Business Bank of Nevada President Named Corporate Recruitment Chairman for Juvenile Diabetes 2000 Walk to Cure Diabetes Event.

Business and Lifestyle Editors

LAS VEGAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 8, 2000

Bank Provides Philanthropic Outreach to Local Nonprofit Groups

Business Bank of Nevada today announced that its president and chief executive officer, John Guedry, has been named Southern Nevada's Corporate Recruitment Chairman for the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation's 2000 Walk to Cure Diabetes event to be held Saturday, Sept. 23 at UNLV.

Guedry accepted this position for a variety of reasons, most of which include his commitment to giving back to the community.

The bank also announced today that it has provided philanthropic support to several nonprofit organizations in the Las Vegas and Carson City areas. The charitable groups include Nevada Child Seekers, American Heart Association, Juvenile Diabetes Foundation of Nevada, Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Southern Nevada, Opportunity Village, and the Boys and Girls Club of Carson City. The bank has contributed more than $10,000 to these organizations in time, money and in-kind support.

"Business Bank's management and staff are very caring people and genuinely want to help our communities be the best place to live, work and raise a family," Guedry said. "Community involvement is an integral part of the bank's overall business philosophy, which not only includes monetary support but that every officer of the bank involve themselves in at least one nonprofit organization."

Guedry added that the bank's policy towards donating money to nonprofit organizations states that it will first look at those charitable causes and groups that its employees are involved in before looking at other requests.

"We want to support what our employees are doing out in the community, which more often than not is pretty diverse and inclusive of those quality nonprofit organizations serving our community," said Guedry.

Colleen Ashworth, executive director of the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation of Nevada, says Guedry's involvement in this year's Walk to Cure Diabetes event is invaluable to her organization.

"When we look for a corporate recruitment chairperson for our walk event each year, we look for someone who has the leadership skills, community contacts and commitment to the community, and John certainly has all of these talents and much more," Ashworth said.

"Very few people have accepted the position of corporate recruitment chair and done far more than what was ever expected of them, and John is far exceeding our expectations of helping us reach a goal of raising $425,000 for this year's event," Ashworth added. "John clearly has the contacts and name recognition to help us open a lot of doors we've never been able to get into since entering this market in 1971."

Other nonprofit organizations Business Bank has supported this year include the Lions Club, Rotary Club, HELP of Southern Nevada, UNLV Foundation, Leadership Las Vegas, United Way of Southern Nevada, and Nevada Development Authority.

This year the bank anticipates donating approximately $25,000 in money, in-kind and volunteer support to qualified nonprofit groups in the Las Vegas and Carson City areas. The bank's philanthropic budget is estimated at about one percent of the bank's after-tax profits.

Business Bank of Nevada, with assets of more than $145 million, is in its fifth year of operation and is one of the fastest-growing independent commercial 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 a member of the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco and is listed over the counter (OTC) at ticker symbol BBNV.

Visit the company's Web site at www.bbnv.com.