Business Bank of Nevada Chief Credit Officer Joins Elite Group of Pacific Coast Banking School Graduates.

Business Editors

LAS VEGAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 11, 2000

Business Bank of Nevada today announced that Mark Phillips, executive vice president and chief credit officer of the bank, became the second employee of the bank to graduate from the prestigious Pacific Coast Banking School (PCBS) at the University of Washington in Seattle. Phillips joins a list of over 9,000 bankers from around the country who have graduated from this elite school of banking since it began over 60 years ago. Jerry Gregory, senior vice president and regional manager of Business Bank's Carson City branch, graduated from PCBS in 1978.

Pacific Coast Banking School is the premier Graduate-level program of management education focused on the financial services industry and has been educating officers in this industry since 1938. Participants who attend PCBS are chosen by their employers on the basis of their potential for leadership. Graduation from PCBS follows three years of intense work, including attendance at three two-week sessions held at the University of Washington, completion of a series of written assignments, and conducting original research and writing a management report on a topic of importance to the industry and the sponsoring bank.

"Graduating of PCBS is an honor and a privilege, and it's something I will treasure throughout my banking career," Phillips said. "PCBS is like the Harvard or Yale of banking and very few bankers get the opportunity I had to attend such a prestigious school and further my banking and management skills. I'm confident this experience will make me a better lender and overall banker."

Phillips, an 18-year veteran of the banking industry, joined Business Bank in April this year. Prior to joining Business Bank, Phillips worked for Bank of America and its predecessor, Valley Bank of Nevada. While at BofA and Valley Bank, he managed the Government Lending Products Group, the SBA Division, worked as a Commercial Real Estate Loan Officer, and as a Branch Manager. Phillips also worked for the Metropolitan Bank of Arizona and United Bank of Arizona.

A native of Detroit, Michigan, Phillips moved to Las Vegas in 1977 after graduating from Alma College in Alma, Michigan, with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Administration. Phillips and his wife Veronica have been married 14 years and have two children, Jessica and Jaime.

Business Bank of Nevada, with over $175 million in total assets, is in its sixth year of operations and is one of the fastest-growing independent banks in the state. The bank has four branch offices in Nevada, with three in the Las Vegas area and one in Carson City. The bank has plans to open additional offices statewide in the near future. Business Bank is FDIC Insured and is a member of the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco, and is listed over the counter (OTC) at ticker symbol BBNV.