Central Coast Bancorp Ends Year With a Milestone in Assets

Central Coast Bancorp Ends Year With a Milestone in Assets 


SALINAS, Calif., Jan. 7  /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Central Coast Bancorp , the
holding company for Community Bank of Central California, finished the year 2003
with a first-time achievement -- topping the one-billion-dollar level in total
assets.

Unaudited financial results as of December 31, 2003 show the Company had assets
totaling approximately $1,037,000,000. Exactly five years earlier, Central Coast
Bancorp reported total assets of nearly half that amount, or $544,000,000 to be
specific. Earnings results for 2003 will be released later this month.

"The year 2003 was clearly a year of celebration and success for Community
Bank," said Chief Executive Officer Nick Ventimiglia. "We began the year by
opening our twelfth branch, which has turned into a thriving office in Downtown
Monterey. We also celebrated our 20th year as the area's Premier Local Bank.
Now, we're a billion-dollar-strong financial institution, yet our commitment to
customer service, financial performance and community involvement has not
wavered."

Central Coast Bancorp operates as a holding company for Community Bank of
Central California. Community Bank, headquartered in Salinas, has branches
located in:  the Monterey County communities of Salinas (2 offices), Monterey
(2), Seaside, Marina, Castroville, Gonzales and King City; the Santa Clara
County community of Gilroy; the Santa Cruz County community of Watsonville; and
in the San Benito County community of Hollister. The Bank provides traditional
deposit, lending, mortgage and commercial products and services to business and
retail customers throughout the California Central Coast area.

Information on the Company and its subsidiary Bank may be obtained from the
Company's website, http://www.community-bnk.com/.

Forward-Looking Statements

In addition to the historical information contained herein, this press release
contains certain forward-looking statements.  The reader of this press release
should understand that all such forward-looking statements are subject to risks
and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from
those projected.  Changes to such risks and uncertainties, which could impact
future financial performance, include, among others, (1) competitive pressures
in the banking industry; (2) changes in the interest rate environment; (3)
general economic conditions, nationally, regionally and in operating market
areas, including a decline in real estate values in the Company's market areas;
(4) the effects of terrorism, the threat of terrorism or the impact of potential
military conflicts; (5) changes in the regulatory environment; (6) changes in
business conditions and inflation;  (7) changes in securities markets; (8) data
processing compliance problems; (9) variances in the actual versus projected
growth in assets; (10) return on assets; (11) loan losses; (12) expenses; (13)
rates charged on loans and earned on securities investments; (14) rates paid on
deposits; and (15) fee and other noninterest income earned, as well as other
factors. This entire press release and the Company's periodic reports on Forms
10-K, 10-Q and 8-K should be read to put such forward-looking statements in
context and to gain a more complete

understanding of the uncertainties and risks involved in the Company's business.


DATASOURCE: Central Coast Bancorp



CONTACT:  Jaimie D. Roedel, AVP/Marketing Officer of Central Coast

Bancorp, [phone], ext. 432, or 



Web site:  http://www.community-bnk.com/

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