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 3, 2006, to shareholders of record March 20, 2006.

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
IronStone Bank