Photo Release -- Zions Bancorporation Names Kenneth E. Peterson as Its New Chief Credit Officer

SALT LAKE CITY, April 7, 2010 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Zions Bancorporation ZION announced today that it has named Kenneth E. Peterson as executive vice president and chief credit officer, effective May 1, 2010. Mr. Peterson will succeed Gerald J. Dent, who is retiring after 33 years of service at the company. Most recently, Mr. Peterson served as chief credit officer for corporate credit & risk for Wells Fargo's Wealth, Brokerage and Retirement Services Group (WBR), capping a 28-year career in a variety of sales and credit-related management roles at Wells Fargo.

Kenneth E. Peterson Gerald J. Dent

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"We are extremely pleased to welcome Ken Peterson to our executive management team," said Harris H. Simmons, chairman and CEO. "He brings extensive experience and expertise in credit risk management to his new role at Zions Bancorporation - skills that will position us for continued sound growth in the years ahead.  I would also like to express my gratitude to Jerry Dent for his long years of invaluable service."

In prior assignments at Wells Fargo, Mr. Peterson served as chief corporate credit officer for Wholesale and Commercial, Credit Policy, Counterparty Risk and Portfolio Analysis, as deputy chief credit officer for the Wholesale Bank, in various division manager positions for International and Insurance Services, the Wells Fargo HSBC Trade Bank, general commercial and commercial real estate problem loan areas and as a construction lending manager. Before working at Wells, Mr. Peterson was a senior financial analyst at Hughes Aircraft Company and served as a U.S. Naval Aviator. He received his M.B.A. in Finance and Accounting from U.C.L.A. and his B.A. from Stanford University.

Outgoing chief credit officer, Gerald ("Jerry") Dent joined Zions Bank in 1977 after a career as a National Bank Examiner at the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency. He has worked in a number of senior management roles in organizing and managing de novo banks, marketing, credit examination and credit administration. Mr. Dent assumed the role of credit administrator at Zions Bank in 1989 and became executive vice president and chief credit officer for Zions Bancorporation in 1998. He has also been active in industry organizations, including his service as national chairman of the Risk Management Association.

Mr. Simmons added, "All of us at Zions have greatly benefited from our association with Jerry over the years, and we wish him all the best."

Zions Bancorporation is one of the nation's premier financial services companies, consisting of a collection of great banks in select high growth markets. Zions operates its banking businesses under local management teams and community identities through approximately 500 offices in 10 Western and Southwestern states: Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Texas, Utah and Washington. The company is a national leader in Small Business Administration lending and public finance advisory services. In addition, Zions is included in the S&P 500 and NASDAQ Financial 100 indices. Investor information and links to subsidiary banks can be accessed at www.zionsbancorporation.com.

The photo is also available via AP PhotoExpress.