IRVINE, CA--(Marketwired - Oct 8, 2015) -  Plaza Bank (OTCBB: PLZB) today announced it has opened its new regional business center in San Diego, located in the Highlands Corporate Center at 12750 High Bluff Drive.

The new center, which officially opened September 22, serves Plaza Bank's growing client base throughout the San Diego business region. It is Plaza Bank's eighth location throughout Southern California and Las Vegas. Plaza Bank specializes in traditional business banking services, commercial lending, and SBA financing.

"As we continue our rapid growth serving small business communities, we are excited to announce Plaza Bank's expansion into the San Diego area," said Gene Galloway, President and CEO of the Bank. "Our new branch at the Highlands Corporate Center provides an ideal location to serve existing and new customers with our niche banking products and services, helping us advance the small business community in San Diego."

In 2006, Plaza Bank opened its first location and corporate headquarters in Irvine, through investment by private equity firm Carpenter & Company. In less than 10 years, the Bank has become one of the nation's premier community banks through strong organic growth, as well as key acquisitions and mergers. In 2014, with $554 million in assets, Plaza Bank ranked #41 among SNL Financial's "Top 100 Best Performing Community Banks," one of the industry's benchmark lists.

"We have established a reputation for exceeding expectations and remain committed to upholding our high standards as a top-tier community bank," Galloway said. "Our entire team is dedicated to client satisfaction, and we look forward to continued growth and success with our expansion in the San Diego region."

Plaza Bank and its leadership already have deep ties to the area and business community. Galloway graduated from San Diego State University and was twice stationed at Camp Pendleton as a member of the U.S. Marine Corps. Other key staff members based in the San Diego business center and who reside in the area include:

  • Dean Andersen--Vice President, Branch Manager; 25 years in San Diego.
  • Tim Himstreet--Senior Vice President, Relationship Manager; 15 years in San Diego.
  • Todd Massas--Senior Vice President, Commercial Lending; 25 years in San Diego.
  • Pat Tropio--Senior Vice President, Commercial Lending; 21 years in San Diego.
  • Adam Seery--Senior Vice President, 12 years in San Diego.

"Our collective experience and long-standing relationships in the San Diego market position us as the ideal banking partner for the region's small business community," Andersen said. "Our team will be very active in reaching out to both prospective and existing clients to meet their financial needs and goals with the high level of personal service for which Plaza Bank is known."

About Plaza Bank
 Plaza Bank is full service community bank serving the business and professional communities in Southern California and Las Vegas, Nevada. The Bank is committed to meeting the financial needs of small to middle market businesses and professional firms with loans for working capital, equipment and owner-occupied commercial real estate financing and a full array of cash management services. Our bankers are experienced, professional and knowledgeable. For more information, visit www.plazabank.com.

Forward-Looking Statements
Certain matters discussed in this press release constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, and are subject to the safe harbors created by that Act. Forward-looking statements can be identified by the fact that they do not relate strictly to historical or current facts. They often include the words "believe," "expect," "anticipate," "intend," "plan," "estimate," or words of similar meaning, or future or conditional verbs such as "will," "would," "should," "could," or "may." Forward-looking statements are based on currently available information, expectations, assumptions, projections, and management's judgment about the Bank, the banking industry and general economic conditions. These forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance, nor should they be relied upon as representing management's views as of any subsequent date. Future events are difficult to predict, and the expectations described above are necessarily subject to risk and uncertainty that may cause actual results to differ materially and adversely.

Forward-looking statements involve significant risks and uncertainties and actual results may differ materially from those presented, either expressed or implied, in this press release. Factors that might cause such differences include, but are not limited to: the Bank's ability to successfully execute its business plans and achieve its objectives; changes in general economic, real estate and financial market conditions, either nationally or locally in areas in which the Bank conducts its operations; changes in interest rates; new litigation or claims or changes in existing litigation or claims; future credit loss experience; increased competitive challenges and expanding product and pricing pressures among financial institutions; legislation or regulatory changes which adversely affect the Bank's operations or business; loss of key personnel; changes in accounting policies or procedures as may be required by the Financial Accounting Standards Board or other regulatory agencies; and the ability to satisfy requirements related to the Sarbanes-Oxley Act and other regulation on internal control.