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First California Financial Group: First California Celebrates 30th Anniversary; Will Host Opening Bell Ceremony at NASDAQ on Ma

^{Published on 2009-02-27 09:11:44, Last Modified on 2009-02-27 09:12:51 - Market Wire}
 

WESTLAKE VILLAGE, CA--(Marketwire - February 27, 2009) - First California Financial Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: [ FCAL ]), parent company of First California Bank, today announced a major company milestone. As one of Southern California's strongest and safest community banks, First California Bank is celebrating 30 years in the business beginning today. The Bank opened on February 27, 1979, under the name Camarillo Community Bank.

As part of the year-long celebration, First California Financial Group will host the NASDAQ Opening Bell ceremony on Monday, March 2, 2009 in recognition of the company's anniversary. The ceremony will take place at 9:30 a.m. ET at NASDAQ's MarketSite in New York's Times Square and will be broadcast simultaneously on [ www.nasdaq.com ] and on the seven-story NASDAQ tower, the largest stationary video screen in the world.

The NASDAQ ceremony will be one of the many highlights during First California's 30-year history. Other notable accomplishments include:

 -- 1979 The Bank receives FDIC approval with an initial capitalization of $1.25 million. -- 1981 The Bank moves to a new location in Camarillo, Calif. The new office features a drive-up window with four lanes, a state-of-the-art computer system and an Automatic Teller Machine. -- 1985 The Bank completes a secondary offering, raising an additional $640,000 in capital. -- 1999 The Bank's total assets reach $100 million. -- 2000 The Bank introduces E-Access, a secure Internet-based online banking service. -- 2001 The Bank changes its name to First California Bank. -- 2003 The Bank is awarded the Preferred Lender status by the SBA. -- 2004 FCB Bancorp is formed as the holding company for First California Bank. -- 2005 FCB Bancorp acquires South Coast Commercial Bancorp. -- 2006 A merger of equals with National Mercantile Bancorp is announced, creating a new holding company called First California Financial Group, Inc. -- 2007 The merger is finalized, resulting in a branch network of 12 full-service offices. -- 2008 The Bank and holding company relocate their corporate headquarters to Westlake Village, Calif. The Bank's total assets reach $1.25 billion. -- 2009 The Bank assumes the insured deposits of 1st Centennial Bank, the wholly-owned subsidiary of 1st Centennial Bancorp (OTCBB: [ FCEN ]). 

About First California Financial Group, Inc.

First California Financial Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: [ FCAL ]) is an emerging force of strength and stability in Southern California banking. With assets now exceeding $1.4 billion, the company operates throughout Southern California, primarily under the First California Bank brand. The bank's focus is the commercial market, particularly small- and middle-sized businesses, professional firms and commercial real estate, development and construction companies. With a commitment to provide the best client service available in its markets, the bank offers a full line of quality commercial banking products now through 18 full-service branch offices in Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego and Ventura counties. The holding company's website can be accessed at [ www.fcalgroup.com ]. For additional information on First California Bank's products and services, visit [ www.fcbank.com ].

First California was a wholly owned subsidiary of National Mercantile Bancorp formed to facilitate the reincorporation merger with National Mercantile and the merger with FCB Bancorp, which occurred on March 12, 2007. Accordingly, First California's historical balance sheet and results of operations before the merger are the same as the historical information of National Mercantile. The company's results of operations include approximately 19 days of FCB Bancorp's results for the 2007 first quarter.