arranges loans for the self-employed and those who have difficulty in proving their income. Yes Loans accepts over 90% of client applications. The company recently acquired Premiumstar and Blue Sky Personal Finance, moving all of the staff over to Yes Loans.

"We've experienced phenomenal growth since we began the company five years ago," said Matt Bruton, IT Manager for Yes Loans. "In 2003, we took 14,000 loan applications. Last year, we took 890,000 loan applications and the total value of loans applied for since 2003 now exceeds £7.6 billion. We previously used Microsoft Access, but it was incapable of handling our requirements as we grew, which is why we adopted MySQL as the backbone for our internal systems. It is absolutely critical to supporting our growth."

Yes Loans has implemented a scaled-out MySQL architecture, comprising six database servers. It also has an additional three servers under development, but not yet in production. MySQL now handles all of its company's data with the exception of its telephony 'dialler database' which uses Oracle. However, Yes Loans plans to migrate this application over to MySQL in the coming months.

"The reliability and scalability of MySQL is second to none," added Bruton. "In the past 18 months, the whole system has only had five hours of downtime, which was a result of a configuration error at our end. We've just surpassed processing more than 1.7 million loan applications through MySQL which is indicative of the reliability it delivers."

MySQL AB's expertise lies in helping users to cost-effectively manage explosive growth in their businesses through innovative database products and commercial services based on proven best practices. The company's database server is a recognized platform of choice for a modern "Scale Out" application architecture -- replicating multiple database servers on low-cost commodity hardware - as opposed to the traditional "Scale Up" approach of replacing systems with larger, more complex and more expensive infrastructure.

MySQL Enterprise is a comprehensive subscription, consisting of production-tested software, proactive monitoring tools, and premium support services.

About MySQL

MySQL AB develops and supports a family of high-performance, affordable database products. The company's flagship offering is 'MySQL Enterprise', a comprehensive set of production-tested software, proactive monitoring tools, and premium support services.

MySQL is the world's most popular open source database software. Many of the world's largest and fastest-growing organizations use MySQL to save time and money powering their high-volume Web sites, business-critical systems and packaged software -- including industry leaders such as Yahoo!, Alcatel-Lucent, Google, Nokia, YouTube and Booking.com.

With headquarters in the United States and Sweden -- and operations around the world -- MySQL AB supports both open source values and corporate customers' needs. For more information about MySQL, please visit www.mysql.com.

"MySQL" and "MySQL Enterprise" are registered trademarks of MySQL AB in the European Union, USA and other countries. Other product or company names mentioned may be trademarks or tradenames of their respective companies.