First Charter Bank Grand Opening of New Financial Center in Charlotte Market

Business Wire, Sept 4, 2007

Renaissance Financial Center is Bank's 60(th) Location

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- First Charter (NASDAQ:FCTR) opened a new full-service banking center in the Charlotte market today. The banking center is located in the Renaissance Shopping Center, 2001 Shiloh Church Road, Davidson, NC, near the intersection of Highway 73 and Poplar Tent Road. With this grand opening, First Charter operates sixty banking centers with fifty-eight locations in North Carolina and two locations in Georgia.

Bob James, First Charter President and CEO noted, "The opening of our new Renaissance financial center supports our strategic growth strategy by expanding our franchise into high growth markets. The Renaissance area is a fast-growing market for both businesses and residential development in the Charlotte market." He continued, "Our commitment goes beyond building this new facility to building close relationships with our customers, especially in the neighboring communities of Kannapolis, Davidson, Huntersville and Concord."

Kim Love will serve as manager for the Renaissance financial center. Kim has more than eighteen years of banking experience with First Charter. As financial center manager, she is responsible for developing and managing business banking relationships and personal banking relationships. Steve Rownd, Chief Banking Officer, commented, "Kim's banking expertise and proven commitment to Expect More quality service makes her the perfect fit as manager for our newest financial center."

The full-service financial center will offer a broad range of financial services for individuals and businesses including banking, financial planning, wealth management, investments, insurance and mortgages. The new 4,000 square foot facility has six lobby teller stations, three drive thru lanes, plus a drive thru ATM lane, drive - up night depository and safe deposit box vault area for customers. The bank will be open Monday through Thursday from 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. and Fridays from 9:00 am. - 6:00 p.m.

To celebrate the financial center grand opening, the Renaissance Financial Center is partnering with the neighboring Carolina Renaissance Festival offering visitors the opportunity to register for free Renaissance Festival tickets.

During the week of September 4th, Renaissance Festival revelers, including jugglers and knights, will also be on site at the bank helping to celebrate the grand opening. Festival revelers will be at the bank September 4th - 7th from 3:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. each afternoon. The Carolina Renaissance Festival is open weekends October 6th - November 18, 2007.

About First Charter

First Charter Corporation (NASDAQ: FCTR), headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, is a regional financial services company with assets of $4.9 billion and is the holding company for First Charter Bank. First Charter operates 60 full-service financial centers, four insurance offices, and 137 ATMs in North Carolina and Georgia, and also operates loan origination offices in Asheville, North Carolina and Reston, Virginia. First Charter provides businesses and individuals with a broad range of financial services, including banking, financial planning, wealth management, investments, insurance, and mortgages.