CORAL GABLES, Fla., Dec. 7, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Capital Bank Financial Corp. (Nasdaq:CBF) today announced that its wholly owned subsidiary, Capital Bank, N.A., has been named by independent rating agency BauerFinancial, Inc. as a Five-Star Superior Bank. Capital Bank received BauerFinancial's highest rating after the agency's quarterly analysis of Capital Bank's results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2012. BauerFinancial develops quarterly ratings for all of the nation's more than 7,000 banks, focusing on factors that demonstrate each bank's strength, such as profitability, assets, capital ratios, liquidity, credit quality, regulatory supervisory agreements, the community reinvestment rating (CRA) and historical data.

Gene Taylor, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Capital Bank, remarked, "We are very pleased to be recognized as one of the nation's most financially sound banks by the country's premier independent bank rating and research firm. Strong capital, earnings, and risk management have been part of the Capital Bank business plan from the beginning. Thanks to our strong balance sheet, we have been able to create a brand new, profitable and strongly-capitalized bank serving Southeastern customers, and we are now helping our customers grow with loans, deposits, and a host of other financial services."

BauerFinancial has issued objective analyses of U.S. banks and credit unions since the early 1980s. Financial institutions do not pay for a BauerFinancial rating, and none can choose to be excluded.

About Capital Bank Financial Corp.

Capital Bank Financial Corp. is a national bank holding company, formed in 2009 to create a premier regional banking franchise in the southeastern United States. CBF is the parent of Capital Bank N.A., a national banking association with approximately $7.5 billion in total assets and 165 full-service banking offices throughout Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia. To learn more about Capital Bank, N.A.www.capitalbank-us.com. 


CONTACT: Ken Posner

         Chief of Investment Analytics

         Phone: (704) 554-5901

         E-mail: kposner@capitalbank-us.com

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