Ryan Beck Deposits More Than $30 Million in Select Financial Services Portfolios

Source: PRNewswire-FirstCall

Ryan Beck & Co., Inc. has announced the launch of two proprietary unit investment trust portfolios and the deposit of more than $30 million in assets.

The Ryan Beck Select Financial Services unit investment trusts offer two portfolios consisting primarily of securities of small- and mid-cap banks. The Select Financial Services Equity Portfolio invests in a portfolio of common stocks and is designed to seek capital appreciation. The second portfolio, the Select Financial Services Preferred Income Portfolio, invests in a portfolio of preferred securities and is designed primarily to seek income. Ryan Beck has created eight similar portfolios in the past eight years, with an average annual total return of 11.4%*.

"Rather than focusing on America's largest banks, Ryan Beck has chosen to concentrate its research effort primarily on small- and mid-cap banks," explained Anthony R. Davis, Managing Director, Research. "These banks have less than $50 billion in assets and employ a business model that focuses intently on local markets, identifying and meeting customers' needs, and prudently managing interest rate, credit underwriting and operating risks. We believe that each stock selected for the portfolio is attractively valued, based on its price and earnings outlook."

Mr. Davis and his research staff at Ryan Beck & Co. chose the stocks for the portfolio. Coverage of the small, mid-tier and community banks is one of the recognized specialties of Ryan Beck's research unit, which has been researching and analyzing financial institution stocks since 1963. A recent review published by the firm's Research department indicated that when reviewing the operating results of the top 50 U.S. banks (based on assets) during the 1996-2001 period, small- and mid-cap banks consistently outperformed their larger peers.

"The financial services industry is undergoing some of the most radical changes in its history. For investors, these changes are creating both challenges and opportunities," added Ben A. Plotkin, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Ryan Beck. "Looking out over the next several years, we believe that small- and mid-cap banks and thrifts are well positioned to sustain solid earnings growth and offer investors the potential for attractive risk-adjusted returns."

For more information about the Ryan Beck Select Financial Services portfolios, including a prospectus for each trust containing more complete information, including sales charges, fees, expenses, and a discussion of risks, contact a Ryan Beck Financial Consultant.

Performance figures, which reflect changes in net asset values, include sales charges, fees, and expenses, but not taxes, and assume all capital and dividend distributions were not reinvested. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.

About Ryan Beck & Co., Inc.
Founded in 1946, Ryan Beck & Co., Inc., a subsidiary of BankAtlantic Bancorp (NYSE: BBX), provides financial advice and innovative solutions to individuals, institutions and corporate clients through 34 offices in 13 states. For individual investors, the firm's Private Client Group provides a full range of financial services, including investment consulting, retirement plans, insurance and investment advisory services. Institutional clients benefit from the market making, underwriting and distribution activities of the firm's experienced Capital Markets Group, which encompasses equity and fixed income trading, fixed income products, institutional sales and research. Through its Investment Banking Groups, Ryan Beck provides consulting and financial advisory services to corporate clients, primarily financial institutions and middle market companies. Ryan Beck's experience in this area is acknowledged industry-wide.

About BankAtlantic Bancorp
BankAtlantic Bancorp (NYSE: BBX) is a diversified financial services holding company and the parent company of BankAtlantic, Levitt Corporation, and Ryan Beck & Co., Inc. Through these subsidiaries, BankAtlantic Bancorp provides a full line of products and services encompassing consumer and commercial banking, brokerage and investment banking, and real estate development. BankAtlantic is one of the largest financial institutions headquartered in the State of Florida.

Statements in this release may constitute forward looking statements and are made pursuant to the Safe Harbor Provision of the Private Securities and Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward looking statements are based largely on expectations and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties including but not limited to the risks and uncertainties associated with economic, competitive and other factors affecting BankAtlantic Bancorp and Ryan Beck, and their operations, markets, products and services, changes in interest rates and economic policies, volatility of the stock market, the success of new lines of business, significant growth in banking as well as non-banking initiatives, and other factors detailed in BankAtlantic Bancorp's SEC filings.