IRVINE, Calif. – December 22, 2011 – Opus Bank (the “Bank”) and Opus Community Foundation (the “Foundation”) announced today the Foundation’s approval of 16 grant awards to charitable organizations that the Bank and Foundation believe will have an immediate and long lasting impact on efforts to rebuild our communities in California and Washington. The initiatives receiving the Foundation’s financial support create enrichment and advancement opportunities that directly improve the lives of individuals and families living in the communities Opus Bank serves.

Stephen H. Gordon, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Opus Bank and Chairman of Opus Community Foundation, stated, “While Opus Bank remains focused on providing capital funding to business owners, real estate investors, and entrepreneurs who share our vision to expand and grow, our vision doesn’t stop there. The organizations with whom we have chosen to partner have programs targeting specific areas of need in our California and Washington communities. These programs have consistently proven to be very successful and have shown great results. Additionally, seven of these organizations, A Place Called Home, Camp Pendleton Armed Services YMCA, Christmas House, Make-A-Wish Foundation of Orange County and the Inland Empire, Make-A-Wish Foundation of Washington, Second Harvest Food Bank, and Sky Valley Food Bank were selected by Opus Bank team members through the Foundation’s Celebrate Generously holiday giving program.”

Carol K. Nelson, President of Opus Bank’s Washington Region, stated, “We are delighted to support these important community organizations in our state of Washington. These grants are indicative of Opus Bank’s commitment to making a difference in the communities in which we live and work. I’m particularly pleased to be able to continue to support so many of those Washington organizations that we’ve been partnering with over the years.”

The Foundation has awarded grants to nonprofit organizations that focus on critical health issues, education, financial literacy, housing, or the arts.

California Grant Awards

A Place Called Home received a grant to support its afterschool program, which provides children from low-income neighborhoods tutoring, mentoring, and music, dance, and art classes in their youth center in South Central Los Angeles.

Camp Pendleton Armed Services YMCA received a grant to support its Secret SANTA (Support And Nurture Those Americans who serve) program, which provides toys and gifts to the children of the most junior members of the armed services.

Homework House received a grant to support its programs, which provide at risk youth with mentoring and tutoring opportunities that help change their attitudes about education and learning.

Human Options received a grant to support its Second Step housing program, which provides battered women and their children financial literacy and life skills classes, job readiness training, legal and supportive services, and assistance with locating and obtaining affordable and permanent housing.

LA Goal received a grant to support its job training programs, which provide developmentally disabled adults with vocational training, life skills classes, and educational opportunities.

Make-A-Wish Foundation of Orange County and the Inland Empire received a grant to support its programs, which provide unique experiences that delight and inspire children diagnosed with life threatening medical conditions.

Mercy House received a grant to support its Homeless Family Transitional Shelter Program, which provides emergency shelter in a safe environment and support services to families and pregnant women who otherwise would be placed into an armory.

Palos Verdes Symphonic Band received a grant to support its programs, which provide cultural enrichment through public concerts in the South Bay area of Los Angeles.

Second Harvest Food Bank of Orange County received a grant to support its Emergency Food Box program, which provides those in need with nonperishable food items designed to supplement a family of four for a week.

Share Our Selves received a grant to support its holiday food relief program, which provides emergency food and financial aid to low-income individuals and families, ensuring that their basic subsistence needs are met.

Washington Grant Awards

Christmas House received a grant to support its annual toy give away, which provides qualifying, low-income Snohomish County parents the opportunity to select free holiday gifts for their children.

Make-A-Wish Foundation of Washington received a grant to support its programs, which provide unique experiences that delight and inspire children diagnosed with life threatening medical conditions.

Master Builders Care Foundation received a grant to support its programs, which provide building resources and expertise to Friends of Youth, an organization dedicated to housing homeless youth.

Quilceda Community Services received a grant to support its residential and day programs, which provide fitness, art, and social activities designed to keep the developmentally disabled participants active, engaged, mentally stimulated, and involved.

Shoreline Arts Council received a grant to support its Artists-in-Residence program, which provides children with the opportunity to participate in curriculum-based projects in dance, drama, visual arts, literary arts, and music under the supervision and leadership of teachers and professional artists.

About Opus Community Foundation

The Foundation is a private 501(c)(3) organization established by Opus Bank on September 30, 2010. The Foundation targets its philanthropic efforts in the areas of affordable housing, community development, education, financial literacy, critical health issues, and the arts. The Foundation’s goal is to stimulate economic change, promote reinvestment, inspire philanthropy, and strengthen the communities around us.​

About Opus Bank

Opus Bank, headquartered in Irvine, CA, is an FDIC insured California-chartered commercial bank with $1.9 billion of total assets, $1.1 billion of total loans, and $1.4 billion in total deposits, as of September 30, 2011, before the impact of the acquisition of RMG Capital Corporation and Fullerton Community Bank (“Fullerton”) that closed on October 31, 2011. At September 30, 2011, Fullerton reported $636.3 million of total assets, $475.9 million of total loans, and $473.8 million in total deposits. Opus Bank provides high value, relationship-based banking products and exceptional service to its clients comprised of small and mid-sized commercial businesses, entrepreneurs, real estate investors, high-net-worth individuals, professionals, and consumers. Opus Bank offers a wide range of loan products, including commercial and industrial, commercial real estate, multifamily residential, jumbo single-family residential, and consumer loans; and is a Small Business Administration (“SBA”) Preferred Lender. Opus Bank currently operates 37 banking offices, including 22 in the Seattle/Puget Sound region in Washington and 15 banking offices in Southern California. Opus Bank has announced plans to open new banking offices in Danville, located in Contra Costa County; Encino, Long Beach, and West Los Angeles, located in Los Angeles County; Irvine, and Laguna Niguel, located in Orange County; Del Mar and La Jolla, located in San Diego County, California; and Kirkland, located in King County, Washington. For additional information about Opus Bank, please visit our website: www.opusbank.com.