Another Record Year in Earnings Reported by Bank of Santa Clara.

Business Editors

SANTA CLARA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 25, 2000

Bank of Santa Clara, Santa Clara County's oldest independent bank (NASDAQ:BNSC), reports record net earnings for 1999. The twelve-month net earnings of $4,402,559 was 11.3% more than the net earnings of $3,955,647 for the comparable period in 1998. Earnings per share, assuming dilution, for the year was $1.86 versus last year's $1.69.

Deposit totals on December 31, 1999, were $293,697,983, an increase of 9.4% compared to December 31, 1998 deposit totals of $268,464,661. Total loans outstanding on December 31, 1999 were $215,332,802, 14.0% more than the loan totals of $188,943,944, one year earlier. Total assets of $326,933,786 at the end of 1999 were 9.8% higher than the $297,720,638 in assets on December 31, 1998.

The forth-quarter net earnings of $1,321,661 was 28.7% more than the net earnings of $1,027,164 for the comparable period in 1998. Earnings per share, assuming dilution, for the three-month period of 1999 was $0.55 compared to the same period of last year of $0.45.

As a result of the record earnings, the Board of Directors has declared a cash dividend of $0.60 per share, payable to shareholders of record on February 7, 2000 and payment on February 21, 2000.

Founded in 1972, Bank of Santa Clara is Santa Clara County's oldest and largest &uot;hometown&uot; bank. Headquartered in Santa Clara, California, this independent community bank operates eight branches, staffed with over 150 employees, serving 20,000 individuals and small to medium-sized businesses throughout Silicon Valley.

Additional information on Bank of Santa Clara can be obtained through its web site at www.bankofsantaclara.com, via e-mail at [e-mail] or by call 408-249-5900.