IronStone Bank to Open Second Office in Orange County, Calif.

New location in Mission Viejo to open Nov. 10

November 4, 2003

MISSION VIEJO, Calif. - IronStone Bank continues its expansion in California with the opening of its second Orange County office on Monday, Nov. 10, at 26980 Crown Valley Parkway in Mission Viejo, Calif. The office is located on a premier site near the Mission Viejo Mall and in close proximity to Mission Hospital and the medical district.

“IronStone Bank’s focus on small business, medical, professional and retail customers is a great fit for Mission Viejo,” said President Jay Parker. “We look forward to meeting financial needs and growing along with the community.”

William Fowler, who has 30 years of banking experience, is IronStone Bank’s area executive for Orange County and will be based at the Mission Viejo location. Fazila Jahangiri is manager of the new office. The lobby will be open Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The office features a walk-up ATM. A grand-opening celebration will be held later this year.

The new location near the medical center is well suited to provide customers, especially medical professionals, with easy access to IronStone Bank’s convenient services, according to Fowler.

“Medical practices represent an important segment of the business community and have distinct business and personal banking needs,” Fowler said. “IronStone Bank can meet the unique financial goals of the medical community and provide exceptional service and products to all our customers.”

In the past year, IronStone Bank has opened eight offices in the western United States located in Austin, Texas; Scottsdale, Ariz.; and Orange County and San Diego, Calif., and recently announced plans to expand into Colorado and New Mexico.

By the end of 2003, IronStone Bank will have three locations in Orange County: Mission Viejo; Rancho Santa Margarita (29818 Santa Margarita Parkway, Suite A), which opened Aug. 4; and Newport Beach (1201 Dove St., Suite 150), which will open in December. The bank’s Sacramento office is also scheduled to open in December.

Founded in 1898, First Citizens Bank operates 338 branches in 200 cities and towns in North Carolina, Virginia and West Virginia. IronStone Bank is a division of Atlantic States Bank, a federal savings bank with 37 offices in Georgia and Florida. Atlantic States is a subsidiary of First Citizens BancShares Inc. (Nasdaq: FCNCA), a $12 billion financial holding company based in Raleigh, N.C.

IronStone Bank works to build longstanding relationships with individual customers, small to mid-sized businesses, professionals and the medical community. In addition to the Mission Viejo office, customers can access financial services through the bank’s Customer Contact Center toll free at 1-866-IB DIRECT (1-866-423-4732) and through the Internet at ironstonebank.com.

Barbara Thompson
(919) 716-2716
First Citizens Bank