Regional presidents named for Truist bank merger

The merger between two of the largest banks in the country, one with a significant Pennsylvania presence, has been finalized and is now taking shape with a new headquarters and new regional presidents.

BB&T and Atlanta-based SunTrust are now Truist Financial Corp., which will be headquartered in Charlotte. BB&T entered Central Pennsylvania in 2015 when it acquired Lititz-based Susquehanna Bank and went on to acquire other local entities, including Allentown-based National Penn in 2016.

With the merger approved last month, 24 regional presidents were recently named who will handle its community-banking model. Officials said each regional president’s advisory teams will include experts in industry vertical integration, specialty products and strategic advisory solutions in business banking, commercial banking, middle-market banking, non-profit and government banking and regional commercial real estate.

Alex Brame will serve as the Central Pennsylvania regional president based in Lancaster. Brame joined BB&T in 2006 after completing its management development program, going on to serve as a business services officer in Newport News, Va. and market president of the Virginia Peninsula before relocating to Lancaster in 2016 to serve as market president for Lancaster and Lebanon counties. He has a financial management degree from Clemson University and a graduates degree in banking from the Wharton School at University of Pennsylvania

Travis Rhodes will be the Delaware Valley and Lehigh Valley regional president based in King of Prussia. Rhodes has more than 24 years of banking experience, joining BB&T in 1999 as a financial center leader and was named the Delaware Valley/Lehigh Valley regional president in 2018. He has a business administration degree from Appalachian State University and graduated from the LSU Graduate School of Banking.

“Our ability to leverage our unique Community Banking model with its decentralized, regional structure combined with deep industry and banking expertise immediately sets Truist apart from our larger competitors and allows us to operate on a more personal level with individual and business clients, providing them with the kind of attention they expect from a hometown bank,” said David H. Weaver, Truist’s commercial community bank executive. “It also empowers our regional presidents with the authority, delivery and decision making they need to remain close to our clients along with highly visible and engaged leadership in our communities. Most importantly, it enables us to continue building long-term relationships of trust with our clients, based on fairness, transparency and respect.”