FLB First Natl Bancshares Fla

First National Bankshares of Florida Completes Acquisition of Southern Community Bancorp; Expands Florida Franchise NAPLES, Fla., Sept. 7 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- First National Bankshares of Florida, Inc. (NYSE:FLB) today announced that it has completed the acquisition of Southern Community Bancorp, the holding company for Southern Community Bank of Central Florida, Southern Community Bank of Southwest Florida and Southern Community Bank of South Florida. (Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20031230/FNBFLOGO ) "We are extremely pleased to have completed this transaction as scheduled," said Gary L. Tice, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of First National Bankshares. "With these additional offices, we will significantly increase the number of commercial loans and develop consumer and small business relationships. We also will introduce an array of new financial products and services, including insurance and wealth management." Headquartered in Orlando, Florida, Southern Community Bancorp has more than $1 billion in total assets and $887 million in deposits with 18 full- service banking offices serving Naples, Bonita Springs, Fort Myers, Orlando, Altamonte Springs, Lake Mary, Longwood, Winter Park, Daytona Beach, Port Orange, Ormond Beach, Boca Raton, North Fort Lauderdale, Palm Beach, Palm Beach Gardens and West Palm Beach. These offices will be merged with and into First National's wholly owned subsidiary, First National Bank of Florida, giving the bank a total of 74 locations throughout Florida. "We are delighted to join the First National family," said Charlie Brinkley, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Southern Community Bancorp. "Together, we will be able to better serve our customers with a broader array of products and services, expanded lending services and more convenient locations throughout the state of Florida." Headquartered in Naples, Florida, First National Bankshares of Florida is a $5.2 billion diversified financial services company. In addition to traditional community banking, the company provides a complete line of insurance and wealth management services with 74 full-service financial centers located throughout Southwest and Central Florida. The company's stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol "FLB." On August 2, 2004, First National Bankshares of Florida and Fifth Third Bancorp announced the signing of a definitive agreement in which Fifth Third will acquire First National Bankshares and its subsidiaries. The acquisition is expected to close in the first quarter of 2005 and is subject to normal regulatory approvals in addition to the approval of First National's shareholders. Upon completion of this transaction, Fifth Third will have more than $6.3 billion in total assets and 90 banking centers in the state of Florida. Headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio, Fifth Third is a diversified financial services company with $95.6 billion in total assets and 1,000 banking centers in Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana, Michigan, Illinois, Florida, Tennessee and West Virginia. The company's common stock is traded through the NASDAQ National Market System under the symbol "FITB." Except for historical information contained herein, the statements made in this press release constitute "forward-looking" statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Such statements involve certain risks and uncertainties, including statements regarding the Company's strategic direction, prospects and future results. Certain factors, including those outside the Company's control, may cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements, including economic and other conditions in the markets in which the Company operates; risks associated with acquisitions, competition, seasonality and the other risks discussed in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, which discussions are incorporated in this press release by reference. CONTACT: Clay W. Cone Vice President, Director of Corporate Communications 239-436-1676 http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20031230/FNBFLOGO http://photoarchive.ap.org/ DATASOURCE: First National Bankshares Of Florida, Inc. CONTACT: Clay W. Cone, Vice President, Director of Corporate Communications, First National Bankshares Of Florida, Inc., +1-239-436-1676 Web site: http://www.firstnationalbankshares.com/

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