1st Century Bank, N.A. Announces Implementation of Succession Plan.

LOS ANGELES -- The Board of Directors of 1st Century Bank, N.A. ("1st Century") (OTCBB:FCNA) announced today that it has commenced a succession planning process aimed at identifying a potential successor to Richard Cupp, the Bank's founding and current President and Chief Executive Officer. The Board has created a Board Search Committee and has engaged an executive search firm specializing in the financial services industry, to identify, evaluate, and recommend potential candidates to the Board.

Alan I. Rothenberg, the Bank's Chairman, stated: "Dick Cupp has been instrumental to our success to date. His experience and good judgment have been invaluable as we emerged from our earliest stages. With the solid foundation we have established under Dick's leadership, a new CEO will have an excellent opportunity to take us to the next level of success. The support of our Board, founders and shareholders has been and will continue to be important to our continued success. Because we want to hire the very best possible successor, we are not imposing a specific timetable for this process to end."

Added Cupp: "I have been in banking for over 42 years and have been very gratified by my experience with 1st Century Bank, its Board of Directors and staff. The Bank has enjoyed great success since its opening and is in solid financial condition with excellent prospects for future success. At this stage of the Bank, and of my career, I hope to have an active, but supporting role going forward. While I hope this succession effort will be a success, I will not be departing until a qualified successor is in place."

1st Century is a full service bank headquartered in the Century City area of Los Angeles, California. 1st Century'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.

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 1st Century'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 1st Century's operating results, ability to attract deposit and loan customers and the quality of 1st Century's earning assets; (2) government regulation; and (3) the other risks set forth in 1st Century'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, 2005. 1st Century 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.