Respected Economist Grace K. Wickersham Joins Plaza Bank Board

IRVINE, CA--(Marketwire - Aug 15, 2012) - Plaza Bank (OTCBB: PLZB) added accomplished economist and financial analyst Grace K. Wickersham to its Board of Directors, further strengthening the bank's depth and commitment to community-oriented business banking.

Ms. Wickersham is a senior vice president and the senior economic and financial analyst for Carpenter & Company and for the Carpenter Community BancFund, which is the majority shareholder of Plaza Bank. Among her other experience, she's served on the Economic Advisory Committee to the state Department of Finance, she was a member of the Board of Directors of the National Association of Business Economics, and she was a consulting economist to the UCLA Business Forecasting Project.

"The Plaza Bank Board of Directors will be greatly enhanced by the experience and expertise of Grace Wickersham," said Thomas Rogers, Plaza Bank's Chairman of the Board. "She is a talented economist, commercial banker and bank industry consultant, and all of these skills will be of great value as we move Plaza Bank forward to greater success."

Ms. Wickersham said she's excited to deepen her connection to Plaza Bank because of its focus on the community and its commitment to small businesses.

"Plaza Bank embodies the true meaning of community banking," she said. "Plaza's bankers help generate jobs, support the small business community, and work to improve the entire community."

Before Ms. Wickersham's two decades as an economist for Irvine-based Carpenter & Company, an investment banking and consulting firm that has served the community banking industry for nearly 40 years, she was the chief economist and director of corporate planning for the $8 billion Glendale Federal Bank, then California's fifth largest savings and loan. Ms. Wickersham began her banking career with Security Pacific National Bank and has also served as an economic consultant for The Aerospace Corporation, a think tank for the U.S. Air Force.

She has been a longtime resident of Corona del Mar and serves as a Trustee of Mount St. Mary's College, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in economics. She also holds a Master of Arts degree in economics from the University of Southern California.

About Plaza Bank

Plaza Bank is full service community bank serving the business and professional communities in 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.net or call Gene Galloway at (949) 502-4309.

Forward-Looking Statements

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