First Citizens BancShares Declares Dividend

January 24, 2005

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 4, 2005, to shareholders of record March 21, 2005.

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