Regions Bank announced it has formed a technology & defense banking group and named David Sozio to lead this effort. Under Sozio’s leadership Regions will provide a full range of banking capabilities to technology and defense companies with an emphasis on advisory services, syndicated financing, and debt capital for growth and merger and acquisition activities. Sozio will be based in Charlotte, N.C.

Since 2008 Regions has expanded its focus on specialty banking groups, including transportation, franchise restaurant, energy, and healthcare. The formation of the technology & defense banking group builds upon Regions’ strong expertise serving specialized industries and complements the robust investment banking and advisory services provided through Morgan Keegan & Company, the securities brokerage and investment banking arm of Regions Financial Corporation.

Sozio’s 25-year tenure in financial services includes broad management and advisory experience in both the technology and defense industry sectors. Sozio spent twelve years at Wachovia Securities and its predecessor, First Union Securities, where he established and built First Union/Wachovia’s defense and government services corporate finance practice and later led Wachovia’s technology and services debt capital markets team, which focused on providing syndicated loan and bond financings for corporate and private equity backed issuers. Prior to joining legacy First Union Securities, Sozio spent ten years in the corporate banking group at NationsBank and its predecessors.

“Both technology and defense are strategically important domestic industries and companies in these sectors require financial products, services and expertise tailored to their specific needs in order to be successful,” said Sam Tortorici, head of commercial & industrial banking. “Importantly, many of these companies are Regions clients today. Under Dave’s leadership, we are well-positioned to meet the needs of growing companies in the technology and defense industries and I’m pleased to have an individual of his experience and reputation leading this important new banking group.”