Union Bank of California General Counsel John H. McGuckin to Retire after 27 Years of...

Morris W. Hirsch to Be Named General Counsel

SAN FRANCISCO -- UnionBanCal Corporation (NYSE: UB) today announced that Executive Vice President Morris W. Hirsch will succeed Senior Executive Vice President John H. McGuckin, Jr., as general counsel and corporate secretary on July 1, 2008.

Hirsch, a graduate of the University of California - Berkeley and Harvard Law School, joined a Union Bank of California predecessor, The Bank of California, in 1989. He was promoted to Executive Vice President on May 22 of this year. Hirsch will be appointed a Senior Executive Vice President and will join Union Bank's Executive Management Committee, which consists of 15 bank executives appointed by President and Chief Executive Officer Masaaki Tanaka.

McGuckin, a graduate of Harvard College and Harvard Law School, has had a long and distinguished career with Union Bank of California. He began his career with The Bank of California in 1981 as vice president and associate counsel. McGuckin was named senior vice president, general counsel, and corporate secretary of The Bank of California in 1984. He was promoted to executive vice president and general counsel of Union Bank of California in April 1996, shortly after the merger of Union Bank and The Bank of California. In 1998 McGuckin was named general counsel and corporate secretary of UnionBanCal, and in 2008 he was promoted to senior executive vice president.

Prior to joining The Bank of California, McGuckin spent seven years in private practice with Orrick, Herrington, Rowley & Sutcliffe in San Francisco. During that time, he specialized in probate administration, litigation, estate planning, taxation, community property, and family law. From 1971 to 1972, McGuckin clerked for the Honorable Herbert Y. C. Choy, United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit in Honolulu, Hawaii.

In addition to being a preeminent corporate attorney, McGuckin has been a long-time supporter of numerous professional associations, including The State Bar of California and the Association of Corporate Counsel, as well as dozens of charitable, non-profit, and religious organizations, including the Archdiocese of San Francisco, Catholic Charities, and Bethlehem University. McGuckin is also a prolific speaker and writer who has authored scores of articles on topics ranging from Year 2000 compliance issues to law and ethics, corporate governance, compliance, trust, estate planning and corporate law department management.

"For more than 27 years, Union Bank of California and its great predecessor institution, The Bank of California, have been fortunate to have one of the sharpest legal minds and most professional counselors at our service," said Masaaki Tanaka, President and Chief Executive Officer. "John literally shaped the Union Bank of today, and for that we owe him a tremendous debt of gratitude. We wish him much well-deserved happiness and serenity in retirement."

In accordance with a well-established succession plan, Hirsch has begun transitioning into his new assignment. "For over 19 years, Morris has made significant contributions to the bank and has worked very closely with John," said Tanaka. "I am confident that the bank will continue on solid legal footing under Morris' leadership."

Hirsch has held a number of senior legal positions during his career at Union Bank of California. His responsibilities have included legal oversight of mergers and acquisitions, regulatory matters, and securities and credit transactions. Before joining the bank, Hirsch spent eight years in private practice. He joined Pillsbury, Madison & Sutro as an associate in 1980 and became a partner in 1988, handling commercial transactions and bankruptcy and debt restructuring issues.

Based in San Francisco, UnionBanCal Corporation (NYSE: UB) is a bank holding company with assets of $57.9 billion at March 31, 2008. Its principal subsidiary, Union Bank of California, N.A., had 334 banking offices in California, Oregon, and Washington and 2 international offices at March 31, 2008. The company's Web site is located at www.unionbank.com.