Mar. 15--John Allison, chairman and CEO of Banking Branch & Trust, is to speak about the economic crisis Wednesday at Fayetteville State University.

He is likely to receive quite a warm welcome. After all, BB&T last year committed to give a $1.03 million gift to FSU -- the largest corporate donation in the university's history. The money will benefit FSU's business school, in combination with $1 million in the Lloyd V. Hackley Endowed Chair for the study of capitalism.

The donation by Winston-Salem-based BB&T enables FSU to create a lecture series and an institute bearing BB&T's name. An awards program for bankers and a journal focusing on free enterprise and entrepreneurship will be created. The school also wants to purchase the Stock Market Game, an interactive tool that teaches students how the market works.

Allison will attend an invitation-only luncheon followed by a public lecture at 1:30 p.m. on principled leadership in Shaw Auditorium. For info, call (404) 441-7881.

Positive projections?

Might we expect to hear some good news from Allison?

It would follow a week of rather surprising revelations from some of the nation's largest (and troubled) banks. We heard that Citigroup was profitable through the first two months of '09, and it's having its best quarter since summer 2007.

Then we heard encouraging comments from Bank of America CEO Ken Lewis, who said his Charlotte-based bank was profitable in January and February.

Still, Citigroup shares traded less than $2 Friday, while BoA traded about $6. Meanwhile, BB&T was trading about $18.

But there could be some bad news for regional banks such as BB&T this year. Moody's Investors Service said last week it expects the financial strength of 23 regional banks to be hurt by sharp declines in commercial real estate prices and continued poor residential loan performance, The Associated Press reported. Moody's is reviewing the banks for possible downgrade.

Losses are expected to accelerate for regional banks with significant risk concentrations in commercial real estate, specifically construction and land development, the AP report.

According to the Treasury Department, here are the N.C.-based banks that have received government money as of Tuesday:

--Bank of America, Charlotte: $25B

--BB&T, Winston-Salem: $3.1B

--First Bancorp, Troy: $65M

--NewBridge Bancorp, Greensboro: $52.4M

--FNB United, Asheboro: $51.5M

--Southern Community Financial, Winston-Salem: $42.8M

--Capital Bank Corp., Raleigh: $41.3M

--Yadkin Valley Financial, Elkin: $36M

--Bank of N.C., Thomasville: $31.3M

--Peoples Bancorp, Newton: $25M

--Crescent Financial, Cary: $24.9M

--ECB Bancorp, Engelhard: $17.9M

--F&M Financial, Salisbury: $17M

--1st FS, Hendersonville: $16.4M

--Capital Bank Holdings, Greensboro: $16M

--Uwharrie Capital, Albemarle: $10M

--Oak Ridge Financial, Oak Ridge: $7.7M

--The Little Bank, Kinston: $7.5M

--Carolina Trust, Lincolnton: $4M

--AB&T Financial, Gastonia: $3.5M

--Sound Banking, Morehead City: $3.1M

--Bank of Commerce, Charlotte: $3M

--Surrey Bancorp, Mount Airy: $2M

Got a tip for Biz Buzz? Call 486-3551 or send an e-mail to business@fayobserver.com.

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