City National Bank Adds to Its Export Finance Capabilities.

Export-Import Bank-Backed Programs Give Valuable Financial Tools To Small and Mid-Sized Export Companies

LOS ANGELES -- City National Bank, California's Premier Private and Business Bank([R]), has added two export finance products to help small and mid-sized export companies in California. These export finance products, based on programs of the Export-Import Bank of the United States, the nation's official export credit agency, include:

* Working Capital Guarantee Program, an asset-based credit facility that provides exporters with greater access to working capital needed to fulfill overseas orders; and

* International Buyer Credit Program, medium- and long-term buyer financing that allows U.S. exporters to offer multi-year repayment terms to their foreign buyers when financing is otherwise not available or there are no economically viable interest rates on short-term financing.

With City National's export finance products, California exporters will be armed with the necessary liquidity to fund expansion into new markets, produce U.S.-originated goods or services for export and compete more effectively in the international marketplace.

"Small and medium-sized export companies play a key role in our nation's balance of trade and in developing new world markets," said Tom Burr, City National Bank senior vice president and manager of the International department's Export Finance Group. "City National sees the long-term benefits of helping these companies because a large percentage of future growth in U.S. exports will come from companies that haven't previously exported."

Under the International Buyer Credit Program, City National offers enhanced financing for special initiatives supported by Ex-Im Bank, including:

* Transportation Security Exports Program, which provides financing terms up to 10 years for U.S. exports that are designed to improve, augment and support the security of international transportation systems;

* Medical Equipment Initiative, which provides financing terms up to seven years for medical equipment that will improve the standard of living in other countries; and

* Environmental Exports Program (EEP), which provides financing terms up to 15 years for U.S. exporters of environmentally beneficial goods and services, as well as for U.S. exporters participating in environmental projects located internationally.

Several City National clients have taken advantage of the bank's new export financing products. Recent successes include a $5 million working capital financing facility to support the exports of a Los Angeles-based metal trading company, and a $7.8 million, 15-year EEP buyer credit financing to support the sale of solar equipment by a Berkeley, Calif.-based exporter working in South Korea.

"City National is the first bank in the nation to leverage Ex-Im Bank's 15-year Environmental Export Program loan guarantee," Burr said. "This program will give our clients an opportunity to land smaller green-energy and environmental projects. The extended loan terms and low interest rates provide companies with the cash flow needed for smaller projects that otherwise would not be financially feasible at market rates and terms."

America is the world's largest exporter of merchandise and services, according to the U.S. Department of Commerce. The United States exported $904 billion worth of goods and services in 2005, or more than 10 percent of world export trade. California accounted for 14 percent of U.S. exports (over $116 billion), and more than one-quarter of the nation's exporters are based in California.

"We recognize our state's huge export potential, particularly among companies doing business with countries like China and Korea that are beginning to adopt green-energy policies and need the environmental technology developed and produced here in California," Burr said. "We have the expertise and the high-touch personal service needed to support smaller deals."

About City National

City National Corporation (NYSE:CYN) is a financial services company with $14.5 billion in total assets. Its wholly owned subsidiary, City National Bank, provides banking, investment and trust services through 55 offices, including 12 full-service regional centers, in Southern California, the San Francisco Bay Area and New York City.

City National Bank's International Banking Services department serves businesses, professional firms, business managers and their clients, and entrepreneurs through a range of international banking services, including trade financing, currency management, foreign exchange, foreign credit information, online foreign exchange and online letters of credit.

For more information about City National, visit the company's Website at cnb.com.