Exhibit 99.1

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

MEDALLION FINANCIAL CORP. REPORTS

2012THIRD QUARTER RESULTS

NEW YORK, NY – November 5, 2012 – Medallion Financial Corp. (Nasdaq: TAXI), a specialty finance company with a leading position servicing the taxicab industry and other niche markets, announced that earnings, ornet increase in net assets resulting from operations was $6,611,000 or $0.31 per diluted common share in the 2012 third quarter, up $1,776,000 or 37% from $4,835,000 or $0.27 per diluted common share in the 2011third quarter.

Medallion Bank, the Company’s unconsolidated wholly-owned portfolio company, had net income of $5,311,000 in the 2012 third quarter, compared to $4,581,000 in the 2011 third quarter, an increase of $730,000 or 16%. As the Company continues to use Medallion Bank as a primary funding source, it refers more loans to Medallion Bank for origination to take advantage of current short term borrowing rates which are at historically low levels, and which are our least expensive source of funds.

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Medallion Financial Announces 2012ThirdQuarter Results p. 2

Medallion Financial’s net interest margin was 4.21% for the 2012third quarter, compared to 3.97% in the 2011third quarter. On a combined basis with Medallion Bank, the net interest margin was 6.39%, compared to 6.47% a year ago, reflecting the continued low cost of funds at the Bank, and the Bank’s higher-yielding loan portfolio. Net investment income after income taxes was $1,337,000 or $0.06 per diluted common share in the 2012 quarter, down$39,000 or 3% from $1,376,000 or $0.08 per share in the 2011 quarter, primarily as a result of the Company originating more loans at its unconsolidated subsidiary Medallion Bank.

Andrew Murstein, President of Medallion Financial, stated, “We are extremely pleased with the quarter’s results.Even with our higher share count we still were able to increase our per share earnings due in part to continued strong loan demand and near record low delinquencies and losses. Over the last 10 years we have given our shareholders an average return of 18% per year including dividends. We are proud to have performed so welland we feel confident in our future.

“This quarter’s dividend also remains at the highest level it has been in over 10 years,” said Mr. Murstein. “The taxi industry remains resilient in this type of economic environment for several reasons,including corporate and consumer cutbacks on more expensive limousine and town car services, high taxi fleet utilization, and continuing high taxi ridership levels.

“Furthermore, with Hurricane Sandy shutting down most forms of public transportation such as subways and buses in New York City, we are proud that the taxi industry was able to provide much needed transportation during this difficult period and that in a small way the industry did its best to help New Yorkers.”

Larry D. Hall, Chief Financial Officer of Medallion Financial stated, “Medallion’s capital and liquidity levels remained strong, with over $81,000,000 of deposit-raising capacity at Medallion Bank, in addition to over $125,000,000 of availability in our other funding sources.Medallion’s debt to equity ratio is only 1.38 to 1, providing ample room for increasing our leverage and growing our businesses down the road.”

Mr. Hall continued, “In addition, during 2012 we have continued to replace higher cost borrowings with lower cost fixed and floating rate debt, further enhancing our profitability, and we see additional opportunities to continue this as rates remain near historic lows. For example, much of our $55,000,000 of SBA Debentures carries higher than market rates, and can be refinanced to current lower levels, subject to SBA approval, which if it occurs, should be accretive to subsequent earnings.”

Medallion Financial’s on-balance sheet taxicab medallion loan portfolio was $282,000,000 at quarterend, down from $304,000,000 a year ago, primarily due to the funding of most new medallion loan originations atMedallion Bank. Total managed medallion loans increased $12,000,000 or 2% to $677,000,000 at quarter end, up from $665,000,000 a year ago.

Medallion Financial’s on-balance sheet commercial loan portfolio was $57,000,000 at quarter end, down from $59,000,000 a year ago. The managed commercial loan portfolio was $116,000,000 at quarter end, down from $119,000,000 last year. In both cases, the declines primarily reflected portfolio repayments.Medallion Bank’s consumer loan portfolio increased 27% to $250,000,000 at quarter end from $197,000,000 a year ago. Overall, total managed assets increased 6% to $1,176,796,000 at quarterend, up from $1,113,595,000 a year ago.Asset quality remained very strong, with managed loans 90 days or more past due of only 0.8% at quarter end, down from 1.8% at year end and 1.2% a year ago.

The Company also announced a dividend of $0.21 per share for the 2012thirdquarter, up from $0.19 per share in the 2011thirdquarter. This brings the total dividends declared over the last four quarters to $0.83, and equates to a yield of over7% based on the closing price of the Company’s stock on November 2, 2012. The current dividend will be paid on November 27, 2012, to shareholders of record on November16, 2012. Since the Company’s initial public offering in 1996, the Company has paid or declared in excess of $180,725,000 or $11.23 per share in dividends.

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Medallion Financial Corp. is a specialty finance company with a leading position in the origination and servicing of loans financing the purchase of taxicab medallions and related assets. The Company also originates and services loans in other commercial industries, and its wholly-owned portfolio company, Medallion Bank, also originates and services consumer loans. The Company and its subsidiaries have lent approximately $5 billion to the taxicab industry and other small businesses.

Please note that this press release contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties relating to business performance, cash flow, costs, sales, net investment income, earnings, and growth. Medallion’s actual results may differ significantly from the results discussed in such forward-looking statements. Factors that might cause such a difference include, but are not limited to, those factors discussed under the heading “Risk Factors,” in Medallion’s 2011 Annual Report on Form 10-K.

MEDALLION FINANCIAL CORP.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

MEDALLION FINANCIAL CORP.

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS