BankAtlantic, the Felix Varela Senior High School and Families and Friends of West Kendall, FL Use Their Hearts and Feet to Fight Cancer

BankAtlantic^®, Florida’s Most Convenient Bank^SM, announced today that it has joined with the students, faculty and staff of the Felix Varela Sr. High School, and the families of Miami-Dade County in the battle against cancer. The 2010 American Cancer Society Relay For Life® of West Kendall gets underway May 1, 2010, with teams of residents gathering at the Felix Varela Senior High School in West Kendall.

The Relay For Life of West Kendall will take place from 12:00 noon through 9:00 p.m. with the goal of keeping at least one team member on the track or pathway at all times. Teams do most of their fundraising prior to the event, but some teams also hold creative fundraisers at their sites during Relay. Relay brings together friends, families, businesses, hospitals, schools, faith-based groups . . . people from all walks of life – all aimed at furthering the American Cancer Society’s efforts to save lives by helping people stay well, by helping them get well, by finding cures and by fighting back.

You’re Invited!

Where: The Felix Varela Senior High School, 15255 SW 96 Street, Miami.

When: May 1, 2010, beginning at 12 noon and ending at 9:00 p.m.

To volunteer, sign up, sponsor, or donate, please visit www.relayforlife.org/wkfl . For additional information about the West Kendall Relay For Life, please call Yomayra Mora, ACS Staff Partner, American Cancer Society, at 305-779-2860.

"Relay is a unique opportunity for our community to come together to celebrate people who have battled cancer, remember those we’ve lost, and fight back against the disease,” commented Patricia Fernandez-Lefebvre, BankAtlantic’s EVP and Chief Retail Banking Executive. "Funds raised at the Relay For Life of West Kendall are enabling the American Cancer Society to impact the lives of those touched by cancer within the community, and we are very pleased to join the students of Felix Varela Sr. High School, the families of West Kendall, and the American Cancer Society’s efforts to create a world with less cancer and more birthdays.”

About the American Cancer Society: The American Cancer Society combines an unyielding passion with nearly a century of experience to save lives and end suffering from cancer. As a global grassroots force of more than three million volunteers, we fight for every birthday threatened by every cancer in every community. We save lives by helping people stay well by preventing cancer or detecting it early; by helping people get well by being there for them during and after a cancer diagnosis; by finding cures through investment in groundbreaking discovery; and by fighting back by rallying lawmakers to pass laws to defeat cancer and by rallying communities worldwide to join the fight. As the nation’s largest non-governmental investor in cancer research, contributing about $3.4 billion, we turn what we know about cancer into what we do. As a result, more than 11 million people in America who have had cancer and countless more who have avoided it will be celebrating birthdays this year. To learn more about us or to get help, call us anytime, day or night, at 1-800-227-2345 or visit www.cancer.org.

About BankAtlantic: BankAtlantic, "Florida’s Most Convenient Bank”, is one of the largest financial institutions headquartered in Florida. Via its broad network of community branches, online banking division - BankAtlantic.com , and conveniently located ATMs, BankAtlantic provides a full line of personal, small business and commercial banking products and services. BankAtlantic is open 7 days a week with extended weekday hours, Free Online Banking & Bill Pay, a 7-Day Customer Service Center and Change Exchange coin counters. BankAtlantic Bancorp (NYSE: BBX) is a bank holding company and the parent company of BankAtlantic.

Except for historical information contained herein, the matters discussed in this press release may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act”), and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act”). Actual results, performance, or achievements could differ materially from those contemplated, expressed, or implied by the statements contained herein.