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FIRST FOUNDATION BANK OPENS WITH $25 MILLION IN CAPITAL RAISED

The Keller Group is One of the First Money Managers in California to Start Its Own Bank

IRVINE, Calif. – Oct. 1, 2007 – First Foundation Bank opened for business today on solid financial footing, signing up its first new deposit accounts.

First Foundation, established by Keller Financial Group, is one of the first independent banks in California to be founded by a wealth management firm. Directors and officers of Keller Financial collectively own 56% of the bank’s holding company. Most other investors are clients of its subsidiary, The Keller Group Investment Management, Inc.

Industry consolidation has reduced the number of California banks over the past 15 years, from 482 in 1990 to 274 in 2005, making it a favorable environment for independent banks such as First Foundation that can provide flexibility and personal service.

“We recognize our clients want a bank where someone knows who they are, what they need and can make decisions quickly,” said bank CEO Scott F. Kavanaugh. “If our clients want to borrow money to buy a company or an investment property, they expect a quick response. That’s something we can do that the local branch of most larger out-of-state banks can’t do.”

It has been a remarkably smooth ride lately for First Foundation, despite a national credit crunch, volatility on Wall Street and a weak real estate market. The bank’s holding company raised more than $32 million in one month and invested $25 million in all shares of the bank.

“We even had to turn away investors and return money to shareholders,” said bank President David O. Rahn. “Many of us, with our families, became shareholders. That benefits our clients, because the people running the bank are personally invested in its success.”

The bank’s client base is expected to be mid-to-high net worth individuals, as well as small businesses and their owners, with most loans being business lines of credit, multi-family properties, commercial investment and commercial owner-user real estate.

First Foundation Bank is affiliated with The Keller Group, which manages more than $1.2 billion on behalf of some 900 high net-worth clients in Orange County and elsewhere. This affiliation allows the bank to offer a full range of financial services and is expected to create an additional source of fee income, according to its business plan.

“This is a timely move by The Keller Group given the recent trend toward the merging of depositary banking with financial advisory services,” said Ed Carpenter, chairman of Carpenter & Co. Investment Bankers, which consults approximately two out of three independent start-up banks in the state, including First Foundation Bank. “Both subsidiaries will offer their clients experienced management and high levels of service in their respective industries.”

First Foundation Bank is a private, independent financial institution based in Irvine, Calif. It offers innovative, professional and comprehensive services, including lending, trust and insurance services, and FDIC-insured deposit accounts. First Foundation Bank was established together with banking professionals by the same people who built The Keller Group Investment Management Inc. First Foundation Bank is located at 2600 Michelson Ave., Suite 140, Irvine, Calif., 92612. For more information, call 949-222-2030 or visit www.FirstFoundationBank.com.

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