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                            AMENDMENT NUMBER FIVE TO
                           LOAN AND SECURITY AGREEMENT

      THIS AMENDMENT NUMBER FIVE TO LOAN AND SECURITY AGREEMENT, dated as of
June 25, 1999 (this "Amendment"), amends that certain Loan and Security
Agreement, dated as of April 30, 1998 (as amended from time to time, the "Loan
Agreement"), by and between THE CREDIT STORE, INC., a Delaware corporation
("Borrower"), and COAST BUSINESS CREDIT, a division of Southern Pacific Bank, a
California corporation ("Coast"). All initially capitalized terms used in this
Amendment shall have the meanings ascribed thereto in the Loan Agreement unless
specifically defined herein.

                                 R E C I T A L S


      WHEREAS, Borrower and Coast wish to amend the Loan Agreement pursuant to
the terms and provisions set forth in this Amendment; and

      WHEREAS, in connection with the Loan Agreement, Borrower issued to Coast
that certain Warrant, dated as of April 30, 1998 (the "Warrant") whereby Coast
received the right to purchase 650,247 shares of Borrower's common stock. Coast
was granted immediate exercise rights in 278,677 of the 650,247 shares and
rights in the remaining 371,570 shares only after the Maximum Dollar Amount was
increased to Ten Million Dollars; and

      WHEREAS, J.L.B. of Nevada, Inc., a Nevada corporation ("JLB") and Coast
have entered into that certain Subordination Agreement, dated as of May 1, 1998
(the "Subordination Agreement"), whereby JLB subordinated those certain notes
defined in the Subordination Agreement as Note A, Note B, Note C and Note D. JLB
has converted Note A in the amount of $10,000,000 to Series D Preferred Stock
effective May 31, 1998. JLB has converted $10,000,000 of the $20,000,000 Note B
into Series E Preferred Stock effective August 31, 1998. JLB has forgiven Five
Million Dollars ($5,000,000) of accrued and unpaid interest on Notes A & B
effective May 29, 1999. In response to such forgiveness, Coast has agreed to the
Permitted Payments (as defined in Section 9 hereof); and

      NOW, THEREFORE, the parties hereto agree as follows:

                                A M E N D M E N T



      SECTION 1. AMENDMENT TO SECTION 1 OF THE LOAN AGREEMENT. Section 1 of the
Loan Agreement is hereby amended by adding the following definitions:

            "Existing Unconverted Accounts" means charged-off consumer debt
            accounts owned by Borrower as of the date of this Amendment which
            have not yet been converted to credit card receivables by the
            Account Debtors.

            Purchased Unconverted Accounts" means charged-off consumer debt


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            accounts acquired by Borrower after the date of this Amendment which
            have not been converted to credit card receivables by the Account
            Debtors."

      SECTION 2. AMENDMENT TO SECTION 2.1 OF THE SCHEDULE. Section 2.1 of the
Schedule to the Loan Agreement is hereby amended by deleting such Section in its
entirety and replacing it with the following:

            "SECTION 2.1 - CREDIT LIMIT:

                  Loans in a total amount at any time outstanding not to exceed
            the lesser of: (i) a total of Ten Million Dollars ($10,000,000) at
            any one time outstanding (the "Maximum Dollar Amount"), or (ii) the
            sum of (a), (b) and (c) below:

                  (a) Loans in an amount not to exceed the lesser of:

                        (1) The sum of:

                           (i) ten percent (10%) of the amount of Borrower's
                  Eligible Receivables with respect to which the Account Debtors
                  have made three (3) consecutive payments, plus, without
                  duplication;

                           (ii) twenty percent (20%) of the amount of Borrower's
                  Eligible Receivables with respect to which the Account Debtors
                  have made four (4) consecutive payments, plus, without
                  duplication;

                           (iii) thirty percent (30%) of the amount of
                  Borrower's Eligible Receivables with respect to which the
                  Account Debtors have made five (5) consecutive payments, plus,
                  without duplication;

                           (iv) forty percent (40%) of the amount of Borrower's
                  Eligible Receivables with respect to which the Account Debtors
                  have made six (6) consecutive payments, plus, without
                  duplication;

                           (v) fifty percent (50%) of the amount of Borrower's
                  Eligible Receivables with respect to which the Account Debtors
                  have made seven (7) or more consecutive payments; and

                        (2) Thirty-five percent (35%) of Eligible Receivables.

                  (b) Loans in an amount not to exceed the lesser of:

                        (1) Fifty percent (50%) of the sum of:

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                           (i) 1.50% of the balance of Existing Unconverted
                  Accounts which have received payments within the past
                  twenty-four (24) months prior to the date hereof;

                           (ii) 1.00% of the balance of Existing Unconverted
                  Accounts which have received payments between twenty-four (24)
                  and sixty (60) months prior to the date hereof;

                           (iii) 0.50% of the balance of Existing Unconverted
                  Accounts which have received payments between sixty-one (61)
                  and eighty-four (84) months prior to the date hereof; and

                           (iv) 0.25% of the balance of Existing Unconverted
                  Accounts which have received payments over eighty-four (84)
                  months prior to the date hereof, provided, however, the amount
                  of Existing Unconverted Accounts under this subsection
                  2.1(b)(iv) shall be limited to sixty percent (60%) of the
                  total of all Existing Unconverted Accounts; and

                        (2) Thirty-five percent (35%) of the Maximum Dollar
                  Amount.

                  (c) Loans in an amount equal to Fifty percent (50%) of the sum
            of:


                           (i) 1.50% of the balance of Purchased Unconverted
                  Accounts which have received payments within the past
                  twenty-four (24) months prior to the date hereof;

                           (ii) 1.00% of the balance of Purchased Unconverted
                  Accounts which have received payments between twenty-four (24)
                  and sixty (60) months prior to the date hereof;

                           (iii) 0.50% of the balance of Purchased Unconverted
                  Accounts which have received payments between sixty-one (61)
                  and eighty-four (84) months prior to the date hereof; and

                           (iv) 0.25% of the balance of Purchased Unconverted
                  Accounts which have received payments over eighty-four (84)
                  months prior to the date hereof, provided, however, the amount
                  of Purchased Unconverted Accounts under this subsection
                  2.1(b)(iv) shall be limited to sixty percent (60%) of the
                  total of all Purchased Unconverted Accounts;

      SECTION 3. AMENDMENT TO SECTION 3.1 OF THE SCHEDULE. Section 3.1 of the
Schedule to the Loan Agreement is hereby amended by deleting such Section in its
entirety and replacing it with the following:

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            "SECTION 3.1 - INTEREST RATE:

            A rate equal to the Prime Rate plus 2.5% per annum, calculated on
            the basis of a 360-day year or the actual number of days elapsed.
            The interest rate applicable to all Loans shall be adjusted monthly
            as of the first day of each month, and the interest to be charged
            for each month shall be based on the highest Prime Rate in effect
            during the prior month, but in no event shall the rate of interest
            charged on any Loans in any month be less than 9% per annum.

            SECTION 3.1 - MINIMUM MONTHLY INTEREST:

                  Based on a daily outstanding borrowings of Fifty percent (50%)
            of the Maximum Dollar Amount."

      SECTION 4. AMENDMENT TO SECTION 3.2 OF THE SCHEDULE RELATING TO THE
FACILITY FEE. Section 3.2 of the Schedule to the Loan Agreement relating to the
Loan Fee and Facility Fee is hereby amended by deleting such Section in its
entirety and replacing it with the following:

            "SECTION 3.2 - COLLATERAL MONITORING FEE:

            Fifty Thousand Dollars ($50,000) per quarter, fully earned and
            payable on the date hereof and every ninety (90) days thereafter
            during the first year of the term hereof. Thereafter, Two Hundred
            Thousand Dollars ($200,000) per year, fully earned and payable when
            it is charged to the Loan on each and every anniversary of the date
            hereof."

      SECTION 5. FACILITY EXTENSION FEE. Borrower shall pay to Coast a facility
extension fee (the "Facility Extension Fee") in the amount of One Hundred
Thousand Dollars ($100,000) which shall be fully earned and payable on the date
hereof.

      SECTION 6. AMENDMENT TO SECTION 9.1 OF THE SCHEDULE. Section 9.1 of the
Schedule to the Loan Agreement is hereby amended by deleting such Section in its
entirety and replacing it with the following:

            "SECTION 9.1 - MATURITY DATE:

            July 29, 2001. Notwithstanding the provisions in Section 9.1 of the
            Agreement, the Agreement shall terminate on the Maturity Date,
            unless Borrower gives notice of its desire to renew no less than
            thirty (30) days prior to the Maturity Date, provided, however, that
            notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Agreement, if and
            only if the Agreement is terminated before the Maturity Date,
            Borrower will not have to pay the Early Termination Fee (as defined
            in Section 3 of this Schedule)."


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      SECTION 7. AMENDMENT TO SECTION 9.1 OF THE SCHEDULE. Section 9.1 of the
Schedule to the Loan Agreement is hereby amended by deleting such Section in its
entirety and replacing it with the following:

            "SECTION 9.1 - RENEWAL FEE:

                  1/2% of the Maximum Dollar Amount per year starting July 29,
            2001."

      SECTION 8. AMENDMENT TO SECTION 9.2 OF THE SCHEDULE. Section 9.2 of the
Schedule to the Loan Agreement is hereby amended by deleting such Section in its
entirety and replacing it with the following:

            "SECTION 9.2 - EARLY TERMINATION FEE:

                  An amount equal to the greater of (i) an amount equal to all
            interest due and payable during the six (6) months immediately
            preceding the effective date of termination, or (ii) an amount equal
            to the Minimum Monthly Interest multiplied by the number of full or
            partial months from the effective date of termination to the
            Maturity Date, or (iii) an amount equal to the average monthly
            interest accrued during the six (6) months immediately preceding the
            effective date of termination, multiplied by the number of full or
            partial months from the effective date of termination to the
            Maturity Date; provided, however, if the Maximum Dollar Amount is
            not increased to at least Twenty Million Dollars ($20,000,000)
            within one hundred twenty (120) days of the effective date of this
            Amendment, then this Early Termination Fee is waived; provided,
            further however, if at anytime before or after such one hundred
            twenty (120) day period the Maximum Dollar Amount is increased to at
            least Twenty Million Dollars ($20,000,000) then the Early
            Termination Fee provided for herein shall be in effect."

      SECTION 9 . PERMITTED PAYMENT ON SUBORDINATED DEBT. Notwithstanding
Section 10.1(o) of the Agreement and the terms of the Subordination Agreement,
to the contrary, Coast shall permit Borrower to make one or more payments in the
aggregate not to exceed Three Million Dollars ($3,000,000) (the "Permitted
Payments") of accrued interest or principal to JLB, provided, however, the
Permitted Payments shall only be made once the Maximum Dollar Amount has been
increased to more than Ten Million Dollars ($10,000,000). Nothing herein
obligates Coast to permit future payments on any subordinated debt on terms
inconsistent with the Loan Documents.

      SECTION 10. AMENDMENT TO SECTION 8.1 OF THE SCHEDULE TO THE LOAN
AGREEMENT. A new subparagraph (f) is hereby added to Section 8.1 of the Schedule
to the Loan Agreement to read as follows:

                  "(f) Coast agrees to use its best efforts to syndicate, find
            additional lenders or sell participations to other lenders
            acceptable to Coast so as to be in a position to increase the
            Maximum Dollar


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            Amount to more than Ten Million Dollars ($10,000,000) but not more
            than Thirty Million Dollars ($30,000,000). In connection with any
            such syndication or participation Coast shall receive the Early
            Termination Fee referenced in Section 9.2(i) or (iii) of this
            Agreement equal to the product of such fees set forth in section
            9.2(i) and/or (iii) and a fraction equal to Coast's prorata share of
            the then applicable Maximum Dollar Amount or in respect to the
            formula in Section 9.2(ii) of this Agreement an Early Termination
            Fee based upon the Ten Million Dollar ($10,000,000) commitment of
            Coast and all other syndicate lenders or participants shall receive
            an early termination fee, with respect to their pro-rata share,
            based on the following formula:

                  An amount equal to two percent (2%) of the commitment of each
            lender or participant, other than Coast, in the Maximum Dollar
            Amount (as defined in this Schedule), if termination occurs before
            July 29, 2000; and one percent (1%) of the commitment of each lender
            or participant, other than Coast, in the Maximum Dollar Amount, if
            termination occurs on or after July 29, 2000 and before the Maturity
            Date."

      SECTION 11. AMENDMENT TO SECTION 8.5 (C) OF THE LOAN AGREEMENT. Section
8.5(c) of the Loan Agreement is hereby amended by adding the following at the
end thereof:

                  "Notwithstanding the foregoing, in conjunction with the sale
            in the ordinary course of Borrower's business of Receivables to a
            wholly-owned subsidiary entity that satisfies the requirements of
            Section 8.5 (e), so long as no Event of Default has occurred and is
            continuing or will occur as a result of the following below
            described non-cash equity contribution and so long as no over
            advance based on the loan formulas set forth in the Schedule to the
            Loan Agreement would result, Borrower may make a non-cash equity
            contribution to such subsidiary entity and such subsidiary entity
            may grant a senior and exclusive lien on the Receivables purchased."

      SECTION 12. AMENDMENT TO SECTION 8.5 OF THE SCHEDULE. Section 8.5 of the
Schedule to the Loan Agreement is hereby amended by deleting such Section in its
entirety and replacing it with the following:

            "SECTION 8.5 - NEGATIVE COVENANTS (ACQUIRED ASSETS):

                  One Hundred Thousand Dollars ($100,000) per transaction and
            Seven Hundred Fifty Thousand Dollars ($750,000) per 12 month period
            consisting of May 1 - April 30."


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      SECTION 13 . COAST'S VESTED RIGHTS IN THE WARRANT. Borrower acknowledges
that in connection with the increase of the Maximum Dollar Amount to Ten Million
Dollars ($10,000,000) Coasts rights in the Warrant and the additional 371,570
shares have vested and the Warrant is fully exercisable.

      SECTION 14. CONDITION PRECEDENT. The effectiveness of this Amendment is
expressly conditioned upon: (i) receipt by Coast of an executed copy of this
Amendment executed by Borrower, (ii) receipt by Coast of an executed copy of the
reaffirmation of the Continuing Guaranty executed by American Credit Alliance,
Inc., and}(iii) receipt by Coast of the Facility Extension Fee, (iv) receipt by
Coast of evidence, in form and substance satisfactory to Coast, that Sleepy
Hollow Associates, Inc., has been merged into Borrower, and (v) receipt by Coast
of evidence, in form and substance satisfactory to Coast, that JLB has forgiven
Five Million Dollars ($5,000,000) of accrued and unpaid interest owing on Notes
A and B.

      SECTION 15. ENTIRE AGREEMENT. The Loan Agreement, as amended hereby,
embodies the entire agreement and understanding between the parties hereto and
supersedes all prior agreements and understandings relating to the subject
matter hereof. Borrower represents, warrants and agrees that in entering into
the Loan Agreement and consenting to this Amendment, it has not relied on any
representation, promise, understanding or agreement, oral or written, of, by or
with, Coast or any of its agents, employees, or counsel, except the
representations, promises, understandings and agreements specifically contained
in or referred to in the Loan Agreement, as amended hereby.

      SECTION 16. CONFLICTING TERMS. In the event of a conflict between the
terms and provisions of this Amendment and the terms and provisions of the Loan
Agreement, the terms of this Amendment shall govern. In all other respects, the
Loan Agreement, as amended and supplemented hereby, shall remain in full force
and effect.


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      SECTION 17. MISCELLANEOUS. This Amendment shall be governed by and
construed in accordance with the laws of the State of California. This Amendment
may be executed in any number of counterparts, all of which taken together shall
constitute one agreement, and any party hereto may execute this Amendment by
signing such counterpart.

      IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Amendment to be
duly executed by their respective officers thereunto duly authorized as of the
date first above written.

                                     THE CREDIT STORE, INC.,
                                     a Delaware corporation

                                     By:  /s/ Michael J. Philippe
                                          --------------------------------
                                              President or Vice President

                                     By:  /s/ Wayne Fanebust
                                          --------------------------------
                                              Secretary or Ass't Secretary

                                     COAST BUSINESS CREDIT,
                                     a division of Southern Pacific Bank

                                     By:  /s/ Illegible
                                          --------------------------------
                                     Title:   Vice President



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                            REAFFIRMATION OF GUARANTY

         The undersigned has executed a Continuing Guaranty in favor of Coast
Business Credit, a division of Southern Pacific Bank, a California corporation
("Coast") respecting the obligations of The Credit Store, Inc., a Delaware
corporation ("Borrower") owing to Coast. The undersigned acknowledges the terms
of the above Amendment and reaffirms and agrees that (a) its Continuing Guaranty
remains in full force and effect, (b) nothing in such Continuing Guaranty
obligates Coast to notify the undersigned of any changes in the financial
accommodations made available to Borrower or to seek reaffirmations of the
Continuing Guaranty, and (c) no requirement to so notify the undersigned or to
seek reaffirmations in the future shall be implied by the execution of the
reaffirmation.

                                     AMERICAN CREDIT ALLIANCE, INC.,
                                     a Nevada corporation

                                     By:  /s/ Michael J. Philippe
                                          --------------------------------
                                     Name:    Michael J. Philippe
                                     Title:  Chief Financial Officer


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