Affinity Bank
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 12, 2001

California Bankers Return to their Oregon Roots

Portland, OR - Affinity Bank, one of the commercial lending industry’s fastest growing and most competitive players, is expanding its Western loan territory into Portland, Oregon. The Bank’s new Portland loan production office has officially opened at 1500 SW First Avenue, Suite 950, Portland, OR 97201.

"We’re glad to be coming home," said Michael R. McGuire, Bank President and CEO. "Even though I have not lived in Portland for two decades, I feel a strong connection with the Portland community. A couple of us still have significant family ties in the area."

Mr. McGuire, along with two of his Senior Vice Presidents – Gerald Rich (Jerry), Chief Financial Officer, and Annette Borysiewicz, Chief Savings Officer – are former residents of Oregon. Mr. McGuire grew up in Portland, attended Jesuit High School and Portland State University, and started his banking career in 1969 in Portland. Mr. Rich was raised in Molalla, attended the University of Oregon, and held the position of Senior Audit Manager with KPMG Peat Marwick in Portland for 10 years before moving to California. Ms. Borysiewicz worked with U.S. Bank of Oregon from 1993 to 1996.

Alfred Bookman, former Commercial Lending Manager for First Bank of Beverly Hills (FBBH) in Portland, has been hired to head up the Bank’s new Portland office as Regional Loan Manager.

Mr. Bookman has 25 years of experience in commercial real estate lending and related fields. Prior to joining Affinity Bank, he was responsible for originating loans in the seven Western United States.

"We’re getting the word out -- we’ve got money to lend to finance income property real estate projects in Portland," McGuire said. "We offer very competitive programs, with a loan size of up to $5 million," McGuire said. "We aim to be a serious competitor in the commercial real estate lending market in the Portland area."

Affinity Bank specializes in apartment, retail and office building, light industrial and warehouse, and construction loans. A privately held financial institution headquartered in Ventura California, with assets of more than $360 million, the Bank will grow to approximately $440 million next month when the Bank closes on the acquisition of First Plus Bank of Irvine, California. The bank will then have three retail branch offices and five loan production offices, including Portland. For more information on the Bank’s loan products, call Alfred Bookman at 866-295-4400. To learn more about Affinity Bank, log onto www.affinitybank.com or call the home office toll free at 1-800-489-1562 between 6 A.M. and 6 P.M. Monday through Friday (PST).

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