First Citizens Bank Honors Business and Technology Solutions Department

April 24, 2002

RALEIGH, N.C. - The Business and Technology Solutions division of First Citizens Bank has won the company's top honor for staff support, the 2001 Holding Award for Excellence. The award is presented annually to the bank's outstanding corporate department.

David Park, manager of Business and Technology Solutions, accepted the award on behalf of his 160 associates at a recent corporate meeting.

"I'd like to commend David and his team for an outstanding year," said James B. Hyler Jr., vice chairman of First Citizens Bank. "Their area is a 24-hours-a-day, 365-days-a-year operation dedicated to supporting our internal and external customers. They earned their success by upgrading the bank's technology, supporting our sales efforts, implementing new Internet capabilities and delivering great customer service."

Among the department's many accomplishments during the year, Business and Technology Solutions unveiled Internet-based banking for businesses and new features for the bank's retail online banking product. First Citizens business customers gained the ease and convenience of a Web-based product, and retail customers received the ability to view check images online and pay bills using personal accounting software.

The Business and Technology Solutions team also upgraded the bank's computer network with the installation and software configuration of about 2,200 PCs that are used by branch and corporate staff.

"We're honored that First Citizens has chosen to recognize our team members for their hard work and dedication," Park said. "They go above and beyond to ensure the bank's technical operations run smoothly - so our associates have the tools they need to do their jobs and our customers get the outstanding service they've come to expect from our bank."

In addition to their day-to-day assignments, employees who work in Business and Technology Solutions are major supporters of the community. Associates are involved with many local efforts, including participating in the United Way and United Arts campaigns, mentoring with the Wake County Communities-in-Schools program, packing and delivering food through the North Carolina Food Bank and supporting a local foster care program.

All First Citizens Business and Technology Solutions associates will be honored at a banquet in Raleigh on June 4.

The Holding Award for Excellence was established in 1995 to recognize superior performance by a bank support department. The award is presented in memory of the late R.P. Holding Sr., former chairman of First Citizens Bank. Holding was recently inducted as an inaugural member of the North Carolina Banking Hall of Fame.

First Citizens operates 348 branches in 204 cities and towns in Virginia, North Carolina and West Virginia. Headquartered in Raleigh, the bank has $11.75 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 Bank and its services, visit www.firstcitizens.com or call toll-free 1-888-FC DIRECT (1-888-323-4732).

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