FIRST  CITIZENS  BANCORPORATION  OF  SOUTH  CAROLINA,  INC        NEWS  RELEASE
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KINGSTREE AND COLUMBIA - Jim B. Apple, Chief Executive Officer of First Citizens
Bank  and  First  Citizens Bancorporation of South Carolina, Inc., and Robert L.
Arnette,  Chief  Executive  Officer of The Exchange Bank of South Carolina, have
announced the signing of a letter of intent, pursuant to which The Exchange Bank
of South Carolina, would become a subsidiary of First Citizens Bancorporation of
South  Carolina,  Inc.  A  definitive  Agreement  and  Plan  of  Merger has been
approved  by  the Board of Directors of The Exchange Bank of South Carolina.  In
addition,  the  executive  committee  of  First Citizens Bancorporation of South
Carolina,  Inc.  has  recommended  to its Board of Directors the approval of the
Agreement.  Approval  of  the  Agreement by the First Citizens Bancorporation of
South  Carolina,  Inc.  Board  of  Directors  and  by The Exchange Bank of South
Carolina  shareholders  is necessary. In addition, approval by state and federal
regulatory  authorities  will be required for the completion of the acquisition.
The  parties  anticipate that these requirements will have been completed by the
end  of  the  year.

Robert L. Arnette, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Exchange Bank of
South Carolina, reported, " First, we are very excited about this opportunity to
strengthen  a  long relationship we have had with First Citizens.  Not only have
we  enjoyed  a  correspondent banking relationship with First Citizens Bank, but
also  we  have  known  their  management  for  many  years.  Second, it's really
gratifying  to  know  that  with  this  acquisition  The  Exchange Bank of South
Carolina  will  remain The Exchange Bank of South Carolina.  Together, these two
things  amount  to  a  win/win  for  our  customers,  our  employees,  and  our
communities.  I  expect  this  will  allow  Exchange  Bank not only to offer our
business customers cash management and greater lending capabilities, but also to
provide  all of our customers with brokerage services and trust services, not to
mention  a  greatly  expanded ATM network.  However, Exchange Bank customers can
expect  the same personal attention from the same helpful bankers that they have
known  over  the  years."

Jim  B.  Apple,  President  and  Chief  Executive  Officer,  First  Citizens
Bancorporation of South Carolina and its wholly owned subsidiary, First Citizens
Bank,  noted,  "The  history of the First Citizens Bank reflects a commitment to
community  banking.  This clear focus on South Carolina transcends everything we
do.  While  First  Citizens Bank will certainly grow in 1999, the more important
issue,  from  my  perspective,  is First Citizens Bancorporation's commitment to
concentrating  our  energies  solely on providing the highest quality of banking
service  to  the  people  of  South Carolina, and now specifically the people of
Williamsburg  and  Georgetown  counties."

First  Citizens  Bank  and Trust Company of South Carolina serves South Carolina
only  through a network of 135 branches in over 85 communities statewide.  First
Citizens  Bank  is  a  subsidiary  of  First  Citizens  Bancorporation  of South
Carolina, Inc., until now a one-bank holding company, headquartered in Columbia,
South  Carolina.  The  Exchange  Bank of South Carolina has four branches in two
communities, and is headquartered in Kingstree, South Carolina.  Upon completion
of  the  proposed acquisition, The Exchange Bank of South Carolina will still be
headquartered  in  Kingstree;  and  both  First Citizens Bank and First Citizens
Bancorporation  of  South  Carolina, Inc. will remain headquartered in Columbia,
South  Carolina.