RALEIGH, NC--(Marketwired - Oct 30, 2014) - In recognition of its dedication to improving business owners' access to capital in order to grow and create jobs, Yadkin Bank (NYSE: YDKN) has been named North Carolina Community Bank of the Year.

The award exemplifies Yadkin Bank's stature as one of the country's most successful lenders in the State Small Business Credit Initiative, which is overseen by the U.S. Department of the Treasury. Yadkin Bank has enrolled more than $52 million in loans into the initiative, ranking it 12th in the country in terms of dollar volume. These loans have supported the creation or retention of more than 1,850 North Carolina jobs.

"We are honored to be recognized as a top lender in the State Small Business Credit Initiative. Being named the North Carolina Community Bank of the Year highlights our commitment to providing financial solutions for small businesses which leads to job creation and retention," said Steve Jones, Yadkin Bank's Chief Banking Officer.

The award was presented during a ceremony in Raleigh hosted by the N.C. Rural Economic Development Center, Inc. On behalf of the state of North Carolina, the Rural Center manages the N.C. Small Business Credit Initiative in all 100 counties.

"Yadkin Bank has been a dynamic partner in helping to grow small businesses," said Patrick Woodie, president of the Rural Center. "Each of these loans has assisted an employer in maintaining or expanding its payroll. The tremendous efforts of Yadkin Bank have made a positive impact on thousands of North Carolina families."

Made possible by $46.1 million in federal funding, the N.C. Small Business Credit Initiative works to reduce risks for lenders and make more capital available for business startups and expansions across the state. North Carolina has been efficient and effective in deploying these funds, ranking fifth nationally in both funds expended and financing supported. The Rural Center has so far deployed more than $37 million to support private lending and investing, which has created or retained nearly 7,000 jobs statewide.

About Yadkin Bank
Yadkin Financial Corporation is the holding company for Yadkin Bank, a full-service state-chartered community bank providing services in 73 branches across North Carolina and upstate South Carolina. Serving over 80,000 customers, the company has assets of 4.0 billion dollars. The Bank's primary business is providing banking, mortgage, investment and insurance services to residents and businesses across the Carolinas. The Bank provides mortgage-lending services through its mortgage division, Yadkin Mortgage, headquartered in Greensboro, NC. The Bank's SBA Lending (Government Guaranteed Lending) is headquartered in Charlotte, NC. Yadkin Financial Corporation's website is www.yadkinbank.com. The common stock is traded on the NYSE under the symbol YDKN.

About the N.C. Rural Center
The N.C. Rural Economic Development Center is a private, nonprofit organization whose mission is to develop sound economic strategies that improve the quality of life in rural North Carolina, with a special focus on individuals with low to moderate incomes and communities with limited resources. The center operates programs that train rural entrepreneurs, build the productive capacity of rural leaders, and assist small businesses in accessing capital.