First Citizens to Open Branches in Staunton, Verona

Offices will be bank's first branches in Augusta County

February 20, 2001

ROANOKE, Va.— First Citizens Bank, continuing its growth in Virginia, will open two new branches on Monday, Feb. 26, in the south central Shenandoah Valley. The branches will be First Citizens' first offices in Augusta County.

First Citizens has completed its acquisition of the branches at 239 N. Central Ave. in Staunton and at 5005 Lee Highway in Verona from First Union National Bank. The acquisitions will bring the total number of First Citizens branches in Virginia to 49.

"First Citizens Bank is looking forward to meeting the financial needs of businesses and individual customers in Augusta County," said Region Executive John Francis, who manages all bank operations in Virginia and West Virginia. "These new offices provide our bank with an excellent opportunity to continue our growth in the state while maintaining our commitment to personal service, comprehensive products and state-of-the-art technology."

Lobby hours for both branches will be Monday through Thursday, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Friday, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. The drive-through lanes will be open Monday through Thursday, from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Friday, from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. The Staunton branch will also be open on Saturday from 9 a.m. to noon.

"First Citizens is a great fit for the people and businesses of this region," said Sam Ashworth, market executive for Augusta County. "In our 103 years of doing business, First Citizens has always been committed to providing the highest level of service to our customers Ñ that will be our main focus at these branches."

Both branches will offer a complete line of financial services including loans, mortgages, deposit products, investment services and business and retail banking. Bank associates are looking forward to providing these services and continuing their strong relationships with customers, Ashworth said. First Citizens will retain all employees of the acquired branches.

At the Staunton branch, Kathy Brown is the financial services manager, and Linda Young is the financial services representative. Dawn Tutwiler serves as teller supervisor.

At the Verona office, Debbie Tutwiler is the financial services manager, and Mary Jane Staples serves as the financial services representative. Gloria Sams is teller supervisor.

For additional customer convenience, First Citizens will be installing a walk-up ATM machine at the Verona branch within the next month. The Staunton walk-up ATM will remain in operation.

While new to Augusta County, First Citizens has experienced solid growth since it entered the Virginia market in 1995. Currently, there are 47 First Citizens branches in Virginia and four offices in West Virginia with 375 employees.

Customers can bank with First Citizens through traditional and in-store branches, a telephone banking service and a network of ATMs. In addition, the bank has launched firstcitizens.com online banking, giving customers safe and easy access to their accounts through the bank's Internet site.

For more than 100 years, First Citizens Bank has taken a long-term approach to the business of banking. Today, First Citizens operates more than 360 branches in 203 cities and towns in Virginia, West Virginia and North Carolina.

Headquartered in Raleigh, N.C., with Virginia region headquarters in Roanoke, First Citizens is the lead subsidiary of First Citizens BancShares Inc. (Nasdaq: FCNCA), which has $10.69 billion in assets.

First Citizens Bank is committed to providing superior financial services to individual customers and small to mid-sized businesses. For more information about First Citizens and its services, call toll-free 1-888-FC DIRECT (1-888-323-4732) or visit the bank's Internet site, firstcitizens.com.

For more information, contact:
Frank Smith
First Citizens Bank
(919) 716-4121