2008-08-08 05:00:03 -

- Western Alliance Bancorporation (NYSE:WAL) President and CEO Robert Sarver announced this week that Michael Brown has joined the company as president and CEO of its affiliate Western Alliance Leasing.

"Western Alliance is pleased to have Mike Brown as a member of our team and leading our equipment finance/leasing group," said Sarver. "He (Brown) is well respected in the

leasing industry and brings a wealth of equipment financing knowledge to our clients. With his expertise and leadership, we plan to continue to grow our leasing division and provide valuable partnerships to our business clients in Arizona, California and Nevada."

Brown joins Western Alliance after serving as executive vice president/Group Head of CIT Group, Equipment Finance the past three years. Prior to that, he spent 13 years at Wells Fargo where he managed regional leasing and equipment financing over a 12-state territory. With 25 years of equipment finance and leasing experience, Brown is a respected and familiar face in the banking and equipment financing industry.

As an active member of the equipment financing industry, Brown currently serves as a board member of the Equipment Leasing and Finance Foundation and is currently serving on the Governmental Affairs and Membership Committees. He also received a B.S. in Business Administration from Kansas State University.

Western Alliance Leasing is an affiliate of Western Alliance Bancorporation serving customers in Arizona, California and Nevada. Specializing in equipment financing, Western Alliance Leasing is dedicated in providing a relationship-based approach to product delivery, superior customer service, local representation and responsiveness with judicious and focused risk management.

Western Alliance Bancorporation is the parent company of Western Alliance Leasing, Alliance Bank of Arizona, Bank of Nevada, First Independent Bank of Nevada, Torrey Pines Bank, Alta Alliance Bank, Miller/Russell & Associates, Shine Investment Advisory Services, Premier Trust, and PartnersFirst. These dynamic organizations provide a broad array of banking, leasing, trust, investment, and mortgage services to clients. Additional information can be accessed on the company's website, www.westernalliancebancorp.com.

Western Alliance Bancorporation
Robert Sarver, CEO, 602-952-5445
Dale Gibbons, CFO, 702-248-4200