Bank of Coronado, which has $77.2 million in assets, will be acquired for roughly $11.7 million, as First Community has agreed to pay $14.15 per share in cash to the holders of the outstanding common shares and options to purchase common shares. This price represents "approximately 1.90 times Bank of Coronado's book value at June 30, 2002," according to a recently issued statement by First Community. The merger, which is subject to customary conditions like the approval of the Bank of Coronado shareholders, is expected close in the first quarter of 2003. Once acquired, Bank of Coronado will be merged with First National Bank, a San Diego-based wholly owned subsidiary of First Community that was purchased on Sept. 10, 2002.

First Community also recently acquired West Los Angeles-based Marathon Bancorp and Upland Bank, which had branches in Upland and Chino. When the transactions closed in August, Marathon National Bank (Marathon Bancorp's sole subsidiary) and Upland Bank were merged with Pacific Western National Bank, First Community's LA-based banking subsidiary.

First Community derives it income mainly from the interest received on real estate, commercial and consumer loans. On a pro forma basis with Bank of Coronado, the bank holding company would have close to $2.2 billion in assets.