First Citizens Plans Regional HQ for North Florida

First Citizens BancShares (FCNCA) of Raleigh, N.C., wants to open a regional headquarters in Jacksonville, Fla., and add other offices in the area.

First Citizens is seeking regulatory approval to construct the regional headquarters (which would include a branch), build another branch and relocate an existing branch. The moves would expand $21.2 billion-asset First Citizens' presence in northwest Florida from three branches to five, said company spokesman Frank Smith.

The planned two-story, 7,200-square-foot regional headquarters would be at the intersection of San Marco Boulevard and Cedar Street in Jacksonville. First Citizens expects the facility to open in the second half of 2013 or early 2014, Smith said.

The second new branch is planned for the Bartram Park neighborhood. A third, existing branch in Sawgrass, Fla., would be moved to a nearby shopping center with better visibility. Those branches should open in the first half of 2013.