Oak Valley Community Bank Joins FDIC's Money Smart Alliance Program

OAKDALE, CA--(Marketwire - May 4, 2009) - Oak Valley Community Bank, a subsidiary of Oak Valley Bancorp (NASDAQ: OVLY), partnered with Salida Middle School to provide teens with a comprehensive financial education program that provides students with the basic knowledge and skill sets needed to manage their money wisely, and teaches the importance of saving and how to develop good financial habits early in life.

The financial education program taught is based on the FDIC's Money Smart curriculum and is enhanced with hands-on, real life examples and games to make learning more engaging. Concepts include preparing a budget, developing savings strategies, managing a checking account, building and maintaining a good credit rating, shopping for a loan, and the benefits of a positive banking relationship.

Oak Valley Community Bank staff paired-up and taught Money Smart for five days, four periods per day during the week of March 9th, in Ms. Hardenbrook's Economics and Life Skills class. Staff trainers included; Susan Hartless, Jessica Parsons, Cindy Salaun, Missy Belcher, Kim Hernandez, Ron Davenport, Peter Brown, and Janis Powers.

"We are very excited to have such an overwhelming commitment from Oak Valley Community Bank. We thought the Bank would send a couple of employees to teach a few classes, but when they committed a team of 8 experienced bankers, we were astonished with the outpouring of support. The team from Oak Valley essentially taught our Home Economic elective classes for grades 7 and 8 for the entire week and gave the kids a better understanding of financial planning and the importance making good financial choices," stated Mrs. Betty Jo Hardenbrook, the Home Economics teacher at Salida Middle School.

"Our goal is to positively affect people, businesses and organizations within the communities we serve," said Chris Courtney, President of Oak Valley Community Bank. "We are thrilled to be able to teach the youth of the area through the Money Smart financial education program because not only are we investing in their futures, we are investing in the future of our local communities."

The Bank is scheduled to teach Money Smart at Modesto's Mark Twain Junior High in the month of May.

Oak Valley Bancorp operates Oak Valley & Eastern Sierra Community Bank, through which it offers a variety loan and deposit products to individuals and small businesses. The Company currently operates through 12 conveniently located branches: Oakdale, Sonora, Turlock, Stockton, Patterson, Ripon, Escalon, two branches in Modesto, and three branches in their Eastern Sierra Division, which includes Bridgeport, Mammoth Lakes, and Bishop.

For more information, call 1-866-844-7500 or visit us online at www.ovcb.com.

Contact Information: Contact: Ron Martin/Chris Courtney Phone: (209) 848-BANK (2265) Toll Free (866) 844-7500 www.ovcb.com