BEN SCHOLTEN NAMED REGIONAL PRESIDENT OF COACHELLA VALLEY FOR RABOBANK, N.A.

Public Record, The, Jan 30, 2007

Ben Scholten has been named Regional President of the Coachella Valley region for Rabobank, N.A. overseeing the bank's eight Coachella Valley branches, its Hemet and Blythe branches and a future Murtieta branch scheduled to open in late 2007. Scholten is based out of the banks Palm Springs branch, located at 1111 Tahquitz Canyon Way, and is responsible for the bank's overall marketing, business development, community outreach, and management within the Coachella Valley region.

"We are excited to have someone of Ben's caliber and experience to drive the Rabobank vision in the Coachella Valley," said Rabobank, N.A President Rick Arredondo.

"As Rabobank continues to expand our banking network in California, it is very important that we maintain our strong community-oriented focus and keep our decision making rooted in the local communities where we do business. Ben brings significant financial services expertise and a wealth of banking experience acquired during his 27-year career with Rabobank, which will be highly valuable for our customers and communities throughout the Coachella Valley."

The appointment of Scholten to oversee the Coachella Valley region is part of Rabobank's regional approach to its California retail banking business, explained Arredondo. Rabobank's current retail banking network spans nearly 700 miles, from the California border with Mexico, north through the Central Valley and along the Central Coast and up into the greater Sacramento area.

Scholten moved to the United States last fall to fill this new position. Most recently he was CEO of Rabobank's retail bank in Almere, Flevoland and prior to that he was Managing Director of four other Rabobank retail banks elsewhere in the Netherlands. Scholten has also held international positions with Rabobank in Turkey and Poland, assisting with development of Rabobankinvolved community banks there.

A native of Schiedam, Holland, Scholten has held several high-level management positions with Rabobank since 1979. Prior to Rabobank, he worked with ABN Arnro bank in Amsterdam, Holland for six years. He holds an MBA from the University of Rochester's William E. Simon Graduate School of Business in Rochester, NY. Before entering the banking industry, he worked in retail marketing and management for four years.