Press Release

Circle Bank Announces Alliance With Keiretsu Forum Angel Investor Network

Supporting the San Francisco and North Bay Start-up Community with Resources and Funding
Also Participate with Donations, Discounts

Novato—December 8, 2011—Circle Bank (www.umpquabank.com) today announced an alliance with Keiretsu Forum (www.keiretsuforum.com), the world’s largest angel investor network, to work with start-up and early stage companies in San Francisco and the North Bay.

Keiretsu Forum has 850 accredited investor members in 21 chapters on three continents. Since Keiretsu Forum’s founding in 2000, its members have invested more than $260 million in companies in technology, consumer products, healthcare/life sciences, real estate and other segments with high growth potential.

“This is an exciting opportunity for us to work with entrepreneurs who are seeking to bring innovative products and services to market,” said Kim Kaselionis, CEO/Chairman of Circle Bank.  “We will be collaborating with the Keiretsu program in the North Bay and San Francisco.  We will provide our financial expertise and knowledge of financing programs to help the companies obtain the funding required to build their organizations.”

While Forum members collaborate in the due diligence process, they make individual investment decisions, with rounds in the range of $250,000 to $2 million. Keiretsu Forum's community is strengthened through education on angel investing, as well as charitable giving. Forum members have donated in excess of $1 million to 111 non-profit organizations.

“Circle Bank is a perfect partner for Keiretsu Forum in San Francisco and the North Bay,” said Randy Williams, CEO/founder of Keiretsu Forum.  “We have met extensively with Kim and her staff and they have a thorough understanding of the banking needs of the entrepreneurs that our members have funded. We’re excited to provide this additional source of financing as our portfolio companies grow.”

Williams, who has 30 years of experience in finance, real estate, and marketing, created Keiretsu in September 2000 to provide a disciplined and structured approach to private equity investing. There are Keiretsu chapters in the United States, China and Europe.  In Northern California, Keiretsu Forum also has chapters in the East Bay and Silicon Valley.

Membership in Keiretsu Forum is by invitation only and all members must be accredited investors. Interested investors can contact Keiretsu Forum’s membership associate Nina Quasebarth at nina@keiretsuforum.com.

“The initiative with the Keiretsu Forum is another demonstration of our commitment to working innovatively with the community and entrepreneurs to create jobs,” Kaselionis said.

About Keiretsu Forum
With 21 chapters and more than 850 accredited investor members throughout the world, Keiretsu Forum (www.keiretsuforum.com) is the largest North American angel investment network. Keiretsu Forum members provide early-stage capital in the range of $250,000 to $2 million to high-quality, diverse investment opportunities and collaborate in the due diligence, but make individual investment decisions.

About Circle Bank
Circle Bank (www.umpquabank.com) is a full-service bank, providing a broad range of financial services to consumers and businesses.  The Bank is headquartered in Novato, with branches in Corte Madera, San Rafael, Petaluma, Santa Rosa and San Francisco’s Noe Valley. The Bank had total assets of $316.7 million as September 30, 2011. It recently reported its 49th consecutive profitable quarter.

Certain of the statements contained herein that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act.  Forward-looking statements are typically identified by words or phrases such as “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “estimate,” “target,” “plans,” “may increase,” “may fluctuate,” “may result in,” “are projected,” and similar expressions.  The Bank’s actual results may differ materially from those included in the forward-looking statements.  These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties including, but not limited to, the economic, business, and real estate market conditions in the Bank’s market areas, the interest rate environment, competition, regulatory and legislative actions, the possibility that the Bank will not be successful in achieving its strategic objectives, the performance and contributions of employees and directors, and other factors.  The Bank does not undertake, and specifically disclaims any obligation, to update any forward-looking statements to reflect occurrences or unanticipated events or circumstances after the date of such statements.