Click this link to view company snapshots Print This Story  Email This Story  Save this Link View PR Newswire's RSS Feed  Blogs Discussing this News Release  Search Blogs that Mention this News Release  Click this link to view linked Bookmarking Services Click this link to view linked Blogging Services


BankAtlantic Announces Over 209,000 New Deposit Accounts

   BANKATLANTIC LOGO
BankAtlantic logo. (PRNewsFoto)[AS]
FORT LAUDERDALE, FL USA
              - Convenience is a Priority With Bank Customers -

    FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla., Oct. 8 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- BankAtlantic, a
subsidiary of BankAtlantic Bancorp, Inc (NYSE: BBX), announced today that it
has opened over 209,000 new checking and savings accounts since January 2002,
including nearly 38,000 in the third quarter of 2003.
    During 2002, BankAtlantic commenced its "Florida's Most Convenient Bank"
initiative, which includes seven-day branch banking, extended weekday branch
hours, 24/7 live customer service center, Totally Free Checking, free online
banking, 73 branches, and dozens of additional product and service
initiatives.

    The following is the comparative data of New Account Openings:

    Total Bank
    New Account Openings

                                    FY 2001         FY 2002        Change
    Checking (DDA/NOW)               32,771          76,614         +134%
    Savings                          10,129          22,488         +122%
     Total                           42,900          99,102         +131%

                                      3Q'02           3Q'03        Change
    Checking (DDA/NOW)               23,778          25,872           +9%
    Savings                           6,002          11,651          +94%
     Total                           29,780          37,523          +26%


                                         YEAR-TO-DATE
                                      3Q'02           3Q'03        Change
    Checking (DDA/NOW)               55,754          75,331          +35%
    Savings                          15,595          34,844         +123%
     Total                           71,349         110,175          +54%


    Total Bank
    Period-end Balances

    In Millions
                                    FY 2001         FY 2002        Change
    Checking (DDA/NOW)               $504.2          $862.7          +71%
    Savings                          $ 98.2          $163.6          +67%
     Total                           $602.4        $1,026.3          +70%

                                      3Q'02           3Q'03        Change
    Checking (DDA/NOW)               $788.2        $1,075.5          +36%
    Savings                          $155.3          $202.4          +30%
     Total                           $943.5        $1,277.9          +35%

    BankAtlantic Chairman and CEO, Alan B. Levan commented, "The number of new
checking and saving account openings continues to surpass our initial
objectives.  The "Florida's Most Convenient Bank" initiative clearly has
struck a responsive chord with our customers and prospects, and the growth in
core deposits are validating our approach.
    "Customers want convenience, and BankAtlantic provides it to them by being
open more hours than any other bank in Florida.  BankAtlantic is now open
seven days a week, including Saturday and Sunday, offers extended weekday
hours and a 24/7 live customer service center and is open most holidays.
Additionally, BankAtlantic provides free coin counters in all BankAtlantic
branches for the additional convenience of our customers and non-customers."

    About BankAtlantic Bancorp:
    BankAtlantic Bancorp (NYSE: BBX) is a diversified financial services
holding company and the parent company of BankAtlantic, Ryan Beck & Co., and
Levitt Corporation. Through these subsidiaries, BankAtlantic Bancorp provides
a full line of products and services encompassing consumer and commercial
banking, brokerage and investment banking, and real estate development.
    BankAtlantic, "Florida's Most Convenient Bank," 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
branches throughout Florida and its online banking division --
BankAtlantic.com.  BankAtlantic has 73 branch locations, operates more than
190 conveniently located ATMs and offers extended hours.

    Seven-Day Branch Banking - Monday through Sunday
    Extended branch lobby hours are 8:30 am - 5:00 pm, Monday through
Wednesday, and 8:30 am - 8:00 pm, Thursday and Friday.
    Extended drive-thru hours are 7:30 am - 8:00 pm, Monday through Friday.
Saturday branch lobby hours are 8:30 am - 3:00 pm, and drive-thru hours are
7:30 am - 6:00 pm.
    Sunday branch lobby hours are 11:00 am - 4:00 pm, and drive-thru hours
are 11:00 am - 4:00 pm.

    Ryan Beck & Co. is a full-service broker dealer engaging in underwriting,
market making, distribution, and trading of equity and debt securities.  The
firm also provides money management services, general securities brokerage,
including financial planning for the individual investor, consulting and
financial advisory services to financial institutions and middle market
companies.  Ryan Beck & Co. also provides independent research in the
financial institutions, healthcare, technology, and consumer product
industries.  Ryan Beck & Co. has in excess of 500 financial consultants
located in 40 offices nationwide
    Levitt Corporation is the parent company of Levitt and Sons(TM), Core
Communities, and Levitt Commercial.  Levitt Corporation and BankAtlantic
Bancorp also hold an aggregate 40% ownership interest in Bluegreen
Corporation.
    Levitt and Sons(TM), America's first builder of planned suburban
communities, is best known for creating New York's Levittown, Long Island and
Levittown, PA.  After building approximately 200,000 homes in over 74 years,
Levitt and Sons currently develops single and multi-family homes for active
adults and families throughout Florida.
    Core Communities develops master-planned communities in Florida, including
its original and best known, St. Lucie West.  St. Lucie West, the fastest
growing community on Florida's Treasure Coast for the last 7 years, is a
4,600-acre community with 4,000 built and occupied homes, 150 businesses
employing 5,000 people and a university campus.  Core Communities' newest
master-planned community is "Tradition."  Now under development on Florida's
Treasure Coast in St. Lucie County, Tradition features 5,600 residences, a
commercial town center and a world-class corporate park.
    Levitt Commercial specializes in development, re-development, and joint
venture opportunities in industrial and retail properties.
    Bluegreen Corporation (NYSE: BXG) engages in the acquisition, development,
marketing and sale of drive-to vacation resorts, golf communities and
residential land.  The Company's resorts are located in a variety of popular
vacation destinations including the Smoky Mountains of Tennessee; Myrtle Beach
and Charleston, South Carolina; Branson, Missouri; Wisconsin Dells and
Gordonsville, Wisconsin; Aruba and throughout Florida. Bluegreen Corp.'s land
operations are predominantly located in the Southeastern and Southwestern
United States.

     For further information, please visit our websites:
     http://www.BankAtlanticBancorp.com
     http://www.BankAtlantic.com
     http://www.RyanBeck.com
     http://www.LevittandSons.com
     http://www.CoreCommunities.com
     http://www.LevittCommercial.com

     BankAtlantic Bancorp Contact Info:
     Investor Relations: Leo Hinkley, Phone: (954) 760-5317,
     Fax: (954) 760-5415 or InvestorRelations@BankAtlanticBancorp.com.
     Mailing Address: BankAtlantic Bancorp, Investor Relations,
     1750 East Sunrise Blvd., Fort Lauderdale, FL 33304
     Corporate Communications: Sharon Lyn, Phone: (954) 760-5402
     Fax: (954) 760-5415 or CorpComm@BankAtlanticBancorp.com

    * To receive future news releases or announcements directly via Email,
please click on the Email Broadcast Sign Up button on
http://www.BankAtlanticBancorp.com

    Matters discussed in this press release may contain forward-looking
statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act
of 1995.  Actual results, performance or achievements could differ materially
from those contemplated, expressed or implied by the forward-looking
statements contained herein.  Future performance, including continued growth
of accounts and the success and profitability of seven-day banking and the
growth initiatives, is subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, which
are, in many instances, beyond the Company's control.  In addition to the
risks and factors identified above, reference is also made to other risks and
factors detailed in reports filed by the Company with the Securities and
Exchange Commission.


SOURCE BankAtlantic Bancorp, Inc.




Back to Topback to top

Related links:
  • http://www.bankatlantic.com
    Photo Notes:
    NewsCom: 
    http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20030414/BANKATLOGO
    AP Archive: http://photoarchive.ap.org
    PRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.com
    CONTACT:
    Investor Relations, Leo Hinkley,
    +1-954-760-5317, or fax, +1-954-760-5415 or
    InvestorRelations@BankAtlanticBancorp.com, or Corporate
    Communications, Sharon Lyn, +1-954-760-5402, or fax,
    +1-954-760-5415 or CorpComm@BankAtlanticBancorp.com, both of
    BankAtlantic