First Southern Bank Announces the Hiring of Natalie M. Alvarez as Vice President and Market Manager in the South Florida Region

As part of its ongoing expansion, First Southern Bank is pleased to announce that Natalie Alvarez has joined the company as Vice President and Market Manager in the South Florida Region. Alvarez, who will be based in the bank’s North Palm Beach location, will be responsible for directing all aspects of the office’s new business development, growing small business deposits, overseeing office functions and seeking out new opportunities for the bank within the community.

“She is a well-seasoned banking professional with strong leadership and management skills who will help grow the market and provide the best banking services to our clients in the region.”

“We are so delighted to have Natalie join the First Southern Bank team in the North Palm Beach office,” said Lynne Wines, President & CEO of First Southern Bank. “She is a well-seasoned banking professional with strong leadership and management skills who will help grow the market and provide the best banking services to our clients in the region.”

The addition of Alvarez is part of the bank’s growth strategy in the state of Florida. First Southern Bank, which is currently celebrating its 25th Anniversary, launched its expansion plans in early 2010 designed to reach more clients in more markets. As a result, assets of the bank grew from approximately $400 million to approximately $1 billion, the number of branches grew from only five in South Florida to fifteen in three of the state’s largest population centers, and the number of client accounts grew from approximately 5,400 to approximately 17,500.

A resident of Palm Beach County for over 32 years, Natalie brings over 25 years of banking and management experience working for leading financial institutions in the Private Wealth Management sector. Prior to joining First Southern Bank, she served as an Office Manager at Regent Bank in Palm Beach, Florida where she led and managed the sales and service process for the office. Prior to that, she was the Assistant Financial Center Manager for WaMu/Chase in West Palm Beach. She has also served as the Business Support Manager at U.S Trust, Bank of America Private Wealth Management in Palm Beach. Prior to that, she spent 18 years at Wachovia Wealth Management, also in Palm Beach, where she joined them as a Senior Account Executive/Lead Client Management Associate and worked her way up to Support Team Supervisor. Natalie graduated Magna Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Science in Organizational Management from Palm Beach Atlantic University.

Natalie has always been active in community service. She is currently a board member of the West Palm Beach Library Foundation and Royal Poinciana Association and serves as chairwoman for the Palm Beach Atlantic University Alumni Association annual Afternoon Tea. She also served as chairwoman of the Arthritis Walk for Those Who Can’t from 2006-2008 and was a committee member for 2009, and has been a member of the Executive Women of the Palm Beaches since 2009. Natalie has also received recognition for her fundraising activities for The Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure, March of Dimes, The American Heart Association, Junior Achievement of the Palm Beaches and Juvenile Diabetes. She was also a committee member for The March of Dimes from 1994-2006.

First Southern Bank recently announced a number of key hires throughout the state including Tracy L. Keegan was brought in as the bank’s new EVP/CFO & COO; Joseph A. Losch as SVP/Market Executive, Central Florida Region; John G. Klumpp as SVP/Chief Information Officer; Bill Kelley as EVP/Head of Community Banking; Lynda Napolitano as SVP/Commercial Lender, South Florida Region; Michael C. Samuel and Andrew Hebert, both as SVP/Commercial Lenders in the Central Florida Region, Mike Brown as SVP/Commercial Lender in the North Florida Region and Bill Daniels as SVP/Portfolio Manager in the South Florida Region. Additionally, Matt Greene was elevated to the position of SVP/Market President of the North Florida Region.

First Southern Bancorp (OTC Bulletin Board: FSOF) had total consolidated assets of $1.2 billion at June 30, 2012. The Company provides comprehensive banking products and services through its First Southern Bank franchise. First Southern’s strong capital positions it as one of the most secure banks in the United States. The bank serves Northeast, South and Central Florida with 15 locations in St. Johns, Broward, Orange, Osceola, Palm Beach, Seminole and Volusia counties.