IRVINE, CA--(Marketwired - Mar 25, 2014) - Plaza Bank (OTCBB: PLZB) added more strength to its expert team serving small and midsize businesses with the return of experienced banker Chris Rabenold as a vice president and business development officer.

Mr. Rabenold has closed more than $350 million in commercial real estate transactions in his career and has worked in both Northern and Southern California for a range of financial institutions from very large to community banks, including Plaza Bank through 2012.

"We're thrilled Chris is coming back to us," said Gene Galloway, President and CEO of the Irvine-based Plaza Bank. "He has great relationships throughout California and has the kind of market insight that can be tremendously valuable to the businesses and people we serve. And we think it says a lot about what we do that Chris chose to return here."

Mr. Rabenold will be based in Los Angeles and will focus on developing and supporting commercial customers, many of them the kinds of small businesses that are the core of Plaza Bank's clientele.

"I'm looking forward to being back with Plaza Bank," Mr. Rabenold remarked. "Some banks only see the numbers, but Plaza Bank knows numbers don't tell the whole story. We really listen to our customers' needs and see the value in what they are trying to do."

In addition to his experience with Plaza Bank, Mr. Rabenold has worked for Greystone Servicing Corporation, the Bank of East Asia and Cathay Bank. He added Plaza Banks fits his approach to banking.

"I want to be able to help people," he continued. "We can literally save someone's business when their backs are against the wall, and it's the little guy -- the bakery, the cleaner, the print shop. Our communities are better places with them healthy."

Mr. Rabenold lives in Manhattan Beach with his wife, Molly, and their four-month-old twins.

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.net or call President and CEO Gene Galloway at (949) 502-4309.

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 changes in existing litigation; 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.