First Citizens BancShares Declares Dividend

July 23, 2001

RALEIGH, N.C.— The board of directors of First Citizens BancShares Inc. today declared a quarterly dividend of 25 cents per share on the Class A and Class B common stock. The dividend is payable Oct. 1, 2001, to shareholders of record Sept. 17, 2001.

First Citizens' stock is traded over-the-counter, and Class A is quoted on the Nasdaq National Market System under the symbol FCNCA.

For more information, contact:
Barbara Thompson
(919) 716-2716
First Citizens Bank