First Western Trust Bank Opens New Office in Denver Tech Center

DENVER, CO--(Marketwire - December 4, 2008) - First Western Trust Bank, the West's premier private bank and trust company, is expanding its operations in Colorado with the opening of a DTC | Cherry Hills office in Greenwood Village.

The Denver Tech Center has grown to represent the second largest financial market in Colorado. First Western's new location, at 5460 South Quebec Street, Suite 200, is a full-service office, providing private banking, investment management, personal trust, and wealth planning for high net worth individuals, their families and foundations.

Leading the bank's efforts at its fifth Colorado office is Lindsay Thomas Kough, as President of First Western Trust Bank, DTC | Cherry Hills. Mr. Kough brings over 15 years of experience in banking, securities, and financial planning to clients of First Western, coming to the bank from JPMorgan.

"This location will help us serve the needs of our growing customer base in the south suburban area," Kough said. "Clients will enjoy true Wall Street expertise at a local level, complete with unprecedented local access and personal service."

To recognize the occasion of the opening, and to continue its support of the Denver community, First Western made donations to a number of local organizations, including the Alliance for Choice in Education, the Cherry Creek Schools Foundation, Rocky Mountain Children's Law Center, Special Olympics, Colorado, and Wings Over the Rockies Air and Space Museum.

"The DTC | Cherry Hills area represents an excellent market for the advisory based private banking and investment management suite of services we provide," said First Western Trust Bank, Colorado President Lou Clinton. "Mr. Kough and the talented team he's assembled personify the bank's commitment to the western wealth management client and the Denver community."

First Western has established itself as a leader in the wealth management industry in the western United States. In addition to the new DTC | Cherry Hills operation, First Western has offices in downtown Denver, Boulder, Fort Collins, Cherry Creek, CO as well as Scottsdale, AZ and Los Angeles, CA that specialize in serving the needs of the entrepreneurial spirit of the West.

About First Western Trust Bank

First Western Trust Bank, the West's premier private bank and trust company, is the only private bank to comprehensively integrate private banking, investment management, personal trust and wealth planning for high net worth individuals and their families. First Western Financial, Inc., the holding company of First Western Trust Bank and First Western Investment Management, was recently ranked as one of Inc. 500's fastest growing private companies in the United States and the fastest growing banking institution in the country. With $2.5 billion currently in Affiliate assets under management, First Western fields a team of experienced professionals to deliver personalized wealth management solutions for each individual client. For more information, please visit www.fwtb.com, or call 303-531-8100.

Contact Information: For more information, please contact: Rebecca Wilson Macsovits First Western Trust Bank (303) 531-8100 Morrison Shafroth CSG | PR 720-470-3653