FOBB First Oak Brook Bancshares (MM)

First Oak Brook Bancshares, Inc. (NASDAQ:FOBB). The $2.15 billion Oak Brook Bank announced plans to construct its 23rd branch at 9701 S. Cicero Avenue in Oak Lawn, Illinois. The Village of Oak Lawn, fifteen miles from Chicago's Loop in southwestern Cook County, is an established community of 55,245 residents. Cordogan, Clark & Associates, Oak Brook Bank's project architect, is designing a 2,000 square foot, one-story branch with two drive-up lanes for the 17,143 square foot site. With bank regulatory and municipal special use approvals for the branch now in hand, the Bank expects to complete the acquisition of the property within the next 45 days. Scheduled to open in late 2006, the Oak Lawn office will be a full-service facility, providing a complete range of personal and commercial banking and investment services. The Oak Lawn location was chosen for its convenience to residential areas and local businesses, easy access and high visibility. Commenting on the proposed office, Richard M. Rieser, Jr., President and CEO of Oak Brook Bank, said, "We are very excited to have identified this particular site in Oak Lawn. With a large concentration of growing and mature families as well as a high percentage of home ownership among its residents, together with a thriving business community and outstanding village amenities, Oak Lawn is an ideal setting for Oak Brook Bank, and the kind of high-quality, high-value banking and financial services we offer." Oak Brook Bank now operates 18 offices throughout metropolitan Chicago. The Bank is currently constructing branches in Wheaton, Illinois, in Glencoe, Illinois, and in Northbrook, Illinois. The Wheaton, Glencoe and Northbrook branches are expected to open late in 2005. The Bank has also announced plans to construct its 22nd branch in Homer Glen, Illinois, which is slated to open in 2006. The parent company of Oak Brook Bank, First Oak Brook Bancshares, Inc., is the 11th largest independent, publicly-held bank holding company headquartered in Illinois. The Company is traded on the NASDAQ Stock Market under the ticker symbol FOBB. Forward -Looking Statements This release contains certain forward-looking statements with the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. The Company intends such forward-looking statements to be covered by the safe harbor provisions for forward-looking statements contained in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, and this statement is included for purposes of invoking these safe harbor provisions. Forward-looking statements, which are based on certain assumptions and describe the Company's future plans, strategies, and expectations, can generally be identified by use of the words "believe," "expect," "intend," "anticipate," "estimate," "project," or similar expressions. The Company's ability to predict results or the actual effect of future plans or strategies is inherently uncertain and actual results may differ materially from the results projected in forward-looking statements due to various factors. These risks and uncertainties relating to the matters described above include, but are not limited to, unanticipated delays in regulatory approval or construction build out relating to the branch; difficulties in attracting and retaining qualified personnel; and possible dilutive effect of the expenses associated with the start-up of the branch. These risks and uncertainties should be considered in evaluating forward-looking statements and undue reliance should not be placed on such statements. We undertake no obligation to update publicly any of these statements in light of future events except as may be required in subsequent periodic reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.