Nara Bancorp Renews Chief Executive Officer's Employment Contract

LOS ANGELES, Oct. 5, 2009 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Nara Bancorp, Inc. (Nasdaq:NARA)
today announced a three year renewal of the employment contract for Ms. Min Kim,
President and Chief Executive Officer. Ms. Min. Kim, 49, has served as President
and CEO of Nara Bancorp, Inc. ("Company") and its wholly owned subsidiary, Nara
Bank, since November 27, 2006.

"I am very proud to continue to serve as CEO of Nara Bancorp," said Ms. Kim. "It
has been my privilege to work with the many talented Nara employees and
directors, and I look forward to the exciting opportunities ahead."

The renewal includes the following provisions. Ms. Kim will receive an annual
base salary of $350,000. On November 27, 2009, Ms. Kim shall be granted 40,000
performance units representing 40,000 shares of Common Stock of Company vesting
over three (3) years, 1/3 annually on each anniversary of the grant date. In
compliance with Security Purchase Agreement under the Emergency Economic
Stabilization Act of 2008 ("EESA"), as modified by the American Recovery and
Reinvestment Act of 2009, the renewal does not provide for annual cash bonuses,
change in control payments or severance. These matters shall be reconsidered by
the Company's Board of Directors, in its sole discretion, upon repayment of the
Troubled Asset Relief Program capital and the Company's satisfaction of all
terms and conditions of the EESA Capital Purchase Plan.

Ms. Kim has more than 25 years of experience working for financial institutions
serving the Korean-American community. Prior to joining Nara Bancorp, Ms. Kim
worked for Hanmi Bank for almost 10 years in a variety of capacities including
Vice President, Lending Officer and Branch Manager. Ms. Kim has a Bachelor of
Science degree in Business Administration from the University of Southern
California.

About Nara Bancorp, Inc.

Nara Bancorp, Inc. is the parent company of Nara Bank, which was founded in
1989. Nara Bank is a full-service community bank headquartered in Los Angeles,
with 22 branches and 1 loan production offices in the United States. Nara Bank
operates full-service branches in California, New York and New Jersey, with a
loan production office in Texas. Nara Bank was founded specifically to serve the
needs of Korean-Americans, one of the fastest-growing Asian ethnic communities
over the past decade. Presently, Nara Bank serves a diverse group of customers
mirroring its communities. Nara Bank specializes in core business banking
products for small and medium-sized companies, with emphasis in commercial real
estate and business lending, SBA lending and international trade financing. Nara
Bank is a member of the FDIC and is an Equal Opportunity Lender. For more
information on Nara Bank, visit our website at www.narabank.com. Nara Bancorp,
Inc. stock is listed on NASDAQ under the symbol "NARA."

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements including statements
about future operations and projected full-year financial results that are
subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ
materially from those expressed or implied by such forward looking statements,
including, but not limited to economic, competitive, governmental and
technological factors affecting the Company's operations, markets, products,
services, and pricing. Readers should carefully review the risk factors and the
information that could materially affect the Company's financial results and
business, described in documents the Company files from time to time with the
Securities and Exchange Commission, including its quarterly reports on Form 10-Q
and Annual Reports on Form 10-K, and particularly the discussion of business
considerations and certain factors that may affect results of operations and
stock price set forth therein. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance
on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this
press release. The Company undertakes no obligation to revise or publicly
release the results of any revision to these forward-looking statements.

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CONTACT: Financial Relations Board
George Zagoudis
312-640-6663