Georgia Issues Lead Morgan Keegan to Top Underwriter Ranking in Southeast United States.

MEMPHIS, Tenn. -- Morgan Keegan and Company, Inc. was among the leading underwriters of municipal bond issues in Georgia and the top underwriter, in terms of number of issues, in the Southeast United States in 2005, according to Thomas Financial, one of the nation's leading municipal bond information services.

Morgan Keegan was the second ranked underwriter in Georgia, in terms of number of issues, with 24 senior managed issues totaling over $634 million. Among the issues managed by Morgan Keegan last year were general obligation bonds for Houston County School District, Habersham County School District, College Park Business and Industrial Development Authority, Smyrna Downtown Development Authority and Barrow County. In addition, the firm senior managed revenue bonds for Clayton County, Clayton County Water Authority, Henry County, and Henry County Water and Sewerage Authority.

In terms of number of issues, Morgan Keegan's Georgia issues contributed significantly to the firm's designation of top municipal bond underwriter in the Southeast region of the country. The firm was senior manager of 263 issues with a par value of $5 billion. The Southeast region is a ten-state area that includes Georgia.

Additionally, Morgan Keegan was one of the largest lead underwriters in the country for the year, ranking eleventh nationally. The firm served as book-running manager on 466 issues totaling over $8.8 billion in aggregate par value.

"Providing quality investment banking services to municipal issuers in Georgia is a primary focus for our firm," said Robert A. Baird, executive managing director at Morgan Keegan and head of the firm's Fixed Income Banking Group. "Our bankers have established strong and enduring relationships with clients throughout the state, and we are pleased that our extensive resources and experience continue to produce results that exceed our clients' expectations. Our goal is to be the first choice for all prospective issuers."

Headquartered in Memphis, Tenn., Morgan Keegan has 3,400 employees in 280 offices throughout 18 states. Morgan Keegan's staff of more than 100 public finance bankers provides underwriting through 20 banking offices in 13 states. The banking division is active in a wide variety of financings including higher and secondary education, state and local government, multi- and single-family housing, health care, airports, taxable banking issues and credit tenant leases.

About Morgan Keegan & Company Inc.

Morgan Keegan and Company Inc., one of the largest full-service brokerage and investment banking firms in the South, is the securities brokerage arm of Regions Financial Corporation (NYSE: RF). Regions Bank has 1,400 branches in 18 states. Additional information about Morgan Keegan and Regions - a member of both the Forbes and Fortune 500 and one of the nation's top 15 financial services providers - can be found at www.morgankeegan.com and www.regions.com.