Bay Area Bank Goes Green for Blue: Community Bank of the Bay Partners With Marine Applied Research & Exploration to Promote Marine Conservation

OAKLAND, CA--(Marketwired - Sep 9, 2015) - In keeping with an ongoing commitment to support the preservation of natural resources, Community Bank of the Bay (CBB) (OTCBB: CBYAA) recently signed on as the title sponsor of the Marine Applied Research & Exploration (MARÉ)'s 3rd Annual MARÉ Soirée.

The "Sustainable Feast" (a fundraiser for MARÉ's core initiatives) will take place on Saturday, October 10^th, 2015 at San Francisco's historic Dolphin Club. Event highlights will include auction items, a sit down dinner featuring sustainably caught seafood, and special guest speaker Cindy Walter (owner of the trail-blazing and award winning restaurant Passionfish).

The event will also showcase MARÉ's efforts to explore and understand deep sea habitats that are as vulnerable as they are inaccessible to most people on land. "The deep sea is nearly as challenging as space, which is why so little of the blue part of the planet has been explored," says MARÉ Executive Director Dirk Rosen, who points out the important role the ocean plays for life on land, providing us with oxygen and protein for much of the world. "You can't be green without being blue," says Rosen.

"Community Bank of the Bay is proud to support Dirk and his team as they work to protect our ocean resources," said William Keller, President and CEO. "Our partnership with MARÉ spans over a decade and was instrumental in our development of the Bay Area Green Fund (BAGF). Since then, MARÉ's research has provided private and public entities with the information they need to make more informed decisions. Their impact has been far reaching and beneficial to us all."

CBB's partnership with MARÉ exemplifies the mission of the BAGF, which is to reduce emissions and protect natural resources by offering FDIC-insured bank accounts that support the financing of local and environmentally sustainable projects and businesses. Says Rosen, "When I launched MARÉ in 2003, an accountant at Save the Bay recommended CBB as a non-profit friendly bank that also gives back to the community. Over the years, they've offered stellar customer service, helped us grow, and shared our commitment to a healthy, sustainable environment. We couldn't ask for a better partner and are proud to be a part of their conservation efforts."

To further promote marine conservation and environmentally sustainable business practices, CBB and MARÉ are teaming up to offer a unique "Day at Sea" for two drawing winners (restrictions apply) who will join the MARÉ crew as they Explore - Discover - Protect the ocean along the coast of California, using innovative deep-water robotic technology to analyze marine ecosystems. To be eligible for this fun and informative opportunity, participants must refer and/or apply for financing of a sustainable business or project between September 15th and December 31st, 2015.

For more information about CBB, the BAGF and/or to refer or apply for sustainable business financing, please visit www.bankcbb.com/bayareagreenfund. Note that sole-proprietors, non-profits, schools and faith-based organizations are eligible to participate.

To learn more about how to support MARÉ and/or its upcoming "Sustainable Feast," please visit www.maregroup.org.

More about CBB
Community Bank of the Bay (CBB) is a relationship bank, headquartered in Oakland, which offers FDIC-insured deposit services to individuals, businesses and non-profits. It is also an SBA Preferred Lender that specializes in providing flexible financing to small-mid sized businesses. CBB (OTCBB: CBYAA) was the first bank in California to be certified by the U.S. Department of Treasury as a Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) and is one of only three CDFI banks in the Bay Area. CBB is also a certified Bay Area Green Business, rated 5-stars by Bauer Financial for safety and soundness and Bank of the Year by the Western Independent Bankers Association in 2015. For more information, visit www.bankcbb.com.

About the Bay Area Green Fund (BAGF)
The Bay Area Green Fund was formed by CBB in 2007. The mission of the BAGF is to reduce emissions and protect natural resources by offering FDIC-insured bank accounts that support the financing of local and environmentally sustainable projects and businesses. Please visit www.bankcbb.com/bayareagreenfund or contact Winter Williams for more information.

More about MARÉ
Founded in 2003, Marine Applied Research & Exploration (MARÉ) is a non-profit based in Point Richmond, CA that uses science-based marine conservation efforts to help protect and restore the ocean's invaluable, yet threatened resources. Using cost-effective and innovative deep-water robotic technology and data analysis expertise, MARÉ assesses changes in marine life and habitat over time to inform ocean management and support wild sustainable fisheries for future generations. For more information, visit www.maregroup.org.

Additional links
www.facebook.com/MarineAppliedResearch
www.facebook.com/bankcbb
https://www.facebook.com/events/153363811665410/
www.maresoiree2015.eventbrite.com

Event Listing for Community Calendars:

Event Name:
3rd Annual MARÉ Soirée: A Sustainable Feast

Event Date:
October 10, 2015

Time:
6:00 - 9:30 p.m.

Location:
San Francisco's Historic Dolphin Club
502 Jefferson Street
San Francisco, CA 94109

Tickets:
www.maresoiree2015.eventbrite.com

Website:
www.maregroup.org

This fundraiser for Marine Applied Research & Exploration's (MARÉ) will support the non-profit's core initiatives and advance important marine conservation work. Special guest speaker will be Cindy Walter of Passionfish (the trailblazing, award-winning Monterey restaurant that showcases sustainably harvested seafood). Other highlights will include an auction and sustainable fish dinner. Event sponsored by Community Bank of the Bay (CBB).