EXHIBIT 99.1

City National Corporation Grows 2012 Net Income to $208.0 Million, Up 21 Percent From 2011; Fourth Quarter 2012 Net Income Totals $47.2 Million, or $0.87 Per Share

Loans and deposits grow at double-digit rates to record levels

Assets surpass $28 billion for the first time

LOS ANGELES, Jan. 24, 2013 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- City National Corporation (NYSE:CYN), the parent company of wholly owned City National Bank, today reported full-year 2012 net income of $208.0 million, or $3.83 per share, up 21 percent from $172.4 million, or $3.21 per share, in 2011.

Fourth-quarter 2012 net income totaled $47.2 million, or $0.87 per share, up 8 percent from $43.9 million, or $0.82 per share in the fourth quarter of 2011.

FOURTH-QUARTER 2012 HIGHLIGHTS

• Average fourth-quarter loan and lease balances were $14.0 billion, up 14 percent from the fourth quarter of 2011 and 3 percent higher than the third quarter of 2012, excluding loans covered by City National's acquisition-related loss-sharing agreements with the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC). Fourth-quarter loans and leases grew $1.1 billion, or 8 percent, from September 30, 2012 to a record of $14.8 billion, excluding FDIC-covered loans. These results reflect strong loan growth across all business segments, with nearly two-thirds coming from commercial and industrial lending.
• Average deposit balances grew to a record $23.4 billion in the fourth quarter of 2012, up 14 percent from the fourth quarter of 2011 and 7 percent higher than the third quarter of 2012. Average core deposits, which equal 97 percent of total balances, were up 15 percent from the fourth quarter of 2011 and up 7 percent from the third quarter of 2012. Period-end deposits reached a record of $23.5 billion.
• Fourth-quarter results included a provision for loan and lease losses of $7.0 million, up from $2.0 million in the third quarter of 2012. Total provisions, excluding FDIC-covered loans, were $10.0 million in 2012, compared with $12.5 million in 2011.
• On November 5, 2012, City National issued $175 million of 5.50 percent non-cumulative perpetual preferred stock, which qualifies as Tier 1 capital. Net proceeds will be used to support the company's future growth and for general corporate purposes, including debt repayment.
• City National announced on November 15, 2012, that its Board of Directors had declared an accelerated quarterly common stock cash dividend of $0.25 per share and a special common stock cash dividend of $0.25 per share. The quarterly and special dividends were payable on December 18, 2012 to stockholders of record on December 3, 2012, in addition to the regular $0.25 per share dividend paid in November. The company announced today that its Board of Directors has authorized a quarterly cash dividend of $13.75 per share on the 5.50 percent non-cumulative perpetual preferred stock, Series C (equivalent to $0.34375 per related depositary share), which is payable on February 13, 2013 to shareholders of record on January 29, 2013.

"2012 was a very strong year of growth in earnings, assets, clients and capabilities for City National," said President and CEO Russell Goldsmith.  "Net income and revenue were up significantly, loan production set new records, deposits grew at double-digit rates, credit quality remained strong, and assets reached a new record of $28.6 billion.

"We increased our capabilities for clients with the acquisitions of Rochdale Investment Management and First American Equipment Finance, as well as with selected investments in people, products and technology. During the fourth quarter, the company took advantage of favorable market conditions to issue preferred stock, further enhancing its strong capital ratios and expanding its capacity and flexibility for future growth. We expanded our technology banking business to better serve the technology and life science industries, announced plans for new offices in both the San Francisco Bay Area and New York City, and added a strong mortgage warehouse lending team.

"These new capabilities, colleagues and resources, along with the strong momentum the whole company generated in the fourth quarter, strengthened City National's position and ability to serve its clients and grow its increasingly diversified businesses in 2013."

ASSETS

Total assets at December 31, 2012 grew to a record $28.6 billion, up 21 percent from the fourth quarter of 2011 and 9 percent from the third quarter of 2012. The year-over-year increase largely reflects strong loan growth and an increase in the company's securities portfolio due to strong deposit growth.

REVENUE

Revenue for the fourth quarter of 2012 reached $303.6 million, up 5 percent from the year-ago period but down 4 percent from the third quarter of 2012. Revenue for the full-year 2012 totaled $1.2 billion, up 7 percent from 2011.

NET INTEREST INCOME

Fully taxable-equivalent net interest income was $209.1 million in the fourth quarter of 2012, up 1 percent from the same period of 2011 but down 3 percent from the third quarter of 2012. Fully taxable-equivalent net interest income for the full-year 2012 was $850.7 million, up 8 percent from $790.3 million in 2011.

Fourth-quarter average deposits reached a record $23.4 billion, up 14 percent from the fourth quarter of 2011 and up 7 percent from the third quarter of 2012. Average deposits for the full-year 2012 totaled $21.6 billion, up 12 percent from 2011. Period-end deposits grew to $23.5 billion, up 15 percent from December 31, 2011 and up 4 percent from September 30, 2012.

Average core deposits were $22.8 billion in the fourth quarter of 2012, up 15 percent from the same period of 2011 and up 7 percent from the third quarter of 2012. Full-year 2012 average core deposits grew 13 percent from 2011 to $20.9 billion.

Fourth-quarter 2012 average noninterest-bearing deposits were up 31 percent from the same period of 2011 and up 11 percent from the third quarter of 2012. Average noninterest-bearing balances for the full-year 2012 were up 31 percent from 2011.

Treasury Services deposit balances, which consist primarily of title, escrow and property management deposits, averaged $2.4 billion in the fourth quarter of 2012, up 32 percent from the same period of 2011 and up 6 percent from the third quarter of 2012. Treasury Services deposit balances averaged $2.2 billion for the full-year 2012, up 25 percent from 2011. The increases reflect higher residential refinance activity, as well as sales of existing homes during the quarter.

Fourth-quarter average loan balances, excluding FDIC-covered loans, were $14.0 billion, up 14 percent from the fourth quarter of 2011 and up 3 percent from the third quarter of 2012. Excluding leases obtained in the company's second-quarter 2012 acquisition of First American, fourth-quarter average loan and lease balances increased 12 percent from the year-ago period.

Full-year 2012 average loans, excluding FDIC-covered loans, were $13.3 billion, up 14 percent from 2011. Excluding leases obtained in the First American acquisition, full-year 2012 average loan and lease balances increased 12 percent from the prior year.

Fourth-quarter average commercial loans were up 23 percent from the same period in 2011 and 4 percent higher than the third quarter of 2012.  The year-over-year increase was primarily due to organic loan growth, as well as the acquisition of First American.

Average balances for commercial real estate mortgages were up 24 percent from the fourth quarter of 2011, and they increased 4 percent from the third quarter of 2012. Average balances for commercial real estate construction loans were down 28 percent from the fourth quarter of 2011, and they declined 11 percent from the third quarter of 2012.

Average balances for single-family residential mortgage loans, nearly all of which are made to City National's private banking and entertainment industry clients, were up 5 percent from the year-ago period and 2 percent higher than the third quarter of 2012.

Average securities for the fourth quarter of 2012 totaled $9.7 billion, up 26 percent from the fourth quarter of 2011 and up 12 percent from the third quarter of 2012. The average duration of total securities at December 31, 2012 was 2.9, compared to 2.4 at December 31, 2011 and 2.8 at the end of the third quarter of 2012.

City National's net interest margin in the fourth quarter of 2012 averaged 3.27 percent, compared with 3.70 percent in the fourth quarter of 2011 and 3.58 percent in the third quarter of 2012. For the full-year 2012, City National's net interest margin averaged 3.61 percent, compared with 3.79 percent in the previous year. The declines were due primarily to strong deposit growth and lower yields on loans and securities. The company continued to invest a large share of its growing deposits in securities and other liquid assets.

Fourth-quarter net interest income included $17.5 million from the FDIC-covered loans that were repaid or charged off during the quarter. This compares with $18.9 million in the fourth quarter of 2011 and $22.2 million in the third quarter of 2012.

At December 31, 2012, City National's prime lending rate was 3.25 percent, unchanged from both December 31, 2011 and September 30, 2012.

COVERED ASSETS

Loans and other real estate owned (OREO) assets acquired in City National's FDIC‑assisted bank acquisitions totaled $1.0 billion at the end of the fourth quarter of 2012, compared to $1.5 billion at December 31, 2011 and $1.2 billion at September 30, 2012.

In the fourth quarter of 2012, the company recorded a $3.5 million non-cash net gain to reflect results of the quarterly update of cash-flow projections for the FDIC-covered loans. That total compared with $2.6 million in the third quarter. The fourth-quarter gain reflects a $6.5 million provision for losses on covered loans and an offsetting $10.0 million of noninterest income related to City National's loss-sharing agreements with the FDIC.  In addition to the $3.5 million non-cash gain for the quarter, the company recognized $0.7 million of other covered assets expense. Income, net of expense, from FDIC-covered assets, excluding the base yield, totaled $2.8 million in the fourth quarter of 2012, up from $1.8 million in the third quarter of 2012. (The base yield is the yield on covered assets, excluding income related to covered loans that are repaid or charged off.)

City National will continue to update cash-flow projections for covered loans on a quarterly basis. Due to the uncertainty in the future performance of the covered loans, additional impairments may be recognized in the future.

OREO assets acquired by City National in its four FDIC-assisted bank acquisitions and subject to loss-sharing agreements totaled $58.3 million at December 31, 2012, compared to $98.5 million in the fourth quarter of 2011 and $83.6 million at the end of the third quarter of 2012.

NONINTEREST INCOME

Noninterest income was $99.9 million in the fourth quarter of 2012, up 16 percent from the fourth quarter of 2011 but down 7 percent from the third quarter of 2012. The increase from the year-earlier period was due largely to City National's third-quarter 2012 acquisition of Rochdale, lease income from the First American acquisition and higher international services income. The decrease from the third quarter of 2012 was primarily attributable to lower distribution income from investments.

City National's noninterest income totaled $357.6 million for the full year of 2012, up 5 percent from 2011.

In the fourth quarter of 2012, noninterest income accounted for 33 percent of City National's total revenue, compared to 30 percent in the fourth quarter of 2011 and 34 percent in the third quarter of 2012.

Wealth Management

City National's assets under management totaled $38.2 billion as of December 31, 2012, up 22 percent from the same period of 2011 and 1 percent higher than the third quarter of 2012.

Trust and investment fees were $44.0 million, up 33 percent from the fourth quarter of 2011 and 1 percent higher than the third quarter of 2012. Full-year trust and investment fee income rose 10 percent from 2011.  The year-over-year increases were due primarily to the Rochdale acquisition, as well as higher sales and market appreciation.

Brokerage and mutual fund fees totaled $8.4 million, up 74 percent from the year-earlier period but down 7 percent from the third quarter of 2012. Brokerage and mutual fund fee income was $27.8 million for the full-year 2012, up 36 percent from 2011. The year-over-year increases in brokerage and mutual fund fees were due to the acquisition of Rochdale, as well as slightly higher short-term interest rates.

Other Noninterest Income

Fourth-quarter income from cash management and deposit transaction fees was $11.5 million, up 7 percent from the fourth quarter of 2011 but virtually unchanged from the third quarter of 2012. Full-year 2012 cash management and deposit transaction fee income was $45.6 million, up 3 percent from 2011. The year-over-year increases were due to new product sales and growth in transaction volumes.

Fee income from foreign exchange services and letters of credit totaled $11.3 million in the fourth quarter of 2012, up 29 percent from the fourth quarter of 2011 and 16 percent higher than the third quarter of 2012. Full-year 2012 foreign exchange services and letters of credit fee income totaled $40.0 million, up 10 percent from 2011.  The increases largely reflect increased client activity and the addition of new relationships.

Other income was $24.2 million in the fourth quarter of 2012, up 39 percent from the fourth quarter of 2011 but down 13 percent from the third quarter of 2012. The increase from the year-ago period was due largely to the First American acquisition, as well as growth of income from client swap transactions and higher distribution income from investments. The increase was partly offset by lower gains on transfers of covered loans to OREO. Other income for the full-year 2012 was $82.9 million, up 9 percent from 2011.

NONINTEREST EXPENSE

City National's fourth-quarter 2012 noninterest expense amounted to $222.0 million, up 12 percent from the fourth quarter of 2011 and 7 percent higher than the third quarter of 2012. The year-over-year increase was due largely to the Rochdale and First American acquisitions, as well as higher premises costs. Fourth-quarter 2012 results also included $4.7 million, or $0.05 per share, in legal and professional fees and expense related to the resolution of a legal claim. This was partly offset by lower OREO expense. Noninterest expense for the full-year 2012 amounted to $825.1 million, up 2 percent from 2011.

CREDIT QUALITY

The following credit quality information excludes loans subject to loss-sharing agreements involving City National's FDIC-assisted transactions:

Net recoveries in the fourth quarter of 2012 totaled $2.0 million, or 0.06 percent of total loans and leases on an annualized basis. The company realized net charge-offs of $5.5 million, or 0.18 percent, in the fourth quarter of 2011 and $2.2 million, or 0.06 percent, in the third quarter of 2012. Net recoveries for the full-year 2012 were $7.1 million, or 0.05 percent of total loans and leases. This compares with net charge-offs of $5.4 million in 2011.

At December 31, 2012, nonperforming assets amounted to $120.8 million, or 0.81 percent of the company's total loans and leases and OREO, compared to $142.8 million, or 1.16 percent, at December 31, 2011 and $130.5 million, or 0.95 percent, at September 30, 2012.

Nonaccrual loans at December 31, 2012 were $99.8 million, compared to $112.0 million at December 31, 2011 and $103.5 million at September 30, 2012. Criticized and classified loans declined from the third quarter of 2012, and overall credit trends remain favorable.

City National recorded a provision for credit losses of $7.0 million in the fourth quarter of 2012, bringing its total provisions for the year to $10.0 million. The company recorded total provisions of $12.5 million in 2011, including $5.0 million in the fourth quarter of 2011.

At December 31, 2012, City National's allowance for loan and lease losses totaled $277.9 million, or 1.88 percent of total loans and leases. That compares with $262.6 million, or 2.13 percent, at December 31, 2011 and $268.4 million, or 1.96 percent, at the end of the third quarter of 2012. The company also maintains an additional $24.8 million in reserves for off-balance-sheet credit commitments.

Commercial Loans

Commercial loan net recoveries were $2.0 million in the fourth quarter of 2012. This compares to net charge-offs of $12.5 million in the year-earlier period and $4.9 million in the third quarter of 2012. Net recoveries in the full year of 2012 amounted to $10.4 million, compared to net charge-offs of $14.8 million in 2011.

Commercial loans on nonaccrual totaled $9.2 million in the fourth quarter of 2012, compared to $19.9 million at December 31, 2011 and $18.8 million at September 30, 2012.

Construction Loans

City National's $222.8 million commercial real estate construction portfolio includes secured loans to developers of residential and nonresidential properties. This portfolio now represents less than 2 percent of the company's total loans.

Fourth-quarter net recoveries of construction loans were $0.2 million, compared to net recoveries of $6.9 million in the fourth quarter of 2011 and $3.1 million in the third quarter of 2012. Full-year net charge-offs of construction loans were $1.5 million, compared to net recoveries of $5.0 million in 2011.

At December 31, 2012, construction loans on nonaccrual totaled $40.9 million, compared to $50.9 million at December 31, 2011 and $29.0 million at September 30, 2012.

Commercial Real Estate Mortgage Loans

Fourth-quarter net charge-offs in the company's $2.8 billion commercial real estate mortgage portfolio were $0.3 million, compared to net charge-offs of $0.1 million in the fourth quarter of 2011 and $0.2 million in the third quarter of 2012. Full-year net charge-offs were $0.1 million, compared to net recoveries of $6.9 million in 2011.

Commercial real estate mortgage loans on nonaccrual totaled $33.2 million, compared to $21.9 million at December 31, 2011 and $36.6 million at September 30, 2012.

Residential Mortgage Loans and Equity Lines of Credit

City National's $4.0 billion residential mortgage portfolio and $0.7 billion home-equity portfolio continued to perform exceptionally well.  Together, they accounted for $0.2 million in net charge-offs in the fourth quarter of 2012, compared to net charge-offs of $0.6 million at September 30, 2012 and $0.4 million at December 31, 2011.  Full-year 2012 net charge-offs amounted to $2.7 million, compared to $2.8 million in 2011.

Residential mortgage loans and lines of credit on nonaccrual were $16.0 million in the fourth quarter of 2012, compared to $18.4 million in the fourth quarter of 2011 and $18.6 million in the third quarter of 2012.

INCOME TAXES

City National's effective tax rate for the fourth quarter of 2012 was 30.5 percent, down from 33.9 percent in the year-earlier period. The company's full-year 2012 effective tax rate was 32.1 percent, up from 30.6 percent in the prior year. The increases were due largely to higher pretax income.

CAPITAL LEVELS

City National remains well-capitalized, ending the fourth quarter of 2012 with a Tier 1 common shareholders' equity ratio of 8.5 percent, compared to 10.2 percent at December 31, 2011 and 9.1 percent at September 30, 2012.¹ The change from the year-earlier period is a reflection of asset growth and the acquisitions of Rochdale and First American.

Total risk-based capital and Tier 1 risk-based capital ratios at December 31, 2012 were 12.5 percent and 9.4 percent, respectively. City National's Tier 1 leverage ratio at December 31, 2012 was 6.6 percent. All of City National's capital ratios are above minimum regulatory standards for "well-capitalized" institutions.

Total risk-based capital, Tier 1 risk-based capital and Tier 1 leverage ratios at September 30, 2012 were 12.4 percent, 9.1 percent and 6.3 percent, respectively.

The increase in Total and Tier 1 capital ratios from the third quarter was due primarily to the company's issuance of $175 million of preferred stock on November 5, 2012.

The period-end ratio of equity to total assets at December 31, 2012 was 8.8 percent, compared to 9.1 percent at December 31, 2011 and 8.9 percent at September 30, 2012.

2013 OUTLOOK

Given particularly strong growth in net income in 2012, management expects net income to grow very modestly in 2013. Nonetheless, loan and deposit balances are expected to increase, and credit quality should remain strong, though rising loan balances may require a somewhat higher loan-loss provision. Low interest rates and a very flat yield curve will continue to put pressure on the company's net interest margin. This outlook reflects management's expectations for the continuation of moderate economic growth throughout 2013.

CONFERENCE CALL

City National Corporation will host a conference call this afternoon to discuss fourth-quarter 2012 financial results. The call will begin at 2:00 p.m. PST. Analysts and investors may dial in and participate in the question/answer session. To access the call, please dial (866) 393-6804 and enter Conference ID 80288825.  A listen-only live broadcast of the call also will be available on the investor relations page of the company's Website at cnb.com.  There, it will be archived and available for 12 months.

ABOUT CITY NATIONAL

City National Corporation's wholly owned subsidiary, City National Bank, provides banking, investment and trust services through 78 offices, including 16 full-service regional centers, in Southern California, the San Francisco Bay Area, Nevada, New York City, Nashville and Atlanta. The corporation and its investment affiliates manage or administer $56.7 billion in client investment assets, including more than $38.2 billion under direct management.

For more information about City National, visit the company's Website at cnb.com.

The City National Corporation logo is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=3142

 SAFE-HARBOR LANGUAGE

This news release contains forward-looking statements about the company, for which the company claims the protection of the safe harbor provisions contained in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.

A number of factors, many of which are beyond the company's ability to control or predict, could cause future results to differ materially from those contemplated by such forward-looking statements.  These factors include: (1) changes in general economic, political, or industry conditions and the related credit and market conditions and the impact they have on the company and its customers, including changes in consumer spending, borrowing and savings habits; (2) the impact on financial markets and the economy of the level of U.S. and European debt; (3) the effects of and changes in trade and monetary and fiscal policies and laws, including the interest rate policies of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System; (4) continued delay in the pace of economic recovery and continued stagnant or decreasing employment levels; (5) the effect of the enactment of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010 and the rules and regulations to be promulgated by supervisory and oversight agencies implementing the new legislation, taking into account that the precise timing, extent and nature of such rules and regulations and the impact on the company is uncertain; (6) the impact of revised capital requirements under Basel III; (7) significant changes in applicable laws and regulations, including those concerning taxes, banking and securities; (8) volatility in the municipal bond market; (9) changes in the level of nonperforming assets, charge-offs, other real estate owned and provision expense; (10) incorrect assumptions in the value of the loans acquired in FDIC-assisted acquisitions resulting in greater than anticipated losses in the acquired loan portfolios exceeding the losses covered by the loss-sharing agreements with the FDIC; (11) changes in inflation, interest rates, and market liquidity which may impact interest margins and impact funding sources; (12) the company's ability to attract new employees and retain and motivate existing employees; (13) increased competition in the company's markets and our ability to increase market share and control expenses; (14) changes in the financial performance and/or condition of the company's borrowers, including adverse impact on loan utilization rates, delinquencies, defaults and customers' ability to meet certain credit obligations, changes in customers' suppliers, and other counterparties' performance and creditworthiness; (15) a substantial and permanent loss of either client accounts and/or assets under management at the company's investment advisory affiliates or its wealth management division; (16) soundness of other financial institutions which could adversely affect the company; (17) protracted labor disputes in the company's markets; (18) the impact of natural disasters, terrorist activities or international hostilities on the operations of our business or the value of collateral; (19) the effect of acquisitions and integration of acquired businesses and de novo branching efforts; (20) changes in accounting policies or procedures as may be required by the Financial Accounting Standards Board or regulatory agencies; (21) the impact of cyber security attacks or other disruptions to the company's information systems and any resulting compromise of data or disruptions in service; and (22) the success of the company at managing the risks involved in the foregoing.

Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made, and the company does not undertake to update forward-looking statements to reflect circumstances or events that occur after the date the statements are made, or to update earnings guidance, including the factors that influence earnings.

For a more complete discussion of these risks and uncertainties, please refer to the company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2012 and subsequently filed quarterly reports on Form 10-Q.

¹ For notes on non-GAAP measures, see page 15 of the Selected Financial Information.

CONTACT: Financial/Investors
         Christopher J. Carey, City National, 310.888.6777
         Chris.Carey@cnb.com

         Media
         Cary Walker, City National, 213.673.7615
         Cary.Walker@cnb.com

         Conference Call:
         Today 2:00 p.m. PST
         (866) 393-6804
         Conference ID: 80288825