Center Bank Expands Geographic Reach with Opening of Honolulu Loan Production Office.

LOS ANGELES & HONOLULU -- Center Financial Corporation (Nasdaq:CLFC), the financial holding company of Center Bank, a community bank focused on the Korean-American niche market, today announced the opening of its seventh out-of-state Loan Production Office (LPO) in Honolulu, Hawaii. The company appointed certified public accountant Michael J. Choi to head its newly established LPO, located at 1585 Kapiolani Boulevard, Suite 905, Honolulu, Hawaii 96814, telephone number 808-949-0452.

"Hawaii, with the strongest and most fully-developed business infrastructure in the Pacific, is a key addition to Center Bank's geographic expansion strategy," said Paul Seon-Hong Kim, president and chief executive officer of Center Financial. "We expect our Honolulu LPO will be an important contributor to Center Bank's leadership in commercial and SBA lending and help fuel the momentum in our lending business.

"We are particularly pleased to have an individual with the caliber of experience and professionalism in finance and banking that Michael Choi brings to our company, and we look forward to his many contributions," Kim said.

Choi currently heads his own professional firm, Michael J. Choi, CPA, LLC. He is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and Hawaii Society of Certified Public Accountants. Choi also serves as commissioner of the taxation board of Hawaii's State Tax Department and is licensed to represent taxpayers before the Internal Revenue Service. Previously, he was employed with the United States Veterans Administration and Bankers Trust Company, both in New York. Choi served in the United Sates Marine Corps and the Intelligence Unit of the United States Army, and was awarded a National Defense Service Medal. He is an advisor to the Korea National Tax Service Overseas Tax Administration and a former advisor to the Democratic Unification of Two Koreas. Choi earned his bachelor's in finance and investment from Bernard M. Bauch College, City University of New York, and studied graduate courses in accounting and taxation at Long Island University's School of Continuing Studies.

About Center Financial Corporation

Center Financial Corporation is the holding company of Center Bank, a community bank offering a full-range of financial services. Founded in 1986, Center Bank specializes in commercial and SBA loans and trade finance products for multi-ethnic and small business customers, and is one of the largest financial institutions in the nation focusing on the Korean-American community. The Bank operates 14 full-service branches throughout Southern California and Chicago, as well as seven Loan Production Offices located in Phoenix, Seattle, Denver, Washington D.C., Las Vegas, Atlanta and Honolulu. Further information about the company can be found at www.centerbank.com.

Statements contained in this release that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 as amended, and are based on management's current expectations and beliefs concerning future developments and their potential effects on Center Financial. Readers are cautioned not to unduly rely on forward-looking statements. Actual results may differ from those in such forward looking statements. These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, including but not limited to, the successful operation of its Honolulu LPO, the company's ability to continues its geographic expansion strategy, the company's ability to grow its deposits, customers' acceptance of the company's pricing policies, changes in interest rates, loan portfolio performance, the ability to continue to pay dividends and other factors, detailed in Center Financial's SEC filings made from time to time.