SAN DIEGO–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Effective immediately, Stewart Title of California, Inc., a wholly-owned
subsidiary of Stewart Information Services Corp. (NYSE:STC), has reduced
its base title insurance rates. The new rates have been approved by the
California Department of Insurance and will make purchasing a home more
affordable for consumers. Escrow rates are not affected by this filing
and will continue to be determined on a county-by-county basis.

“We
are always striving to meet the needs of our customers the consumer, and
these lowered rates will provide an immediate benefit to consumers and
businesses that are selling, purchasing or refinancing California
properties.”

The rate filing heralds the creation of the Stewart Title Absolute Rate™
(S.T.A.R.). The S.T.A.R.™ is lower and simpler
than the previous bundled and short-term rates and offers significant
savings for refinance transactions that meet specific criteria. It is
available only when all title-related documents are conveyed
electronically to all involved parties. Stewart has already made strides
toward going paperless and can efficiently process electronic
transactions using the company’s SureClose^®
online transaction management system. “We
continue to make progress with technology in order to reduce our costs
of marketing, production and delivery of title insurance products,”
explains Brian Hurley, president of Stewart Title of California.

Other changes to Stewart Title’s rates include
both a new, reduced residential rate (for one-to-four family homes) and
a lower basic rate (for commercial, agricultural, industrial, and other
related properties). “Stewart constantly works
to develop new solutions to exceed our customers’
needs and our new California title rates are no exception,”
said Allan Wasserman, group president –
western states for Stewart Title Company. “We
are always striving to meet the needs of our customers the consumer, and
these lowered rates will provide an immediate benefit to consumers and
businesses that are selling, purchasing or refinancing California
properties.”

About Stewart

Stewart Title Company and Stewart Title of California, Inc. are wholly
owned subsidiaries of Stewart Information Services Corp., a
customer-oriented, technology-driven, strategically competitive, real
estate information and transaction management company. Stewart provides
title insurance and related information services required for settlement
by the real estate and mortgage industries throughout the United States
and international markets. Stewart also provides post-closing lender
services, mortgage default management solutions, automated county clerk
land records, property ownership mapping, geographic information
systems, property information reports, flood certificates, document
preparation, background checks and expertise in tax-deferred exchanges.
More information can be found at http://www.stewart.com
and http://www.stewartca.com.