First Citizens Bank Names Carol Yochem to Head Wealth Management Services

September 28, 2005

RALEIGH, N.C. - Carol Yochem has joined First Citizens Bank as executive vice president and manager of Wealth Management Services.

“Carol is a proven leader who has successfully led many major wealth management initiatives in her career,” said Jim Hyler, vice chairman of First Citizens Bank. “She is a strong addition to our team and her exceptional knowledge and experience in the business of Wealth Management will contribute significantly to our ongoing growth in this vital segment.”

In her new position, Yochem will lead a team of nearly 300 Wealth Management professionals and will have overall responsibility for Personal Trust, Estate Settlement, Corporate Trust, Retirement Plan Services, Brokerage, Asset Management, Life Insurance, Financial Planning, Business Valuations and Private Banking.

“First Citizens is committed to delivering the highest level of service to its Wealth clients, and I am excited to be working for this impressive company,” said Yochem. “I look forward to the opportunity ahead and the potential for outstanding growth.”

Yochem has 24 years of financial services experience, most recently as executive vice president of Wealth Management for SunTrust Bank in Nashville , Tenn. During her 18-year career with SunTrust, she also held significant positions in the Private Capital and Corporate Banking units. Before joining SunTrust, she spent time with two other financial companies in both institutional sales and as a broker. Yochem is a graduate of the University of Illinois.

Founded in 1898, First Citizens Bank operates 340 branches in more than 200 cities and towns in North Carolina , Virginia and West Virginia . In addition, the bank plans to open offices this year in Tennessee and Maryland . Raleigh-based First Citizens is committed to providing superior financial services to individual customers and small to mid-sized businesses. It is the major subsidiary of First Citizens BancShares (Nasdaq: FCNCA) with $14 billion in assets. Another BancShares’ subsidiary, IronStone Bank, has 50 offices in Georgia , Florida , Texas , Arizona , California , New Mexico , Colorado , Oregon and Washington.

For more information about First Citizens, visit firstcitizens.com or call toll free 1-888-FC DIRECT (1-888-323-4732).

Barbara Thompson
(919) 716-2716
First Citizens Bank