VIRGINIA BEACH, Va., April 8 /PRNewswire/ -- Centura Bank (NYSE: CBC),
recognized as one of the nation's most innovative banks, is expanding for the
first time outside North Carolina by opening financial stores in five Hampton
Roads Hannaford supermarkets.
    Centura will open two supermarket financial stores in Virginia Beach and
one in Norfolk on April 12, with a third Virginia Beach location scheduled to
open April 26. Another Centura supermarket financial store will open in
Virginia Beach in September, and more are planned for 1998.
    The supermarket financial stores are part of the Rocky Mount, N.C.-based
financial company's initiative to make banking and money management services
more convenient for customers. All the stores will offer a full line of
financial services and staffed by employees with wide-ranging
responsibilities-from taking deposits, to making loans and opening new
accounts.
    Centura, whose marketing slogan is "The Money Managers," has drawn the
attention of national media and banking analysts for its vision and
initiative.  Analyst Tom Brown of Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette has noted that
Centura has helped spark "a dramatic change in the way in which banks
operate."  Fortune magazine has reported that: "What was a traditional bank
now competes toe to toe with Tar Heel giants..."
    Centura is organized as a retailer of financial services offering
traditional banking services, insurance, securities and mutual funds and more.
The company has invested millions in technology in recent years to gain a
sophisticated understanding of its clients as individuals so it can better
meet unique needs and offer a wide range of services to clients wherever and
whenever they want them.
    Centura was the first bank in the Carolinas and one of a handful in the
country to offer online banking through Quicken and Microsoft Money software
in 1995 and recently introduced online banking and bill payment for small
businesses through QuickBooks software.  Last fall, Centura introduced a new
line of checking accounts that enable customers to lower or even eliminate
monthly fees by choosing the services they want. Centura offers 24-hour
telephone banking through its Centura Highway phone center, a VISA check card
called Pocket Check and credit cards offering cash back on purchases or
free tickets on any airline of your choice.
    Already the leading bank in Northeastern North Carolina markets such as
the Outer Banks, Centura officials say that the Hampton Roads region's vibrant
and diverse economy and growing population make it an ideal place to do
business.
    "The demographics and economy of the area make it one of the most
attractive markets we could enter anywhere, much less right next door," said
Cecil W. Sewell, Centura's chairman and chief executive officer.  "We look
forward to offering more valuable ways for customers to manage their money in
Norfolk and Virginia Beach and being an important part of this community."
    Centura is scheduled to open 28 full-service financial stores in Hannaford
Supermarkets in North Carolina and Virginia by the end of 1998.  Centura
expects to have a total of 24 supermarket or superstore financial stores by
the end of this year -- including locations in a Harris-Teeter supermarket,
Wal-Mart and K-mart -- to provide more convenience for its clients.
    All of Centura's supermarket financial stores will feature ATM machines,
private areas for consultations, telephones linked to Centura Highway, the
company's telephone banking center, and a demonstration area for Centura's
Online Money Management services.  The ATM and Centura Highway phone will be
available whenever Hannaford is open;  the stores will be staffed by Centura
employees 10 a.m. - 8 p.m. Mon. - Sat. and noon - 6 p.m. on Sunday.
    With assets of $6.4 billion, Centura provides a complete line of banking,
investment, insurance and trust services to individuals and businesses
throughout North Carolina.  It provides services through: 169 financial
stores, including 15 supermarkets; more than 265 ATMs, including most N.C.
Wal-Mart and Sam's stores; the Centura Highway telephone banking center;
Quicken, QuickBooks and Microsoft Money software and America Online.

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