First California to Buy South Coast Bancorp

First California Bank, which has six branches in Ventura County, said it had agreed to acquire South Coast Bancorp Inc., which has two offices in Orange County, for $36 million in cash.

Camarillo-based First California, which had $284 million in assets at the end of 2004, said it expected the deal for Irvine-based South Coast to close in the second quarter. South Coast, which operates as South Coast Commercial Bank, had $147 billion in assets at the end of 2004.

--E. Scott Reckard