FIRST BANK HELPS BLANKET ST. LOUIS AREA WITH WARMTH

With temperatures plunging, First Bank employees donated a record 202 new electric blankets and raised $6,000 on behalf of EnergyCare, a non-profit organization located in St. Louis. “I cannot thank our employees enough for their generous donations,” said Ed Furman, First Bank Senior Vice President and Chief Investment Officer who organized the employee effort with First Bank. “Their efforts will help more St. Louisans stay warm this winter.” In addition to setting a record for most blankets collected since the EnergyCare initiative was started in 1999, First Bank and its employees set a record with over $6,000 in donations. Helping Furman load the blankets onto the EnergyCare truck on Wednesday, December 17 was Jonathan Roberts, First Bank Executive Vice President – Director of Retail Banking; Angela Pinex, First Bank Community Affairs Officer; Xavier Koenig, First Bank IT Analyst and Project Leader; Dennis Kelley, EnergyCare Executive Director; and James Owen, Assistant to the Executive Director, EnergyCare. Since 1999, First Bank employees have donated a total of 1,933 blankets valued at nearly $52,000. In the summer, First Bank employees also donated new air conditioners to EnergyCare. Combined, First Bank has raised well over $115,000 for the non-profit during the past 15 years. EnergyCare relies on generous donations to help to keep low-income, homebound and medically-at-risk people safe. EnergyCare provides energy-related services and information for the low-income elderly, ill, disabled and families with young children in St. Louis City and County. Donations are tax deductible. For information, please visit www.energycare.org or call 314-773-5900. First Bank firstbanks.com is one of the largest privately owned banks in the country with $5.89 billion in assets and 129 locations in Missouri, Illinois, Florida, and California.