Center Financial Chief Executive Recognized as ``CEO of the Year'' by the Korean American Chamber of Commerce of Los Angeles.

LOS ANGELES -- Center Financial Corporation (NASDAQ: CLFC), the financial holding company of Center Bank, a community bank focused on the Korean-American niche market, today announced that (Paul) Seon-Hong Kim, president and chief executive officer, was selected as the Korean American Chamber of Commerce of Los Angeles (KACCLA) "CEO of the Year" at the 28th Annual KACCLA Gala. In conjunction with this award, he was also presented the Certificate of Congressional Commendation by the U.S. House of Representative Jane Harmon, along with recognition from other local and state representatives.

The KACCLA selected Paul Kim as CEO of the Year based on the company's excellent record of financial performance, as well as his numerous contributions to the Korean American community in Los Angeles and his commitment to his fellow employees over the past six years.

Since joining Center Financial as president and chief executive officer in September 1998, Kim is credited with growing the company's asset base to $1.34 billion from $271.2 million, expanding the geographical footprint by opening loan production offices in nine states and augmenting the number of full-service branch offices to 15 from five, and increasing the company's market cap ten-fold.

"I am honored to accept this award and share my success with all members of the Center Bank team," said Kim. "Our goal has always been to serve the financial needs of the Korean American business community through hard work and determination. I am proud to lead this company and look forward to further contributing to its success."

The KACCLA was founded in 1971 by a group of Korean American business owners who saw the need for an organization to help Korean immigrants adjust to a new business environment. The KACCLA is also committed to the purpose of increasing business opportunities for its members, the greater Los Angeles area, and especially the Korean American community. These goals are carried out through various ongoing programs and a series of seminars held in the Greater L.A. area. Many of the programs benefit not only the members but the community as well. For more information on KACCLA and its programs, please visit the website at: www.koreanchamberla.org.

About Center Financial Corporation

Center Financial Corporation is the financial holding company of Center Bank, a community bank offering a full range of financial services for diverse ethnic and small business customers. Founded in 1986 and specializing in commercial and SBA loans and trade finance products, Center Bank has grown to be one of the nation's largest financial institutions focusing on the Korean-American community, with total assets of $1.34 billion at December 31, 2004. Headquartered in Los Angeles, Center Bank operates 24 branch and loan production offices across the nation, of which 15 full-service branches are located throughout Southern California and in Chicago, plus nine loan production offices in Phoenix, Seattle, Denver, Washington D.C., Las Vegas, Atlanta, Honolulu, Houston and Dallas. Center Bank is a California state-chartered institution and member of the FDIC. For additional information on Center Bank, visit the company's Web site at www.centerbank.com.