EXHIBIT 99.1

Contact: Wil Goodrich, Vice President-Director of Marketing - (800) 562-6449, 
Ext. 208

                REGENCY BANCORP ANNOUNCES QUARTERLY CASH DIVIDEND

     FRESNO, FEBRUARY 10 - Regency Bancorp (Nasdaq REFN), holding company 
parent of Fresno-based Regency Bank and Regency Investment Advisors, Inc., 
today announced that it has declared a $.10 per share cash dividend for its 
shareholders of record February 16, 1999. The dividend will be paid March 5, 
1999.

     "This quarterly dividend is tangible proof that our company has returned 
to the ranks of the highest performing community banks in the state," said 
Steve Hertel, chairman, president and chief executive officer of Regency 
Bancorp. "The just released bank research report of IDC Financial, a 
respected, nationwide bank rating service, placed Regency in its highest 
"Superior" category. The board is extremely pleased to reward our 
shareholders with the first of what we anticipate will be a continuing series 
of quarterly cash dividends."

     Regency Bancorp and its subsidiaries have served Fresno and the Central 
Valley since December of 1980. The company currently provides banking to the 
greater Fresno market and Madera County through its three branches and has a 
government-guaranteed loan production office in Modesto. Its stock trades on 
the Nasdaq National Market under the symbol REFN with market makers such as: 
Van Kasper & Co., Hoefer & Arnett, and Sutro & Co.

FEBRUARY 10, 1999 # # #

CERTAIN MATTERS DISCUSSED IN THIS NEWS RELEASE MAY BE FORWARD-LOOKING 
STATEMENTS THAT ARE SUBJECT TO RISKS AND UNCERTAINTIES THAT COULD CAUSE 
ACTUAL RESULTS TO DIFFER MATERIALLY FROM THOSE PROJECTED. SUCH RISKS AND 
UNCERTAINTIES, WHICH COULD IMPACT FUTURE FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE, INCLUDE, 
AMONG OTHERS, (1) COMPETITIVE PRESSURES IN THE BANKING INDUSTRY; (2) CHANGES 
IN THE INTEREST RATE ENVIRONMENT; (3) GENERAL ECONOMIC CONDITIONS, EITHER 
NATIONALLY OR REGIONALLY; (4) CHANGES IN THE REGULATORY ENVIRONMENT; (5) 
CHANGES IN BUSINESS CONDITIONS AND INFLATION; AND (6) CHANGES IN SECURITIES 
MARKETS. THEREFORE, THE INFORMATION SET FORTH HEREIN SHOULD BE CAREFULLY 
CONSIDERED WHEN EVALUATING THE BUSINESS PROSPECTS OF THE COMPANY AND ITS 
SUBSIDIARIES.

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