Exhibit 99.1
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November 7, 2001

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
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                      MONTEREY BAY BANCORP, INC. ANNOUNCES:
        CONCLUSION OF BINDING ARBITRATION OF CLAIMS BY A FORMER EXECUTIVE

                                                       Common Stock Symbol: MBBC
                                                          NASDAQ National Market

         Watsonville,   CA.  November  7,  2001.  Monterey  Bay  Bancorp,   Inc.
("Company"), the holding company for Monterey Bay Bank ("Bank"), today announced
the  conclusion  and results of the binding  arbitration  process  conducted  to
address claims by the former  President and Chief  Operating  Officer  regarding
payments due under his employment  contracts.  The  arbitrator's  final decision
required the Company to make total payments of  approximately  $40 thousand less
than the Company accrued for settlement of the former  executive's claims in the
third quarter of 2000,  when the matter  commenced.  The Company will record the
recapture of the $40 thousand excess accrual in the fourth quarter of 2001. This
recapture will, however, be offset by the final legal costs for the arbitration,
resulting in no material impact upon earnings for the fourth quarter of 2001.

         Commenting on the  conclusion  of the  arbitration,  C. Edward  Holden,
Company  Chief  Executive  Officer  and  President,  stated,  "We are pleased to
conclude  this  lengthy  process.  We are also  pleased  that  there  will be no
additional  financial  impact to the Company.  The conclusion of the arbitration
allows  management to redirect  resources to advancing  the Company's  strategic
plan of  transforming  the Bank into a  community  focused  commercial  bank and
enhancing stockholder value."

         The  Company's  common  stock is listed on the NASDAQ  National  Market
under  the  symbol  "MBBC".  The  Company  and the  Bank  are  headquartered  in
Watsonville, California. The Bank operates through its administrative offices in
Watsonville and eight full service  branches located in the Greater Monterey Bay
Area of Central California.

         This news release contains certain forward-looking  statements that are
subject to various factors that could cause actual results to differ  materially
from  such  statements.  Such  factors  include,  but are not  limited  to,  the
possibility  that the Company will not be  successful in achieving its strategic
objectives,  the performance and  contributions of employees,  and other factors
discussed in documents  filed by the Company  with the  Securities  and Exchange
Commission from time to time. The Company does not undertake,  and  specifically
disclaims any obligation,  to update any  forward-looking  statements to reflect
occurrences  or  unanticipated  events or  circumstances  after the date of such
statements.

                        For further information contact:

C. Edward Holden                                 Mark R. Andino
Chief Executive Officer            or            Chief Financial Officer
(831) 768 - 4840                                 (831) 768 - 4806
ed.holden@montereybaybank.com                    mark.andino@montereybaybank.com

                             General communication:
                            INFO@MONTEREYBAYBANK.COM
                             www.montereybaybank.com
                             Phone: (831) 768 - 4800
                              Fax: (831) 722 - 6794