Chicago location enables Bank to serve clients more effectively

CHICAGO - December 20, 2001 - Silicon Valley Bank (the "Bank"), a wholly owned subsidiary of Silicon Valley Bancshares, today announced the opening of its new downtown Chicago office at 230 West Monroe, Suite 720. The new location will be closer to the Bank's clients and better serves its growing facility needs.

The Chicago office, originally opened in 1998 in Rosemont, Illinois, serves more than 200 technology and life sciences companies throughout the Midwest Region. Clients are located throughout Illinois, Wisconsin, Ohio, Missouri, Iowa, Michigan, Indiana and Kansas and include such companies as FullAudio (IL), Stereotaxis (MO), PrairieComm (IL), Alfalight (WI), TMW Systems (OH), McHugh Software (WI), Aprimo (IN), Esperion Therapeutics (MI), and Performics (IL).

"Chicago continues to develop as a center for technology and innovation," said Dave Fischer, group manager of regions for Silicon Valley Bank. "Expanding to a larger Chicago location demonstrates our commitment to this growing market."

"We have been encouraged by the growth in our office over the past several months, despite the downturn in the economy," said Dave Dailey, relationship manager of the Bank's Chicago office. "We are actively working with fast growth technology companies in a dozen markets throughout the Midwest. In addition, the West and East Coast VCs have become more active in the Midwest in the past 12 months, stimulating further activity in our region."

Silicon Valley Bank serves emerging growth and middle market companies in targeted niches, focusing on technology and life sciences, while also addressing other specific industries in which it can provide a higher level of service and better manage credit through specialization and focus.

The Bank operates throughout the Silicon Valley: Fremont, Santa Clara, Palo Alto and Sand Hill, the center of the venture capital community in California. Other regional offices within California include: Irvine, Los Angeles, Napa Valley, San Diego, San Francisco, Santa Barbara, and Sonoma. Office locations outside of California include: Phoenix, Arizona; Boulder, Colorado; West Palm Beach, Florida; Atlanta, Georgia; Chicago, Illinois; Boston, Massachusetts; Minneapolis, Minnesota; New York, New York; Durham, North Carolina; Portland, Oregon; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Austin, Texas; Dallas, Texas; Northern Virginia; and Seattle, Washington. More information on the Bank can be found at www.svb.com.