UCBH Holdings, Inc. Reports First Quarter Results

UCBH Holdings, Inc. Reports First Quarter Results

    Business Editors

    SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 21, 2005--UCBH Holdings, Inc. (Nasdaq:UCBH):

--	Noninterest-bearing Deposits Increase By 21.4% Annualized, Core Deposits Increase By 13.2% Annualized
--	Company Generates a Record $801.6 Million in New Loan Commitments
--	Loan Pipeline Increases By 62.7% to $2.2 Billion from Year-end 2004
--	Company Remains Confident It Will Achieve 2005 Goals

    UCBH Holdings, Inc. (Nasdaq:UCBH), the holding company of United Commercial Bank (UCB(TM)), today reported net income of $21.8 million for the first quarter ended March 31, 2005, up 10.0%, compared with net income of $19.8 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2004. The diluted earnings per common share on a post-split basis were $0.23 for the first quarter of 2005, compared with $0.21 for the corresponding period of 2004, adjusted for the April 12, 2005, two-for-one stock split.
    The Company generated a record level of new loan commitments totaling $801.6 million for the quarter. Additionally, the Company increased its loan pipeline by 62.7% from the 2004 year-end level and remains well positioned to achieve strong full year 2005 results.
    Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, Thomas S. Wu said, "Our first quarter performance reflects the continuous successful implementation of our strategic business plan. The first quarter loan commitments of $802 million and the exceptional loan pipeline of $2.2 billion provide a solid platform for strong growth in loan originations for 2005. Our intense focus on the growth of core deposits resulted in a 13% annualized, or $80 million, growth for the quarter, and we are pleased with the growth of our noninterest checking accounts, which grew $23 million for the quarter, or 21% annualized.
    "The noninterest income growth was 17% for the first quarter of the year. This strong growth includes 26% growth in our commercial banking fees, 112% growth in our gains on sales of SBA loans, and $3.8 million in gains on sales of multifamily loans. We are very encouraged with the current momentum of our multifamily business strategy, which we announced in the third quarter of 2004.
    "By adhering to our conservative underwriting criteria, we have achieved a nonperforming asset ratio at or below 0.25% for the twenty-fourth consecutive quarter, which reflects the high credit quality of our loan portfolio. We remain confident that we will achieve our goals for 2005. As a result of the delay in expensing stock options, we are increasing our earnings guidance for the full year from $1.05 to $1.08, adjusted for our two-for-one stock split on April 12, 2005," concluded Mr. Wu.

    First quarter 2005 highlights include:

    Revenue Growth:

    -- Interest income grew by $13.7 million, or 19.5%, for the first
    quarter of 2005, compared with the corresponding quarter of
    2004.

    -- Net interest income grew by $5.8 million, or 11.8%, for the
    first quarter of 2005, compared with the corresponding quarter
    of 2004.

    -- Noninterest income grew by $1.2 million, or 17.3%, for the
    first quarter of 2005, compared with the corresponding quarter
    of 2004.

    -- Gains on sales of multifamily loans were $3.8 million for the
    first quarter of 2005. There were no gains on sales of
    multifamily loans for the corresponding quarter of 2004.

    -- Partially offsetting the revenue growth resulting from the
    foregoing was the compression of the net interest margin for
    the first quarter of 2005 which decreased to 3.72%, compared
    with 3.74% for the first quarter of 2004.

    Deposit Growth:

    -- Core deposits grew by $79.9 million for the first quarter of
    2005, or 13.2% annualized.

    -- Noninterest deposits grew by $23.0 million for the first
    quarter of 2005, or 21.4% annualized.

    -- Total deposits grew by $146.9 million for the first quarter of
    2005, or 11.3% annualized.

    Loan Growth:

    -- Growth of loans held in portfolio was $311.5 million for the
    first quarter of 2005, or 30.8% annualized.

    -- Total loan growth, including loans held for sale, was $264.3
    million for the first quarter of 2005, or 24.2% annualized.

    Loan Commitments:

    -- Loan commitments increased by 59.2% to $801.6 million for the
    first quarter of 2005, compared with loan commitments of
    $503.4 million for the first quarter of 2004.

    -- First quarter 2005 loan commitments were concentrated in the
    commercial loan segment: real estate, multifamily and business
    loans.

    Loan Pipeline:

    -- The loan pipeline increased by 62.7% during the first quarter
    of 2005 to a record $2.19 billion, compared with the loan
    pipeline of $1.35 billion at December 31, 2004.

    Asset Quality:

    -- The nonperforming asset ratio was 0.25% at quarter end,
    compared with a nonperforming asset ratio of 0.20% at year-end
    2004.

    -- Total net loan charge-offs were $109,000 for the first quarter
    of 2005, or 0.01% annualized, compared with total net loan
    charge-offs of $733,000, or 0.08% annualized, for the first
    quarter of 2004.

    -- The provision for loan losses was $1.2 million for the first
    quarter of 2005, compared with $2.2 million for the
    corresponding quarter of 2004.

    Operating Ratios

    The annualized return on average assets ("ROA") ratio for the quarter ended March 31, 2005 was 1.37%, and the annualized return on average equity ("ROE") ratio for the quarter ended March 31, 2005 was 17.79%. The ROA and ROE ratios for the first quarter of 2004 were 1.42% and 18.45%, respectively. The efficiency ratio was 42.91% for the first quarter of 2005, compared with an efficiency ratio of 40.45% for the corresponding period of 2004.

    Net Income and Net Interest Income

    Net income increased by 10.0% to $21.8 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2005, compared with $19.8 million for the corresponding quarter of the prior year. The increase, which was primarily due to an increase in net interest income, was offset by significant decreases in gains on sales of securities. Gains on sales of securities were $609,000 in the first quarter of 2005, compared with securities gains of $3.9 million in the corresponding quarter of 2004. Net interest income before provision for loan losses for the first quarter of 2005 increased by $5.8 million, or 11.8%, to $55.4 million, compared with $49.5 million in the same period of 2004. This increase was primarily due to a $679.1 million increase in the average balance of interest-earning assets, which resulted primarily from organic loan growth.
    The net interest margin was 3.72% for the quarter ended March 31, 2005, compared with 3.74% for the corresponding quarter of 2004. The decreased net interest margin reflects the increased cost of money market accounts and Certificates of Deposit ("CDs") resulting from higher market interest rates, partially offset by the favorable impact of growing higher yielding commercial loans and noninterest-bearing deposits. Based upon the current business momentum, particularly the strong commercial loan pipeline and anticipated market interest rate movements, the Bank projects improvement in the net interest margin during 2005.
    The average cost of deposits during the first quarter was 1.69%, compared with 1.30% for the first quarter ended March 31, 2004. The 39 basis point increase in the average cost of deposits reflects the increase in market interest rates during the past 12 months.

    Noninterest Income

    Noninterest income increased by 17.3% to $8.0 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2005, compared with $6.9 million for the corresponding quarter of 2004. The increase primarily reflects the gains on sales of multifamily loans, a business strategy that the Company commenced in the latter part of 2004, and higher gains on sales of SBA loans, offset by significantly lower gains on sales of securities. Gains on sales of multifamily loans were $3.8 million for the first quarter of 2005. There were no gains on sales of multifamily loans in the corresponding quarter of 2004. Gains on sales of SBA loans were $1.1 million for the first quarter of 2005, compared with $511,000 for the corresponding quarter of 2004, an increase of $573,000, or 112.1%. Gains on sales of securities were $609,000 for the first quarter of 2005, compared with securities gains of $3.9 million in the corresponding quarter of 2004.

    Noninterest Expense

    Noninterest expense for the first quarter of 2005 increased by 19.3% to $27.2 million, from $22.8 million for the corresponding quarter of 2004. This increase was primarily a result of increased personnel costs, professional fees and contracted services, and occupancy expenses. In the first quarter of 2005, personnel expense increased 14.1% to $14.7 million, from $12.9 million for the first quarter of 2004. This increase resulted from additional staffing required to support the growth of the Bank's commercial banking business, the expansion of the Hong Kong branch, the opening of new branches in California and New York, the opening of the Shenzhen and Taipei representative offices, and the expansion of the Bank's infrastructure to support a larger and growing organization. Professional fees and contracted services increased by 64.7% to $2.5 million, from $1.5 million in the corresponding quarter of 2004, predominately as a result of professional fees relating to Sarbanes-Oxley implementation. Occupancy expenses increased by 71.2% to $2.6 million in the first quarter of 2005, from $1.5 million in the corresponding quarter of 2004, reflecting primarily the opening of the branches in California and New York, the offices in Greater China, the relocation of a San Francisco branch, and the expansion of the Hong Kong branch.

    Deposits

    Core deposit growth was $79.9 million, or 13.2% annualized, for the quarter ended March 31, 2005, compared with $110.9 million, or 23.2% annualized, for the quarter ended March 31, 2004. Noninterest-bearing deposit growth was $23.0 million, or 21.4% annualized, during the first quarter of 2005, compared with $35.0 million, or 43.1% annualized, for the quarter ended March 31, 2004. Interest-bearing deposits increased by $123.9 million, or 10.4% annualized, during the first quarter of 2005, compared with an in increase of $193.1 million, or 18.6% annualized, in the corresponding quarter of 2004. CDs increased by $66.9 million, or 9.6% annualized, during the first quarter of 2005, compared with an increase of $117.2 million, or 18.2% annualized, in the first quarter of 2004. Total deposits increased to $5.36 billion at March 31, 2005, compared with $5.22 billion at December 31, 2004, an increase of $146.9 million, or 11.3% annualized. All of the deposit growth was organic. The average cost of deposits for the quarter ended March 31, 2005, increased to 1.69% from 1.55% for the quarter ended December 31, 2004, reflecting the increase in market interest rates.

    Loan Growth

    The loans held in portfolio increased by $311.5 million, or 30.8% annualized, during the first quarter of 2005, to $4.36 billion. This compares with loans held in portfolio of $4.05 billion at December 31, 2004. Total loans, including loans held for sale, increased by $264.3 million, or 24.2% annualized, during the first quarter of the year following the sale of $203.1 million of multifamily loans during the quarter. The Bank continued its success in commercial lending activities by further penetrating the California market. During the first quarter of 2005, loan growth remained concentrated in the Bank's commercial loan portfolio, which totaled $3.86 billion at March 31, 2005. This represents an increase of $286.4 million, or 32.0% annualized, compared with the $3.58 billion of commercial loans as of December 31, 2004.

    Loan Originations and Commitments

    Record new loan commitments of $801.6 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2005, were comprised of $748.4 million of commercial loans and $53.2 million of consumer loans. Commercial real estate loan originations increased 49.1% to $213.0 million in the first quarter of 2005, from $142.8 million in the first quarter of 2004. Multifamily loan originations were $253.0 million for the first quarter of 2005, an increase of $98.0 million, or 63.2%, from $155.0 million of multifamily loan originations in the first quarter of 2004. Commercial business loan commitments increased by $37.4 million, or 36.7%, to $139.4 million in the first quarter of 2005, compared with the first quarter of 2004. Construction loan commitments increased by $86.0 million, or 151.0%, to $143.0 million in the first quarter of 2005, compared with the first quarter of 2004.

    Loan Pipeline

    The loan pipeline increased by 62.7% to $2.19 billion at March 31, 2005, compared with the loan pipeline of $1.35 billion at December 31, 2004. The growth in the pipeline reflects our continuous success in our domestic branding strategy as well as our ability to further penetrate the California and Asia markets through our Greater China strategy.

    Credit Quality and Allowance for Loan Losses

    Total nonperforming assets as of March 31, 2005 were $16.2 million, or 0.25%, reflecting management's continued focus on maintaining high credit quality assets. This compares with total nonperforming assets of $12.6 million, or 0.20%, at December 31, 2004. Net loan charge-offs were $109,000 for the quarter ended March 31, 2005, compared with net loan charge-offs of $733,000 for the corresponding quarter of the prior year. Annualized net loan charge-offs for the first quarter of 2005 was 0.01%, compared with 0.08% for the corresponding quarter of 2004.
    The ratio of allowance for loan losses was 1.32% at March 31, 2005, compared with 1.39% at December 31, 2004. The allowance for loan losses was $57.5 million at March 31, 2005, compared with $56.5 million at December 31, 2004. The increase in the allowance for loan losses reflects the growth in the loan portfolio and the increase in commercial loans during the first quarter of 2005. During the first quarter of 2005, the Bank continued its ongoing process of reviewing its loan portfolio by evaluating the loss factors and current economic conditions in light of its own historical loss experience, loan delinquency and classification in determining the adequate level of allowance for loan losses. In addition, the Bank experienced significantly lower net loan charge-offs during the first quarter of 2005, when compared with the net loan charge-offs for the first quarter of 2004. Accordingly, the Company provided $1.2 million for loan losses in the first quarter of 2005, compared with $2.2 million in the first quarter of 2004.

    Securities

    The securities portfolio was $1.48 billion at March 31, 2005, consistent with $1.49 billion at December 31, 2004. The securities portfolio decreased to 22.9% of total assets at March 31, 2005, from 23.7% of total assets at December 31, 2004.

    Income Taxes

    The effective tax rate for the first quarter ended March 31, 2005, was 37.7%, compared with 36.9% for the corresponding period of 2004.

    Capital

    Stockholders' equity increased 2.3% to $495.3 million at March 31, 2005, from $484.0 million at December 31, 2004. The growth in equity during the quarter resulted from the retention of earnings. The Tier I leverage ratio of the Bank was 8.46% at March 31, 2005, compared with 8.49% at December 31, 2004. The Bank's capital ratios exceed regulatory requirements, and the Bank continues to be categorized as "well capitalized." The Company's capital ratios approximate those of the Bank, and the Company is also categorized as "well capitalized."

    First Quarter Earnings Teleconference and Webcast

    UCBH will hold a conference call and audio webcast tomorrow, April 22, 2005, at 8:00 a.m. Pacific time, to discuss the financial results for the Company's first quarter of 2005, as well as its outlook for the second quarter of 2005. The webcast will be available through a link on the Investor Relations page of the Company's web site at www.ucbh.com. If you are unable to listen to the webcast live, a replay will be available at www.ucbh.com.

    About UCBH Holdings, Inc.

    UCBH Holdings, Inc. is the holding company for United Commercial Bank, a state-chartered commercial bank, which is the leading California bank serving the ethnic Chinese community. The Bank has 46 California branches/offices located in the San Francisco Bay Area, Sacramento, Stockton and Greater Los Angeles, two branches in Greater New York, a branch in Hong Kong, and representative offices in Shenzhen, China and Taipei, Taiwan. UCB, with headquarters in San Francisco, provides commercial banking services to small- and medium-sized businesses and professionals in a variety of industries, as well as consumer banking services to individuals. The Bank offers a full range of lending activities, including commercial real estate and construction loans, commercial credit facilities, international trade finance services, loans guaranteed by the U.S. Small Business Administration, residential mortgages, home equity lines of credit, and online banking services for businesses and consumers. For additional information, visit the web site for United Commercial Bank at www.ibankUNITED.com or the web site for UCBH Holdings, Inc. at www.ucbh.com.

    Forward-Looking Statements

    Certain statements contained in this release may include forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements are based upon specific assumptions that may or may not prove correct. Forward-looking statements are also subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors relating to the Company's and the Bank's operations and business environment, all of which are difficult to predict, and many of which are beyond the control of the Company and the Bank. The factors include, among others: economic and business conditions in the areas and markets in which the Company and the Bank operate, particularly those affecting loans secured by real estate; deterioration or improvement in the ability of the Bank's borrowers to pay their debts to the Bank; market fluctuations such as those affecting interest and foreign exchange rates and the value of securities in which the Bank invests; competition from other financial institutions, whether banks, investment banks, insurance companies or others; the ability of the Bank to assimilate acquisitions, enter new markets and lines of business, and open new branches successfully; changes in business strategies; changes in tax law and governmental regulation of financial institutions; demographic changes; and other risks and uncertainties, including those discussed in the documents the Company files with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"). The foregoing may cause the actual results and performance of the Company and the Bank to be materially different from the results and performance indicated or suggested by the forward-looking statements. Further description of the risks and uncertainties are included in detail in the Company's most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2004, as filed with the SEC.

UCBH Holdings, Inc. Consolidated Balance Sheets (Dollars in Thousands)

At March 31, At Dec. 31, 2005 2004 ------------- ------------- Assets (unaudited) Cash and due from banks $93,119 $73,864 Federal funds sold 35,000 134,500 Investment and mortgage-backed securities available for sale, at fair value 1,164,687 1,169,140 Investment and mortgage-backed securities, at cost (fair value $322,455 at March 31, 2005 and $331,969 at December 31, 2004) 318,792 325,202 Federal Home Loan Bank stock and other equity securities 57,318 56,867 Loans held for sale 278,817 326,007

Loans held in portfolio 4,362,231 4,050,741 Allowance for loan losses (57,547) (56,472) ------------- ------------- Net loans held in portfolio 4,304,684 3,994,269 ------------- -------------

Accrued interest receivable 27,797 24,507 Premises and equipment, net 88,069 89,238 Goodwill 68,301 68,301 Intangible assets, net 18,584 17,576 Other assets 33,604 36,210 ------------- ------------- Total assets $6,488,772 $6,315,681 ============= =============

Liabilities Noninterest-bearing deposits $451,566 $428,602 Interest-bearing deposits 4,911,170 4,787,260 ------------- ------------- Total deposits 5,362,736 5,215,862 ------------- -------------

Borrowings 381,250 407,262 Subordinated debentures 136,000 136,000 Accrued interest payable 7,632 6,110 Other liabilities 105,869 66,435 ------------- ------------- Total liabilities 5,993,487 5,831,669 ------------- -------------

Commitments and contingencies

Stockholders' Equity Preferred stock, $0.01 par value, authorized 10,000,000 shares, none issued and outstanding - - Common stock, $0.01 par value, authorized 180,000,000 shares at March 31, 2005 and at December 31, 2004; shares issued and outstanding 91,440,406 at March 31, 2005, and 91,131,824 at December 31, 2004 915 456 Additional paid-in capital 205,965 203,432 Accumulated other comprehensive loss (17,737) (6,498) Retained earnings-substantially restricted 306,142 286,622 ------------- ------------- Total stockholders' equity 495,285 484,012 ------------- ------------- Total liabilities and stockholders' equity $6,488,772 $6,315,681 ============= =============

UCBH Holdings, Inc. Consolidated Statements of Operations (Dollars in Thousands, Except for Per Share Data)

Three Months Ended March 31, ---------------------------- 2005 2004 -------------- ------------- (unaudited) (unaudited)

Interest income: Loans $66,625 $52,894 Federal funds sold 638 14 Investment and mortgage-backed securities 16,759 17,408 -------------- ------------- Total interest income 84,022 70,316 -------------- ------------- Interest expense: Deposits 22,061 14,746 Short-term borrowings 316 606 Subordinated debentures 2,314 1,953 Long-term borrowings 3,965 3,471 -------------- ------------- Total interest expense 28,656 20,776 -------------- -------------

Net interest income 55,366 49,540 Provision for loan losses 1,190 2,174 -------------- ------------- Net interest income after provision for loan losses 54,176 47,366 -------------- ------------- Noninterest income: Commercial banking and other fees 2,348 1,869 Service charges on deposits 664 616 Gain on sale of securities, net 609 3,861 Gain on sale of SBA loans, net 1,084 511 Gain on sale of multifamily loans, net 3,752 - Equity loss in other equity investments (411) - -------------- ------------- Total noninterest income 8,046 6,857 -------------- ------------- Noninterest expense: Personnel 14,740 12,915 Occupancy 2,646 1,546 Data processing 1,624 1,294 Furniture and equipment 1,246 1,029 Professional fees and contracted services 2,509 1,523 Deposit insurance 188 205 Communication 257 296 Core deposit intangible amortization 284 233 Miscellaneous expense 3,719 3,773 -------------- ------------- Total noninterest expense 27,213 22,814 -------------- ------------- Income before taxes 35,009 31,409 Income tax expense 13,203 11,590 -------------- ------------- Net income $21,806 $19,819 ============== =============

Average common and common equivalent shares outstanding (1): Basic 91,228,070 90,199,188 Diluted 95,881,638 94,966,238

Earnings Per Share: Basic $0.24 $0.22 Diluted 0.23 0.21

(1) Adjusted for two-for-one stock split distributable April 12, 2005.

UCBH Holdings, Inc. Supplemental Data (Dollars in Thousands, Except for Per Share Data)

At, or for the three months ended March 31, 2005 2004 --------------------------- (unaudited) (unaudited)

Profitability measures: ROA 1.37% 1.42% ROE 17.79% 18.45% Noninterest expense / average assets 1.72% 1.63% Efficiency ratio 42.91% 40.45% Net interest spread (1) 3.45% 3.54% Net interest margin (1) 3.72% 3.74% Diluted earnings per share $0.23 $0.21

Average cost of deposits during the period 1.69% 1.30%

New loan commitments- Commercial: Secured by real estate-nonresidential $212,982 $142,836 Secured by real estate-multifamily 253,018 155,014 Construction 142,932 56,945 Commercial business 139,424 102,013 ------------- ------------- 748,356 456,808 ------------- -------------

Consumer: Residential mortgage (one to four family) 45,349 37,746 Other 7,899 8,895 ------------- ------------- 53,248 46,641 ------------- ------------- Total new loan commitments (2) $801,604 $503,449 ============= =============

(1) Calculated on a tax equivalent basis.

(2) Total new loan commitments include commitments on loans held for sale.

UCBH Holdings, Inc. Supplemental Data (Dollars in Thousands)

For the three months ended March 31, 2005 2004 --------------------------- (unaudited) (unaudited)

AVERAGE BALANCES Loans Commercial: Secured by real estate-nonresidential $2,004,057 $1,692,240 Secured by real estate-multifamily 1,210,348 1,198,991 Construction 299,818 301,134 Commercial business 498,153 320,845 ------------- ------------- 4,012,376 3,513,210 ------------- -------------

Consumer: Residential mortgage (one to four family) 451,279 281,489 Other 50,036 46,744 ------------- ------------- 501,315 328,233 ------------- ------------- Total loans (1) $4,513,691 $3,841,443 ============= =============

Investment securities $1,511,488 $1,589,275 Interest-earning assets $6,113,242 $5,434,095 Assets $6,345,493 $5,599,286

Deposits Noninterest-bearing $418,594 $337,139 NOW and money market accounts 979,227 739,857 Savings accounts 950,252 874,338 Time deposits 2,870,385 2,585,750 ------------- ------------- Total deposits $5,218,458 $4,537,084 ============= =============

Borrowings $419,297 $457,845 Interest-bearing liabilities $5,355,161 $4,793,790 Equity $490,339 $429,567

(1) Total loans include loans held for sale.

UCBH Holdings, Inc. Supplemental Data (Dollars in Thousands, Except for Per Share Data)

At March 31, At Dec. 31, 2005 2004 ------------- ------------- (unaudited) SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA Selected loan data: Loans held in portfolio: Commercial: Secured by real estate-nonresidential $2,083,232 $1,951,020 Secured by real estate-multifamily 908,412 865,483 Construction 326,271 291,080 Commercial business 544,308 468,220 ------------- ------------- 3,862,223 3,575,803 ------------- -------------

Consumer: Residential mortgage (one to four family) 455,708 434,323 Other 51,124 47,926 ------------- ------------- 506,832 482,249 ------------- ------------- Gross loans 4,369,055 4,058,052 Net deferred loan fees (6,824) (7,311) ------------- ------------- Total loans held in portfolio $4,362,231 $4,050,741 ============= =============

Loans held for sale: Commercial: Secured by real estate-nonresidential $28,205 $26,882 Secured by real estate-multifamily 246,990 295,253 Commercial business 2,431 3,337 ------------- ------------- Gross loans 277,626 325,472 Net deferred loan fees 1,191 535 ------------- ------------- Total loans held for sale $278,817 $326,007 ============= =============

Nonperforming loans $16,151 $12,574 OREO $- $- Loan delinquency ratio 1.06% 0.90% Nonperforming assets to total assets 0.25% 0.20% Nonperforming loans to loans held in portfolio 0.37% 0.31% Allowance for loan losses to nonperforming loans 356.31% 449.12% Allowance for loan losses to loans held in portfolio 1.32% 1.39% Total loan-to-deposit ratio 86.54% 83.91%

Selected deposit data: Demand deposits and NOW accounts $1,509,121 $1,427,366 Savings account 998,682 1,000,489 Time deposits 2,854,933 2,788,007 ------------- ------------- Total deposits $5,362,736 $5,215,862 ============= =============

Cost of deposits at quarter end 1.80% 1.59%

Selected equity data: Total shareholders' equity $495,285 $484,012 Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio (Bank) 11.04% 11.42% Total risk-based capital ratio (Bank) 12.29% 12.67% Tier 1 leverage ratio (Bank) 8.46% 8.49% Book value per share (1) $5.42 $5.31

(1) Adjusted for two-for-one stock split distributable April 12, 2005.

--30--LO/sf*

CONTACT: UCBH Holdings, Inc. Thomas S. Wu, 415-315-2800 Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer Jonathan H. Downing, 415-315-2800 Chief Financial Officer or EVC Group Investor Relations: Douglas M. Sherk, Jennifer Beugelmans, 415-896-6820 Media Relations: Chris Toth, 415-896-2005

KEYWORD: CALIFORNIA INDUSTRY KEYWORD: BANKING EARNINGS CONFERENCE CALLS SOURCE: UCBH Holdings, Inc.

Copyright Business Wire 2005