Regions Bank Demonstrates Increased Commitment to Small Business with New 'Biz Forward' Program

Throughout the month of April, Regions Bank (NYSE:RF) is focusing on small businesses and the important role they play in our communities and our economy through Regions’ new “Biz Forward” program.

“We know that small businesses create nearly 70 percent of the new jobs in our economy, and in my over 20 years working with small businesses I’ve seen first-hand the vital contributions they make in communities where we live and work, and the challenges they face to grow and maintain their companies,” said Joe DiNicolantonio, head of Regions’ new Business and Community Banking division. “Through this initiative we’re stepping up our efforts to give small business customers the recognition they deserve and the support they need to grow and prosper.”

As part of this program, Regions will host a Biz Forward webinar series during the month of April covering practical business topics such as SBA lending, fraud prevention, and tips for women-owned businesses. The webinars are available free of charge to small business owners and are hosted by expert Regions bankers. For more information on the webinars or to register, visit regions.com/bizforward. Dates and topics include:

• April 16, 11 a.m. CDT -- Understanding and stopping fraud … before it happens
• April 23, 11 a.m. CDT -- What you should know about the SBA
• April 25, 11 a.m. CDT -- Some advice for women-owned businesses

Throughout the month and beyond, bankers throughout the 16 states Regions Bank serves will also recognize small businesses contributing to the economic health and wellbeing of their communities. As part of Biz Forward, Regions will be offering several opportunities to honor small businesses and for owners to get timely advice and guidance, including:

• Visits from local Regions bankers to small business customers in their communities to say thank you and offer support.
• Profiles of select small business customers online at regions.com/bizforward.
• Regions online business resource center dedicated to providing tools, articles and banking solutions tailored to the needs of businesses at regions.com/small_business/business_center.rf.

For the second year, Regions is also celebrating the small businesses that are getting the wheels of commerce moving again through Regions’ small business success advertising campaign. Visit regions.com/success or the Regions YouTube Channel to see their stories.

“We recognize that small business owners wear many hats – including bookkeeper, chief marketing officer, human resource manager, and technology officer,” DiNicolantonio added. “Our goal every day is to be the type of partner who brings new ideas and better insight to our customers, something that, in the end, will help business be successful and move forward.”

About Regions Financial Corporation

Regions Financial Corporation (NYSE:RF), with $121 billion in assets, is a member of the S&P 500 Index and is one of the nation’s largest full-service providers of consumer and commercial banking, wealth management, mortgage, and insurance products and services. Regions serves customers in 16 states across the South, Midwest and Texas, and through its subsidiary, Regions Bank, operates approximately 1,700 banking offices and 2,000 ATMs. Additional information about Regions and its full line of products and services can be found at www.regions.com.