First Bancorp announces cash dividend

The Board of Directors of First Bancorp, the parent company of First Bank, has declared a cash dividend of $0.08 per share payable Jan. 25 to shareholders of record as of Dec. 31.

The $0.08 per share dividend rate is the same as the rate declared in the third quarter of 2009 and is a decrease from the $0.19 per share rate declared in the fourth quarter of 2008.

First Bancorp is a bank holding company headquartered in Troy, N.C., with total assets of about $3.6 billion. Its principal activity is the ownership and operation of First Bank, a state-chartered community bank that operates 93 branches, with 10 branches in South Carolina (Cheraw, Dillon, Florence, Latta, Jefferson, Myrtle Beach and Little River).

First Bancorp’s common stock is traded on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbol “FBNC.” For more information, visit its Web site, http://www.FirstBancorp.com.