SAN JOSE, CA--(Marketwire - Dec 5, 2011) - Heritage Bank of Commerce, the operating bank of Heritage Commerce Corp (NASDAQ: [ HTBK ]), was recently honored by the San Jose/Silicon Valley Business Journal as one of the top 50 corporate citizens in the Silicon Valley. This year the Bank is ranked #36 in this prestigious distinction.

"We understand that during these tough economic times, some of the hardest hit organizations are dedicated to improving the lives of those in need," said Bill Del Biaggio, Executive Vice-President of Heritage Bank of Commerce. "As a community business bank we strive to make an impact in the communities that we serve, and place great importance on supporting a wide variety of non-profit organizations who are dedicated to improving the quality of life for residents throughout the Bay Area."

This season, in addition to cash donations and sponsorships, Heritage also made in-kind donations to various organizations. Heritage Bank employees are also giving their time and talent to coordinate donation drives to feed and clothe those in need. Some of those activities include:

Vehicle Donations
Heritage Bank of Commerce donated a van formerly used for courier pickups to Las Trampas School in Lafayette, which serves adults with developmental disabilities. The van will be used to assist in the organization's supported living services. The Bank also donated a PT Cruiser to the Down Syndrome Connection in Danville, which serves adults and children with Down Syndrome.

Annual Food and Warm Coat Drive
This holiday season Heritage Hearts at Work, an internal group comprised of employees dedicated to helping those in need, is sponsoring a food drive for Second Harvest Food Bank of Santa Clara and San Mateo Counties, Alameda County Community Food Bank, and the Food Bank of Contra Costa County; as well as a warm coat drive for One Warm Coat, which collects, cleans and distributes warm winter coats to people in need. The food and warm coat drive will take place from December 1 - January 3, 2012, and donations from the local community can be brought to any of the Bank's ten locations throughout the Bay Area.

This is the fourth consecutive year that Heritage Bank of Commerce has been recognized as one of the top philanthropic companies by the San Jose/Silicon Valley Business Journal.

Heritage Commerce Corp, a bank holding company established in February 1998, is the parent company of Heritage Bank of Commerce, established in 1994 and headquartered in San Jose with full-service branches in Danville, Fremont, Gilroy, Los Altos, Los Gatos, Morgan Hill, Mountain View, Pleasanton, and Walnut Creek. Heritage Bank of Commerce is an SBA Preferred Lender with an additional Loan Production Office in Santa Rosa, California. For more information, please visit [ www.heritagecommercecorp.com ].