Press Release

COHEN & COMPANY SECURITIES ANNOUNCES LAUNCH OF A NEW BANK COVERAGE GROUP

New York, NY – January, 2010 – Cohen & Company Securities, LLC, Cohen & Company’s registered broker-dealer, is pleased to announce the launch of a bank coverage group to manage the distribution of fixed income securities directly to banks as well as to work with bank clients on portfolio optimization.

Managing Director Kevin Heal, a senior member of the institutional mortgage securities unit, will head the new group. Kevin brings close to 20 years of experience in the mortgage securities market as well as substantial management experience from his time with Freddie Mac and BNP Securities.

Reporting to Kevin are Nick Daly, Leena Amin and Mike Lardis all of whom have extensive backgrounds working on securitizations for mid-size banks and thrifts across the country as former members of the Alesco Finance banking team.

Senior banker Neil Snoep is the final member of the initial bank coverage group and will also report to Kevin. Neil has worked with banks in an advisory capacity on portfolio optimization for several years at Cohen, Sandler O’Neill and Lehman Brothers.

About Cohen & Company
Cohen Brothers, LLC (d/b/a Cohen & Company) is an investment firm specializing in credit related fixed income investments. Through Cohen & Company Securities, LLC, the company also provides institutional broker-dealer services focused on debt securities. With offices in Philadelphia, New York, Chicago, Washington D.C., San Francisco, Boston, Paris, London and Tokyo, Cohen & Company serves a diverse international network of institutional and individual clients. For more information about Cohen & Company, we encourage you to visit www.cohenandcompany.com.

Media Inquiries Joseph Kuo Kekst and Company 212-521-4863 joe-kuo@kekst.com