First National Bank Awards $33,000 in Scholarships

Fort Collins, Colo. – October 26, 2009 – First National Bank, one of the region’s largest banks, today announced the winners of the RamCard Plus Scholarship Program. Through the program, 22 Colorado State University (CSU) freshmen each received a $1,500 deposit into their CSU accounts for tuition and room and board.

Designed to aid incoming freshman, the RamCard Plus Scholarship Program also generated awareness for the RamCard Plus, First National Bank’s partnership with CSU to provide an official university picture ID and Visa® debit purchasing power together in one convenient card. The RamCard Plus is tied directly to students’ First National Bank checking accounts, thereby acting as their ATM/debit card, as well as their access pass to campus facilities and services.

Incoming students who signed up for a RamCard Plus during CSU Preview were eligible to participate in the scholarship program. For every qualifying purchase made on their cards, they were entered into the running for the 22 scholarships.

One of the first programs of its kind in the nation, the RamCard Plus also offers cardholders special perks and discounts from area merchants. To reach cardholders, First National Bank is employing a comprehensive social media marketing plan. With an active presence on Facebook and Twitter, First National Bank’s RamCard Plus shares financial tips, highlights merchant partner promotions, and ties specials to events happening on campus. Merchants and businesses wishing to participate can even contact the bank through the Facebook page by searching for “RamCard Plus Perks.”

“This generation of students, having grown up with access to computers and cell phones, expects the brands and companies they interact with to be on social media,” explains Angie Penland, CSU branch manager. “Through our Facebook page and Twitter account, we can quickly disseminate important information to our cardholders, add more value to our partnerships with area businesses, and reward customers with special perks.”

First National Bank has been a leader in charitable giving of financial support in the Northern Colorado community through programs like the RamCard Plus Scholarship Program. Community Relations Officer Sara Seely notes, “This program allows us to give back to our community, and help young people achieve their educational goals.”

Winners of the RamCard Plus Scholarship Program are Joseph A. Akmakjian, Angel Marie Barnett, Luke Beckett, Kelsey J. Comerford, Hilary T. Epping, Kelsi A. Grogan, Charlotte E. Hampson, James A. Hartman, Denise C. Heidbreder, Ashley E. Irey, Cally Ann Macosko, Sarah E. Merritt, Lane C. Moseley, Mackenzi Nickel, Stephen R. Prieve, Amber M. Reese, Ryan James Shephard, T. Samuel Tansey, Zachary T. Valicenti, Lura Walker, Aliese Katharine Willard, and Andrew Royston Yancey.

About First National Bank

Since 1881, First National Bank has been helping residents and businesses in Northern Colorado and all along the Front Range meet all of their financial needs by offering a wide array of product and services designed to make the banking experience as convenient and helpful as possible. Serving more than 100,000 households with combined assets of $2.5 billion, First National Bank has 25 locations throughout Colorado including Fort Collins, Loveland, Greeley, Boulder, Denver, Broomfield, Longmont, Louisville, and Westminster, among others. For more information, please visit www.1stnationalbank.com.