First International Exchange Group history

In 1995, BB&T and Winston-Salem-based Southern National Corporation, the state’s fifth largest bank-holding company, completed a “merger of equals,” resulting in 437 branches in 220 cities in the Carolinas and Virginia, all carrying the BB&T name.

In 1997, BB&T purchased Fidelity Federal Bankshares of Richmond, Va., and Virginia First Financial of Petersburg, Va.

In 1998, BB&T acquired Maryland Federal Bancorp of Hyattsville, Md., and Franklin Bancorporation of Washington, D.C., giving BB&T its first entry into the Maryland and metropolitan-D.C. markets.

In 1999, BB&T completed the acquisition of MainStreet Financial Corp. of Martinsville, Va.; First Citizens Corp. of Newnan, Ga.; Mason-Dixon Bancshares of Westminster, Md.; Matewan Bancshares of Williamson, W.Va.; and First Liberty of Macon, Ga.

In 2001, BB&T completed its acquisitions of FCNB Corp. of Frederick, Md., and FirstSpartan Financial Corp. of Spartanburg, S.C. (both were completed in March). The acquisitions of Century South Banks of Alpharetta, Ga., and Virginia Capital Bancshares of Fredericksburg, Va., were completed in June.

In September 2002, BB&T completed its acquisition of Regional Financial Corporation (First South Bank) of Tallahassee, Fla.

In July 2003, BB&T completed the acquisition of First Virginia Banks Inc. of Falls Church, Va.

BB&T completed the acquisition of Republic Bancshares Inc. of St Petersburg, Fla., in April 2004.

In 2006, BB&T completed the acquisitions of Main Street Banks Inc. of Atlanta, Ga., and First Citizens Bancorp of Cleveland, Tenn.

BB&T completed the acquisition of Coastal Financial Corporation of Myrtle Beach, S.C., in 2007.