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May 5, 2017

Customer Call Center: (800) 930-6827
Media contacts:
David Barr (202) 898-6992 dbarr@fdic.gov

First-Citizens Bank & Trust Company, Raleigh, North Carolina, Assumes All of the
Deposits of Guaranty Bank, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Guaranty did business as BestBank in GA and MI, and had branches in IL, MN, and WI
Guaranty Bank, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, was closed today by the Office of the Comptroller of the
Currency, which appointed the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) as receiver. To
protect the depositors, the FDIC entered into a purchase and assumption agreement with FirstCitizens Bank & Trust Company, Raleigh, North Carolina, to assume all of the deposits of Guaranty
Bank. Guaranty Bank did business as BestBank in Georgia and Michigan.
Guaranty Bank had 119 branches in five states, 107 of which were in retail outlets, such as grocery
and general merchandise stores. The branches in retail outlets will not be reopening. The 12 brickand-mortar locations in Illinois, Minnesota, and Wisconsin will reopen as branches of First-Citizens
Bank & Trust Company during their normal business hours. All depositors of Guaranty Bank,
regardless of where they conducted business, will automatically become depositors of First-Citizens
Bank & Trust Company.
Deposits will continue to be insured by the FDIC, so there is no need for customers to change their
banking relationship in order to retain their deposit insurance coverage up to applicable limits.
Customers in the branches being assumed by First-Citizens Bank & Trust Company should continue
to use their existing branch until they receive notice that systems changes have been completed to
allow First-Citizens Bank & Trust Company branches to process their accounts. For a complete list
of branches, visit https://www.fdic.gov/guaranty-best-branches.
This evening and over the weekend, all depositors of Guaranty Bank 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.
Depositors with accounts at the branches not reopening can continue to use electronic means for
conducting their banking business, including online and mobile banking. ATM machines on-site at
the branches in retail outlets will not be operational.
As of March 31, 2017, Guaranty Bank had approximately $1.0 billion in total assets and $1.0 billion in
total deposits. In addition to assuming all of the deposits of the failed bank, First-Citizens Bank &
Trust Company agreed to purchase $892.6 million of the failed bank’s assets. The FDIC will retain
the remaining assets for later disposition.

Customers with questions about the transaction should call the FDIC toll-free at 800-930-6827. The
phone number will be operational this evening until 9 p.m., Central Time (CT); on Saturday from 9
a.m. to 6 p.m., CT; on Sunday from noon to 6 p.m., CT; on Monday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., CT; and
thereafter from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., CT. Interested parties also can visit the FDIC's website at
https://www.fdic.gov/bank/individual/failed/guaranty.html.
The FDIC estimates that the cost to the Deposit Insurance Fund (DIF) will be $146.4 million.
Compared to other alternatives, First-Citizen Bank & Trust Company’s acquisition was the least
costly resolution for the FDIC's DIF. Guaranty Bank is the fifth FDIC-insured institution to fail in the
nation this year, and the first in Wisconsin. The last FDIC-insured institution closed in the state was
North Milwaukee State Bank, Milwaukee, on March 11, 2016.
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Congress created the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation in 1933 to restore public confidence in the nation’s banking system.
The FDIC insures deposits at the nation’s banks and savings associations, 5,913 as of December 31, 2016. It promotes the safety and
soundness of these institutions by identifying, monitoring and addressing risks to which they are exposed. The FDIC receives no
federal tax dollars—insured financial institutions fund its operations.
FDIC press releases and other information are available on the internet at www.fdic.gov, by subscription electronically
(go to www.fdic.gov/about/subscriptions/index.html) and may also be obtained through the FDIC’s Public Information Center
(877-275-3342 or 703-562-2200). PR--37--2017