UB Unionbancal Corp

In its most significant expansion of services to affluent consumers and small business owners to date, Union Bank of California, N.A. is opening 35 new Priority Banking offices in 2008. Located within existing Union Bank branches, the offices are staffed by a team of personal bankers who provide one-on-one consulting and a suite of specialized financial services. The bank already has more than 30 Priority Banking units operating throughout its 330 branch network. The majority of the new offices will be strategically located in or around major metropolitan areas, with 10 in the San Francisco Bay area, seven in the San Diego region and 13 in the Los Angeles area. With the addition of the new locations, Union Bank will have a total of 71 offices focusing on the specific needs of affluent customers and small business owners. According to Senior Vice President Kirk Van Atta, who directs Union Bank�s Priority Banking program, the units adapt to the preferences of a small but increasingly influential segment of the population. Of the approximately 114 million households in the country, the affluent market represents almost 20 percent with more than $11.7 trillion in investable assets. �Today�s affluent consumers and small business owners are extremely busy, sophisticated and mobile,� said Van Atta. �They demand a higher level of attention, expertise and convenience, and we are in a position to help them achieve the next level of financial success.� Priority Banking caters to individuals and small business owners with more than $100,000 in combined account balances, providing a personal banker, financial planning and portfolio management, investments and insurance. Of particular note, said Van Atta, Priority Bankers help small business owners integrate their personal and business finances into a comprehensive plan to maximize returns, as well as assist them with such issues as succession planning. Based in San Francisco, UnionBanCal Corporation (NYSE:UB) is a bank holding company with assets of $55.7 billion at December 31, 2007. Its primary subsidiary, Union Bank of California, N.A., had 330 banking offices in California, Oregon and Washington, and 2 international offices at December 31, 2007. The company's Web site is located at www.unionbank.com.