FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

October 17, 2008

SONORAN BANK PRESIDENT NAMED "2008 POWER PLAYER"

PHOENIX- The Phoenix Business Journal has announced that Sonoran Bank President Jim Vigars has been named one of their power players for 2008. Vigars has served as the chief executive of the bank since it opened in 2006.

Each year, the Phoenix Business Journal celebrates "the Valley's most influential Global Leaders for their leadership, professionalism and dedication to our community." The awardees are profiled in the publication's annual Power Book. Each recipient was also recognized at "Power Bash," an event held in their honor by the Business Journal and its sponsors last night. 

"It is an honor to be recognized for doing something that I naturally enjoy doing," Vigars said. "Banking is something that I have always been passionate about, and the fact that Sonoran Bank is supporting minorities in Arizona makes the effort more worthwhile." Vigars said that banking and financial leadership for the underserved minority community is critically important during economic crisis.

The Business Journal will be releasing its annual Power Book insert in newspapers today.

About Jim Vigars: Mr. Vigars' banking career spans 39 years. He served as President of the Midwest Heritage Bank, F.S.B. in Chariton, Iowa and President of S&C Bank (f/k/a Bank of New Richmond) in New Richmond, Wisconsin. He was Executive Vice President of the holding company (S&C Banco, Inc.), responsible for the lending and asset/liability management functions. He was a bank examiner for the FDIC for ten years, and an instructor at their Roslyn, Virginia training center. Jim graduated from the Stonier Graduate School of Banking. He is on the Board of Directors of Valle del Sol and a member of Profit Business Association.

About Sonoran Bank: Sonoran Bank proudly serves multicultural businesses (for profit and not for profit) in the Phoenix, AZ area. Based on a foundation of relationship banking, Sonoran Bank specializes in commercial banking services for small to medium sized businesses. With a mission to value and respect its customers and employees, Sonoran Bank provides each customer with superior service that creates trust and focuses on total financial relationships.