Exhibit 32.1

CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO

18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350,

AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO

SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

      In connection with the Annual Report on Form 10-K of Advanta Corp. (the “Company”) for year ended December 31, 2003 as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the “Report”), I, Dennis Alter, Chief Executive Officer of the Company, certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that:

      (1) the Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and

      (2) the information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and result of operations of the Company.

/s/ DENNIS ALTER

Dennis Alter

Chief Executive Officer

March 9, 2004

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