Sunwest Bank, Burnham Gibson Financial Group and Burnham Benefits Insurance Services Form Alliance

IRVINE, CA--(Marketwired - Apr 7, 2014) - Burnham Gibson Financial Group Inc., a full-service firm offering best-in-class financial and insurance services to a wide array of clients and their workforces, and Sunwest Bank, a relationship and results-driven community bank, have announced a new strategic referral alliance. Focusing on small- to mid-sized businesses and sharing a corporate culture that emphasizes personal relationships with clientele, both Sunwest Bank and Burnham Gibson Financial Group believe their partnership will provide greater support to clients and major growth potential for each company. Through the new alliance, Sunwest clients will gain access to services offered by Burnham Gibson, as well as service provided by partner company Burnham Benefits Insurance Services, a California-based employee benefits consulting and brokerage firm with offices throughout California.

With a 45-year history in Orange County, Sunwest Bank has built a substantial client base that is loyal and reliant on its value-added business approach. Late last year, Sunwest president and CEO Chris Walsh, along with his executive leadership team, identified a need to provide clientele with advisory services that will carry into the future. Many of Sunwest's clients have been with the bank since its inception and are now focused on financial stability as they transition toward retirement. In addressing that need, Walsh was secure in referring these clients to a firm like Burnham Gibson Financial Group.

"We quickly recognized that Burnham Gibson has a similar corporate culture and shares the same values we do -- factors that we believe are vital components to a successful alliance," says Walsh. "We're looking forward to building a strong referral relationship between our firms to better support our clientele and prepare them for the future."

Through the referral alliance, Sunwest clients will gain access to high-level financial advisory services that may not be available to them through other banking institutions.

"By aligning ourselves with Sunwest, we are looking forward to reaching a new audience and, together with Burnham Benefits, providing them with a holistic view of their financial offerings," says Darin Gibson, president and owner of Burnham Gibson and an executive vice president with Burnham Benefits. "We view all of these services as the ultimate financial package for corporate and individual clients, and it's become available at the perfect time when a large segment of the population are reevaluating their planning strategies."

Together, Sunwest Bank, Burnham Gibson Financial Group and Burnham Benefits Insurance Services will provide clients with services to address more aspects of the financial spectrum.

"Clients can now receive the truly custom, personal service they have become familiar with through Burnham Gibson, Sunwest and Burnham Benefits," says Kristen Allison, owner and CEO of Burnham Benefits and executive vice president with Burnham Gibson. "We are thrilled to be part of this alliance that gives clients access to enhanced services and resources."

For more information about Burnham Gibson Financial Group, please visit www.burnhamgibson.com. To learn more about Sunwest Bank, please visit www.SunwestBank.com.

ABOUT SUNWEST BANK: An established community bank, Sunwest Bank has offices in California, Arizona, Washington and Idaho. Sunwest Bank offers a wide range of financial products to individuals, professionals, homeowner associations, and small- to mid-sized businesses. The bank's solution-driven, relationship-based approach to banking provides accessibility to decision makers and enhances value through strong partnerships with our clients. For more information, visit www.SunwestBank.com or call (800) 330-9890 to learn more.

ABOUT BURNHAM BENEFITS INSURANCE SERVICES: Burnham Benefits Insurance Services, Inc. is an independent, full-service employee benefits consulting and brokerage firm headquartered in Irvine, California. The firm is one of the largest in California and one of the few to specialize solely in strategic employee benefits consulting and brokerage services. The privately held group provides client-first health and wellness programs, and through its strategic partnership with Burnham Gibson Financial Group, it also provides retirement planning and wealth management services. Burnham Benefits effectively manages more than $1 billion in premiums for more than 300 clients, while maintaining a more than 98 percent client retention rate and a 20 percent annual growth rate. Because Burnham does not have outside shareholders, it can create customized solutions that fit clients' best interests -- investing in the tools and resources needed to provide the specialized level of service today's challenging climate demands. Its team of more than 70 highly skilled industry professionals include in-house underwriters, compliance officers, healthcare reform consultants, communications specialists and wellness experts. Burnham Benefits' footprint currently spans offices in Orange County, the San Francisco Bay Area, Los Angeles, San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara, Calif. as well as satellites in Oregon and the Washington D.C. metro area. Burnham Benefits holds national recognition as one of Business Insurance's Best Places to Work in Insurance 2013 and Best Place to Work by the Orange County Business Journal three years running. For more information, visit http://www.BurnhamBenefits.com.

ABOUT BURNHAM GIBSON FINANCIAL GROUP INC.: Burnham Gibson helps corporate and individual clients accumulate wealth, manage risk and plan for the future. Based in Irvine, Calif., the robust, full-service financial services firm offers an unparalleled complement of best-in-class services to help provide for the full spectrum of clients' financial needs, and the needs of their workforces. Burnham Gibson currently advises on approximately $750 million in assets for corporate and individual clients. In 2010, the company partnered with Burnham Benefits Insurance Services, one of the few firms to specialize solely in strategic employee benefits consulting and brokerage services, to provide a comprehensive offering of integrated employee benefits solutions. The relationship allows both firms to leverage a larger organizational scale and depth of management, improving the quality and service they can provide for clients. Burnham Benefits Insurance Services provides client-first health and wellness programs, and through the strategic partnership with Burnham Gibson Financial Group, the companies are able to provide retirement planning and wealth management services as well. For more information, visit http://www.burnhamgibson.com.

PPG 92873 (3/14)(Exp 3/16)