In Brief: Calif. Business Bank Makes a $3.9M Deal

A bank that has been trying to buy its way into the high desert area north of San Bernardino has finally succeeded in getting a deal.

Business Bank of California, agreed this week to buy High Desert National Bank, Hesperia, Calif., for about $3.9 million in cash.

The acquisition of High Desert, which has $45 million of assets and two branches, would give Business Bank $160 million of assets and six branches. Business Bank had been in search of an acquisition target for a year.

"We've been talking to everybody," said Frank J. Mercardante, president and chief executive officer of Business Bank of California, adding, "Isn't everybody?"

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