First Priority Bank Names Deb Takes Bank's Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

MALVERN, Pa., May 11 /PRNewswire/ -- First Priority Financial Corp. ("FPFC") Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, David E. Sparks announced today that the Board of Directors of FPFC elected Ms. Deb Takes, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of First Priority Bank ("FPB") and a Director of both FPFC and FPB effective May 10, 2010. Mary Ann Messmer will continue as President and a Director of First Priority Bank. Mr. Sparks, who served as Chairman and CEO of FPB will continue as Chairman, President and CEO of FPFC.

Ms. Takes was formerly President and Chief Executive Officer of Harleysville National Bank and Trust Company (Harleysville) and Executive Vice President of Harleysville National Corp., positions she held from 2000 until April 9, 2010, which is the date Harleysville was acquired by the First Niagara Group, Buffalo, NY. Ms. Takes spent more than 25 years as an executive with Harleysville and during her career, Ms. Takes oversaw and guided the growth and development of the Bank from an $80 million community bank with 6 offices to a $5.5 billion bank with 85 branch offices at December 31, 2009.

Throughout her career, Ms. Takes was known for her commitment to customer service, sales and product development, operational efficiency and relationships with community organizations within the bank's footprint.

Ms. Takes is very involved and committed to the communities her bank services and she currently serves on the following Boards: Cabrini College, Gwynedd Mercy Academy High School, North Penn United Way, of which she was campaign chairman in 1996 and 2006, Montgomery County Land Trust, Philadelphia Boys Choir, and the North Penn Valley Boys & Girls Club. She formerly served on the Board of the Pennsylvania Association of Community Banks and currently chairs the Rosemont College Business Advisory Committee. In addition, she led the North Penn United Way Antique Collection Show for the past 14 years. Ms. Takes also co–authored a book entitled "Time Will Tell", which addresses the issue of bullying and girls' self–confidence and she works with children throughout the Philadelphia Suburbs.

Ms. Takes' appointment with First Priority Bank is part of a more extensive strategy to broaden and expand FPB's footprint and activities during this period of significant banking consolidation and change within the Philadelphia region.

FPFC Chairman and CEO, David Sparks, stated "We are delighted and fortunate to have Deb join us and help lead our planned growth as a banking company offering a full complement of banking and wealth management services. Deb's commitment to providing concierge customer service and solutions for individuals and businesses, defines our character and mission. We believe there is significant opportunity in this environment where customer disruption and dissatisfactions due to mergers, acquisitions and financial weakness being experienced by some banks will provide the opportunity for banks like FPB to expand and grow. It is our intention to broaden our activities in the markets where we operate, notably Montgomery, Bucks, Berks and Chester Counties. Deb is the perfect executive to lead those efforts".

Upon joining FPB, Ms. Takes commented, "I'm excited to be joining such a quality organization. First Priority is a community bank dedicated to superior customer service and commitment to the communities we serve. It will be a privilege working with the excellent team Dave has assembled as we grow First Priority to the next level in both banking and wealth management services".

First Priority Financial Corp. is a bank holding company, which along with its bank subsidiary, First Priority Bank, is headquartered in Malvern, Pennsylvania. First Priority Bank, with approximately $250 million in assets, was chartered in November, 2005 and opened for business to the public in January, 2006 as a full service commercial bank providing personal and business lending, deposit products and wealth management services through its offices in Malvern, Wyomissing, Newtown, Blue Bell and Plumstead, Pennsylvania. The common stock of First Priority Financial Corp. is not currently traded on the open market. FPFC 's website can be accessed at http://www.fpbk.com.

SOURCE First Priority Bank