BBT News

The TARP repayment is in line with the broker's expectations, which added that the upgrade also is on expectations for a very strong fourth quarter.

For more than 40 years, civic and elected leaders have lauded regionalism as a worthy economic pursuit that is just waiting for somebody to get the ball rolling.

The Piedmont Triad Partnership said that a fund-raising campaign aimed at promoting regionalism has received pledges worth at least $1.3 million a year for five years.

BB&T Corp. is counting on the solid track record and reputation of its chief executive, Kelly King, to alleviate concerns about making him chairman as well.

Here's a list of companies whose shares are expected to see active trade in Wednesday's session.

While the overall picture looks scary for regional banks in 2010, there are big opportunities for good stock pickers.

Analysts at Citigroupa s brokerage unit said that there are significant risks that U.S. bank stocks face in the immediate term, but in the near future bank stocks could see modest gains give the Federal Reservea s current policies of accommodation during the modest recover that is occurring.

BB&T Corp. has increased Birmingham-area deposits by $169 million since taking over for Colonial BancGroup in August, which Chief Executive Kelly King called welcome news amid his attempts to instill his company's business philosophy at 102 new branches and among hundreds of new employees.

BB&T Corp. named Bill Kilburg president of its Peachtree City, Ga.-based South Atlanta Region, which has more than $1.7 billion in deposits and 31 branches.

Credit Suisse analysts on Wednesday urged clients to buy and overweight regional banking stocks, saying that a number of credit metrics that have plagued the sector will improve steadily in 2010, and provide good returns.

Among the shares expected to see active trading in Wednesday's session are Jos. A. Bank, Continental Air, Diedrich Coffee, Ford, Nokia, RF, Shanda and Walgreen.

Prospects for Fifth Third Bancorp investors could be looking up. A Citigroup analyst has upgraded his rating on Fifth Third's stock from "hold" to "buy." Citigroup also upgraded BB&T Corp.

BB&T Corp. has named Luquire George Andrews of Charlotte its branding agency of record.

The new marketing agency of record for BB&T Corp. plans to accent the bank's reputation for financial strength.

The Business Journal of the Greater Triad Area - by Paul Davis The Business Journal Serving the Greater Triad Area Send this story to a friend Wachovia Corp.'s $14 billion play for SouthTrust could make BB&T Corp.

Judging by the pop in shares of East West Bancorp and Iberiabank this month after these companies won separate deals to acquire failed bank assets, trying to pinpoint other institutions gunning for similar transactions could yield hefty returns for investors.

Birmingham bank stocks were broadly flat on Friday. Regions Financial Corp. was up 2 percent to $5.47, compared with its previous close at $5.35. Earlier this week, the bank announced plans to reinstate its employee retirement benefits.

JPMorgan Chase , U.S. Bancorp and eight other holding companies have boosted their deposits by more than a third in the past two years by acquiring failed banks.

Decisions by the federal government led to last year's financial crisis, the chairman of BB&T Corp.

Sweat equity has taken on a new meaning for most BB&T Corp. employees. Given the opportunity to volunteer on company time, more than two-thirds of BB&T's 30,000 employees provided hands-on help with its inaugural Project Lighthouse.