Santa Cruz County Bank Hires Chief Credit Officer Geoffrey M. Loftus

SANTA CRUZ, Calif., March 22, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Santa Cruz County Bank (SCZC), a locally owned and operated full-service bank headquartered in Santa Cruz County, today announced that Geoffrey M. Loftus will join the bank as Senior Vice President and Chief Credit Officer, effective April 5, 2013.  

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In his 35-year banking career, Mr. Loftus has established himself as a Chief Credit Officer experienced at managing diversified loan portfolios while maintaining a high standard of credit quality. His most recent professional background includes six years as Executive Vice President and Chief Credit Officer for 1^st Capital Bank and four years as First Vice President and Loan Team Leader for Community Bank of Central California. Mr. Loftus is a graduate of the University of California at Santa Barbara where he obtained a bachelor's degree.

"Santa Cruz County Bank has proven itself to be an exceptional community bank by all standards. I'm honored to become part of the experienced management team and a local bank that is both highly rated and regarded," stated Mr. Loftus.

David Heald, President and CEO, commented, "Geoff's extensive credit origination and commercial lending expertise is a complement to the depth of talent in our Management team. We look forward to his contributions to our bank and our community in the years ahead."

Mr. Loftus will be based out of the Bank's Administrative headquarters in Santa Cruz.  

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 and lines of credit, commercial real estate finance, agricultural loans, SBA and USDA government guaranteed loans, credit cards, merchant services, remote deposit capture, and online services, including bill payment and cash management. The Bank's SBA Department has been recognized as a top SBA lender in Santa Cruz County for 7a and 504 loans for the past seven years.

In 2012, Santa Cruz County Bank received designation as one of eleven "Exceptional Banks" in California by the Findley Reports, an independent service which rates the annual financial performance of California banks. In 2011, the Bank received the designation of a Super Premier Performing Bank by the Findley Reports. Santa Cruz County Bank has also received the designation of 4-Star "Excellent" and a 5-Star "Superior" by Bauer Financial Reports, Inc., for its financial performance every quarter since 2007.  For more information, visit www.sccountybank.com.

Santa Cruz County Bank's common stock is listed Over the Counter (OTCQB) under the stock symbol SCZC.

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. 

SOURCE Santa Cruz County Bank