Regions targets Defense

Regions announced it's now targeting Technology and Defense sectors for business, under leadership of David Sozio, who built a previous line of business while with Wachovia (First Union). The release is here.

Morgan Keegan hiring

Showing it can attract talent even when some observers think parent Regions is in play, Morgan Keegan announced hiring oil-services and general equities analysts. Releases are here.

Regions names President

Regions Financial Corporation (NYSE:RF) announced today that Vice Chairman Grayson Hall, Jr., age 52, has been named President and Chief Operating Officer of the bank holding company. Hall, head of Regions’ General Bank Group, is a 29-year veteran of the company, and has been responsible for banks in four geographic regions, as well as corporate IT and Morgan Keegan. Release is here.

Regions' Morgan Keegan SEC warning

Regions revealed it's gotten an SEC Wells notice regarding threatened action in the wake of scores of investor lawsuits regarding Morgan Keegan's alleged role in the collapse of mutual funds. The CA reports.

Regions ups Healthcare banking ante

With an earlier bankerly quiet period apparently now ended, Regions Financial Corp. (NYSE: RF) formally announced Wednesday John Barton in Nashville will lead the bank's expanding healthcare practice. Barton was previously in a similar role with SunTrust. Word had leaked back in March. Earlier, Barton was with Third National and CRC Equities. Until recently, Fifth Third's Kevin Lavender (at left) has held virtually uncontested the most visible healthcare lending role in Nashville, and his bank has made a number of notable healthcare alliances and was an early supporter of the Medical Banking Project.