IronStone Bank Receives Regulatory Approval to Open in Colorado, New Mexico Offices

January 15, 2004

IronStone Bank, an expanding financial services company focusing on small businesses and professional clients, has received regulatory approval to open offices in Denver, Santa Fe and Albuquerque.

IronStone Bank has received approval from the Office of Thrift Supervision to open at 311 Steele St. in Denver, 700 Paseo de Peralta in Santa Fe, N.M., and 7300 Jefferson St. in Albuquerque, N.M.

The offices are scheduled to open in the second quarter of 2004.

“These three cities are perfect settings for IronStone Bank’s customer-focused brand of banking,” said Jay Parker, IronStone Bank president. “We’re looking forward to building strong relationships and delivering exceptional service to the people and businesses in these communities.”

The Santa Fe office is in the city’s historic district. The Denver office is near the Cherry Creek Shopping Center. The Albuquerque office is in the North Valley area.

In the past two years, IronStone Bank has opened 10 offices in Austin, Texas; Scottsdale, Ariz.; and Orange County, Sacramento and San Diego, Calif.

IronStone Bank is a division of Atlantic States Bank, which has 38 offices in Florida and Georgia. In March, all Atlantic States offices will convert to the IronStone Bank name to reflect the company’s steady growth across the United States.

The company is a subsidiary of First Citizens BancShares Inc. (Nasdaq: FCNCA), a $12 billion financial holding company based in Raleigh, N.C. First Citizens BancShares’ lead subsidiary is First Citizens Bank, which opened its first branch in 1898 and has 338 offices in North Carolina, Virginia and West Virginia.

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

Barbara Thompson
(919) 716-2716
First Citizens Bank