San Diego Private Bank Announces Three New Hires

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
San Diego, California, United States of America (Free-Press-Release.com) September 1, 2011 -- LA JOLLA, CA (August 30, 2011) – San Diego Private Bank, a client-centric institution that provides unparalleled service through customized financial solutions, has announced that leading financial services expert Frank J. Mercardante has joined its Board of Directors.

“Frank brings to us a wealth of experience, knowledge and financial expertise in building relationship driven community banks. We are looking forward to growing San Diego Private Bank together,” said Selwyn Isakow, Chairman of San Diego Private Bank, which services high net-worth individuals, business professionals, businesses and non-profit organizations in San Diego County.

Mercardante — who has more than 44 years of executive-level experience in the financial-services industry — most recently was President and Chief Executive Officer of Discovery Bancorp, a bank holding company that, prior to its sale in July 2009, served the financial needs of small- to medium-sized businesses, professionals and individuals.

Before joining San Marcos-based Discovery Bancorp, he was Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Placer Sierra Bank, a $2.6 billion, 50-branch California bank that was sold to Wells Fargo in June 2007. Mercardante, who has managed institutions that range in asset size from startup to $6.5 billion, was the founding President and Chief Executive Officer of Southwest Community Bank. In the early 1990s, Mercardante served as managing agent for the Resolution Trust Corp. at one of the largest conservatorships in the Midwest, Franklin Savings & Loan. For nearly a year, he managed its complex asset base, its 24 subsidiaries and more than $1 billion in litigation at brokerage subsidiaries until the institution was placed into receivership.

He is formerly Chairman of the Board at John Paul the Great Catholic University and is a director of the Tri-City Hospital Foundation, New Haven Youth & Family Services and The Poinsettia Theatre for the Performing Arts. He is a permanent deacon in the Catholic Church and is a former member of the Finance Council for the Catholic Diocese of San Diego.

San Diego Private Bank also announced two new additions to its staff:

Marie Bruning has been appointed Vice President and Private Banker. Bruning — who brings more than 10 years of banking experience to San Diego Private Bank — most recently served as Assistant Vice President for U.S. Bank as a Client Manager in the Business Banking department, where she managed a portfolio of clients focusing on commercial real estate loans for owner/user or investment purpose and operating lines of credit. Prior to working for U.S. Bank, she was with San Diego National Bank for six years. There, she gained consumer lending experience, commercial underwriting and financial analysis skills, along with treasury management product and service knowledge. Bruning is a graduate of Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, receiving her B.S. in Accounting and Finance and a graduate of University of San Diego, receiving her M.S. in Accounting and Finance. She also is active in the San Diego community, volunteering her time for various organizations, including the Junior Achievement and Community Housing Works.

Liz Martin has joined San Diego Private Bank as Client Services Specialist. Martin most recently was customer service supervisor at California Bank & Trust in downtown La Jolla.
San Diego Private Bank has offices in La Jolla and Rancho Santa Fe. For more information, please visit www.sandiegoprivatebank.net.

ABOUT SAN DIEGO PRIVATE BANK

Since opening in 2006, San Diego Private Bank has provided unparalleled service to high net-worth individuals, business professionals, local area businesses, closely held businesses and non-profit organizations. Through customized financial solutions developed by experienced private bankers, San Diego Private Bank exceeds customer expectations through personal touch, providing superior customized solutions, timely delivery of services and an overall pleasant personal banking experience. Private bankers work with clients and their asset managers to provide superior banking solutions. San Diego Private Bank provides its clients access to providers of various services, including wealth management, trust and estate planning, financial planning, insurance and investment banking. Member FDIC.

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