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2005 Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:
Neil Cotiaux, FHLBank of Pittsburgh: 412-288-2851; cell: 330-703-0753
Thomas P. Tulaney, EVP, FNCB: 570-348-4816

FIRST NATIONAL COMMUNITY BANK HONORED FOR
COMMUNITY-SPIRITED LENDING
'Pillars of the Community' Award Cites Bank's Role in Area Job Creation

SKYTOP, PA, June 7, 2005 — Citing financial support for small businesses creating or preserving more than 100 area jobs, the Federal Home Loan Bank of Pittsburgh (FHLBank) today honored Dunmore, PA-based First National Community Bank (FNCB) with its Pillars of the Community Award.

Each year, the FHLBank selects a single bank in each of four geographic regions for outstanding work in promoting community revitalization and economic development as well as housing for lower-income families. FNCB received this year's award at a gathering of financial institutions at Skytop Resort in the Poconos region of northeastern Pennsylvania.

"Once a year, we recognize a handful of banks across our Delaware, Pennsylvania and West Virginia district whose twelve-month lending record displays a superior commitment to creating sustainable communities," said John J. Bendel, director of Community Investment for the FHLBank of Pittsburgh. "FNCB very effectively utilized our Banking On Business (BOB) program and Community Lending Program (CLP) during 2004 to help start and expand a variety of businesses as well as improve community infrastructure. It is for this work that they are being honored."

The FHLBank of Pittsburgh is making a $1,000 donation to the Lackawanna branch of the Pennsylvania Association for the Blind in recognition of FNCB's outstanding record.

More than $18 million for area projects

During 2004, FNCB, a 95-year-old community bank, channeled more than three-quarters of a million dollars in BOB funding to seven businesses. Supplementing the FHLBank monies it distributed, FNCB directly extended an additional $9.74 million to five local businesses under the auspices of the BOB program. The funding leveraged nearly $20 million in small-business development in the region, creating or preserving approximately 100 jobs. Businesses financed were in the manufacturing, hospitality and professional service sectors.

Also in 2004, FNCB used $8 million in funding from the FHLBank's CLP to assist local housing and community projects. Three million dollars helped finance the Village at Tripp Park, an area designated by the commonwealth of Pennsylvania as a Keystone Opportunity Zone, a distressed area eligible for special tax breaks for lower-income families who buy homes or lots in the development. The remaining $5 million in CLP funding was used to repair infrastructure for the borough of Dunmore, including paving streets and building a recreational facility for use by borough residents.

Ongoing community commitment

First National Community Bank provides support to the community in a number of personal ways. Employees and Board members serve on nonprofit committees and boards and participate in local fundraising events for more than 100 community organizations. In 2004, FNCB contributed more than $150,000 to more than 50 charitable causes.

FNCB serves consumer and business customers in Lackawanna and Luzerne counties. Its 16 offices are located in Dunmore, Hazleton, Scranton and Wilkes-Barre as well as Back Mountain, Clarks Green, Daleville, Dickson City, Exeter, Hanover Township, Kingston, Nanticoke, Plains, Pittston, at Route 315 and at Fashion Mall.

Pillars of the Community recipients are selected from member financial institutions of the FHLBank of Pittsburgh that have used the Bank's community investment products in the previous calendar year. Winners are selected by a Bank committee and are approved by the Affordable Housing and Community Investment Committee of the Bank's Board of Directors.

With assets of more than $61 billion, the FHLBank of Pittsburgh, a government-sponsored enterprise that uses private capital for a public mission, serves nearly 340 financial institution members across its three-state district. It is one of twelve FHLBanks, all cooperatively owned banks that provide a steady stream of low-cost funding for housing, community and economic development and other community banking needs.