First California Financial Group (FCAL)

[Enterprising Investor]

FCAL's EPS Division Adds New Customer (3/26/12)

WESTLAKE VILLAGE, CA--(Marketwire - Mar 26, 2012) - First California Financial Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: FCAL), the holding company of First California Bank, today announced that its Electronic Payments Services (EPS) division has added a new customer, Global Cash Card, located in Irvine, California. The contract term is five years.

"Global Cash Card is the largest independent payroll card provider in the U.S., currently with more than 300,000 active cardholders," said Jim Tingey, president of the EPS division. "This collaboration allows us to provide products to businesses of all sizes throughout the country. Global Cash Card is an important customer for us and the second major new client to be added to our roster in recent weeks."

"Collaborating with First California Bank helps diversify our banking relationship and solidify our business going forward," said Joseph Purcell, president and chief executive officer of Global Cash Card. "Due to our rapid growth of 40 percent each year, we chose First California because they have the knowledge, reputation, experience and credibility we need. They are the right bank for us."

About Global Cash Card
Global Cash Card™ is the proven specialist in customized paycard solutions that are simple to implement and easy to use. The company is a wholly owned subsidiary of World Processing, Ltd, a leader in electronic financial transaction technology. Global Cash Card is a direct processor that offers Debit MasterCard cards and Visa Prepaid cards. The company develops and owns the proprietary software, which enables the products and services it offers.

The platform provides payroll cards, travel, gift, FSA, HSA, and many other types of applications. Global Cash Card also offers branded and customized programs. Global Cash Card's cutting edge technology continues to improve, offering more value and greater flexibility to meet the particular requirements of its customers. Visit us at www.globalcashcard.com.

About First California
First California Financial Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: FCAL) is the holding company of First California Bank. Founded in 1979 and with nearly $2 billion in assets, First California serves the comprehensive financial needs of small- and middle-sized businesses and high net worth individuals throughout Southern California. Led by an experienced team of bankers, First California is committed to providing the best client service available in its markets, offering a full line of quality commercial banking products through 19 full-service branch offices in Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego, San Luis Obispo and Ventura counties. The holding company's website can be accessed at www.fcalgroup.com. For additional information on First California Bank's products and services, visit www.fcbank.com.

Forward-Looking Information
This press release contains certain forward-looking information about First California that is intended to be covered by the safe harbor for "forward-looking statements" provided by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements other than statements of historical fact are forward-looking statements, and include statements related to the level of business volumes, the monitoring of and management of risks in First California's loan portfolio, the adequacy of sources of liquidity to support First California's operations and strategic plans, the monitoring of and response to changing market conditions, and the status of the economy in the Southern California communities served by First California. Such statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties, many of which are difficult to predict and are generally beyond the control of First California. First California cautions readers that a number of important factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in, or implied or projected by, such forward-looking statements. Risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, revenues are lower than expected, credit quality deterioration which could cause an increase in the provision for credit losses, First California's ability to complete future acquisitions, successfully integrate such acquired entities, or achieve expected beneficial synergies and/or operating efficiencies within expected time-frames or at all, changes in consumer spending, borrowing and savings habits, technological changes, the cost of additional capital is more than expected, a change in the interest rate environment reduces interest margins, asset/liability repricing risks and liquidity risks, general economic conditions, particularly those affecting real estate values, either nationally or in the market areas in which First California does or anticipates doing business are less favorable than expected, a slowdown in construction activity, recent volatility in the credit or equity markets and its effect on the general economy, loan delinquency rates, the ability of First California to retain customers, changes in the bank regulatory environment, demographic changes, demand for the products or services of First California as well as their ability to attract and retain qualified people, competition with other banks and financial institutions, First California's level of small business lending, and other factors. If any of these risks or uncertainties materializes or if any of the assumptions underlying such forward-looking statements proves to be incorrect, First California's results could differ materially from those expressed in, or implied or projected by such forward-looking statements. First California assumes no obligation to update such forward-looking statements. For a more complete discussion of risks and uncertainties, investors and security holders are urged to read the section titled "Risk Factors" in First California's Annual Report on Form 10-K and any other reports filed by it with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"). The documents filed by First California with the SEC may be obtained at the SEC's website at www.sec.gov. These documents may also be obtained free of charge from First California by directing a request to: First California Financial Group, Inc., 3027 Townsgate Road, Suite 300, Westlake Village, CA 91361. Attention: Investor Relations. Telephone [phone].

Contact Information

For further Information:

At the Company:
Ron Santarosa
805-322-9333

At PondelWilkinson:
Robert Jaffe
310-279-5969

http://www.marketwire.com/press-release/first-californias-eps-division-adds-new-customer-nasdaq-fcal-1635860.htm