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The Ocean Bank Center for Educational Materials

Ocean Bank Contributes $1 Million To
United Negro College Fund Benefiting
Florida Memorial University

Miami, FL—March 24, 2006 – Ocean Bank announced today a $1,000,000 contribution to the United Negro College Fund (UNCF) to benefit Florida Memorial University (FMU), South Florida’s only Historically Black College and University. The gift will be used to complete the renovation of the university’s student center, which will be named the J.C. Sams-Ocean Bank Student Center. A portion of the gift will go toward the Ocean Bank Endowed Scholarship Fund at FMU, which was originally established in 2002.

The contribution is a component of Ocean Bank’s Education and Diversity Initiatives, which are instrumental in cultivating business leaders of the future. Working in conjunction with the UNCF, the $1 million contribution from Ocean Bank is the largest corporate donation received by Florida Memorial University. The gift presentation will be made Friday, March 24 at 10:30 am at FMU, Chester Robinson Athletic Center, 15800 NW 42 Avenue in Miami Gardens.

“Education plays a critical role in our communities” said Jose A. Concepcion, President, Chief Executive Officer and Vice Chairman of the Board of Ocean Bank. “Universities, in particular, are catalyst of economic development & entrepreneurship and are instrumental in the development of our society,” he added.

“Florida Memorial University is delighted to be able to partner with Ocean Bank; this gift demonstrates the leadership and vision of an institution that is truly committed to wellbeing of our community. This is a continuation of a relationship established in 2002, and it provides us with greater opportunity to help educate many young minds,” said Albert E. Smith, Ph.D., President of Florida Memorial University. “We are also optimistic about the opportunity to work with other local corporations to help expand financial support to needy students.”

Florida Memorial University, previously Florida Memorial College, traces its origins back to 1879, to the Florida Baptist Institute in Live Oak, Florida, and to the Florida Baptist Academy, founded in Jacksonville in 1892. Decades later, after a relocation to St. Augustine, a merger of the two schools, several name changes, and expansion to a four-year academic program, the institution’s charter was amended, and the name Florida Memorial College was adopted in 1963. The College relocated to Miami, Florida, its permanent home, in 1968 and is the only historically black college in the southern region of the state. For more than 120 years Florida Memorial University has served as a beacon of hope for thousands of students who might otherwise not have the chance to obtain a college degree.

Ocean Bank is the largest independent commercial bank headquartered in the state of Florida, with more than $5.6 billion in assets and $4.8 billion in deposits. Chartered in 1982, Ocean Bank operates a network of 21 branches throughout Miami-Dade and Broward counties. Since its inception, Ocean Bank has impacted education in our community by making substantial contributions to Florida International University, Miami Dade College, the United Negro College Fund, the Education Fund and many other education-related initiatives. Acknowledging its support, Ocean Bank has received numerous awards and accolades from the Beacon Council, the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce and the Florida Department of Education. For more information about Ocean Bank, visit www.oceanbank.com.