City National Bank Opens Silicon Valley Office to Serve Emerging Growth Companies and Entrepreneurs.

Business Editors

PALO ALTO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 25, 2000

Palo Alto Office Provides Premier Private Banking and

Technology Lending Services, Bolsters Wealth Management

Roster in Northern California 

City National Bank, California's premier private and business bank, today continued its expansion into Northern California with the opening of a full-service office in Palo Alto to serve the unique needs of Silicon Valley's successful companies and entrepreneurs.

By opening this Palo Alto office, City National Bank (NYSE:CYN), will be able to deliver its well-known brand of highly personalized, relationship-oriented private and business banking and its full range of financial planning, investment management and individual lending products, to a region that continues to see a rise in the number of emerging growth businesses and expanding private and business banking needs.

"As a California success story itself, City National is focused on providing financial solutions that meet the needs of successful California entrepreneurs and their businesses," said Russell Goldsmith, CEO and Chairman of City National Bank.

"Opening this Palo Alto office and staffing it with an outstanding team of private bankers and technology-focused business bankers reflects our strong commitment to bring the premier private and business banking capabilities and responsive service of City National to the Silicon Valley."

The opening of a Palo Alto office affirms City National's commitment to continue its strategic expansion into Northern California. Earlier this year, City National acquired San Francisco-based The Pacific Bank, N.A., and later announced the formation of a highly experienced private banking team located in San Francisco.

"We are building upon both our presence in San Francisco and Burlingame and our specialized capabilities for emerging growth companies and their entrepreneurs," Goldsmith added.

Bob Brant, City National's executive vice president for Northern California, said the bank's commitment to provide superior relationship banking focused on entrepreneurs, professionals, investors and small- to mid-size businesses has been warmly received in Northern California.

"Companies and individuals are benefiting from our expertise in the key industries that drive economic growth in Northern California," Brant said. "Now, we're providing a unique one-two delivery of industry-leading private banking and technology lending expertise."

The Palo Alto Banking Office provides a full range of business lending services and products and will pay particular attention to serving the needs of emerging growth companies and their management teams. In recent years, City National Bank has established itself as a primary provider of financial services and products to some of California's best-known technology companies and successful entrepreneurs associated with those firms.

City National's Technology Group is working with all types of technology firms in such industry sectors as Internet, communications, life sciences, software and new media. City National typically seeks companies that have completed their first round of financing with at least $4 million to $5 million in venture capital or investment.

"City National understands the diversified needs of Silicon Valley technology companies," said Beth Kinsey, senior vice president and manager of City National's Technology Group. "We are filling an important need in the Silicon Valley area by offering a one-stop solution for both technology lending and private banking services."

Kinsey is well known in the local banking and venture capital (VC) market. She joined City National more than three years ago after spending seven years with other banks in the Silicon Valley area. Kinsey will oversee the technology lending team of the Palo Alto office and expects to add additional banking professionals over the next several months.

Since its inception in 1954, City National Bank has consistently provided premier private banking services to many of California's and the country's most successful and well-known business leaders and individuals. City National recently hired a local wealth management veteran to launch the bank's private banking effort in Silicon Valley.

Kenna Helms -- a 26-year veteran in trusts, estate planning and financial services -- is senior vice president and manager of the Palo Alto private banking team.

Palo Alto will be City National's eighth private banking office in California and bring to nearly 140 the number of private bankers serving high-net-worth individuals. Other private banking offices are located in San Francisco, Beverly Hills, downtown Los Angeles, Long Beach/South Bay, Irvine, San Diego, and Riverside.

City National also provides its clients with a state-of-the-art suite of online, 24/7 capabilities including online banking and bill payments, online cash management, online stock brokerage, 401(k) online access, and other investment information through cnb.com and "City National eLink.sm."

City National Bank's Palo Alto office is located at 525 University Avenue and can be reached by calling 650/566-3060.

About City National

City National Corporation is a publicly owned corporation with $8.7 billion in total assets whose stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol "CYN."

The corporation's wholly owned subsidiary, City National Bank, is California's premier private and business bank, with 50 offices in Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, Santa Clara, Ventura, San Diego, San Francisco, San Mateo and Santa Clara counties.

In addition, the bank's trust and investment division, City National Investments, has $15.5 billion in assets under management or administration. For more information about the Corporation visit the company's Web page at cnb.com.