Comerica Bank-California Celebrates Sweet Onion Tradition; Customers Receive a Free 10-pound Bag of Walla Walla Sweet Onions.

PALO ALTO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--July 20, 1999--

Complimentary pocket calendars? A pocket knife? A toaster? Not at Comerica. For the 18th straight year, Comerica Bank-California is giving its customers at the Palo Alto, Menlo Park and Los Altos branches what they really want -- a 10-pound bag of Walla Walla Sweet onions.

The Walla Walla Sweet onion giveaway is a tradition that began with University Bank & Trust Company (UBT) thirteen years ago. Carl Schmitt, the founder of UBT, showed his appreciation toward customers by giving them bags of Walla Walla onions. The demand for the onions, which are so sweet they can be eaten like apples, was overwhelming.

So when UBT was acquired by Comerica Bank-California in 1995, President and CEO Mike Fulton decided to uphold the tradition and each year give away a 10-pound bag of sweet onions to any University office customer who requested them. Since 1996, Comerica Bank-California has given away in excess of 180,000 pounds. Customers also receive recipes for special dishes such as Sweet Onion Quiche, Sweet Onion Rings and the "Must make" Sweet Onion Sandwich.

"Comerica customers appreciate and enjoy the onions and look forward to this tradition each year," said Fulton. "Throughout the year we receive calls asking about the onion giveaway -- customers just can't seem to get enough of those Walla Wallas!"

Robison Ranch, a family-owned ranch located in the Walla Walla Valley of Washington, supplies the sweet onions each year. Comerica's business, the largest order for the 4,000 acre farm, creates employment opportunities for local laborers as well as company-wide enthusiasm.

Based in San Jose, Comerica Bank-California is the 10th largest bank headquartered in California, based on assets of $4.3 billion at March 31, 1999. Comerica Bank-California has 31 offices in the Bay Area (San Jose to San Francisco), Santa Cruz Coastal, Los Angeles (Los Angeles to Orange Counties) and San Diego.

Comerica Bank-California is a subsidiary of Comerica Incorporated (NYSE:CMA), a Detroit-based holding company that operates banking affiliates in Michigan, Texas, Florida and California.