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“We continue to attract highly experienced, talented bankers and Jeff Whalen is one of the best in Santa Clara County,” said Robert Gionfriddo, Executive Vice President and President of Bridge Bank’s Specialty Markets Banking Division.  “Jeff and I have worked together at other institutions for over 10 years and look forward to working together again to make a significant contribution to Bridge Bank.”

The Specialty Markets Banking Division of Bridge Bank provides businesses with highly customized banking services.  In his capacity as Market Manager, Mr. Whalen will oversee the development, structuring, and delivery of Specialty Markets banking products and services to small and middle market, and emerging growth businesses in the greater Silicon Valley marketplace.  

“Bridge Bank has built a reputation of delivering a unique business banking experience to its clients and I look forward to offering that to my associates and friends in the Silicon Valley market,” said Mr. Whalen.  “The Bank’s teams of highly skilled bankers are truly committed to this community where I am a third generation Santa Clara County native.”

Prior to joining Bridge Bank, Mr. Whalen was Senior Vice President and Managing Director of Business Development of Greater Bay Bank’s South Bay Region.  From 1993 to 2001, he was the Regional Manager of Cupertino National Bank in San Jose.  At Greater Bay Bank, Mr. Whalen was responsible for growing deposits and loans within his division to over $400 million and over $100 million, respectively.  Prior to Greater Bay Bank, he had a highly successful career with positions at Union Bank from 1981-1984, Plaza Bank of Commerce from 1984 to 1990, and Silicon Valley Bank from 1990 to 1993.

Mr. Whalen is actively involved in the Community as a member of the Rotary Club of San Jose, the Alumni Board of  Archbishop Mitty, the Finance Committee of St. Mary’s of Los Gatos, as well as a founding Board member of the Downtown Cancer League of the American Cancer Society.

Mr. Whalen is a graduate of Mitty High School, attended Santa Clara University, and graduated with a B.A. in 1973 from San Jose State University.

He and his wife Peggy and his two children live in Los Gatos.

Bridge Bank, headquartered in Silicon Valley, now has a presence in eleven business markets throughout California and the Central Region of the U.S.  In addition to its newly established Central Region technology loan production office in Dallas, Texas, the Bank operates full-service commercial banking offices in San Jose and Palo Alto, a commercial loan production office in the East Bay, a construction loan production office in Redwood City, the Bridge Capital Finance loan production office - offering structured, asset-based, and factored loans - in Santa Clara, a Small Business Administration loan production office in Sacramento, and four Small Business Administration loan sales representatives in the Fresno, Bakersfield, Orange County, and San Diego business markets.

About Bridge Capital Holdings

Bridge Capital Holdings is the holding company for Bridge Bank, National Association. Bridge Capital Holdings was formed on October 1, 2004 and is listed on The NASDAQ Stock Market under the trading symbol BBNK. Visit Bridge Capital Holdings on the web at www.bridgecapitalholdings.com.

About Bridge Bank, N.A.

Bridge Bank, N.A. is Santa Clara County's newest full-service professional business bank. The bank is dedicated to meeting the financial needs of small and middle market, and emerging technology businesses, in the Silicon Valley, Palo Alto, Redwood City, San Ramon-Pleasanton, Sacramento, San Diego, Bakersfield, Fresno, Orange County and Dallas, TX business communities. Bridge Bank provides its clients with a comprehensive package of business banking solutions delivered through experienced, professional bankers. Visit Bridge Bank on the web at www.bridgebank.com.

Certain matters discussed in this press release constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, and are subject to the safe harbors created by that Act. Forward-looking statements describe future plans, strategies, and expectations, and are based on currently available information, expectations, assumptions, projections, and management's judgment about the Bank, the banking industry and general economic conditions. These forward looking statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause the actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from those expressed, suggested or implied by the forward looking statements.

These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to: (1) competitive pressures in the banking industry; (2) changes in interest rate environment; (3) general economic conditions, nationally, regionally, and in operating markets; (4) changes in the regulatory environment; (5) changes in business conditions and inflation; (6) changes in securities markets; (7) future credit loss experience; (8) the ability to satisfy requirements related to the Sarbanes-Oxley Act and other regulation on internal control; (9) civil disturbances or terrorist threats or acts, or apprehension about the possible future occurrences of acts of this type; and (10) the involvement of the United States in war or other hostilities.

The reader should refer to the more complete discussion of such risks in Bridge Capital Holding's annual reports on Forms 10-K and quarterly reports on Forms 10-Q on file with the SEC.


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