OAKLAND, Calif., Aug. 15 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Comerica Bank today opened its second banking center in Alameda County, located in downtown Oakland, and announced it will open two more offices in the county within the next six months.

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20010807/CMALOGO )

"Oakland is the hub of our new efforts to reach out to businesses and families in Alameda County," said Mike Fulton, president and CEO of Comerica Bank's Western Market. "Here at the center of this diverse economy, we are looking forward to building relationships with the community by reaching out to small business owners and employers of all sizes, community non-profits and families."

The new full-service banking center is located at 12th Street and Broadway, near the city's convention center, Chinatown, and government and corporate office buildings. The fully remodeled corner site is a historic bank building of the 1920s. The manager of the new Comerica office is Danny Yuen, a veteran East Bay banker.

Comerica Bank managers met Wednesday, Aug. 13, at the East Bay Asian LDC Community Center with representatives of Oakland business and community groups to learn more about the local economy. The meeting included representatives of: Chinatown Chamber of Commerce, East Bay Asian Local Development Corp., Black Economic Council, Inner City Advisers, Greenlining Coalition and Oakland Metro Chamber of Commerce.

"We are seeking valuable insight into the diversity and strength of the Oakland economy, so we can maximize our services," said Fulton.

On Thursday, Aug. 21, Fulton travels from his San Jose headquarters office to Oakland where he will be joined by more than 20 bank managers in walking tours of the Oakland's City Center, Chinatown and Old Oakland, meeting informally with small business owners who work in the vicinity of the new Comerica Bank.

"Our executives will be joined by experts in small business, private banking and retail banking services, as we reach out to our new neighbors and hear what they have to say," said Erik Welch, regional manager for the bank's retail operations in the Bay Area. "The best way for us to customize services to meet the financial needs of Oakland businesses is to get to know them and listen to them. We want to be trusted partners with the businesses in the communities we serve."

Welch said Comerica will open a new banking center in San Leandro later this year, followed by a similar full-service banking center in Fremont. A Hayward location is planned for 2009. The bank entered Alameda County late last year with the opening of the Alameda office at Park and Central.

This fall, Comerica also is opening clusters of new banking centers in Los Angeles, San Diego and the greater Phoenix, Ariz., area. The bank expects to have 96 banking centers in California by the end of 2008. When Comerica - the nation's 20th largest banking company - began its banking center expansion effort in 2004, it had 41 banking centers in California.

"These offices in new markets like Alameda County are fueling our growth in the West," said Fulton. "These new locations help us implement our long- term strategy that focuses on serving the growing numbers of business banking, small business, wealth management, and retail customers in Arizona and California. We are building on our nearly 160 years of experience in relationship banking, and adding new access points for our customers for new products and services."

In addition to weekday hours, the new Oakland banking center will be open Saturdays until 1 p.m. The new Oakland staff includes three Chinese speakers and two Spanish speakers. It is located about two blocks from Oakland's Chinatown business district.

About Comerica Bank

Comerica Bank is a subsidiary of Comerica Incorporated (NYSE: CMA), a Dallas-based company strategically aligned into three major business segments: the Business Bank, the Retail Bank, and Wealth & Institutional Management. Comerica focuses on relationships and helping businesses and people be successful. In addition to Arizona and California, Comerica Bank locations can be found in Florida, Michigan and Texas, with select businesses operating in several other states, Canada, China and Mexico. Comerica reported total assets of $66 billion at June 30, 2008. To receive e-mail alerts of breaking Comerica news, go to http://www.comerica.com/newsalerts. (Or, for more information, go to http://www.comerica.com/.)

Photo: NewsCom: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20010807/CMALOGO
PRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.com

SOURCE: Comerica Bank

CONTACT: Barry Holtzclaw of Comerica Bank, +1-408-556-5111 (office),
+1-831-246-0648 (cell), bholtzclaw@comerica.com

Web site: http://www.comerica.com/
http://www.comerica.com/newsalerts