First Choice Bank Makes Record High Donation for its Annual Charity Golf Tournament

CERRITOS, CALIFORNIA, Nov. 20, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — (Nasdaq Capital Markets: FCBP) — First Choice Bancorp, the holding company for First Choice Bank (the “Bank” or “FCB”), is proud to announce a record high donation amount from its 9th Annual Charity Golf Tournament. The tournament was held at the Industry Hills Golf Club in The City of Industry on October 24, 2019. The Bank’s total donation amount of $65,000 will be matched by the Much is Given Foundation. Thanks to the Foundation’s generosity, this year’s contribution to the 18-selected organizations will total $130,000.
The Bank presented this year’s Citizen of the Year award to Chef Bruno Serato of Caterina’s Club for the work he does to help those most vulnerable and most in need in the local community. “Our youth need access to nutritional food, stable housing and job training. Talking about change is not enough- it is time to start doing something about it,” Chef Bruno stated passionately. Chairman Peter Hui added, “Our annual golf tournament allows First Choice Bank not only to support these very worthy organizations with donations and greater visibility in the community, but it also gives all of us the chance to work as a team and involve our friends and families.”In addition, First Choice remembered Jake Cleland, the son of FCB’s long-time clients and friends, Dennis and Robin Cleland, and a regular attendee of the tournament each year. “We are so humbled to be able to pay tribute to Jake, who recently passed away unexpectedly. He and his family are part of the First Choice family, and we are truly going to miss seeing him on the course,” said FCB President and Chief Executive Officer, Robert Franko.The 18 non-profit organizations this year were: ABC Unified School District Education Foundation, Casa Teresa, Caterina’s Club, Chinatown Service Center, Chinese Christian Herald Crusades- Rowland Heights, The Entrepreneur Educational Center Inc., Junior Achievement of San Diego County, Kidsingers, Little Tokyo Service Center, Macedonia CDC, Operation Game ON, Orangewood Children’s Home Auxiliary- La Casa, Ronald McDonald House West Los Angeles, San Gabriel Valley Habitat for Humanity, The American Wheat Mission, Union Station Homeless Services, Weingart East Los Angeles YMCA, and Youth Business Alliance.First Choice Bank would also like to thank this year’s generous sponsors and all participants for helping to make the event such a success. Platinum Sponsors included American First National Bank, Big Saver Foods, Coastal Helicopters, Dolarex LLC, Hospitality Unlimited Investments, Paradigm Group of Companies, PINN Investments, Proxima Media, S3 Hotel Groups, T2 Development LLC, and Tri-Lin Holdings LLC. Gold Sponsors included Abacus Payroll Services, CoreCapital, Eide Bailly, Executive Development LLC, Insignia Mortgage, Kamla for Hope, Liferay Foundation, and The Gardens Casino. The Longest Drive Sponsors included Amit Sharma and Kamla for Hope. The Hole Sponsors were Altamura Real Estate, Fukui Mortuary, Inc., GBC International Bank, Jaybee Hotels, JE Exports, Kinetic Lighting, Inc., La Verne Car Wash, Larry and Ralph Cimmarusti/Original Roadhouse Grill, Otay Financial Center, Pie N Burger, Provident Title, TYWL CPA, Uniserve Facilities Services, and Wash N Go Car Wash. The Closest to the Pin Sponsors included Altamura Real Estate, Chicago Title, Financial Guarantee Insurance, Interstate Hotels, and The Festival Companies. This year’s Beverage Cart & Other Sponsors included Cresa, Image Works, Inc., Fred and Barbara Jensen, Joe Liaw, and the Law Office of Schwartz & Fenster Professional Corp. Special Thanks goes to S3 Hotel Groups for the company’s considerable contribution this year.First Choice Bank would like to once again thank the players, donors, sponsors, volunteers and friends for their generous contributions to make this year’s Charity Golf event a tremendous success.About First Choice BancorpFirst Choice Bancorp, headquartered in Cerritos, California, is the sole shareholder of, and the registered bank holding company for, First Choice Bank. As of September 30, 2019, First Choice Bancorp had total consolidated assets of $1.66 billion. First Choice Bank, also headquartered in Cerritos, California, is a community-based financial institution that serves primarily commercial and consumer clients in diverse communities and specializes in loans to small-to medium-sized businesses and private banking clients, commercial and industrial loans, and commercial real estate loans with a specialization in providing financial solutions for the hospitality industry. First Choice Bank is a Preferred Small Business Administration (SBA) Lender. First Choice Bank conducts business through 9 full-service branches, and 2 loan production offices, located in Los Angeles, Orange and San Diego Counties. Founded in 2005, First Choice Bank has quickly become a leading provider of financial services that enable our customers to grow, maintain strength, and achieve their business objectives. We strive to surpass our clients’ expectations through our efficiency, personalized services and financial solutions and professionalism and are committed to being “First in Speed, Service, and Solutions.” First Choice Bancorp stock is traded on the Nasdaq Capital Market under the ticker symbol “FCBP.”First Choice Bank’s website is www.FirstChoiceBankCA.com.FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTSThe statements contained herein that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and are based on management’s current expectations and beliefs concerning future developments and their potential effects on the Company including, without limitation, plans, strategies and goals, and statements about the Company’s expectations regarding revenue and asset growth, financial performance and profitability, loan and deposit growth, yields and returns, loan diversification and credit management, shareholder value creation and tax rates. There can be no assurance that future developments affecting the Company will be the same as those anticipated by management. Actual results may differ materially from those set forth in the forward-looking statements due to a variety of factors, including the risk factors described in documents filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission.The Company does not undertake, and specifically disclaims any obligation, to update any forward-looking statements to reflect occurrences or unanticipated events or circumstances after the date of such statements except as required by law. Any statements about future operating results, such as those concerning accretion and dilution to the Company’s earnings or shareholders, are for illustrative purposes only, are not forecasts, and actual results may differ.CONTACTFirst Choice Bank
Robert M. Franko, 562.345.9241
President & Chief Executive Officer