SANTA CRUZ, Calif., Feb. 11, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Santa Cruz County Bank, a locally owned and operated full-service community bank headquartered in Santa Cruz County, announced today that it has received notification of being designated as an "Exceptional Bank" for 2012 by The Findley Reports, Inc. As a highly regarded financial industry consulting firm, The Findley Reports has been recognizing the financial performance of banking institutions in California for over forty years. Four basic traits were considered in addition to each bank's financial performance: stability of board and management; organizational health; balance within the balance sheet with core earnings and control of the risk profile of the organization; strong partner relationships with their customers, shareholders, regulators and industry. The eleven exceptional banks range from $151 million to $6 billion in asset size and date as far back as 1916.

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Chairman of the Bank's Board of Directors George Gallucci commented, "The Board of Directors recognizes that this honor is particularly significant when you realize that our entire span of existence has been during turbulent and challenging economic times. We view this designation as the result of the hard work of management and the diligence and oversight of our Board of Directors."  

This Exceptional designation follows the 2011 and 2010 rating of Super Premier Performing for Santa Cruz County Bank and their 2009 designation as one of five Exceptional banks in California by The Findley Reports, Inc.

Gary Steven Findley, Editor of The Findley Reports remarked, "It is a great honor to recognize exceptional banks that are able to perform consistently over several years. Several years ago we recognized Santa Cruz County Bank as an exceptional bank but due to the economic challenges and regulatory environment uncertainty we discontinued such recognition. Santa Cruz County Bank was one of thirty banks to ever receive that recognition and now only twenty one of those banks remain. Of those twenty one – we believe that eleven are worthy of recognition. Based upon their performance these past few years and also the organizational health of the bank demonstrated by consistency of personnel and performance, they remain an exceptional bank. It is great to uplift a banking entity that has not only demonstrated solid financial performance but has been an important part of the community that they serve.  Santa Cruz County Bank continues to deliver strong financial performance that ranks in the top 10% of all banks in the Western United States." 

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.

Santa Cruz County Bank received a 2011 designation of a Super Premier Performing Bank by the Findley Reports, an independent service which rates the annual financial performance of California banks. 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