Press Release

Circle Bank Celebrates 50th Consecutive Profitable Quarter
With Contribution of 50,000 Pounds of Food To Local Food Banks

Marin Community Foundation, Mollie Stone’s, Unified Grocers
Also Participate with Donations, Discounts

Novato—February 23, 2012—Circle Bank (www.umpquabank.com) today announced that it would celebrate its 50th consecutive profitable quarter by donating 50,000 pounds of food to two Bay Area Food banks (San Francisco/Marin Food Bank and the Redwood Empire Food Bank).   

Joining the Bank in making the donation are the Marin Community Foundation (MCF), Mollie Stone’s Markets and Unified Grocers, Inc.

“We are extremely grateful to the three organizations which are joining us in providing this much-needed food,” said Kim Kaselionis, Chairman/CEO of Circle Bank.  “This is no small commitment on their part and they stepped up as soon as we told them how we wanted to honor our success by giving back to the community.”

The donation of non-perishable foods was divided equally among the Food Banks, which serve a total of seven counties, including Marin, San Francisco and Sonoma.

Said David Goodman, Executive Director of the Redwood Empire Food Bank (REFB):  “We are the largest hunger relief organization in Sonoma County, and our effort to end hunger reaches into four additional counties, Del Norte, Humboldt, Lake and Mendocino. The North Coast has been hit hard by the economic downturn. Thousands of our neighbors depend on the REFB for their most basic necessity, food. We’d like to thank Circle Bank, the Marin Community Foundation, Mollie Stone’s Markets and Unified Grocers. Their generous donation enables the REFB to provide over 13,000 meals to those in need of food assistance.”

Said Paul Ash, Executive Director of the San Francisco and Marin Food Banks:  “We continue to see an increase in the number of those turning to the Food Bank for assistance.  We are thrilled to celebrate the success of Circle Bank and are grateful for their generous contribution to help make a positive difference in the lives of those in need.”

Said Mike Stone, co-founder of Mollie Stone’s: “Congratulations to Circle Bank for their great achievement and their generosity of giving back to the community for people in need.”

Said Thomas Peters, Ph.D, MCF CEO/president: “We are pleased to be part of this great community effort. Efforts like this reflect the generosity of this community and help put a spotlight on the need of a growing number of people to have food for themselves and their loved ones.”

Circle Bank’s 50th consecutive profitable quarter was recorded in the period ending Dec. 31, 2011, and dates back to 1996 when Kaselionis became chairman.  “While being able to remain profitable through turbulent economic times is gratifying,” she said, “we are cognizant that it is our communities and our clients who have provided the impetus for our success.  Being able to contribute 25 tons of food to people in need is one way for us to say thank you and to support our neighbors.”

The Bank also planned to host customer appreciation activities at each of its branches on Friday.  “Not only do we want to thank them,” Kaselionis said, “we also want them to enjoy the time that they spend in our branches.”