Alabama National Banks are Among Top Performing Community Banks in Nation.

Business Editors

BIRMINGHAM, Ala.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 14, 2000

Alabama National BanCorporation (NASDAQ/NM:ALAB) ("ANB") announced today three of its banks ranked in the top 50 performing community banks in the nation with assets under $100 million, as recently published in the ABA Banking Journal.

Based on data obtained from Sheshunoff Information Services and reflecting operations for the year ending December 31, 1999, institutions were ranked on five-year average return on equity (ROE).

ANB's Bank of Dadeville ranked 19 out of 50, with a five-year average return of equity of 23.37%. Talladega, Alabama-based First Citizens Bank ranked 29 out of 50, with a five-year ROE of 22.30%. A third ANB bank, Alabama Exchange Bank of Tuskegee, Alabama ranked 31 out of 50, with a five-year ROE of 22.05%.

ANB as a whole ranked 32 in U.S. Banker's annual listing of the top 200 performing community banks in the nation. Banks and thrifts were selected by asset size, starting below the 200 largest banking companies. SNL Securities supplied data, and each company was rated on four criteria: average annual return on average equity (ROAE) over three years; ROAE for 1999; three-year compound growth rate of per-share earnings; and growth in earnings per share 1998-1999.

"We are pleased to be ranked 32 out of the top 200 performing banks," said John H. Holcomb, III, chairman and chief executive officer of ANB. "We take pride in delivering superior service to our customers while achieving outstanding return on equity for our shareowners."

ANB is a $2.1 billion bank holding company operating 47 locations through ten bank subsidiaries in Alabama, Florida and Georgia. The lead bank subsidiary for the holding company is Birmingham-based National Bank of Commerce (NBC). Other Alabama subsidiaries include: First American Bank in Decatur; First Citizens Bank in Talladega; Bank of Dadeville; Alabama Exchange Bank in Tuskegee and First Gulf Bank in Baldwin County. Florida subsidiaries are: Citizens & Peoples Bank, N.A. in Pensacola; Community Bank of Naples, N.A. and Public Bank in metropolitan Orlando. ANB has one subsidiary in Georgia, Georgia State Bank in metropolitan Atlanta. ANB provides full banking services to individuals and businesses. Brokerage services are provided to customers through NBC's wholly owned subsidiary, NBC Securities, Inc. Investments are not bank guaranteed, not FDIC insured and may lose value. Insurance services are provided through Rankin Insurance, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of First American Bank.

ANB common stock is traded on the NASDAQ/National Market System under the symbol "ALAB."

Statements contained in this press release which are not historical facts are forward-looking statements. In addition, ANB, through its senior management, may make from time to time forward-looking public statements concerning the matters described herein. Such forward-looking statements are necessarily estimates reflecting the best judgment of ANB's senior management based upon current information and involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Certain factors which could affect the accuracy of such forward-looking statements are identified in the public filings made by ANB with the Securities and Exchange Commission, and forward-looking statements contained in this press release or in other public statements of ANB or its senior management should be considered in light of those factors. There can be no assurance that such factors or other factors will not affect the accuracy of such forward-looking statements.