Cash Dividend Increased by 11.5% United Security Bancshares

Cash Dividend Increased by 11.5% United Security Bancshares
61st Consecutive Quarterly Cash Dividend Declared 


FRESNO, Calif., Dec. 26  /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Dennis R. Woods, President
and Chief Executive Officer of United Security Bancshares , reported that the
Board of Directors on December 23, 2003, declared a quarterly cash dividend of
$0.145 per share, to shareholders of record on January 9, 2004, payable on
January 21, 2004.

The dividend of $0.145 per share is up $0.015 from the January 2003 quarterly
dividend of $0.13, an 11.5% increase. This dividend marks the 61st consecutive
quarterly cash dividend paid to shareholders since inception.

Woods added, "As 2003 comes to a close and another year of record earnings is
about to be written into history, we are well along in planning for another
strong year in 2004. We recently announced our planned acquisition of Taft
National Bank early in the second quarter. We expect the acquisition will add to
earnings in 2004 as well as add to the company's core deposit base. In March we
plan to open a branch near the convention center in downtown Fresno. Later in
the year we plan to relocate the administrative offices downtown. It's lining up
as an exciting year. Stay tuned for more."

United Security Bancshares is a $510 million bank holding company and United
Security Bank, a state banking corporation, is its primary subsidiary. United
Security Bancshares stock is available through The Seidler Amdec Securities
Inc., (contact Troy Norlander at 1-800-288-2811), Hoefer & Arnett (contact Dave
Bonaccorso at 1-800-346-5544, ext. 723) or Hill Thompson, Magid & Co. (contact
Jason Biggerstaff 1-800-631-3083) as well as other firms, and trades under the
symbol "UBFO."

This press release may include forward-looking statements that involve inherent
risks and uncertainties. A number of important factors could cause actual
results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Those
factors include fluctuations in interest rates, inflation, government
regulations, the progress of integrating acquisitions and economic conditions
and competition in the geographic and business areas in which the Company
conducts its operations.  The Company undertakes no obligation to revise or
update these forward-looking statements. 

DATASOURCE: United Security Bancshares



CONTACT:  Dennis Woods of United Security Bancshares, [phone]



Web site:  http://www.unitedsecuritybank.com/ 

Copyright