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Eclipse Bank Names New President

Louisville, KY  (June 22, 2009) - The Eclipse Bank Board of Directors announced today the appointment of Steve C. Stratton as bank president and CEO.   Acting President and CEO Robert R. Hill will remain Chairman of the Board.  

Stratton is returning to Louisville from Las Vegas, Nevada , where he was a consultant and Executive Vice President and Chief Credit Officer of Nevada Pacific Bank (In Organization).   He participated in forming the bank and developed and implemented its strategies, policies and operational procedures.  Previously, he was Senior Vice President, District Manager and Team Sales Leader at KeyBank in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Stratton formerly worked in Louisville and New Albany, Indiana during the late 1990’s for Great Financial Bank and Independence Bancorp.  At Great Financial he served as Senior Vice President and Senior Lender and assisted in the sale of the bank to Star Bank in 1998.  He then co-founded Independence Bancorp, serving as the initial CEO of Independence Bank in New Albany, Indiana.

 He has over 29 years of banking industry experience.   Stratton began his career as an Associate National Bank Examiner for the Comptroller of the Currency in Denver and received his degree in finance and business administration from Eastern New Mexico University in 1981.

“I am happy to be returning to the Louisville area with my family and I look forward to being a part of Eclipse’s unique and energized strategy of being Louisville’s premier community bank,” said Stratton.  “Eclipse was founded on principles and leadership that made other banks sit up and take notice. I’m excited to build on that foundation and take the bank to the next level.”  

At KeyBank Real Estate Capital, Stratton led his Nevada-based sales team in the origination of over $2 billion in high quality commercial real estate assets throughout the region and managed an aggressive business development platform.    

Stratton plans to grow Eclipse while maintaining its well-respected local flavor and emphasis on community service and outreach.   Eclipse’s landmark headquarters at 3827 Shelbyville Road is a successfully centralized location convenient to customers and its advanced technology systems allow a broad base of business outreach in all areas.

 “Eclipse has weathered the financial climate well over the past few years,” said Robert R. Hill, acting president and CEO and Chairman of the Board. “We are confident Steve will continue to increase Eclipse’s presence in Louisville and beyond, while keeping the integrity of the Eclipse brand intact, which is so unique to banking in Louisville.”

Stratton will assume the position in mid June 2009.  No other executive or staff changes are anticipated at this time.

One of Stratton’s initial efforts will be the establishment of a capital campaign to further grow Eclipse.  The Eclipse Board of Directors hopes to raise an additional $7.5 million.  Eclipse raised a record amount of capital for a start up bank in the state of Kentucky and has grown at an aggressive rate, despite not having a central location for nearly two years. 

Eclipse Bank has provided exemplary service to the Louisville community since 2005 at its first location in St. Matthews.  The Eclipse headquarters on Shelbyville Road opened in March 2008.  Eclipse was recognized in 2007 with a national award for excellence in marketing and branding by the American Bankers’ Association.

 As a locally owned and operated bank, Eclipse, with about $100 million in assets, provides advanced technology, personalized banking and unexpected service.