R-G Crown Bank Appoints Rafael Saldana as President.

Bank Serves 5 Florida Markets with 30 Branches

CASSELBERRY, Fla. -- R-G Crown Bank, a Florida-based federal savings bank, has announced the appointment of Rafael Saldana as President of R-G Crown Bank. The action taken by the Board of Directors of R-G Crown Bank follows the appointment of Rolando Rodriguez as President and Chief Executive Officer of R & G Financial, which became effective January 1, 2007. Rodriguez will continue to serve as Chief Executive Officer of R-G Crown Bank. R-G Crown Bank requested and received the non-objection of the Office of Thrift Supervision for Saldana's appointment.

R-G Crown Bank has branch offices which extend across the state, along the I-4 corridor and beyond. From Jacksonville, through Orlando, Lakeland and the West coast of Florida, plus 3 branches in Augusta, Georgia, the bank has a total of 33 branches and a headquarters located in Central Florida.

In commenting on the appointment, Rodriguez indicated, "Given Rafael's abilities, experience and leadership qualities, I am very confident that Rafael will perform very well in his increased responsibilities as president."

Saldana, age 46, has more than 25 years experience in the financial services industry. From 2004 until March 2006, Saldana served as Managing Director of R-G Premier Bank's International Division in Casselberry, Florida. Following a six-month break, he was hired as Executive Vice President and Business Director of R-G Crown Bank in September 2006. From 2003 to 2004, and from 1990 to 1996, Saldana served as Executive Vice President and Commercial Director at Banco Santander in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Saldana served as Business Director at Capital One Financial Corporation in Tampa, Florida, from 2001 to 2003.

Saldana previously served as Vice President and General Manager at Fingerhut Co./Federated Department Stores in Minnetonka, Minnesota, from 1999 to 2001; Senior Vice President at Fleet Financial Group in Boston, Massachusetts, from 1998 to 1999; Senior Vice President and Group Executive for Wachovia Corporation in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, from 1996 to 1998.

He received his MBA specializing in Accounting, Finance, Operations and Industrial Relations from the JL Kellogg Graduate School of Management, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL and his undergraduate degree in Economics from the University of Puerto Rico in Rio Piedras.

Editor's Note: Saldana's photograph is immediately available digitally, upon request to Laura Bennett, [e-mail]