Nara Bancorp, Inc. (NASDAQ: NARA) today announced that Ms. Jasna Penich has submitted her resignation as Chief Risk Officer and interim Chief Internal Auditor in order to accept the position of Chief Financial Officer at another community bank closer to her home. Ms. Penich’s resignation is effective as of August 22, 2008.

“We appreciate Jasna’s hard work and many contributions to Nara Bancorp over the past several years,” said Min Kim, Chief Executive Officer of Nara Bancorp. “She was presented with an attractive opportunity and we wish her well in her future endeavors. We have a deep management team with many experienced executives that will allow us to handle Jasna’s responsibilities while we search for a permanent replacement.”

On an interim basis, Ellen Lee, the Company’s Chief Compliance Officer, will serve as Chief Risk Officer. Ms. Lee has more than 20 years of experience in banking and worked at City National Bank before joining Nara Bancorp. Also on an interim basis, Kathi Duncan, the Company’s Chief Corporate Services Officer, will serve as Chief Internal Auditor. Ms. Duncan has 26 years of banking experience and previously held the position of Chief Internal Auditor at Nara Bancorp.

About Nara Bancorp, Inc.

Nara Bancorp, Inc. is the parent company of Nara Bank, which was founded in 1989. Nara Bank is a full-service community bank headquartered in Los Angeles, with 21 branches and 6 loan production offices in the United States. Nara Bank operates full-service branches in California, New York and New Jersey, with loan production offices in California, Nevada, Texas, Georgia, New Jersey, and Virginia. Nara Bank was founded specifically to serve the needs of Korean-Americans, one of the fastest-growing Asian ethnic communities over the past decade. Presently, Nara Bank serves a diverse group of customers mirroring its communities. Nara Bank specializes in core business banking products for small and medium-sized companies, with emphasis in commercial real estate and business lending, SBA lending and international trade financing. Nara Bank is a member of the FDIC and is an Equal Opportunity Lender. For more information on Nara Bank, visit our website at www.narabank.com. Nara Bancorp, Inc. stock is listed on NASDAQ under the symbol "NARA."

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements including statements about future operations that are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to economic, competitive, governmental and technological factors affecting the Company’s operations, markets, products, services, and pricing. Readers should carefully review the risk factors and the information that could materially affect the Company’s financial results and business, described in documents the Company files from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and Annual Reports on Form 10-K, and particularly the discussion of business considerations and certain factors that may affect results of operations and stock price set forth therein. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release. The Company undertakes no obligation to revise or publicly release the results of any revision to these forward-looking statements.

Financial Relations Board
Tony Rossi, 213-486-6545