WESTLAKE VILLAGE, Calif., - January 19, 2012 – First California Bank today announced today announced the arrival of a banking team to service specific areas within Los Angeles County, the San Gabriel Valley and the Inland Empire. First California said the team brings established banking relationships of loans and deposits, and provides opportunities to broaden its footprint in key markets.

The new team will be headed by Ken Kross, who was appointed Senior Vice President and Regional Manager. Joining Kross are several long term colleagues, including Steve Rubinstein as Vice President and Relationship Manager; Warren Chiang as Vice President; Janie Ecker as Vice President and, Martha M. Reyes as Senior Loan Administrator. Combined, the team has more than 65 years of banking experience in the Southern California region.

"Prior to joining First California, Ken, Steve and Warren worked together for a number of years at First Bank, which will allow the team to hit the ground running," said Gilbert Dalmau, First California Bank's Executive Vice President and Chief Banking Officer. "The entire team has deep roots in the Southern California market and brings established banking relationships with companies in a wide variety of industries, including manufacturing, wholesale distribution and numerous service industries. Ken and the team will be headquartered and operate our branch in Irwindale."

Kross most recently served as Senior Vice President and Regional Manager for the Inland Empire and San Gabriel Valley at First Bank. In 2004, he opened a de novo commercial banking office for First Bank in the Inland Empire, and later, his responsibilities were expanded to include managing First Bank's San Gabriel Valley Commercial Banking Office.

Rubinstein has more than 24 years of commercial and asset-lending banking experience. Prior to joining First California, he was Vice President, Relationship Manager for First Bank's Inland Empire and Greater San Gabriel Valley markets.

Chiang, fluent in Mandarin, most recently served as Relationship Manager for First Bank. During his tenure at First Bank, Warren was responsible for all aspects of the development and management of middle-market banking relationships for First Bank's Pac Rim Commercial Banking Group.

Ecker joined First California more than ten years ago and has held a number of roles of increasing responsibility. Earlier, she worked for several independent banks in Orange County, the Inland Empire and the San Gabriel Valley as a relationship manager.

Reyes has more than 30 years of banking experience and previously handled all aspects of First Bank's commercial banking operations.

WESTLAKE VILLAGE, Calif., - January 19, 2012 – First California Bank today announced that it has created a new Small Business Administration (SBA) Lending Division, and staffed three regional SBA Lending Centers to service small businesses throughout Southern California.

"First California is fully committed to providing our customers and prospects with a high quality SBA lending program," said C. G. Kum, president and chief executive officer of First California Financial Group. "We believe getting capital in the hands of small businesses will help create jobs, improve the health of the communities we serve and is the right thing to do for our country."

To lead the SBA division, First California appointed Gonzalo Fernandez as senior vice president SBA program manager. "To best serve our customers, we have established three regional service centers: North, which includes Ventura and San Luis Obispo counties; Greater Los Angeles, which includes the San Fernando Valley; and, South, which includes San Diego and Orange counties. Each center has the staff and resources to complete a transaction from beginning to end, making the process highly efficient for the applicant," said Fernandez.

The regional centers will be staffed as follows:
North: Dane A. Pastorius, Vice President, Senior SBA Business Development Officer; Fernando R. Munoz, Vice President - SBA Portfolio Manager; and, Anne D.Cogan, Senior SBA Processor.

Greater Los Angeles: Dane A. Pastorius, will oversee this area, with the support of David Ezaki, Vice President - SBA Credit Analyst; and, Anne D. Cogan

South: Matthew R. Brinker, Vice President, Senior SBA Business Development Officer; Mark T. Williamson, Vice President-SBA Portfolio Manager; and Terese (Terri) M. Mack, Senior SBA Processor.