Exhibit 99.1
BankAtlantic Bancorp Appoints Willis N. Holcombe
To Its Board of Directors
FORT LAUDERDALE, FL -- June 4, 2003-- BankAtlantic Bancorp (NYSE: BBX), the
parent company of BankAtlantic, Levitt Corporation, and Ryan Beck & Co., today
announced the appointment of Willis N. Holcombe to its Board of Directors
effective June 3, 2003.
Dr. Holcombe, a veteran educator and education administrator, has served as
President of Broward Community College for over 16 years. His 36-year career has
been dedicated to the field of higher education and learning. Among numerous
professional affiliations, Dr. Holcombe is a member of the Florida Collegiate
Consortium for International/Intercultural Education, the Steering Committee of
statewide Council of Community College Presidents, Florida Association of
Community Colleges, Florida Association of Colleges and Universities, Florida
Distance Learning Institute, College Consortium of International Studies, and
the Community College of the Air Force. Dr. Holcombe's community activities
include the United Way of Broward County, the Coordinating Council of Broward,
Community Blood Centers of South Florida, the Executive Committee of the Board
of Governors of the Greater Fort Lauderdale Chamber of Commerce, and the Broward
Alliance.
"We are extremely pleased that Will has agreed to become a member of the
BankAtlantic Bancorp Board of Directors," said Alan B. Levan, Chairman and Chief
Executive Officer. "Will is extremely dedicated to the affairs and interests of
South Florida's educational, civic, charitable and community service
organizations."
Dr. Holcombe attended undergraduate school at Baldwin - Wallace College in
Ohio and received his Masters and Doctorate at the University of Florida. He has
been awarded numerous education and leadership honors throughout his career.
They include Torchbearer for the Atlanta Summer Olympics, the "Miami Herald
Spirit of Excellence Charles Whited Award", "Leader of the Year Award" from
Leadership Broward, "Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters" from Nova
Southeastern University, the "Silver Medallion Award" from the National
Conference of Community and Justice, and the "President's Award for Professional
Excellence" from the Florida Association of Community Colleges.
About BankAtlantic Bancorp:
BankAtlantic Bancorp (NYSE: BBX) is a diversified financial services holding
company and the parent company of BankAtlantic, Levitt Corporation, and Ryan
Beck & Co. Through these subsidiaries, BankAtlantic Bancorp provides a full line
of products and services encompassing consumer and commercial banking, brokerage
and investment banking, and real estate development.
BankAtlantic, "Florida's Most Convenient Bank," is one of the largest financial
institutions headquartered in Florida and provides a comprehensive offering of
banking services and products via its broad network of community branches
throughout Florida and its online banking division - BankAtlantic.com.
BankAtlantic has 73 branch locations, operates more than 180 conveniently
located ATMs and offers extended hours.
Seven-Day Branch Banking-Monday through Sunday
Extended branch lobby hours are 8:30 am - 5:00 pm, Monday through Wednesday, and
8:30 am - 8:00 pm, Thursday and Friday.
Extended drive-thru hours are 7:30 am - 8:00 pm, Monday through Friday.
Saturday branch lobby hours are 8:30 am - 3:00 pm, and drive-thru hours are 7:30
am - 6:00 pm.
Sunday branch lobby hours are 11:00 am - 4:00 pm, and drive-thru hours are 11:00
am - 4:00 pm.
Levitt Corporation: is the parent company of Levitt and Sons, Core Communities,
and Levitt Commercial. Levitt Corporation also maintains a 40% ownership
interest in Bluegreen Corporation.
Levitt and Sons is America's oldest homebuilder and America's first builder of
planned suburban communities, and is best known for creating New York's
Levittown, Long Island and Levittown, PA. After building approximately 200,000
homes in over 74 years, Levitt and Sons currently develops single and
multi-family homes for active adults and families throughout Florida.
Core Communities develops master-planned communities in Florida, including its
original and best known, St. Lucie West. St. Lucie West, the fastest growing
community on Florida's Treasure Coast for the last 7 years, is a 4,600-acre
community with 4,000 built and occupied homes, 150 businesses employing 5,000
people and a university campus. Core Communities' newest master-planned
community is "Tradition." Now under development on Florida's Treasure Coast in
St. Lucie County, Tradition features 5,600 residences, a commercial town center
and a world-class corporate park.
Levitt Commercial specializes in development, re-development, and joint venture
opportunities in industrial and retail properties.
Bluegreen Corporation: Levitt Corporation has a 40% ownership interest in
Bluegreen Corporation (NYSE: BXG). Bluegreen Corp. engages in the acquisition,
development, marketing and sale of drive-to vacation resorts, golf communities
and residential land. The Company's resorts are located in a variety of popular
vacation destinations including the Smoky Mountains of Tennessee; Myrtle Beach
and Charleston, South Carolina; Branson, Missouri; Wisconsin Dells and
Gordonsville, Wisconsin; Aruba and throughout Florida. Bluegreen Corp.'s land
operations are predominantly located in the Southeastern and Southwestern United
States.
Ryan Beck & Co. is a full-service broker dealer engaging in underwriting, market
making, distribution, and trading of equity and debt securities. The firm also
provides money management services, general securities brokerage, including
financial planning for the individual investor, consulting and financial
advisory services to financial institutions and middle market companies. Ryan
Beck & Co. also provides independent research in the financial institutions,
healthcare, technology, and consumer product industries. Ryan Beck & Co. has in
excess of 500 financial consultants located in 40 offices nationwide.
For further information, please visit our websites:
www.BankAtlanticBancorp.com
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www.BankAtlantic.com
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www.LevittandSons.com
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www.CoreCommunities.com
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www.LevittCommercial.com
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www.RyanBeck.com
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www.GMSgroup.com
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BankAtlantic Bancorp Contact Info:
Investor Relations: Leo Hinkley, Phone: (954) 760-5317, Fax: (954) 760-5415 or
InvestorRelations@BankAtlanticBancorp.com. Mailing Address:
BankAtlantic Bancorp, Investor Relations, 1750 East Sunrise Blvd.,
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33304
Corporate Communications: Sharon Lyn, Phone: (954) 760-5402, Fax: (954) 760-5415
or CorpComm@BankAtlanticBancorp.com
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Statements in this release may constitute forward looking statements and are
made pursuant to the Safe Harbor Provision of the Private Securities and
Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward looking statements are based largely on
expectations and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties including
but not limited to the risks and uncertainties associated with economic,
competitive and other factors affecting the Company and its operations, markets,
products and services, risks and uncertainties associated with strategic and
business initiatives and the potential benefits, as well as other factors
detailed in the Company's SEC filings.