Florida Banks, Inc. Names David Ruppel President and CEO of Florida Bank of Pinellas County

Business Wire, Jan 2, 2001

Business Editors

JACKSONVILLE, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 2, 2001

Charles E. Hughes, Jr., president and chief executive officer of Florida Banks, Inc. (Nasdaq:FLBK), today announced that David Ruppel has been named President and Chief Executive Officer of Florida Bank of Pinellas County. Ruppel, a long-time resident of Pinellas County, has been a banker in the Tampa market for over 24 years. Most recently he held the position of Executive Vice President with SouthTrust's Tampa Bay Bank. Prior to that he was Division head of Private Banking for Southeast Bank which became First Union.

Hughes said, "We are indeed pleased to have David join our organization. His local banking experience and success in building long-term relationships will complement our strategy of combining technology with a high level of personal service to business and private banking customers in Pinellas County."

Mr. Ruppel is active in several civic and community activities in Pinellas County. He has served as Chairman, President or as a Board Member of the Gulf Beaches Chamber of Commerce; Kiwanis; Drug Free Workplace, Inc.; The Goldshield Foundation; St. Patrick School; and All Children's Hospital Foundation.

Florida Banks, Inc. is a Jacksonville-based holding company for a statewide community banking system in Florida's largest and fastest-growing markets. The Company's community banking approach emphasizes responsive and personalized service to its customers at a level normally reserved for only the very best customers of large banks. Local banking affiliates of Florida Banks, Inc. offer a range of traditional banking products and services to small and medium-sized businesses and professionals. Florida Banks, Inc. also provides personal banking services for the owners and executives of those businesses. The Company operates offices in Tampa, Jacksonville, Alachua County (Gainesville), Broward County (Ft. Lauderdale), Pinellas County (St. Petersburg, Clearwater, Largo) and Marion County (Ocala).

Certain statements in this news release contain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, such as statements relating to financial results and plans for future business development activities, and are thus prospective. Such forward-looking statements are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from future results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Potential risks and uncertainties included, but not limited to, general economic conditions, competition, interest rate sensitivity, exposure to regulatory and legislative changes and other uncertainties detailed from time to time in the Company's Securities and Exchange Commission filings.