PACW PacWest Bancorp

PacWest Bancorp (Nasdaq:PACW) announced today that its Board of Directors has declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.18 per common share. The cash dividend is payable on February 29, 2012 to stockholders of record at the close of business on February 20, 2012. 

ABOUT PACWEST BANCORP

PacWest Bancorp ("PacWest") is a bank holding company with $5.5 billion in assets as of December 31, 2011, with one wholly-owned banking subsidiary, Pacific Western Bank ("Pacific Western"). Through 76 full-service community banking branches, Pacific Western provides commercial banking services, including real estate, construction and commercial loans, to small and medium-sized businesses. Pacific Western's branches are located throughout California in Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, Santa Barbara, San Diego, San Francisco, San Luis Obispo, San Mateo and Ventura Counties. Through its subsidiary, BFI Business Finance and its divisions First Community Financial and Marquette Equipment Finance, Pacific Western also provides working capital financing and equipment leasing to growing companies located throughout the United States, with a focus on the Southwestern U.S., primarily in Arizona, California, Utah and Texas. Additional information regarding PacWest Bancorp is available on the Internet at www.pacwestbancorp.com. Information regarding Pacific Western Bank is also available on the Internet at www.pacificwesternbank.com.

CONTACT: Matt Wagner, Chief Executive Officer, (310) 728-1020
         Vic Santoro, Executive Vice President and CFO, (310) 728-1021