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EL PASEO BANK HOLDS INDENTITY THEFT PREVENTION DAY TO EDUCATE CITIZENS ON NEW FEDERAL “RED FLAG” REGULATIONS FOR BETTER PROTECTION.  

PALM DESERT, CA. –October 27, 2008— El Paseo Bank will hold an “Identity Theft Prevention Day” on October 29, 2008 at its three Palm Desert and Rancho Mirage Branches. This event held from 10:00 to 4:00 will educate both El Paseo customers and the public on how new Federal “Red Flag” regulations will increasingly help them avoid Identity Theft.

Both the public and customers can visit any El Paseo Bank and learn the latest about identity theft and the most effective ways to stay safe. The entire El Paseo staff has completed training on, “Identity Theft Red Flag and Address Discrepancies.” They have current information on the ‘Red Flags’ of Identity Theft and Identity Theft scams. The El Paseo team will educate the public on what to do to keep identity thieves away from mailboxes, bank accounts, credit cards and computers.

“El Paseo is taking the extra step to explain how to deter, detect and defend against Identity Theft,” explains, Sheila Kiner, Director of Marketing at El Paseo Bank. “We are offering a free-of-charge brochure on Identity Theft and how to avoid it by integrating simple yet key “red flags’ into daily living.” Kiner adds.

Identity Theft is rampant today and the country’s fastest growing crime. It is the number one concern among consumers contacting the Federal Trade Commission. In response, the FTC is instituting new, ‘Red Flag’ Rules (effective, November 1, 2008) for Banks and Creditors including; auto dealers, retailers, and any entity that grants credit. According to the, Federal Trade Commission these ‘Red Flag’ Rules,’ “require Financial Institutions and Creditors to prevent, detect and mitigate instances of Identity theft.”

The Identity Theft Program increases the due diligence, banks and other credit granting entities must now perform before opening bank accounts or providing credit. “These new ‘Red Flag’ Rules will make it more difficult for identity thieves to proliferate. We have always been diligent in this area and now we have additional ways to help both our customers and the public avoid identity theft,” says Kiner.

For more information and branch locations please visit www.elpaseobank.com or call: 760-862-0099.

With three branches in Palm Desert, one in Park City and one in Salt Lake City, Utah, El Paseo Bank continues to be a “Well Capitalized” bank with a core capital ratio of 8.22% and a risk-adjusted capital ratio of 11.76%. Non-performing loans represented 1.04% of the total loan portfolio.  Utah branches operate under the name Frontier Bank, FSB.

El Paseo Bank has become one of Palm Desert’s premier locally owned and operated banks. What’s more, the impressive banking expertise provided by El Paseo’s board of directors has been instrumental in forming this outstanding community bank. El Paseo Bank is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Western Community Bancshares, Inc., which has over $300 million in assets, with operations in California and Utah.  The bank specializes in providing a broad array of financial services to local businesses and consumers.