by Tanta on 8/01/2008 06:22:00 PM

FDIC:

First Priority Bank, Bradenton, Florida, was closed today by the Commissioner of the Florida Office of Financial Regulation, and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) was named receiver. To protect the depositors, the FDIC entered into a purchase and assumption agreement with SunTrust Bank, Atlanta, Georgia, to assume the insured deposits of First Priority.

The six branches of First Priority will reopen on Monday as branches of SunTrust Bank. Depositors of the failed bank will automatically become depositors of SunTrust. Deposits will continue to be insured by the FDIC, so there is no need for customers to change their banking relationship to retain their deposit insurance coverage. For the time being, however, customers of both banks should use their existing branches until SunTrust can fully integrate the deposit records of First Priority.

Over the weekend, customers of First Priority can access their money by writing checks or using ATM or debit cards. Checks drawn on the bank will continue to be processed. Loan customers should continue to make their payments as usual.

As of June 30 2008, First Priority had total assets of $259 million and total deposits of $227 million.