ROCKY MOUNT, N.C., Feb. 20 /PRNewswire/ -- Centura Banks Inc. (NYSE: CBC)
Chairman Cecil W. Sewell today named a leadership team that will "sharpen"
Centura's focus on becoming a higher-performing, broad-based financial
services company.  The organizational changes were approved yesterday by
Centura's board of directors.
    Sewell became chairman of the board and chief executive officer on
February 2 after the retirement of Robert R. Mauldin.  In making the changes,
Sewell emphasized that Centura remains committed to the vision and strategies
developed under Mauldin's leadership, which have set Centura on a path toward
becoming a retailer of financial services that provides access to a wide range
of financial services through almost any means available today.
    "During the past few years, we have made significant investments in
technology, new lines of business and new delivery systems, and this new
organization will help us accelerate the payoff of these investments," Sewell
said.  "We know where we want to go, everything is in place to get there, and
our priority this year is to sharpen the focus and execute on our strategies
to significantly improve efficiency and revenue growth."
    Centura's new leadership organization is flatter and more streamlined,
which Sewell said is important to remain closer to the customer and to be able
to act quickly on decision.  Sewell, 50, leads the team as chairman of the
board and chief executive officer of Centura Banks Inc. and Centura Bank.  He
retains the title of president.
    Rather than naming one person to manage day-to-day operations of the
company, Sewell has named a five-person team that will have far-reaching
authority to make and carry out decisions.  The team includes three vice
chairmen of subsidiary Centura Bank, which are new positions, a new chief
financial officer from outside Centura and a position with the new title of
chief knowledge officer.
    The newest member of the group is Steven J. Goldstein, the company's new
Chief Financial Officer, who will focus on improving efficiency, corporate
finance, funds management, and merger and acquisition analysis.  Goldstein,
45, joins Centura from the consulting group A.T. Kearney, a subsidiary of EDS,
where he worked with Centura for the past five months.  He was a Principal in
A.T. Kearney's Financial Institutions Group, specializing in finance, retail
banking, bank operations, mergers and acquisitions, strategic planning and
regulatory issues.  Goldstein previously served as an industry analyst with
The Robinson-Humphrey Co. and as deputy director of policy at the Federal Home
Loan Bank Board.  He has a Ph.D. in Finance, an M.B.A. and a B.B.A., all from
the University of Georgia.
    B. Thomas Rogers Jr. assumes the new title of Chief Knowledge Officer and
is responsible for keeping the company on the leading edge of technology.
Rogers, 45, leads Centura's information technology, operations and direct
delivery groups.  Rogers, who has led Centura's technology groups for several
years, previously held several positions in finance, strategic planning and
audit for Centura and predecessor Peoples Bank.  He holds a B.S. degree in
Economics from N.C. State University.
    Frank L. Pattillo, 54, is Vice Chairman of Centura Bank with
responsibility for most of the company's administrative functions, including
merger and acquisition planning, human resources, mortgage servicing, audit
and public policy.  Pattillo served as Centura's chief financial officer since
the company was formed in 1990 and previously served as chief financial
officer and president of The Planters Corporation, one of Centura's
predecessors.  He holds a B.S. degree in Business from Auburn University.
    William H. Wilkerson, 50, is Vice Chairman of Centura Bank with
responsibility for Credit Risk Management.  His duties include Credit Policy,
Credit Support, Loan Review, Problem Assets, Centura's Leasing division and
its CLG Leasing subsidiary, and the company's partnership with First
Greensboro Home Equity.  Wilkerson has held several positions with Centura
including overseeing Centura's entry into the securities, insurance, corporate
and investment banking businesses and the company's branch operations.  Prior
to 1990, he served as president of Peoples Bank.  Wilkerson holds an A.B.
degree in Economics from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
    H. Kel Landis III, 40, is Vice Chairman of Centura Bank with
responsibility for the newly formed Financial Services Group, which includes
sales, service, marketing and delivery for all Centura's business lines,
including banking, securities, insurance, trust, corporate and investment
banking, and in-store banking.  Previously, Landis handled market management
and service for Centura's banking business, led the company's transition to a
sales culture and its entry into supermarket banking.  Landis has a B.S.
degree in Business and an M.B.A. from the University of North Carolina at
Chapel Hill.
    Several other members of the Financial Services Group will be part of
Centura's Leadership Team and work closely with Sewell and the five leaders
who report to him.  They include Scott M. Custer, leader of the Market
Management and Service teams, Edward R. Hipp III, leader of the Securities and
Insurance teams; Robert E. James Jr., leader of the Market Planning and
Customer Development team; and Michael R. Hilton, leader of the Trust team.
    "I am confident in the ability of this team to successfully execute on the
strategies ahead of us," Sewell said.  "They will join with me and the entire
Centura team in continuing to innovate and create an exceptional financial
services company that will provide new value for customers and shareholders
now and in the 21st century."
    Sewell provides details on Centura's strategies and introduces the new
team in the company's 1996 Annual Report to Shareholders, which will be mailed
later this week.
    With assets of $6.3 billion, Centura provides a complete line of banking,
investment, insurance and trust services to individuals and businesses
throughout North Carolina.  Centura provides financial services through:
167 financial stores, including 14 supermarket financial stores; 265 ATMs,
including most N.C. Wal-Mart and Sam's stores; the Centura Highway direct
banking center; Quicken, QuickBooks and Microsoft Money software and America
Online.

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