Oct. 29--Regions Bank plans to close or consolidate 121 bank branches in 16 states in early 2010, but the cost-cutting move won't affect any offices in the Athens area, a company spokeswoman said Wednesday.

"There won't be any consolidation in Athens proper," said Regions Bank spokeswoman Evelyn Mitchell, who added that the closings won't affect any branches in nearby counties, either.

Regions Bank branches in Commerce, Jefferson, Madison and Winder will remain open. Employees at the branches that close will be relocated within the company, Mitchell said.

The bank will close branches in 16 Georgia cities but in many cases will consolidate those into nearby offices in the same markets, said Kelli Nix, North Georgia area marketing manager for Regions Bank.

"It's not that we're pulling out of these markets, it's just that we're making some efficiencies," Nix said.

For example, the company will close one of its Toccoa branches but relocate its staff and services to the bank's main branch in Toccoa. The Helen branch will close but be consolidated into the Cleveland branch, Nix said.

Regions Bank also will close branches in Augusta, Bainbridge, Calhoun, Columbus, Cornelia, Dillard, Evans, Gainesville, Hiram, Rome, Rutledge, Savannah, Thomson and Valdosta.

The company expects to realize net cost savings of $21 million annually through all 121 branch closings, which are expected to occur Jan. 29. The plans were announced in Regions' third-quarter earnings report.

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