First Citizens BancShares Declares Dividend

October 27, 2003

RALEIGH, N.C. — The board of directors of First Citizens BancShares Inc. today declared a quarterly dividend of 27.5 cents per share on the Class A and Class B common stock. The dividend is payable Jan. 5, 2004, to shareholders of record Dec. 15, 2003.

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

Barbara Thompson
(919) 716-2716
First Citizens Bank