In Brief: Bank of Commerce Sets Another Stock Split

Bank of Commerce is trying to improve the liquidity of its stock by splitting its shares.

The San Diego-based bank said that on Dec. 10, each shareholder would receive one share of common stock for every share owned. A 5-for-2 split was made in May.

"Bank of Commerce has achieved dramatic successes during the past several quarters and we want to share them with stockholders," said Peter Q. Davis, chairman and chief executive officer, in a statement. "We also believe that stock splits improve the trading liquidity of our shares."

Bank of Commerce, the nation's leading lender of Small Business Administration loans, has seen the value of its stock climb more than 150% since February. The company's stock is now trading in the $23 range, up from about $9 at the end of February.

Analysts attribute the stock surge to the company's decision earlier this year to sell off a large portion of its loan portfolio. Bank analysts say rumors of a merger with a larger competitor may also be driving up Bank of Commerce's stock price.

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