Regions Bank 2015 Annual Report Download - page 12

Among our franchise’s positive attributes: 41percent
of all new jobs created in the U.S. since 2009 were
within our footprint, and the region is a strong
performer in automotive and non-durable goods
manufacturing and in overseas trade. Many of our
metropolitan areas have population growth rates
well above the national average. We are committed
to providing great customer service and being a
strong community partner wherever we operate.
But we have also placed special emphasis on select
markets with strong, attractive growth profiles, and
we are devoting talent and resources to strengthen
our presence there.
In Atlanta, GA, Regions executive vice president and
commercial banking executive David Smith leverages
more than 25 years of banking experience on behalf
of middle-market clients in, and near, America’s
ninth-largest metropolitan area. He sees a host of
compelling qualities in Atlanta, which Regions has
identified as a priority market. Economic growth is
underpinned by the world’s busiest airport, the port
of Savannah which is America’s second-busiest U.S.
container exporter, and a diverse, entrepreneurial
business culture. David sees manufacturing on the
upswing, which, he notes, “is a positive for us, since
manufacturing companies tend to be asset-intensive
and need access to capital.”
David and the team in Atlanta meet the needs of
clients across an array of sectors, from healthcare,
insurance and major restaurant chains to poultry
processing and recreation services. He describes the
Atlanta team as “a collaborative, high-performing
team that executes well year in and year out. We
focus on having skilled bankers that bring added
value to the table. We are fortunate to have a lot
of continuity with the bankers on our team. Our
approach to earning new business is it’s a marathon,
not a sprint. You hardly ever win something quickly,
so it takes a lot of tenacity, staying in front of prospects
quarterly, bringing ideas to the table, and thinking
outside the normal bounds of what a bank offers.”
David is selective when recruiting new bankers and
has implemented innovative programs to develop
those who join the group. Several have been selected to
undergo a management consulting program designed
by Vanderbilt University that teaches bankers to think
like a CEO, honing skills to develop a keener under-
standing of the challenges these clients face running
their companies.
While he expects Atlanta’s overall economic growth
to be muted, David sees significant opportunity for
Regions associated with Mergers and acquisitions
(M&A) activity in the middle-market sector. “There
is a lot of money in motion – companies buying other
companies – and that is facilitating future growth.
With the experienced team we have in place, and our
Regions360SM strategy to match solutions with client
needs, we’re well-positioned for the future.”
Some 250 miles Northeast up I-85 in Charlotte, Regions
Corporate Banker Juan Cazorla has a front-row seat
to the dynamic opportunities in that city and across
North Carolina. “There is a tremendous pool of human
capital here, with a well-educated workforce, excellent
colleges and universities, as well as a great quality of
life,” notes Juan. “What we have seen post-recession is
the economy is much more diverse. There have been
a significant number of corporate headquarters that
have relocated here from the Northeast, and that’s
been exciting to witness.” The market is attracting a
growing number of businesses in which intellectual
capital is at a premium, including legal and consulting
services, biotechnology and healthcare.
Charlotte is also the nation’s second-
largest banking center outside New
York, and that makes the competitive
landscape fiercely competitive. For
Juan, the key to Regions’ success is
found in leveraging the advantages
of Regions360SM, creating a holistic
solution that aligns with unique
customer needs. Another differen-
tiator: offering a level of customer
responsiveness that is unmatched by
competitors. “In Charlotte and the
mid-Atlantic we are often not the best
known bank, so it’s fun to tell the
Right Time, Right Place (continued)
Skyview Ferris Wheel, Atlanta, GA
Regions 2015 Annual Review12 Perspective Regions
We bring the same capabilities that a lot of our
larger competitors can bring, but we bring it in
a manner that’s congruent with our culture and
it’s resonating with customers.”
“