FIRST BANK & TRUST ECO-FRIENDLY BRANCH EARNS LEED GOLD CERTIFICATION FROM THE U.S. GREEN BUILDING COUNCIL

SKOKIE, IL- First Bank & Trust announced today the awarding of a Gold-Level LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environment Design) certification for its 3,600 square–foot eco-friendly branch at 4007 Dempster. This certification by the U.S. Green Building Council under its leadership in Energy and Environmental Design program identifies and rewards the best practices for buildings energy, water and natural resource performance. “First Bank & Trust is committed to being a good neighbor, and to us that means being a good steward of the environment,” said First Bank & Trust Corporate Secretary and Administrative Officer Joan Yohanan. The building site is a brown field redevelopment, which required the bank to clean up contaminated soil left by a gas station. The bank also successfully orchestrated the efforts of five utility companies to relocate a block of utility poles, to widen the alley for Skokie business and residential use. “We’ve had the pleasure of working in this eco-friendly building for over a full season now,” said 4007 N. Dempster Street Branch Manager LuAnn Stempel. “Our customers enjoy seeing the rooftop and trellis greenery bloom in the spring, and often comment on the natural lighting and airy feeling of the space, afforded by the floor to ceiling windows and high clerestory windows. Many of our staff is making use of the easy access to public transportation as well.” First Bank & Trust has gone greener at all locations by drastically reducing paper use, expanding online and mobile banking services, and offering customers “Shredding Days” to securely recycle paper with personal information, and recycle electronics, which deflects scrap metal from landfill. FIRST BANK & TRUST is a locally owned and managed community bank founded in 1995 by Bob Yohanan, Howard Kain and Jay Lytle, with a mission to put community first, and provide personalized banking and investment services to individuals, owner-managed businesses and the not-for-profit community. Now in its 18th year, First Bank & Trust has grown from a staff of 12 to a staff of over 100, with nine locations: Evanston (820 Church Street, 2925 Central Street, 741 Main Street and 824 Emerson), Itasca (1250 Arlington Heights Road), Naperville (55 Shuman Boulevard), Skokie (8047 Skokie Boulevard) Eco-Friendly branch (4007 Dempster) and Winnetka (100 Green Bay Road). For more information about First Bank & Trust visit www.firstbt.com.