Trust Administration Services SURPASSES $1 Billion in Self-Directed Assets Under Administration

—Leading provider of retirement plan services draws on industry expertise, high level of service to clients with self-directed IRA account investments in traditional and non-traditional assets, including real estate, private equities and trust deeds—

Carlsbad, CA, March 3, 2005 – Trust Administration Services Corp., a leader in the administration of flexible self-directed retirement accounts, announced today that it has reached over $1 billion in client assets under administration.

“This important milestone is a testament to our company’s commitment to the industry and is indicative of the levels of service we provide clients,” said Jim Wagner, president and CEO of Trust Administration Services. “Our personalized service makes our company stand out from the handful of firms across the country that provide services to individuals who invest in self-directed assets within their IRAs.”

“Clients today report that they are looking to expand their investment horizon, combining both traditional and non-traditional assets within a single account. Our firm specializes in servicing clients who are interested in a wide range of investment options for their self-directed retirement accounts, including publicly traded securities as well as real estate, private equities, trust deeds, hedge funds and other non-publicly traded securities. Our company’s surpassing the one billion dollar mark today is evidence of the growing popularity of this strategy,” said Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, Paul Maxwell.

About Trust Administration Services
Established in 1998, Trust Administration Services, a wholly-owned subsidiary of First Regional Bank, specializes in the administration of self-directed retirement plans and custody accounts. Because all accounts administered by Trust Administration Services are entirely self-directed, its clients are afforded the widest possible range of investment options for their accounts. Working individually or in concert with their legal, tax and/or financial advisors, clients can create a customized portfolio that directly meets their needs. Through the company’s highly experienced staff, drawing on decades of industry experience, investors, advisors and product sponsors can avail themselves of the company’s comprehensive administrative, record keeping and compliance services. Trust Administration Services is online at www.trustlynk.com.

Trust Administration Services Announces Successful Funding of 63 Banks through Investors’ IRAs

--Self-directed retirement plan service provider links investors and start-ups;

enables investors to broaden options beyond traditional stocks and bonds--

Carlsbad, CA, July 26, 2005 — Trust Administration Services Corporation (TAS), a leading administrator of self-directed retirement accounts, custodial accounts and other personal trust services, today announced that it has reached a milestone in enabling 63 community and independent banks to secure start-up funding by providing investors with the option to invest in them with their IRAs .

TAS began working with banks in organization three years ago and has now partnered with 60 financial institutions in San Diego and Southern California. Working together, TAS and these newly formed banks are putting the focus back on investing in the local economy and the immediate banking needs of communities. TAS has helped more than 1,000 investors to successfully invest in the banks, contributing to the more than one billion dollars in assets it currently holds under administration, including alternative investments (trust deeds, real estate, partnerships, private equities and others).

The trend of investing in alternative assets, such as bank stock, has been on the rise as more investors become aware of the option, one not typically offered by financial advisors who rely heavily on commissions-based products. By investing in alternative assets with their IRAs, investors can diversify their portfolios and gain the full growth potential of the IRA.

“This has been a critical funding source for new banks as well as a great alternative investment vehicle for local entrepreneurs looking to diversify the assets within their IRAs or who don’t have personal cash on hand to invest,” said Jim Wagner, CEO of Trust Administration Services. “This option provides new banks with the ability to raise funds more quickly than going through traditional avenues. It’s a win-win-win situation.”

TAS participates in investor meetings during the formative stages of the banks, where they educate attendees on how they can take advantage of self-directed investment options within their IRAs, including the private bank stock offerings. The firm then provides the link between interested investors and banks in need of capital and handles all the necessary transactional services and administration for their IRAs. Investors can either open up a new IRA with TAS or transfer existing IRAs, including those containing other investments.

“I don’t know of any other firm right now that is facilitating fundraising for start-up banks through investor IRAs,” added Wagner. “As it is, we are one of only a handful of custodial firms across the country that is meeting the growing demand of investors to be able to take control of their own financial futures by investing in alternative investments with their IRAs.”

TAS has helped some community and independent start-up banks raise secondary and tertiary rounds of funding. On average, 25 to 30 percent of capital raised by banks TAS has worked with has come from IRA investments.

“By simplifying the process for our investors, TAS helped us raise more funding and reach our financial goals at a much faster pace. Of the total capital Pacific Coast National Bank raised, $3.6 million—more than 15 percent—came from IRA investments through TAS,” said Colin Forkner, CEO & Vice Chairman of Pacific Coast National Bank in San Clemente. “TAS has played a key part in the success of our formation.”

TAS’ involvement with small, forming banks has spread to other markets beyond Southern California, and many of the banks continue to take advantage of TAS’ services by also offering their clients the ability to invest in alternative assets. The firm is currently also working with banks in Washington, Northern California, Texas and Kentucky.

About Trust Administration Services Corporation
Established in 1998, Trust Administration Services Corporation, a subsidiary of First Regional Bank, specializes in the administration of self-directed retirement accounts, custodial accounts and a variety of personal trust services. TAS gives investors the freedom to invest in real estate, businesses, private stocks and bonds and other alternative assets with their IRAs, in addition to purchasing traditional stocks and bonds, enabling them to create a customized portfolio that directly meets their needs. Through TAS’ highly experienced staff, drawing on over 420 combined years of industry experience, investors and partners looking to provide this option to their clients receive complete industry expertise and comprehensive administrative record keeping and compliance functions required to manage their assets. TAS is online at www.trustlynk.com.