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BankAtlantic Announces Retail Expansion Into Orlando Market

Florida’s Most Convenient Bank enters Central Florida with store operations beginning in 2007

Ft. Lauderdale, FL – October 3, 2006: BankAtlantic, Florida’s Most Convenient Bank, announced today that it will open at least four new state of the art, full service stores in the greater Orlando area in 2007. These four stores, two of which will open in January, will complement the approximately 25 stores that the bank will open next year. In total, BankAtlantic expects to open more than 20 stores in the greater Orlando area in the next several years. Each new store will employ between 15-20 bank associates.

Earlier this year, BankAtlantic opened a Sales and Customer Service Center and a training center, BankAtlantic University, in Orlando. The new Sales and Customer Service Center will eventually house over 250 associates. The bank has maintained a commercial lending presence in Orlando for the past 4 years.

“Orlando is an ideal market for BankAtlantic’s expansion,” said Jarett Levan, president of BankAtlantic. “With approximately two million people in this growing and dynamic area, we see tremendous opportunity to expand BankAtlantic’s Florida’s Most Convenient Bank strategy into the greater Orlando area. We are pleased to become apart of one of Florida’s most exciting communities.”

BankAtlantic has been aggressively adding stores throughout the state, and previously announced plans to open more than 40 locations in the next 18 to 24 months. BankAtlantic’s first Orlando-area stores will include one in Osceola County (Kissimmee) and three in Orange County. BankAtlantic has been servicing customers in Florida for 54 years and currently operates more than 80 stores and 250 ATMs, including several located on five major cruise lines.

“We have found that seven day banking, extended hours and BankAtlantic’s other unique retail offerings have met with universal appreciation in South Florida, the Treasure Coast and the Tampa Bay area,” added Levan, “and expect Orlando residents to enjoy the same convenient services.”

About BankAtlantic:
BankAtlantic, "Florida's Most Convenient Bank", with $6 billion in assets and more than 80 stores is one of the largest financial institutions headquartered in Florida and provides a comprehensive offering of banking services and products via its broad network of community stores throughout Florida and its online banking division - BankAtlantic.com. BankAtlantic operates more than 250 conveniently located ATMs. BankAtlantic is open 7 days a week* and offers holiday hours, extended weekday hours, including several stores open until midnight, Totally Free Online Banking & Bill Pay, 24/7 Customer Service Center, Totally Free Change Exchange coin counters and free retail and business checking with a free gift. For further information visit www.BankAtlantic.com

* A few locations have limited 7 Day Branch Banking due to building restrictions.

Contacts:
Hattie Hess, BankAtlantic, 954-940-6383, hhess@bankatlantic.com
Caren Berg, Boardroom Communications, 954-370-8999, cberg@boardroompr.com.

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