First Citizens BancShares Declares Dividend

January 22, 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 April 2, 2001, to shareholders of record March 19, 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
First Citizens Bank
(919) 716-2716