EXHIBIT 99


                         FIRST CITIZENS FINALIZES MERGER


COLUMBIA,  S.C.,  SEPTEMBER  30,  2002-  First  Citizens Bancorporation of South
Carolina,  Inc., parent company of Columbia, South Carolina-based First Citizens
Bank,  and  CB  Financial  Corp.,  parent  company  of  Warrenton, Georgia-based
Citizens  Bank of Warrenton, have consummated the merger between the two holding
companies.  First Citizens Bancorporation is the surviving holding company, with
Citizens  Bank  of  Warrenton  becoming  First  Citizens  Bancorporation's third
banking  subsidiary.

First  Citizens  Bancorporation is the parent company of First Citizens Bank and
Trust  Company and The Exchange Bank of South Carolina, Inc. and offers services
in  commercial  and retail banking through its banking subsidiaries' 148 offices
throughout  South  Carolina.  As of June 30, 2002, First Citizens Bancorporation
had  total  consolidated  assets  of  $3.69  billion.