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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Neil Cotiaux, FHLBank Pittsburgh: 412-288-2851; cell: 412-335-9488;

Randall E. Black, president and CEO, First Citizens National Bank, 570-662-8508;

First Citizens National Bank Receives 'Pillars of the Community' Award: Cited for Outstanding Work in Community Revitalization

HAZLETON, PA, June 27, 2007 - First Citizens National Bank today was honored as one of only four financial institutions across Delaware, Pennsylvania and West Virginia to receive the coveted Pillars of the Community Award in recognition of the bank’s outstanding work in the area of community revitalization.

First Citizens National Bank, based in Mansfield, PA, received the award for investing more than $43 million across its marketplace in 2006, improving neighborhood infrastructure, keeping jobs in the area and helping renters and homebuyers of modest means.

First Citizens has used FHLBank Pittsburgh’s at-cost Community Lending Program to help upgrade storm water and sewer service, finance a water filtration plant, construct a water storage facility and improve schools. It has delivered grants to lower-income first-time homebuyers through the First Front Door program and distributed Affordable Housing Program grants to make rental housing available to low-income families. And it has utilized the Banking On Business program to extend needed capital to area entrepreneurs who might otherwise not receive a bank loan.

In addition to its strong lending and grants programs, First Citizens National Bank’s directors, officers and employees contribute thousands of hours of volunteer time each year to dozens of local nonprofits. The bank also sponsors two scholarships at Mansfield State University, with award criteria that emphasize both scholarship and community service.

“Over the years, First Citizens National Bank has been a leader in community and economic development, primarily using the Community Lending Program to set in motion significant infrastructure improvements in the community,” said John Bendel, director, Community Investment at FHLBank, a congressionally-chartered wholesale bank that partners with community financial institutions like First Citizens. “First Citizens has good reason to celebrate its 75th Anniversary - it is delivering much-needed financing to municipalities, small businesses and homeowners all across its marketplace.”

In recognition of First Citizens National Bank’s receipt of the Pillars award, FHLBank is making a $1,000 charitable contribution to the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life program.

Originally founded as the Ross and Williams Bank in 1872, First Citizens National Bank operates 16 offices in Tioga, Potter and Bradford counties in Pennsylvania and one office in Wellsville, New York.