California General Bank Opens in Pasadena: The Only New Bank to Open in So. Calif. in 2009

PASADENA, Calif.--(Business Wire)--
A new bank, California General Bank, N.A., has opened for business with over $20
million in new capital at a time when many banks are going out of business or
cutting back on services or curtailing loans because of troubled balance sheets.
Located at 2700 E. Foothill Blvd. in East Pasadena, California, General becomes
the only bank to open in Southern California this year and one of only two in
the entire state. California General Bank began doing business on March 9 and
will celebrate its opening with an open house on Wednesday, March 25, from 5:00
to 7:00 p.m.

The executive chairman of the board is Robert C. Campbell and the president and
CEO is William A. Hawkins. California General will focus on small businesses in
Pasadena and surrounding communities, providing business loans, lines of credit
and other basic financial support with a heavy emphasis on personal service not
possible in larger banks.

In the years 2005, 2006 and 2007, banks were opening in California at the rate
of one every 16 days, and during that period no banks closed in the state. Two
California banks closed last year and another two have closed this year. "We
passed muster in what may be the toughest regulatory oversight in U.S. history,
and I attribute that success to an unusually strong senior management team and
board of directors," Hawkins said. Three board members have served as CEOs of
community banks; five are well-known business and professional people from the
community and two of those are former mayors, he said.

The board is composed of William Hawkins, president and CEO; Robert C. Campbell,
executive chairman and former CEO of Bank of Orange County; Joseph Kiley III,
former president and CEO of First Bank of Beverly Hills, Calabasas; Beatrice
Proo, the founding chairman of the board of Pacific Western National Bank and
former mayor of Pico Rivera; Nat B. Read, principal of Read Communications in
Pasadena; Louis P. Smaldino, president of Mr. S Liquor Marts, Inc.; Paul L.
Talbot, State Farm Insurance agency in Duarte and former mayor of Alhambra;
David A. Thompson, M.D., a practicing neurologist in Glendale; Michael A.
Zoeller, president of Riedon, Inc., an Alhambra, California-based manufacturer.

Executive vice presidents of the bank are Jon E. Matalon, chief financial
officer, Lee J. Bianco, chief credit officer, and Carlos M. Huerta, chief
business development officer.

California General Bank
Bill Hawkins, 626-683-9100
Cell: 626-437-7771

Copyright Business Wire 2009