SANTA ANA, CALIF./November 19, 2002 -- Bankers' Small Business CDC of Orange County has recently gone through a "debt/equity swap" and capital assessment re-capitalization plan.

"The goal was to write off certain non-performing credits," said Mike Ocasio, director of Bankers' Small Business CDC. "When coupled with measured capital donations from its member institutions, Bankers' Small Business CDC was able to offset the organization's projected operating budgetary shortfalls thru FYE 2002."

The majority of the 28-member banks, thrifts and savings and loans participated in the plan agreeing to debt-forgiveness related to their investment in Bankers' lending pools while also providing additional capital equity to sustain future operations.

Mindy Murphy, vice president and California Regional CRA manager of Comerica Bank-California, and vice president of the Bankers' Small Business CDC of Orange County board of directors, provided contributions totaling $50,000. The Comerica-California award is more than double the bank's individual investment level as required under the re-capitalization plan and was pledged towards the organization's loan loss reserves.

"Comerica Bank-California's investment level demonstrates the bank's commitment wtih significant contributions to this organization since first established in June 1995," said Ocasio.

In October Comerica Bank-California awarded CDC Small Business Finance a $25,000 grant to provide technical assistance to existing and potential small businesses in San Diego County. The grant will enable CDC to expand its capacity to provide professional consulting to small businesses seeking access to capital.

CDC continues to add programs that pro-actively address the capital needs of small businesses that provide the bulk of economic growth. Many of these services are targeted to women- and minority-owned businesses and small businesses in low- to moderate-income census tracts. Fundamentally, CDC is responsible for allowing small business owners to realize their dreams and provide a vital stimulus to the economy in the form of new jobs and business development.

About CDC Small Business Finance Corporation
CDC Small Business Finance is a not-for-profit organization committed to serving the capital needs of small businesses in San Diego, Orange, Riverside and Imperial counties. It is the largest of over 260 Certified Development Companies nationwide, working with the U.S. Small Business Administration to provide low-cost financing for small businesses. During 2002, CDC Small Business Finance was the nation's number one SBA 504 lender, receiving approval for 312 SBA loans totaling nearly $445 million. With headquarters in San Diego, the corporation has five offices throughout Southern California. The small businesses it has financed have created more than 50,000 area jobs. For more information on CDC Small Business Finance call (800) 611-5170 or visit www.cdcloans.com.

About Comerica Bank-California
Comerica Bank-California is the fourth largest bank headquartered in California, based on assets of $18.3 billion as of Sept. 30, 2002. Comerica Bank-California is a subsidiary of Comerica Incorporated, a $53 billion asset company headquartered in Detroit, with banking subsidiaries in Michigan, California and Texas, banking operations in Florida and business in several other states. Comerica Bank-California includes approximately 50 offices in northern and Southern California, as well as offices in numerous other states.

Media Contact:
Keith Turner
Comerica Bank-California
(408) 556-5111
keith_turner@comerica.com