                                                                      EXHIBIT 99
                                                                      ----------

PRESS RELEASE
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ADMIRALTY BANCORP, INC. ANNOUNCEMENT REGARDING ANTICIPATED MERGER DATE

PALM BEACH GARDENS, FLORIDA, January 6, 2003...Admiralty Bancorp, Inc., (NASDAQ
NM: AAAB), parent company of Admiralty Bank, today announced that on January 3,
2003, a final order of approval from the State of Florida Department of Banking
and Finance was received in connection with its acquisition by RBC Centura
Banks, Inc., the U.S. banking subsidiary of Royal Bank of Canada (NYSE, TSE:
RY). The approval of the Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions
(Canada) was received on October 30, 2002. The approval of the Board of
Governors of the Federal Reserve System remains pending, and the transaction
will not be completed today, the date referenced in the amendment to the Merger
Agreement included with Admiralty's filing on Form 8-K made on November 1, 2002.
Admiralty will make a further announcement when the closing date is determined.

ABOUT ADMIRALTY BANCORP

Admiralty Bancorp, Inc. (NASDAQ NM:AAAB) is the parent company for Admiralty
Bank. Admiralty Bank is a Florida-chartered commercial bank operating through
its main office in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida and nine branch offices located
in Altamonte Springs, Boca Raton, Cocoa Beach, Fort Lauderdale, Juno Beach,
Jupiter, Melbourne and Orlando, Florida. The Bank is a full-service financial
institution, catering to the needs of businesses, professionals, and private
banking clients.

ABOUT RBC CENTURA

RBC Centura delivers a wide range of financial services and advice, including a
complete line of banking, investment, insurance, leasing and asset management
services, to individuals and businesses in North Carolina, South Carolina,
Virginia and Georgia. RBC Centura's multifaceted customer access network
includes more than 240 full-service financial offices, an extensive ATM network,
telephone and Internet banking. "RBC Centura" is a brand name used by RBC
Centura Banks, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Royal Bank of Canada (NYSE,
TSE: RY). Additional information may be found at www.rbccentura.com.

ABOUT RBC

Royal Bank of Canada (NYSE, TSE: RY) uses the initials RBC as a prefix for its
businesses and operating subsidiaries, which operate under the master brand name
of RBC Financial Group. Royal Bank of Canada is Canada's largest financial
institution as measured by market capitalization and assets, and is one of North
America's leading diversified financial services companies. It provides personal
and commercial banking, wealth management services, insurance, corporate and
investment banking, and transaction processing services on a global basis. RBC
employs 60,000 people who serve more than 12 million personal, business and
public sector customers in North America and in some 30 countries around the
world. For more information, please visit www.rbc.com.

THIS PRESS RELEASE CONTAINS "FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS" AS DEFINED UNDER
SECTION 21E OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934. THE COMPANY DESIRES TO TAKE
ADVANTAGE OF THE "SAFE HARBOR" PROVISIONS OF SECTION 21E AND IS INCLUDING THIS
STATEMENT FOR THE EXPRESS PURPOSE OF AVAILING ITSELF OF THE PROTECTION OF THE
SAFE HARBOR WITH RESPECT TO ALL SUCH FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS. THESE
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS DESCRIBE FUTURE PLANS OR STRATEGIES AND MAY INCLUDE
THE COMPANY'S EXPECTATIONS OF FUTURE FINANCIAL RESULTS. THE WORDS "BELIEVE,"
"EXPECT," "ANTICIPATE," "ESTIMATE," "PROJECT," AND SIMILAR EXPRESSIONS IDENTIFY
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS. THE COMPANY'S ABILITY TO PREDICT RESULTS OR THE
EFFECT OF FUTURE PLANS OR STRATEGIES OR QUALITATIVE OR QUANTITATIVE CHANGES
BASED ON MARKET RISK EXPOSURE IS INHERENTLY UNCERTAIN. FACTORS WHICH COULD
AFFECT ACTUAL RESULTS INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO I) CHANGES
<PAGE>

IN GENERAL MARKET INTEREST RATES, II) GENERAL ECONOMIC CONDITIONS, BOTH IN THE
UNITED STATES GENERALLY AND SPECIFICALLY IN THE COMPANY'S MARKET AREA, III)
LEGISLATIVE/REGULATORY CHANGES, IV) MONETARY AND FISCAL POLICIES OF THE U.S.
TREASURY AND THE FEDERAL RESERVE, V) CHANGES IN THE QUALITY OR COMPOSITION OF
THE COMPANY'S LOANS AND INVESTMENT PORTFOLIOS, VI) DEMAND FOR LOAN PRODUCTS,
VII) DEPOSIT FLOWS, VIII) COMPETITION, IX) DEMAND FOR FINANCIAL SERVICES IN THE
COMPANY'S MARKETS, AND X) THE TIMING OF CLOSING OF THE PENDING ACQUISITION BY
RBC CENTURA AND THE EXPENSES RELATED THERETO. THESE FACTORS SHOULD BE CONSIDERED
IN EVALUATING THE FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS, AND UNDUE RELIANCE SHOULD NOT BE
PLACED ON SUCH STATEMENTS.


Contact information:
         Investor Relations:  Barbara Moore
         Treasurer:  Kevin M. Sacket
         561.624.4701

