Great American First Savings Bank.

GREAT AMERICAN FIRST SAVINGS BANK

Great American First Savings Bank tracaes its roots to the California pioneers whose foresight gave birth to southern California's first building and loan association in 1885. Since then, our business has thrived in San Diego and expanded to other growth areas of the West and the Sunbelt. Today Great American is the 10th largest thrift in the United States, an industry leader with a reputation for market strength as well as innovation.

Through the years, we have evolved into a multi-purpose banking institution, but our primary lending activity is providing for the housing needs in the communities we serve. The quality of our lending portfolio for single family residential homes and apartments is very high, coming partly as a result of our strategic locations. We are concentrated in the country's strongest growth markets with high employment activity and a diversified economy. We also are the largest thrift in San Diego, one of the most prosperous regions in the country.

Moreover, through a number of acquisitions and mergers, we are increasing our presence throughout the metropolitan Los Angeles area, and in Tucson and Phoenix, the major population centres in the rapidly growing neighbouring state of Arizona.