First Citizens Bank to Expand Into Maryland

April 21, 2005

RALEIGH, N.C. - First Citizens Bank, the principal subsidiary of First Citizens BancShares Inc. (Nasdaq: FCNCA), today announced plans to expand into Annapolis, Maryland.

First Citizens has filed an application to open an office with the Maryland Historical Trust. Following consent from the agency, the Bank will seek regulatory approval from the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) and North Carolina Banking Commission.

The bank plans to renovate office space in a building at 1967 West St. in the Parole section of Annapolis. The new branch location is near Anne Arundel Medical Center and the Annapolis Mall. First Citizens expects to open the branch in the fourth quarter of 2005.

“We look forward to providing First Citizens’ brand of exceptional service and financial expertise to businesses, professionals and the medical community in Annapolis,” said Lewis R. Holding, chairman of First Citizens Bank. “Our bankers will focus on building long-term relationships to help customers strengthen their financial position through our comprehensive retail, business and wealth management services.”

The bank will announce members of the local management team in the coming months.

First Citizens’ move into Maryland follows recent expansion of the bank’s Virginia franchise. Since September 2004, the bank has opened offices in Richmond and Fredericksburg and acquired an office in Winchester. In March, First Citizens announced it is seeking regulatory approval for its first office in Tennessee, to be located in Nashville.

Founded in 1898 and headquartered in Raleigh, N.C., First Citizens Bank operates 340 branches in more than 200 cities and towns in North Carolina, Virginia and West Virginia. Its parent company, First Citizens BancShares, has $13.3 billion in assets. BancShares’ other bank subsidiary, IronStone Bank, has 48 offices in Georgia, Florida, Arizona, California, Colorado, New Mexico, Oregon, Texas and Washington.

For more information about First Citizens and its services, call toll-free 1-888-FC DIRECT
(1-888-323-4732) or visit the bank’s Web site, firstcitizens.com.

Barbara Thompson
(919) 716-2716
First Citizens Bank