Resource America, Inc. Announces Crit DeMent Elected 2012 Chairman of ELFA

PHILADELPHIA, PA--(Marketwire - Oct 25, 2011) - Resource America, Inc. (NASDAQ: REXI) (the "Company") announced today that Crit DeMent, the CEO of its equipment finance subsidiary, LEAF Commercial Capital, Inc., has been elected 2012 Chairman of the Equipment Leasing and Finance Association.

The Equipment Leasing and Finance Association (ELFA) is the trade association that represents companies in the $628 billion equipment finance sector, which includes financial services companies and manufacturers engaged in financing capital goods. ELFA members are the driving force behind the growth in the commercial equipment finance market and contribute to capital formation in the U.S. and abroad. Its over 550 members include independent and captive leasing and finance companies, banks, financial services corporations, broker/packagers and investment banks, as well as manufacturers and service providers. In 2011, ELFA is celebrating 50 years of equipping business for success.

Jonathan Cohen, CEO and President, commented, "Everyone at Resource America wants to extend their congratulations to Crit on this significant achievement. Crit is taking on a very critical role in supporting the equipment finance industry and I am confident that he will do a great job leading the organization during this challenging economic time."

Resource America, Inc. is a specialized asset management company that uses industry specific expertise to generate and administer investment opportunities for its own account and for outside investors in the real estate, commercial finance, and financial fund management sectors. For more information please visit our website at www.resourceamerica.com or contact Marketing and Investor Relations at pkamdar@resourceamerica.com.

Certain matters discussed within this press release are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Although Resource America, Inc. believes the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, it can give no assurance that its expectations will be attained because they involve substantial risks and uncertainties, including, without limitation, our ability to enter into or consummate a transaction as a result of any evaluation of strategic alternatives discussed above or ability to enhance shareholder value through this process or any potential transaction. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from expectations include financial performance, regulatory changes, changes in local or national economic conditions and other risks detailed from time to time in the Company's reports filed with the SEC, including quarterly reports on Form 10Q, reports on Form 8-K and annual reports on Form 10-K. Resource America, Inc. undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward looking statement to reflect new or changing information or events except as may be required by law.