First Citizens Capital Management Launches Trust Services Platform via FundQuest

COLUMBIA, S.C. & BOSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- First Citizens Capital Management has launched a new platform for their wealth management business. The new platform is designed to expand First Citizens’ existing investment offerings while gaining cost efficiencies through FundQuest’s back office and technology support services. FundQuest is a leading provider of turnkey managed account solutions.

The new program, called Capital Manager, combines the benefits of fee-based managed accounts with the latest web-based client services technology allowing Wealth Advisorsto concentrate their efforts on relationship management and new client business development. The Capital Manager platform features a detailed picture of a client's financial position, the ability to outsource most administrative functions, and delivers access to sales collateral, investment research, and educational tools 24/7.

“FundQuest has worked closely with us to integrate their services with our existing operations, explained Britt Borders, Director of the Wealth Advisory Group at First Citizens. The enhanced capabilities in the Capital Manager program will enable us to operate more efficiently and will expand our ability to meet the needs of each individual wealth management client.”

The Capital Manager platform incorporates FundQuest’s investment models and a multi-manager solution which provides Wealth Advisors with more flexibility for client portfolio management. The product breadth includes mutual funds, exchange-traded funds, separately managed accounts, and general securities.

“We are enthusiastic about this partnership with First Citizens Capital Management explained Maryanne Morrow, Relationship Manager at FundQuest. The platform will increase the competitiveness of the managed account component of First Citizens’ investment management business while providing technology-based tools to increase the productivity of their Wealth Advisors.”

About First Citizens

First Citizens Bancorporation, Inc., is the parent company of First Citizens Bank and Trust Company, Inc., The Exchange Bank of South Carolina, Inc., and Merchants & Farmers Bank of Comer, GA. First Citizens Bank offers services in commercial and retail banking through its 182 offices in South Carolina and Georgia. As of Dec. 31, 2008, First Citizens Bancorporation had total consolidated assets of $7.02 billion. For more information, visit the First Citizens web site at www.firstcitizensonline.com

About FundQuest

FundQuest seeks to help advisory firms to grow their business via outsourced services that control the costs of technology, back-office operations, and research. Services are delivered via partnerships with over 180 financial institutions. The combined US and European operations of FundQuest have $40 billion in assets under management and administration. Services are offered in the US through FundQuest Incorporated, a Registered Investment Advisor founded in Boston, MA in 1993.

FundQuest is a very flexible service provider with comprehensive support services for both advisors and management. The company’s advanced technology, objective investment research services, high quality back-office operations, and sales support services help financial advisors to address their clients’ important financial goals.

Financial institutions leverage FundQuest’s flexible menu of wealth management solutions to provide: unified managed accounts, mutual fund advisory, separately managed accounts, trust services, annuities, exchange-traded funds, and alternative investments.

FundQuest is owned by BNP Paribas, a global leader in financial services. More information at: www.fundquest.com/usa

The FundQuest name and logo are registered trademarks of BNP Paribas.

FundQuest Contact:

Jim Graves, 617-526-7386

[email protected]

Source: FundQuest