Morgan Keegan is Again Top Ranked Municipal Bond Underwriter in Six-State Region That Includes Arkansas

Business Wire, Jan 8, 2008

MEMPHIS, Tenn. -- Morgan Keegan & Company, Inc. was the leading underwriter in 2007 of municipal bond issues in the South Central Region of the United States, a six-state area that includes Arkansas, according to Thomson Financial, one of the nation's leading municipal bond information services.

For the 15th consecutive year, Morgan Keegan retained the designation of top municipal bond underwriter in the South Central United States, a region comprised of Arkansas, Kentucky, Tennessee, Mississippi, Alabama and Louisiana. Morgan Keegan senior managed 224 issues with a par value of $4.1 billion. The number of issues managed is more than that of all other Arkansas firms combined.

"Morgan Keegan's underwriting success in the region would not have been possible without the strong support of bond issuers in Arkansas," said Robert A. Baird, an executive managing director of Morgan Keegan and head of the firm's fixed income banking division. "Along with our parent company Regions Financial Corporation, we are committed to providing the best financial solutions for Arkansas-based issuers."

In Arkansas, Morgan Keegan senior managed 27 issues throughout 14 counties in 2007 with a par amount of $318 million, including significant issues for the State of Arkansas and the City of Little Rock. For Arkansas infrastructure-related projects specifically, the firm is the leading municipal bond underwriter, serving as senior manager for nine issues with a par amount of $187 million.

"The state is committed to providing a structurally sound and properly maintained infrastructure for its citizens, a vital requirement for our economic growth," said Jim Fowler, a managing director at Morgan Keegan and manager of the firm's public finance offices in Little Rock and Fayetteville. "We are proud to work with issuers on many important projects in 2007, and we value the strong and enduring relationships established with our clients throughout the state."

Issues managed in 2007 include sewer construction and capital improvement bonds for the City of Little Rock, higher education bonds for the State of Arkansas, revenue refunding bonds for Baxter County Hospital, Van Buren waterworks and sewer bonds, and issues for the Cities of Rogers, Booneville, Waldron and Texarkana. Also in 2007, Morgan Keegan structured the first of its kind healthcare financing for Booneville Community Hospital.

Nationally, Morgan Keegan is the 11th largest underwriter in the country for 2007. The firm served as book-running manager on 556 issues with a par amount of $11 billion.

About Morgan Keegan & Company, Inc.

Morgan Keegan, one of the nation's largest regional full-service brokerage and investment banking firms, is the securities brokerage subsidiary of Regions Financial Corporation (NYSE: RF). Headquartered in Memphis, Tennessee, Morgan Keegan has over 4,000 employees providing services in some 400 offices. More than 170 investment banking professionals provide services to multiple industries through 24 banking offices in 14states. Additional information about Morgan Keegan is available at www.morgankeegan.com.

About Regions Financial Corporation

Regions Financial Corporation is a member of the S&P 100 Index and Forbes Magazine's "Platinum 400" list of America's best big companies. With $138 billion in assets, Regions is one of the nation's largest full-service providers of consumer and commercial banking, trust, securities brokerage, 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 2,000 banking offices and nearly 2,600 ATMs. Its investment and securities brokerage, trust and asset management division, Morgan Keegan & Company Inc., provides services from over 400 offices. Additional information about Regions and its full line of products and services can be found at www.regions.com.