City of Columbia Partners with First Citizens Bank To Create Bike-Friendly Community
June 23, 2008
COLUMBIA, SC – June 23, 2008 – The city of Columbia and First Citizens Bank have partnered to provide bicyclists new places to park, and meet the need of residents who are seeking an alternative to driving their cars. First Citizens will install bicycle racks at three Columbia locations: 1230 Main Street (downtown), 3932 Forest Drive (city of Forest Acres), and 2600 Rosewood Drive (community of Rosewood). The bank will donate the bicycle rack in front of its headquarters building on Lady Street (between Sumter and Main streets) to the city; the other two racks will be maintained by First Citizens.
“We’re responding to our customers’ needs,” said Brett Frantz, executive vice president and director of corporate real estate for First Citizens. “We’ve noticed that many more of our clients — from college students to professionals — are riding their bicycles to our branch offices, especially as the price of gas continues to soar.”
The partnership between First Citizens and the city of Columbia for the bicycle rack installation coincides with the city’s plan to apply for a national bike-friendly designation in August 2008. The League of American Bicyclists awards four levels of this designation — platinum, gold, silver, and bronze — to cities across America that meet the organization’s stringent criteria. According to Gerry Lynn Hall, deputy director of the City of Columbia Development Corporation, Columbia is aiming for the bronze level, which is a significant award that will garner national attention for the city. “We are thrilled that First Citizens has taken this proactive step to becoming a bike-friendly business,” said Hall. “It has been a pleasure to collaborate with them on this project, which we hope will inspire other local businesses to participate as well,” said Hall.
The installation of the bicycle racks is part of First Citizens’ overall commitment to Columbia’s downtown revitalization efforts and to the communities it serves. As part of this commitment, last year the bank converted a vacant gravel lot, located on Lady and Main streets, into a landscaped urban “oasis,” complete with palm trees and a bricked walkway.
About First Citizens
First Citizens Bancorporation, Inc., is the parent company of First Citizens Bank and Trust Company, Inc., and The Exchange Bank of South Carolina, Inc. First Citizens Bank offers commercial and retail banking services through 170 offices in Georgia and South Carolina. As of March 31, 2008, First Citizens Bancorporation, Inc. had total consolidated assets of $6.40 billion.
For more information, visit the First Citizens web site at www.firstcitizensonline.com.
