UNC Asheville Athletics and First Bank Extend Historic Partnership

ASHEVILLE, N.C. - UNC Asheville Athletics and First Bank announced today an extension to their multi-year partnership, making them the first ever brand to be represented in on-court baseline logos at Kimmel Arena. The community bank's mark will be featured prominently along the court beginning November 4 when the Bulldogs tip off the 2026-27 basketball season. In addition, fans will see increased First Bank visibility inside Kimmel Arena, including the all-new postgame kids autograph and shootaround sessions after every Saturday home basketball game, as well as on social media with the brand new "Mic'd Up" sessions with Bulldog men's and women's basketball.

"First Bank has been a staunch supporter of Bulldog Athletics for many years, and the continued investment in our university is a testament to the value they bring to the Asheville community. I have tremendous gratitude for Regional Executive Rusty Edwards and the leadership team at First Bank for their critical support of our mission to Dream Big, Achieve More," said UNC Asheville Director of Athletics Janet R. Cone.

As part of the extended partnership, First Bank will continue as the title sponsor of the Bulldogs' annual "Our Turn to Play" women's sports banquet, supporting the event's mission to celebrate the accomplishments of women in collegiate sports and grow the scholarship fund for UNC Asheville female student-athletes. With First Bank as the title sponsor, the event has generated over $2 million in scholarship support for Bulldog female student-athletes over the past 5 years.

"For more than a decade, First Bank has been proud to support UNC Asheville Athletics and the university's mission", said SVP & Regional Executive Rusty Edwards. "This partnership reflects our continued commitment to Western North Carolina and creates exciting new opportunities to engage with Bulldog fans while supporting programs that make a lasting difference for students and student-athletes. We're grateful for the partnership and excited about what's ahead."

"First Bank's decade-long partnership with UNC Asheville continues to grow, creating expanded visibility for the brand while continuing its investment in the university and its student-athletes," said Dan Dial, General Manager of UNC Asheville Sports Properties. "We're proud to help build on this relationship and deliver opportunities that connect First Bank with Bulldogs fans both inside Kimmel Arena and beyond."

UNC Asheville Sports Properties, the locally based team of Learfield – the leading media and technology company powering college sports – is the exclusive multimedia rights holder for UNC Asheville Athletics and handles all sponsorships, in-venue signage, and advertising on behalf of the university.

About First Bank
First Bank is the banking subsidiary of First Bancorp and is headquartered in Southern Pines, North Carolina, with total assets of approximately $13 billion. As a state-chartered community-focused bank, First Bank operates 113 bank branches in North Carolina and South Carolina. Since 1935, First Bank has taken a tailored approach to banking, combining best-in-class financial solutions and helpful local expertise to help customers achieve their dreams. First Bancorp's common stock is traded on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbol "FBNC." Visit www.LocalFirstBank.com to learn more. Member FDIC, Equal Housing Lender.

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UNC Asheville Athletics and First Bank Extend Historic Partnership

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