1st Century Bank, N.A., Announces Secondary Stock Offering.

LOS ANGELES -- 1st Century Bank, N.A. ("Bank" or "Company"), (OTCBB:FCNA) announced that its Board of Directors has approved a best efforts public offering of additional shares of its common stock. The aggregate amount of the offering, the specific number of shares and the price per share will be determined closer to the commencement date of the offering, which is expected to be in May of this year. The Company will receive all the proceeds from this offering. "The additional capital should accelerate our growth opportunities and increase our lending capacity, while allowing those investors who were cut back or shut out entirely in the initial offering, as well as customers and prior investors, an opportunity to directly purchase stock in the Bank," stated Board Chairman Alan I. Rothenberg. "Based upon the timing and results of our initial offering, we anticipate closing the offering by the end of the second quarter," stated President and CEO Richard S. Cupp.

1st Century Bank opened for business on March 1, 2004, after raising $26.4 million in common stock from over 400 investors at an initial offering price of $10.00 per share. A two-for-one stock split was completed on February 28, 2005. The closing price as reported on the OTC Bulletin Board on March 7, 2005, was $10.75.

1st Century Bank, N.A., is a full service bank headquartered in the Century City area of Los Angeles. 1st Century Bank's primary focus is relationship banking to family-owned and closely held middle-market businesses, professional service firms and high net worth individuals, real estate investors and entrepreneurs. Additional information is available at www.1stcenturybank.com. This press release does not constitute an offer of any securities for sale. Please review the forward-looking statements below for further information.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

Certain matters discussed in this letter constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements relate to the Bank's current expectations regarding deposit and loan growth, operating results and the strength of the local economy. These forward-looking statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause the actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from those expressed, suggested or implied by the forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to: (1) the impact of changes in interest rates, a decline in economic conditions and increased competition among financial service providers on the Bank's operating results, ability to attract deposit and loan customers and the quality of the Bank's earning assets; (2) government regulation; and (3) the other risks set forth in 1st Century Bank's reports filed with the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, including its Annual Report on Form 10-KSB for the year ended December 31, 2003. 1st Century Bank does not undertake, and specifically disclaims, any obligation to update any forward-looking statements to reflect occurrences or unanticipated events or circumstances after the date of such statements.