Plaza Bank Hires Rob Pedersen as Vice President, SBA and Commercial Real Estate Lending

IRVINE, CA--(Marketwired - Jun 21, 2016) - Plaza Bank (OTCBB: PLZZ) (the "Bank") is pleased to announce it has hired Rob Pedersen as Vice President, SBA and Commercial Real Estate Lending, where he will focus on helping small business customers secure SBA and conventional lending for their owner-occupied commercial real estate.

Mr. Pedersen joined Plaza Bank on June 1, 2016, and is based in San Diego. A dynamic, entrepreneurial sales and marketing professional, he has more than 20 years of banking experience, specializing in SBA, business development, portfolio management, and loan servicing.

Prior to joining Plaza Bank, Mr. Pedersen worked at City National Bank in San Diego, where he served as SBA Loan Specialist for three years before becoming Vice President and Branch Manager. Before that, he held various sales, business development, and management positions with 1^st Pacific Bank of California, First National Bank/Pacific Western Bank, and First Union Small Business (formerly The Money Store).

"Rob is a great addition to Plaza Bank," said Gene Galloway, President and CEO of Plaza Bank. "With his expertise in SBA and commercial real estate lending, along with his proven relationship-building skills, he will be instrumental in helping us further expand our business, particularly in the rapidly growing San Diego market."

"I am excited to join Plaza Bank and work with such a strong, talented team of banking professionals," Mr. Pedersen said. "Plaza Bank has a great reputation for meeting the lending needs of small businesses. I look forward to becoming a premier, trusted advisor for our clients throughout the community, providing creative, 'out of the box' financing to meet their growth and capital needs."

Mr. Pedersen earned his undergraduate degree in Business from California State University, Sacramento. He is a member of the Board of Directors for Promises2Kids, a non-profit organization serving foster youth, and also serves on the finance committee for the South County Economic Development Council. In addition, he volunteers annually for the Challenged Athletes Foundation triathlon in San Diego.

Mr. Pedersen and his wife reside in San Diego's Bankers Hill neighborhood, where they enjoy the exceptional weather and lifestyle, along with exercising, sailing, and traveling the world.

About Plaza Bank
Plaza Bank is full service community bank serving the business and professional communities in Southern California and Las Vegas, Nevada. The Bank is committed to meeting the financial needs of small to middle market businesses and professional firms with loans for working capital, equipment and owner-occupied commercial real estate financing and a full array of cash management services. Our bankers are experienced, professional and knowledgeable. For more information, visit www.plazabank.com.

Forward-Looking Statements
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Forward-looking statements involve significant risks and uncertainties and actual results may differ materially from those presented, either expressed or implied, in this press release. Factors that might cause such differences include, but are not limited to: the Bank's ability to successfully execute its business plans and achieve its objectives; changes in general economic, real estate and financial market conditions, either nationally or locally in areas in which the Bank conducts its operations; changes in interest rates; new litigation or claims or changes in existing litigation or claims; future credit loss experience; increased competitive challenges and expanding product and pricing pressures among financial institutions; legislation or regulatory changes which adversely affect the Bank's operations or business; loss of key personnel; changes in accounting policies or procedures as may be required by the Financial Accounting Standards Board or other regulatory agencies; and the ability to satisfy requirements related to the Sarbanes-Oxley Act and other regulation on internal control.