Santa Cruz County Bank Named an Industry Top Performer in ICBA's National Community Bank Rankings

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May 18, 2016, 02:27 ET

SANTA CRUZ, Calif., May 18, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Santa Cruz County Bank (OTCQX:SCZC) announced today that ICBA Independent Banker, published by the Independent Community Bankers of America (ICBA) has recognized the Bank as an ICBA industry top performer in its May issue. Santa Cruz County Bank's recognition is based on the strength of its competitive banking services and operational efficiencies throughout 2015, which resulted in its rank of 22^nd for return on average equity of 13.15%.

"Santa Cruz County Bank is delighted to be recognized as an ICBA top performer," said David V. Heald, president and CEO. "As a proud member of the Santa Cruz County community, we credit our loyal, local customers and dedicated employees for our success. We look forward to serving the unique needs of our community and helping it grow and prosper in the years to come."

"Whether serving rural, suburban or large metropolitan areas, community banks operate with a focus on their customers and communities," said Chris Lorence, ICBA's executive vice president and chief marketing officer. "Santa Cruz County Bank knows their local market and thrives because they stay true to the principles of community banking while showcasing drive, ingenuity and community commitment. Santa Cruz County Bank demonstrates integrity, enthusiasm and inventiveness in the financial industry, and for that reason ICBA is proud to recognize this community bank and its employees for their outstanding efforts."

This year's ICBA top-performers rankings underscore the importance of focusing on serving customers and communities, first and foremost. Delivering superior service, following disciplined pricing models, and supporting their local communities and neighborhoods are trends among those community banks recognized within the rankings. These community banks featured stick to well-known industry fundamentals, while embracing the changing industry landscape.

As part of its annual performance rankings of its member institutions, ICBA pulled year-end FDIC call report earnings data to identify the 25 community banks with the highest return on average assets (ROAA) and return on average equity (ROAE) ratios for all of 2015. Both Subchapter C corporation and Subchapter S corporation institutions in six asset-size categories were recognized.

To see this year's ICBA top-performers listings, read the article "The Best of the Best" on ICBA Independent Banker's website at www.independentbanker.org.

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 nine years, the Bank's SBA Department has been recognized as a top SBA lender in Santa Cruz County. For more information, visit www.sccountybank.com. Santa Cruz County Bank's common stock is listed on OTCQX under the stock symbol SCZC.

ABOUT ICBA
The Independent Community Bankers of America®, the nation's voice for more than 6,000 community banks of all sizes and charter types, is dedicated exclusively to representing the interests of the community banking industry and its membership through effective advocacy, best-in-class education and high-quality products and services.

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.

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SOURCE Santa Cruz County Bank