Press Release

Novato, CA—January 4, 2011

Domain names are the Internet’s mechanism for identifying and directing web traffic to specific sites.  Current well-known applications include .com and .org and are administered by an international body (Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers/ICANN).  There currently only 21 top-level ICANN approved domains and the last approvals for new names occurred in 2000.

“The strictness of the process is a means of protecting users of the Internet,” said Kaselionis.  “Top level domain names require higher levels of security and have a clear relevance for banks.”

Kaselionis, who also serves on the ABA’s Community Bankers Council, will be meeting with her colleagues over the next several months with the goal of having recommendations completed during the first quarter of 2011.

“It is extremely important for community banks to establish the highest security standards in the financial services industry to maintain the trust that maintain with their customers,” she said.  “We are not impersonal, telephone menu banks. We are located in our customers’ neighborhoods and are deeply involved in their financial lives.  If .BANK can be created to deepen that trust, I’m all for it.”

Kaselionis said it would important to establish criteria for what constitutes a “community bank” and, therefore, who could obtain a .BANK domain.  “The sad truth is that an increasing number of banks who claim to be ‘community’ financial institutions are part of national or international banking conglomerates.  The only thing ‘local’ about them is a their branch location; the loan and other product services decisions are made elsewhere.

“Establishing .BANK could go a long way toward letting customers know which banks are truly part of the community.”

Ten Fast Facts about Circle Bank

1. 45 consecutive profitable quarters during a period when more banks have "failed" that any time since the Depression
2. Increased its workforce by 50%, adding more than two dozen positions in 2010, with the promise of more with a new branch opening in Corte Madera in early 2011
3. Named Marin's best company to do business with in a 2010 reader's poll by Northbay Biz
4. In 2010, pledged $100,000 to the Women's Initiative to provide micro-loans to people who otherwise would not have access to funding for their businesses
5. No. 1 SBA 7(a) lender in the Marin and Sonoma counties by total number of loans (22) in 2010. 
6. Sponsor of $1 million for Homeward Bound loan to fund new facility for nonprofit organization
7. Named a "Best Place to Work" by the North Bay Business Journal in 2010 as well as three other times in recent years
8. Bauer 4-star rated in 2010
9. In 2010, Kim Kaselionis was named "Most Admired CEO for Small Business" in the Bay Area by the San Francisco Business Times.
10. In 2010, Kim Kaselionis was named Entrepreneur of the Year by the Women's Initiative

About Circle

Circle Bank (www.umpquabank.com) is a full-service bank, providing a broad range of financial services to consumers and businesses. It is headquartered in Novato, with branches in San Rafael, Petaluma, Santa Rosa and San Francisco’s Noe Valley. It has announced plans to open a new branch in Corte Madera’s Town Center Mall in early 2011.  The Bank had total net assets of $316 million as of the quarter ending Sept. 30, 2010.

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.