SAN DIEGO, May 18 /PRNewswire/ -- Bank of Commerce (Nasdaq: BCOM) today
announced that shareholders of both Rancho Vista National Bank, and Bank of
Commerce have overwhelmingly approved Bank of Commerce's acquisition of Rancho
Vista.
    Under the terms of the merger, Bank of Commerce will exchange two shares
of its common stock for one share of Rancho Vista common stock.  Rancho Vista
has approximately 1.3 million (fully diluted) shares outstanding.  As of
April 30, 1998, the pro forma combined balance sheets of the two banks include
$703 million in assets, $635 million in deposits, and $487 million in loans.
    Rancho Vista, the third largest SBA lender in San Diego County with
expertise in construction loans, is a community bank operating three full
service branches in Carlsbad, Vista and Orange, California.
    "We are very pleased with this final approval.  The merger expands our
franchise and brings us closer to our goal of becoming the premier banking
institution in the region and a billion-dollar bank.  This is a win-win for
the shareholders, customers, and employees of both institutions," said Peter
Q. Davis, Chairman and CEO of Bank of Commerce.  The merger is expected to
close this month.
    Bank of Commerce earned $2.5 million in the first quarter 1998, and had
$558 million in assets, $511 in deposits and $388 million in loans.  At
March 31, 1998, Rancho Vista had $127 million in assets, $114 million in
deposits, and $99 million in loans.
    Bank of Commerce, the nation's number one Small Business Administration
(SBA) bank lender and the largest publicly held independent bank headquartered
in San Diego County, currently has ten full-service branch offices including
the three just acquired through the Rancho Vista merger.  Its other branch
offices are located in San Diego, Palm Desert and Temecula, California.  Its
loan offices are located in San Diego, Glendale, Orange, Sacramento and San
Francisco, CA; Dallas, Houston and San Antonio, TX; Las Vegas and Reno, NV;
Phoenix and Tucson, AZ; Seattle, WA; Portland, OR; and Denver, CO.  All
fifteen loan offices specialize in producing commercial loans that will be
guaranteed by the SBA.  The bank previously announced it plans to open loan
production offices in Illinois, Georgia, Idaho and Utah before year end.
    Statements concerning future performance, developments or events,
concerning expectations for growth and market forecasts, and any other
guidance on future periods, constitute forward-looking statements which are
subject to a number of risks and uncertainties which might cause actual
results to differ materially from stated expectations.  These factors include
but are not limited to the successful integration of the merged banks' systems
and procedures, the effect of interest rate changes, the expansion of the
bank, changes in SBA policy or funding, competition in the financial services
market for both deposits and loans, and general economic conditions.
    NOTE:  This company is a client of Len Cereghino & Co. Corporate Investor
Relations.  Bank of Commerce's press releases are available at no charge
through PR Newswire's Company News On-Call fax service.  For a menu of Bank of
Commerce press releases or to retrieve a specific release, call 800-IRNEWS9,
extension 123798, or http://www.prnewswire.com/cnoc/exec/menu?123798 on the
Internet.

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