It's a tradition of involvement that continues with you.

We're working to make a difference in every community we serve. We simply believe it's part of our corporate responsibility to give back to our neighbors and our neighborhoods.

The majority of our efforts fall into the following four categories.

• Economic and Community Development
• Education - with an emphasis on Financial Literacy
• Health and Human Services
• Arts and Culture

We offer support through traditional monetary donations and through the commitment of time and talent from First Citizens' employees. From the United Way to the Red Cross to hundreds of other efforts, we're making a difference.

Here's how we're giving back.

• Our Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) efforts help improve neighborhoods throughout the communities we serve. Our CRA initiatives posted record numbers of affordable mortgage loans in 2003.
• First Citizens Community Awards Program. Recognizes associates who demonstrate stellar volunteer service in their communities. One Amazing Week. Each year, First Citizens volunteers donate hundreds of hours to help local nonprofit organizations in our headquarters market. The program is expanding to additional bank markets.
• First Citizens mortgage bankers hold community seminars for first-time homebuyers in markets across our franchise. Participants learn the details of home buying, including how their credit experience, employment history, savings and debt ratios all play roles in helping them to qualify for mortgage loans.
• We participate in the annual campaign for the United Arts Council of Raleigh and Wake County. Thanks to the generosity of our associates, we are one of the organization's top financial supporters.
• As a long-time champion of educational initiatives for students and adults - with particular focus on financial literacy - our associates can be found volunteering in classrooms throughout our markets.