Santa Cruz County Bank Declares Quarterly Cash Dividend Payment to Shareholders

SANTA CRUZ, Calif., May 20, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Santa Cruz County Bank (OTCQB: SCZC) announced that its Board of Directors has declared a quarterly cash dividend in the amount of $0.05 per share. The dividend is payable on July 10, 2014 to stockholders of record as of the close of business on June 25, 2014. This is the fifth cash dividend declared by Santa Cruz County Bank.  

The Bank reported an increase of $4.4 million to $34.9 million in shareholders' equity for the quarter ended March 31, 2014, 14%, over the prior year. Book value per share for the quarter ended March 31, 2014 was $16.35 compared to $15.55 for the quarter ended March 31, 2013. Basic earnings per share of $0.41 for the quarter ended March 31, 2014 were equal to the quarter ended March 31, 2013.

ABOUT SANTA CRUZ COUNTY BANK
Santa Cruz County Bank, founded in 2004, is a locally owned and operated community bank with offices located in Aptos, Capitola, Santa Cruz, Scotts Valley and Watsonville. The Bank offers a variety of competitive deposit and lending solutions for businesses and individuals; including business loans, lines of credit, commercial real estate financing, agricultural loans, SBA and USDA government guaranteed loans, credit cards, merchant services, remote deposit capture, and online banking bill payment and cash management. For the past seven years, the Bank's SBA Department has been recognized as a top SBA lender in Santa Cruz County for 7a and 504 loans.

RATINGS & AWARDS
The Findley Reports, Inc.:
2012 – One of eleven "Exceptional Banks" in California
2013, 2012, 2011 – "Super Premier Performing Bank"

Bauer Financial Reports, Inc.:
Santa Cruz County Bank received the distinction of 4-Star "Excellent" and a 5-Star "Superior" by Bauer Financial Reports, Inc., for financial performance every quarter since 2007.

American Banker Magazine:
2014 – Santa Cruz County Bank ranked 115^th out of 851 institutions in American Banker Magazine's "Top Performing 200 Community Banks & Thrifts in the United States" based upon 3-year average return on equity.

For more information, visit www.sccountybank.com.

This release may contain forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties. Such risks and uncertainties may include but are not necessarily limited to fluctuations in interest rates, inflation, government regulations and general economic conditions, and competition within the business areas in which the Bank is conducting its operations, including the real estate market in California and other factors beyond the Bank's control. Such risks and uncertainties could cause results for subsequent interim periods or for the entire year to differ materially from those indicated. Readers should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements, which reflect management's view only as of the date hereof. The Bank undertakes no obligation to publicly revise these forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent events or circumstances.

CONTACTS:
David V. Heald, President and Chief Executive Officer
831.457.5003 ext. 2116 – [email protected]

Mary Anne Carson, Director of Marketing and Community Relations
831.457.5003 ext. 2118 – [email protected]

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SOURCE Santa Cruz County Bank