WESTLAKE VILLAGE, Calif., September 28, 2011 – First California Bank, a wholly-owned a subsidiary of First California Financial Group, Inc. (Nasdaq:FCAL), today announced the promotion of Stacy Peterson to Market President, a newly created position responsible for overseeing the bank's commercial banking activities in Ventura and San Luis Obispo counties. First California Bank currently has six offices in Ventura County and one office in the City of San Luis Obispo.

"We are excited to have someone of Stacy's caliber and experience leading our business banking efforts from Ventura County to San Luis Obispo. Since joining the bank, Stacy has proven to be a strong and effective leader who is also highly respected by our business clientele. We are confident she will be highly successful in her new role of Market President," said Gilbert Dalmau, First California Bank's recently appointed Executive Vice President and Chief Banking Officer.

"I look forward to my new role and, most importantly, to growing the bank's client relationships and presence in the Central Coast markets," said Peterson.

Peterson joined First California Bank in December 2009 as Senior Vice President - Regional Manager in Commercial Lending. Previously, she held senior management level positions with Santa Barbara Bank & Trust in Ventura County and Fleet Capital. She began her banking career with Security Pacific Bank in Los Angeles. Peterson, a resident of Ventura County since 1982, earned a master's degree in business administration from the University of Southern California.

Peterson currently serves on the Board of Directors and is a founding member of the Business Advisory Council at California State University, Channel Islands; and previously served on the boards of the Southeast Ventura County YMCA, the Alliance for the Arts, and the City of Thousand Oaks. In 2010 and 2011, Peterson was recognized by the Pacific Coast Business Times as one of the Top 50 Women in Business in the Tri-County area of California (San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara and Ventura counties). She is also a Court Appointed Special Advocate for the Ventura County Family Court System and enjoys living in the Channel Islands Harbor and racing sailboats.

SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif., September 27, 2011 – First California Bank, a wholly-owned a subsidiary of First California Financial Group, Inc. (Nasdaq:FCAL), today announced the appointment of Michael D. Kee as Senior Vice President and Regional Manager - San Luis Obispo. Kee will report to Gilbert Dalmau, First California Bank's recently appointed Executive Vice President and Chief Banking Officer.

Kee will be responsible for overseeing all banking activities of First California Bank's branch in San Luis Obispo County.

"Michael is a well-rounded professional banker, with nearly 40 years of experience in the banking industry," said Dalmau. "He is skilled at managing and directing all loan activities, as well as business development. Michael has deep roots in San Luis Obispo and surrounding markets, and been actively involved in numerous non-profit, charitable and community organizations. We are pleased to have him aboard for our operations in San Luis Obispo."

Prior to joining First California Bank, Kee served as Senior Vice President, Senior Lending Officer for Founders Community Bank in San Luis Obispo. Previously, he held a number of senior level positions with Mid-State Bank & Trust in Arroyo Grande, including Vice President, Regional Manager in retail and business banking and Vice President of Commercial Banking in San Luis Obispo. Earlier, Kee was as President, CEO and Executive Vice President, Chief Credit Officer for Hacienda Bank in Santa Maria, and before that served in a variety of roles for Bank of America in Southern California. Kee earned a bachelor's degree in business administration from California Baptist University in Riverside and is a graduate of Pacific Coast Banking School in Seattle, Washington.

"First California Bank is a highly regarded business bank," said Kee. "l am enthusiastic about the opportunity to bring my experience and knowledge of the San Luis Obispo market to help grow the bank and further develop its customer relationships."

PALM DESERT, Calif., September 27, 2011 – First California Bank today announced the appointment of Marci Spearman as Vice President, Branch Service Manager for its proposed de novo branch office in Palm Springs and its current office in Palm Desert. Spearman will report to Mark Gustafson, First California Bank's Market President for the Coachella Valley region.

"Marci is an established banker in the Coachella Valley, with an excellent reputation and following," said Gustafson. "She is well known for providing exceptional service to her customers. We are pleased to welcome her to First California Bank and know that she will be instrumental in helping establish and build our presence in the valley."

Spearman most recently served as Vice President Branch Manager at Pacific Premier Bank, formerly Canyon National Bank, where she managed the Smoke Tree branch located in Palm Springs. Spearman began her management career in banking with Bank of America, Overseas Military Division in Okinawa, Japan, where she received numerous awards for outstanding service to US military members, including a special recognition award from the Commander of the Department of Defense Finance and Accounting Service, Asia. Spearman attended the University of Maryland, University College Asia.

Spearman is a Coachella Valley native, a graduate of Palm Springs High School and actively involved in community organizations. She served as an Ambassador to the Palm Springs Chamber of Commerce and is a volunteer for the Palm Springs Athena Committee, Friends of the Palm Springs Animal Shelter and Palm Springs Festival of Lights Parade. Spearman was a member of the Indio Sunrise Rotary and sings in the choir at Our Saviors Lutheran Church.

"l am excited to join First California Bank and look forward to developing and building the Bank's business relationships in the area," said Spearman.