Safra National Bank, Treasury Bank, and Silicon Valley Bank
Upgraded by Weiss Ratings

PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla., May 12, 2003 - Safra National Bank, Treasury Bank NA, and Silicon Valley Bank were among the 863 banks and thrifts upgraded by Weiss Ratings during its latest review of 9,355 financial institutions. In contrast, 630 banks and thrifts, including Wilmington Trust Co., Sterling Bank, and Banner Bank were downgraded by Weiss, the nation's leading independent provider of ratings and analyses of financial services companies, mutual funds, and stocks.

Safra National Bank (Alexandria, Va.; Total assets $5.1 billion) was upgraded to B- (Good) from C+ (Fair) due to its strong capital position. The bank boasts a risk-adjusted capital ratio of 25.85 percent, which gives Safra a sufficient cushion to withstand adverse economic conditions. Net income, fueled by a 20.6 percent increase in net interest income, rose to $35.9 million in 2002, representing a $17.8 million increase over the $18.1 million earned in 2001. The favorable interest rate environment was responsible for the 49.7 percent reduction in net interest expense, which helped the bank's net interest margin reach 1.97 percent at year-end.

Treasury Bank, NA (Alexandria, Va.; Total assets $5.1 billion) was upgraded to B- (Good) from C+ (Fair) due to the rapid expansion of its loan portfolio following the bank's sale to Countrywide Financial Corporation in May 2001. The affiliation to one of the nation's largest home lenders helped Treasury Bank create a variety of new lending products. Despite the dynamic loan growth, the bank was able to maintain a very conservative portfolio, with a nonperforming loans to core capital ratio of 0.09 percent, compared to the industry average of 9.67 percent. Capital levels remained strong, as evidenced by the improved leverage ratio of 12.46 at December 31, 2002, compared to 9.76 at year-end 2001.

Silicon Valley Bank (Santa Clara, Calif.; Total assets $3.9 billion) was upgraded to A- (Excellent) from B+ (Good) based upon the overall strengthening of its financial position. The current interest rate environment was responsible for a $19.7 million, or 52.7 percent, decline in total interest expense, from $37.3 million in 2001 to $17.6 million in 2002. Healthy earnings enabled the bank to enhance its capital position, with core capital increasing $77.7 million to $421.3 million at December 31, 2002 compared to $343.6 million one year earlier. Silicon Valley's capital comfortably exceeds regulatory minimums as measured by a risk-adjusted capital ratio of 13.86 percent and a leverage ratio of 11.84 percent at year-end 2002, compared to 11.63 and 9.62, respectively, at year-end 2001.

630 Banks and Thrifts Receive Downgrades by Weiss

Wilmington Trust Company (Wilmington, Del.; Total assets $7.6 billion) was downgraded to C+ (Fair) from B- (Good) due to a decline in its capital position in the fourth quarter of 2002. The bank's risk-based capital ratio of 10.14 percent declined, placing it just above the required level of 10 percent that federal regulators consider to be well-capitalized. Wilmington's leverage ratio, which measures core capital per adjusted assets, declined slightly to 7.23 percent at December 31, 2002 compared to 7.49 percent at year-end 2001. A further decline in capital was buoyed by solid earnings, as net income increased 3.5 percent, from $113.2 million in 2001 to $117.1 million in 2002.

Sterling Bank (Houston, Texas; Total assets $3.6 billion) was downgraded to C+ (Fair) from B- (Good) based upon a decline in its capital position. Although earnings increased $7.2 million to $42.7 million in 2002, it was not enough to offset deterioration in the bank's capital ratios. An increase in risk-weighted assets, including residential and multi-family mortgages, and off-balance sheet items, lowered Sterling Bank's overall risk-adjusted capital ratio to 9.86 percent, which is below the 10 percent level that regulators consider to be well-capitalized. Nonperforming loans increased by $5.8 million, or 39 percent, to $20.6 million in 2002, compared to $14.8 million in 2001.

Banner Bank (Walla Walla, Wash.; Total assets $2.2 billion) was downgraded to C (Fair) from B- (Good) due to a substantial increase in troubled loans. Nonperforming loans increased 100 percent to $36.1 million in 2002, from $18 million in 2001. Struggling construction, commercial real estate, and other commercial loans weakened the bank's loan portfolio as the nonperforming loans to core capital ratio jumped to 21.21 percent at year-end, up from 10.44 percent last year. Provisions for loan losses increased by 50.4 percent to $21.0 million, which caused a strain on earnings. Return on assets (ROA) remained weak at 0.50 percent compared to a 0.45 percent ROA at year-end 2001.

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