BCAL California BanCorp

Bank of Southern California, N.A. (the “Bank”) the wholly owned subsidiary of Southern California Bancorp (Nasdaq: BCAL), announces the appointment of David Rouhafza to the positions of Executive Vice President, Deposit and Treasury Services, and West LA Regional Manager, effective August 21, 2023.

“We are delighted to welcome David to our team,” said Richard Hernandez, President of the Bank “He is a proven leader with a successful track record of motivating his colleagues to achieve exceptional deposit growth and provide outstanding customer service in the community banking industry, which is an excellent match for the culture of our Bank. David brings a broad knowledge of deposit and treasury products and services and will play an integral role in assessing and developing our Bank-wide deposit strategy while providing insight into any potential opportunities for updating or expanding our product offerings. Additionally, we will draw on David’s leadership abilities to serve as our West LA Regional Manager in the westside Los Angeles office we opened in 2021.”

Mr. Rouhafza was previously the Senior Vice President, Head of Bankruptcy and Treasury Management Sales, at Banc of California (2015 – 2023). Prior to that he was Vice President, Senior Relationship Manager, at City National Bank (2012 – 2015).

Active in the community, he has served as a Community Reinvestment Act volunteer at various community redevelopment organizations in the Los Angeles area.

Mr. Rouhafza earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of California, Riverside.

ABOUT SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA BANCORP AND BANK OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA, N.A.

Southern California Bancorp (NASDAQ: BCAL) is a registered bank holding company headquartered in San Diego, California. Bank of Southern California, N.A., a national banking association chartered under the laws of the United States (the “Bank”) and regulated by the Office of Comptroller of the Currency, is a wholly owned subsidiary of Southern California Bancorp. Established in 2001 and headquartered in San Diego, California, the Bank offers a range of financial products and services to individuals, professionals, and small- to medium-sized businesses through its 13 branch offices serving Orange, Los Angeles, Riversides, San Diego, and Ventura counties, as well as the Inland Empire. The Bank's solutions-driven, relationship-based approach to banking provides accessibility to decision makers and enhances value through strong partnerships with its clients. Additional information is available at www.banksocal.com.

CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

In addition to historical information, this release includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements relate to expectations, beliefs, projections, future plans and strategies, anticipated events or trends and other matters that are not historical facts. Examples of forward-looking statements include, among others, statements regarding plans or objectives for future operations, products or services, and forecasts relating to financial and operating results or other measures of economic performance. Forward-looking statements reflect management’s current view about future events and involve risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ from those expressed in the forward-looking statement or historical results. Forward-looking statements can be identified by the fact that they do not relate strictly to historical or current facts and often include the words or phrases such as “aim,” “can,” “may,” “could,” “predict,” “should,” “will," “would,” “believe,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” “expect,” “hope,” “intend,” “plan,” “potential,” “project,” “will likely result,” “continue,” “seek,” “shall,” “possible,” “projection,” “optimistic,” and “outlook,” and variations of these words and similar expressions.

Some factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from historical or expected results include, among others: the risk factors discussed in the Company’s Registration Statement on Form 10, as amended, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission; changes in general economic conditions, either nationally or locally in the areas in which the Company conducts business; the impact on financial markets from geopolitical conflicts; inflation, interest rate, market and monetary fluctuations; increases in competitive pressures among financial institutions and businesses offering similar products and services; higher than anticipated defaults in the Company’s loan portfolio; changes in management’s estimate of the adequacy of the allowance for credit losses; legislative or regulatory changes or changes in accounting principles, policies or guidelines; and the impacts of recent bank failures.

Additional information regarding these and other risks and uncertainties to which our business and future financial performance are subject is contained in the Company's Registration Statement on Form 10, as amended, its Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended March 31, 2023, and other documents the Company files with the SEC from time to time.

Any forward-looking statement made in this release is based only on information currently available to management and speaks only as of the date on which it is made. The Company does not undertake, and specifically disclaims any obligation, to update any forward-looking statements to reflect occurrences or unanticipated events or circumstances after the date of such statements or to conform such forward-looking statements to actual results or to changes in its opinions or expectations, except as required by law.

INVESTOR RELATIONS CONTACTKevin Mc CabeBank of Southern Californiakmccabe@banksocal.com818.637.7065