(JRJC) Strategic Partnership with China International Capital Corp.

Securities Master Financial Technology Continues to Gain Traction in China

BEIJING, Jan. 15, 2015  — China Finance Online Co. Limited (“China Finance Online”, or the “Company”) (NASDAQ GS: JRJC), a leading web-based financial services company that provides Chinese retail investors online access to securities, commodities and wealth management products, today announced that it has entered into a strategic partnership agreement with China International Capital Corporation Limited (“CICC “), which is a top global securities and investment firm from China.

Mr. Zhiwei Zhao, Chairman and CEO of China Finance Online, commented, “We are happy that CICC chose China Finance Online as its strategic partner to extend its online brokerage business. We believe this success demonstrates the superior technical innovation as well as capital market and online brokerage experience that underlie our ability to make online brokerage services in China a reality. Looking ahead, we will continue to leverage our unique advantages and forge win-win partnerships to build an investment ecosystem in China that offers beneficial investment services to China’s growing population of retail investors, and support our ability to expand our market-share and generate returns for our shareholders and partners.”

About China International Capital Corporation Limited

China International Capital Corporation Limited (CICC) was established in July 1995 as a strategic partnership among prestigious Chinese and international financial institutions. CICC has a registered capital of US$225 million. As the first joint venture investment bank in China, CICC is a leader in providing comprehensive financial services including investment banking, capital markets, institutional and individual securities sales and trading, fixed income, asset management, private equity, wealth management and research. Headquartered in Beijing, CICC has set up three branches in Shanghai and Shenzhen, several subsidiaries in mainland China, and securities brokerage branches in 18 cities such as Beijing, Shanghai and Shenzhen. In line with increasing business diversity, the company is actively expanding overseas while consolidating its Chinese base in Hong Kong, New York, London and Singapore.

About China Finance Online

China Finance Online Co. Limited is a leading web-based financial services company in China. The company provides Chinese retail investors with online access to securities, commodities and wealth management products, as well as financial database and analytics services to institutional customers. The Company’s two prominent flagship portal sites, www.jrj.com and www.stockstar.com, are ranked among the top financial websites in China. In addition to the web-based securities trading platform, the Company offers basic financial software, information services and securities investment advisory services to retail investors in China. Through its subsidiary, Shenzhen Genius Information Technology Co., Ltd., the Company provides financial database and analytics to institutional customers including domestic financial, research, academic and regulatory institutions. China Finance Online also provides brokerage services in Hong Kong. For more information, please visit http://www.chinafinanceonline.com/.

Safe Harbor Statement

This press release contains forward-looking statements. These statements constitute “forward-looking” statements within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and as defined in the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as “will,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “future,” “intends,” “plans,” “believes,” “estimates” and similar statements. Among other things, this release contains the following forward-looking statements regarding:

— our prospect on the growth of our financial platform and online trading capabilities;

— our prospect on the cooperation with CICC and our partnered securities firms and expanding the number of partnered securities firms;

— our prospect on continuing to innovate and forge successful partnerships; and

— the market prospect of the business of Internet finance.

Such statements involve certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements, which risks and uncertainties include, among others, the following:

— the changing customer needs, regulatory environment and market condition that we are subject to;

— the uneven condition of the world and Chinese economy that could lead to volatility in the equity markets and affect our operating results in the coming quarters;

— the impact of the changing conditions of the Chinese stock market, Hong Kong stock market and global financial market on our future performance;

— the unpredictability of our strategic transformation and growth of new businesses, including our online securities trading services and platform;

— the degree to which our strategic collaborations with partners will yield successful outcome;

— the prospect for China’s high-net-worth and middle-class households;

— the prospect of equipping our customer specialists with new technology, tools and financial knowledge;

— the competition we are facing in the new business of Internet finance and online securities trading;

— wavering investor confidence that could impact our business; and

— possible non-cash goodwill, intangible assets and investment impairment may adversely affect our net income.

Further information regarding these and other risks is included in the Company’s filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, including its annual report on Form 20-F under “Forward-Looking Information” and “Risk Factors”. The Company does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required under applicable law.