Business Bank of Nevada Enters the Lake Tahoe Market with a Loan Production Office.

Business Editors

STATELINE, Nev.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 1, 2002

Business Bank of Nevada (OTCBB:BBNV) today announced the opening of its new Loan Production Office (LPO) in the Stateline area of Lake Tahoe.

The new LPO is located in the Lake Tahoe Center at 225 Kingsbury Grade in Stateline, and will house Ursula Prebezac, the bank's new senior commercial loan officer for the northern Nevada market areas served by the bank.

Prebezac, senior vice president and senior loan officer for the bank, recently joined Business Bank from the Lake Tahoe market where she worked for Colonial Bank and its predecessors for the past 20 years. The bank's new LPO at Stateline will actually be located in a professional office building adjacent to Prebezac's former employer and banking location where she served as market president for both the Lake Tahoe and Carson City markets the past one and a half years.

"Our decision to move into the Lake Tahoe area was certainly prompted by the hiring of Ursula and the knowledge and understanding she has of this market," said Business Bank President and CEO John Guedry. "Ever since we opened our Carson City office nearly three years ago, we've been looking at other markets in and around this area, and Lake Tahoe made the most sense at this point in time. With Ursula's contacts, we think we can make some significant inroads into this area that would warrant the need for a larger presence."

Guedry added that the bank would continue to look at other markets throughout northern Nevada to open more LPOs as well as satellite and full-service branches. "We're currently looking at several different opportunities right now, and if the economy continues to improve and other factors fall in to place, we will move forward with our expansion plans throughout northern Nevada."

The purpose of the bank's new LPO will be limited to meeting with customers, accepting loan applications, and consummating loan transactions. Other functions of the bank may be performed at this location, but will not directly involve receiving deposits, making withdrawals or handling cash.

The hours of the bank's new LPO will vary depending upon Prebezac's travel schedule to other markets she will service. People trying to reach Prebezac at the Lake Tahoe office can call 775/588-3810. She can also be reached at the bank's Carson City branch by calling 775/885-1229.

"Even though banking has become a high-tech business, it's still the people-to-people aspect of our business that determines your success," said Jerry Gregory, senior vice president and Northern Nevada regional manager for Business Bank. "The hiring of well-known, highly-qualified individuals was the impetus behind the opening of our Carson City branch nearly three years ago, and continues to be the basis of our hiring decisions and possible expansion plans today."

As the bank's Northern Nevada Regional Manager, Gregory will now oversee both the Carson City and Lake Tahoe operations of the bank. Gregory, a 38-year veteran of the banking industry throughout northern Nevada, will work very closely with Prebezac in developing new business in Lake Tahoe and the surrounding areas.

About Business Bank

Business Bank, with over $225.5 million in total assets as of June 30, 2002, is in its seventh year of operation and is one of the fastest-growing independent banks in Nevada. The bank has four branch offices in the State, with three in the Las Vegas area and one in Carson City. Business Bank is FDIC Insured and is a member of the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco. Its stock is listed on the Over The Counter Bulletin Board (OTCBB) at ticker symbol BBNV. Additional information about Business Bank is available at www.bbnv.com.