Opus Bank (“Opus”) (NASDAQ: OPB) announced today the further expansion of its Commercial Banking team in the Phoenix, Arizona metropolitan region with the hires of two senior bankers. Nickolas Uhan, a 12-year banking veteran, has joined Opus as Managing Director, Senior Client Manager, and Rod Banks Jr., a 9-year banking and finance veteran, has joined Opus as Director, Client Manager.

Jim Haney, Executive Vice President, Head of Commercial Banking, stated, “We are pleased that Nick and Rod have joined Opus’ Arizona Commercial Banking team. Both are highly regarded banking veterans, each with a unique depth and breadth of experience structuring, originating, and underwriting asset-based, working capital, commercial real estate, and syndicated transactions, as well as delivering tailored treasury management solutions for middle-market companies, entrepreneurs, and business owners. I believe their experience will prove to be a significant differentiator as we expand our Commercial Banking coverage in the vibrant and diverse Phoenix metropolitan market.” Mr. Haney added, “I look forward to having the additional banker coverage in the Phoenix market and building upon the success Opus has already achieved having funded nearly $500 million of loans in the region in just the last three years.”

Mr. Uhan joins Opus most recently from Arizona Business Bank, where from 2011 he served as Vice President, Commercial Banker, and was focused on developing new client relationships with privately held middle market companies and originating working capital lines of credit, asset-based, and commercial real estate lending senior debt transactions. From 2006 to 2011, Mr. Uhan served with M&I Bank, most recently as Vice President, Commercial Banker, and was responsible for developing new conventional and SBA 504 and 7A lending opportunities. From 2008 to 2009, Mr. Uhan served as Business/Commercial Banking Analyst, during which time he performed portfolio analysis, collateral evaluation, cash flow analysis, budget forecasting, and covenant structuring on a $1 billion portfolio of owner-occupied and non-owner-occupied CRE loans. Mr. Uhan began his banking career in 2006 as a Credit Analyst. Mr. Uhan has a long history of serving his community, previously serving with Junior Achievement of Arizona, Arizona Humane Society, Habitat for Humanity, and as a Member of the Board of the American Lung Association of Arizona. Mr. Uhan holds a Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and a Master of Business Administration from the W. P. Carey School of Business at Arizona State University.

Mr. Banks joins Opus most recently from RBI Private Investment, a single family office and private organization, where he served as a Principal of the firm and was responsible for all liquid fund management. From 2016 to 2017, Mr. Banks served with Centerstone SBA Lending, Inc. as Senior Vice President, Business Development Officer, and was responsible for developing new SBA 7A lending opportunities nationwide. From 2013 to 2016, Mr. Banks served with Spectrum Commercial Lending, as Vice President, Business Development Officer, where he focused on establishing new correspondent lending relationships and commercial loan growth. From 2011 to 2012, Mr. Banks served with Union Bank as Relationship Manager, where he focused on managing and growing a client portfolio of lower middle market companies and developing senior debt financing and treasury management opportunities. Mr. Banks began his banking career in 2009, as a Corporate Credit Analyst with US Bank. Mr. Banks holds a Bachelor of Science in Finance from the Eller School of Management at the University of Arizona.

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About Opus Bank

Opus Bank is an FDIC insured California-chartered commercial bank with $7.2 billion of total assets, $5.1 billion of total loans, and $5.9 billion in total deposits as of June 30, 2018. Opus Bank provides superior ideas and solutions, and banking products to its clients through its Retail Bank, Commercial Bank, and Merchant Bank. Opus Bank offers a suite of treasury and cash management and depository solutions and a wide range of loan products, including commercial, healthcare, media and entertainment, corporate finance, multifamily residential, commercial real estate and structured finance, and is an SBA preferred lender. Opus Bank offers commercial escrow services and facilitates 1031 Exchange transactions through its Escrow and Exchange divisions. Opus Bank provides clients with financial and advisory services related to raising equity capital, targeted acquisition and divestiture strategies, general mergers and acquisitions, debt and equity financing, balance sheet restructuring, valuation, strategy and performance improvement through its Merchant Banking division and its broker-dealer subsidiary, Opus Financial Partners, LLC, Member FINRA/SIPC. Opus Bank’s alternative asset IRA custodian subsidiary has $14 billion of custodial assets and over 49,000 client accounts, which are comprised of self-directed investors, financial institutions, capital raisers and financial advisors. Opus Bank operates 49 banking offices, including 30 in California, 16 in the Seattle/Puget Sound region in Washington, two in the Phoenix metropolitan area of Arizona and one in Portland, Oregon. Opus Bank is an Equal Housing Lender. For additional information about Opus Bank, please visit our website: www.opusbank.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This release may include forward-looking statements related to Opus’ plans, beliefs and goals, which involve certain risks, and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. The forward-looking information presented in this press release is not a guarantee of future events, and actual events may differ materially from those made in or suggested by the forward-looking information contained in this press release. Forward-looking statements generally can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as “intend” or “expect” or variations thereon or similar terminology. All such statements speak only as of the date made, and Opus undertakes no obligation to update or revise publicly any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.