1st Century Bank, N.A. Announces the Acceleration of Vesting of Outstanding Stock Options.

LOS ANGELES -- 1st Century Bank, N.A. ("1st Century") (OTCBB:FCNA) announced today that its Board of Directors has accelerated the vesting of outstanding stock options in order to reduce the adverse impact of new accounting regulations that will take effect in 2006.

As a condition of the acceleration, to avoid any unintended personal benefits to 1st Century's directors and executive officers and to provide an incentive for continued contributions to the long-term operation of the bank, 1st Century also imposed restrictions on the sale of the shares underlying the accelerated options held by directors and executive officers. These restrictions prevent the sale of any stock obtained through exercise of accelerated options prior to the lapse of specified restriction periods that are intended to be equivalent to the original vesting schedules.

As a result of the vesting acceleration, options to purchase approximately 1.5 million shares of 1st Century's stock have become exercisable immediately, approximately 1.3 million shares of which are subject to restrictions on resale. Today's closing price for 1st Century common stock was $8.04 per share. Based on today's closing stock price, 93% of the total accelerated options have economic value. The weighted average exercise price of accelerated options with exercise prices below today's closing stock prices is $6.31.

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, 2004. 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.