Exhibit 99.1
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November 20, 2001

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
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                      MONTEREY BAY BANCORP, INC. ANNOUNCES:
          RESIGNATION OF NICHOLAS C. BIASE FROM THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

                                                       Common Stock Symbol: MBBC
                                                          NASDAQ National Market

         Watsonville,   CA.  November  20,  2001.  Monterey  Bay  Bancorp,  Inc.
("Company"), the holding company for Monterey Bay Bank ("Bank"), today announced
the resignation,  effective immediately,  of Nicholas C. Biase from the Board of
Directors of the Company and the Bank. Mr. Biase is a  representative  of Findim
Investments,  S. A.,  which on November 19, 2001 sold its entire  312,100  share
position in the Company's common stock.  This position was equivalent to 9.0% of
the Company's outstanding shares.

         Mr.  Biase  stated,  "The  President  of Findim  Investments,  S.A. was
recently killed in an accident.  Following this tragic loss, Findim  Investments
has determined to streamline its investment portfolio, including the sale of its
investment  in Monterey  Bay Bancorp,  Inc.  Given the new demands on my time, I
resigned  as a  Director.  It has been my  pleasure to serve the Company and its
stockholders  for the past five years.  I am confident in the  commitment by the
Company's Board and Management to continue advancing stockholder value."

         McKenzie Moss,  Chairman of the Board of Directors,  added,  "We extend
our thanks to Mr. Biase for his fine  service to the  Company.  We will miss his
contributions, and wish him all the best."

         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 Directors and 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:
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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



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