First Citizens BancShares Declares Dividend

January 26, 2004

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 April 5, 2004, to shareholders of record March 15, 2004.

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
(919) 716-2716
First Citizens Bank