SACRAMENTO, CALIF. - Jay Parker, president of IronStone Bank, today announced plans to expand into Sacramento.

IronStone Bank is seeking regulatory approval through the Office of Thrift Supervision to open a full-service branch at 455 Capitol Mall. The office is scheduled to open in the third quarter of 2003 following renovations.

“Sacramento is the perfect location for IronStone Bank’s customer-focused approach to banking,” Parker said. “We’re eager to start building quality relationships in the city. People want a bank that meets their financial needs and delivers exceptional service. That’s what IronStone Bank is all about.”

Sacramento will be the fifth market for IronStone Bank, which launched in Austin, Texas, in September 2002 and opened its first office in Scottsdale, Ariz., on Feb. 18. The bank has also announced plans to open in San Diego, the nearby community of LaJolla and two offices in Orange County (Newport Beach and Rancho Santa Margarita).

Parker will name members of the local management team in coming months.

IronStone Bank delivers exceptional service and comprehensive personal and business banking products. Its associates are dedicated to building long-lasting relationships with families, small to mid-sized businesses, professionals and the medical community.

The bank is a division of Atlantic States Bank, a federally-chartered thrift institution with 39 offices in Georgia and Florida. Atlantic States is a subsidiary of Raleigh, N.C.-based First Citizens BancShares (Nasdaq: FCNCA), one of the 100 largest financial holding companies in the United States with $12.23 billion in assets.

In addition to its branch offices, customers can access financial services through the bank’s Customer Contact Center toll free at 1-866-IB DIRECT (1-866-423-4732) and through the Internet at ironstonebank.com.

Barbara Thompson
(919) 716-2716
First Citizens BancShares