California Bankers Association names Distinguished Banker of the Year

Beach Business Bank chairman of the board James H. Gray honored

SACRAMENTO - January 19, 2007 - The California Bankers Association (CBA) today announced that James "Jim" H. Gray, the current chairman of the board and a founding director of Beach Business Bank, has received the organization's annual Distinguished Banker of the Year Award.

Gray, who was a founding officer of Harbor Bank, Generations Trust Bank, and Beach Business Bank, is well-known in the industry for starting and building successful and diversified institutions in a short period of time. Harbor Bank, one of Long Beach's most successful institutions, was sold to City National Bank in 1998. Generations Trust Bank was sold to Union Bank in 2002. He continues his legacy at Beach Business Bank, which opened its doors in 2004.

"Those of us in California's banking industry regard Jim Gray as a visionary leader, an intuitive businessman and a banker with foresight and a knack for growing banks quickly and soundly," said Janet W. Lamkin, president and CEO of the California Bankers Association. "But what makes Jim truly stand out is his commitment not just to the growth and success of his banks, but the growth and success of the communities his banks have served."

Gray has been an active member of the Long Beach community, serving as the founding chairman of the Aquarium of the Pacific, a past president of the Chamber of Commerce, a member of the Port of Long Beach Board of Harbor Commissioners, and chairman of the area's United Way chapter. In 2002, Gray was named the Entrepreneur of the Year by the Long Beach Chamber of Commerce. Jim served as an elected member of the Board of Education in Long Beach and as a Trustee for the Long Beach Community College District. He was appointed by the Governor of California to serve as a Trustee for the California State University system from 1990-1999. In May of 2000, Gray received an Honorary Doctor of Laws degree from his alma mater, Cal State-Long Beach.

Gray also served two terms on the Desert Community College Board of Trustees, which ended in 2006. At the conclusion of his tenure with the Desert Community College Board of Trustees, Gray was appointed as a commissioner for the Accrediting Commission for Community Colleges for California, Hawaii and the South Pacific.

Mr. Gray has also both served and represented his industry at various points in his career. He is the past president of the California Bankers Association and was a member of the board of directors of the American Bankers Association and also served as that organization's treasurer. Jim and his wife Gail make their home in both Long Beach and Indian Wells.

Information about CBA
Established more than 110 years ago, the California Bankers Association (CBA) is one of the largest state banking trade associations in the country. CBA leads the way in developing relevant educational and legislative solutions to some of California's more pressing financial and banking issues, including adult financial empowerment, identity theft, financial privacy, and financial elder abuse. CBA's membership includes more than 300 of California's commercial, industrial and community banks and savings associations. For more information, visit www.calbankers.com.