Cardinal Bank to Acquire Trust Company Assets.

TYSONS CORNER, Va. -- Cardinal Financial Corporation (NASDAQ:CFNL) announced today that its principal operating subsidiary, Cardinal Bank, has signed a definitive agreement to acquire certain fiduciary and other assets and assume the deposit liabilities of FBR National Trust Company, a subsidiary of Friedman, Billings, Ramsey Group, Inc. (NYSE:FBR). This agreement is subject to the satisfactory completion of due diligence by Cardinal, regulatory approval, the receipt of certain third-party consents and the satisfaction of other customary closing conditions. FBR National Trust Company acts as trustee or custodian for assets in excess of $5 billion. This transaction is expected to close in the first quarter of 2006 and is not expected to have a material impact on Cardinal's financial condition or operational results.

CAUTION ABOUT FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This press release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the federal securities laws. These forward-looking statements contain information related to matters such as Cardinal Financial Corporation's and Cardinal Bank's intent, belief or expectation regarding such matters as financial condition, operational performance, assets under management and the transaction closing date. Such statements are necessarily based on management's assumptions and estimates and are inherently subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties. Such risks and uncertainties could cause actual results to differ materially from those results expressed or implied in such forward-looking statements.

For an explanation of the risks and uncertainties associated with forward-looking statements, please refer to Cardinal Financial Corporation's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2004 and other reports filed with and furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission.

About Cardinal Financial Corporation: Cardinal Financial Corporation is a financial holding company headquartered in Tysons Corner, Virginia. On September 30, 2005, Cardinal Financial Corporation had assets of $1.54 billion. Through its wholly-owned subsidiary, Cardinal Bank, the Company serves Northern Virginia with 21 conveniently located banking offices in Alexandria, Annandale, Arlington, Clifton, Fairfax, Fredericksburg, Herndon, Leesburg, Manassas, McLean, Purcellville, Reston, Stafford, Sterling, Sterling Park, and two locations each in Fairfax City, Tysons Corner and Woodbridge. Cardinal also operates three other subsidiaries: a residential mortgage lending company, George Mason Mortgage, LLC, based in Fairfax, with eight offices throughout the Washington Metropolitan region; a full-service investment services company, Cardinal Wealth Services, Inc., and an asset management company, Wilson Bennett Capital Management, Inc. The company's stock is traded on the NASDAQ (CFNL). For additional information please visit our Web site at www.cardinalbank.com.