First Citizens Bancshares, Inc. is a bank holding company based in Raleigh, North Carolina. It is the parent company of First-Citizens Bank & Trust Company, which operates more than 500 branches in 19 states, including the District of Columbia. The bank provides various financial services to individuals and businesses, including deposit accounts, loans, credit cards, wealth management, and online banking.
First-Citizens Bank & Trust Company was founded in 1898 in Smithfield, North Carolina, as Bank of Smithfield. The bank changed its name to First-Citizens Bank & Trust Company in 1986 to reflect its expansion beyond Smithfield. The bank has since grown through acquisitions of other financial institutions, including First National Bank of Cumberland in Maryland, and Cordia Bancorp and Trustmark in Virginia.
As of December 31, 2021, First Citizens Bancshares had total assets of $52.6 billion and total deposits of $42.4 billion. The bank is known for its conservative lending practices, which have helped it maintain strong capital levels and weather economic downturns. It has also been recognized for its customer service, receiving multiple awards for customer satisfaction.
In addition to its banking services, First Citizens Bancshares has a number of subsidiaries that provide insurance, investment advisory, and trust services. These include First Citizens Investor Services, Inc., First Citizens Wealth Management, Inc., and First Citizens Insurance Services, Inc.
First Citizens Bancshares is a publicly traded company listed on the NASDAQ stock exchange under the ticker symbol FCNCA. The bank has a long history of being family-owned, with several generations of the Holding family serving as executives and board members. Today, the Holding family continues to control a significant portion of the company's stock.