Plaza Bank Continues to Add New, Strong Talent

IRVINE, CA--(Marketwired - Jan 21, 2016) - Plaza Bank (OTCBB: PLZZ) (the "Bank") is pleased to announce the hiring of four more banking professionals to further strengthen its growing team, as follows.

• Harmik Ghazarian, Vice President, Branch Manager, Montebello -- Prior to joining Plaza Bank, Mr. Ghazarian worked for various "Big 5" banks, as well as a regional and community bank, with roles including Branch Manager, Relationship Manager, and Business Development Officer. In addition to his well-rounded foundational credit background, Mr. Ghazarian specializes in the transportation, distribution, and manufacturing industries -- in line with Plaza Bank's target markets. Mr. Ghazarian responsibilities include commercial banking (up to $30 million) especially as it pertains to acquisition and portfolio management -- he is the only Branch Manager at Plaza Bank with dual responsibilities. Furthermore, his fluency in both English and Armenian is an asset for the Montebello office's customers and prospects. A graduate of the Marshall School of Business at the University of Southern California, Mr. Ghazarian resides in Los Angeles with his wife and daughter.
• Jackie Granger, Vice President, Business Development Officer, Irvine -- Most recently, Ms. Granger was Vice President and Business Development Officer at Farmers & Merchants. She began her career in 2000 as Assistant Vice President and Personal Banker for Bank One (now Chase Bank) in Phoenix, where she excelled as a personal banker, financial adviser, and relationship manager. She consistently received President's Club awards and ranked among the top 100 bankers throughout the country. Thereafter, she joined BBVA Compass as Relationship Manager before moving to Newport Beach and working for Union Bank. Ms. Granger remains very active in her community, giving back through several charities and organizations.
• Vanna Truong, Business Development Officer, Northern California -- Prior to joining Plaza Bank, Ms. Truong was a top sales producer at Wells Fargo SBA Lending, closing more than $100 million in SBA loans over the past five years. Before that, she consistently ranked among the top 10 performers in underwriting and sales at Wells Fargo. With more than 10 years' business banking experience, ranging from wholesale banking and underwriting to sales and business development, Ms. Truong brings a wealth of knowledge in commercial real estate and commercial/industrial lending. She holds a bachelor's degree in Business Administration from Haas School of Business at University of California, Berkeley, and also is a graduate of Wells Fargo's College of Commercial Credit training program.
• Daniel Lien, Vice President, Relationship Manager, Pasadena -- Mr. Lien brings nearly 40 years' experience in business banking and finance. Most recently, he owned and operated DJL Professional Services, providing commercial real estate loans and business consulting. Prior to that, he worked at Inland Community Bank/American West Bank as Branch Manager in Duarte, while also helping to build out the bank's new Pasadena office. He also previously spent 26 years at Community Bank Pasadena, with positions including Branch Administration Manager, Regional Manager, and Senior Relationship Manager. A resident of Bradbury, Mr. Lien is very active in the Pasadena community, serving as Executive Board Member of the Foothill Workforce Development Board, Member of the Pasadena Economic Enhancement Committee, Chair of the Pasadena Humane Society Charity Golf Tournament, and Member of Hill Avenue Grace Lutheran Church of Pasadena.
  
  

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.