Regions Insurance Expands Employee Benefits Practice in Memphis

Regions Insurance Expands Employee Benefits Practice in Memphis

BIRMINGHAM, Ala.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Regions Insurance, an affiliate of Regions Bank, today announced the expansion of its employee benefits practice in Memphis. Effective January 1, 2013, Argyle Benefits Consultants, LLC, led by founding partner Philip Johnson, will join the Memphis office of Regions Insurance.

Philip Johnson, Regions Insurance (Photo: Business Wire)

"The principals at Argyle Benefits are some of Memphis' most well-known and respected employee benefits professionals," said Mark Forrester, CEO of Regions Insurance of Tennessee. "The foundation of their business has been built upon providing expert advice and counsel in a highly personalized manner, and that will not change. I am excited to have individuals of such high integrity associated with our team and serving our clients."

Argyle partners Tom Merriam and Chris Rogers, and their four experienced associates, will join Johnson as part of the expansion. This veteran team of agents and support professionals will continue their group employee benefits practice serving commercial clients, with a focus on benefit program assessment, creative plan design, program implementation and management.

"For more than 80 years Regions Insurance has provided employee benefit solutions to help our clients meet their business objectives," said Curren Coco, president and CEO of Regions Insurance Group. "We are pleased to expand our capabilities in Memphis with the addition of Argyle Partners. Argyle is a great example of our long-term commitment to the Tennessee market and its importance to continued expansion in the Southeast."

Johnson is a founding partner of Argyle Benefits with more than 30 years of insurance industry experience. He is a member of the International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans and the National Association of Health Underwriters and is the current president of the Mid South Association of Health Underwriters. He was appointed in 2011 to be a member of the Technical Advisory Group for the Tennessee Insurance Exchange Planning Initiative. He holds the Certified Employee Benefits Specialist and Chartered Life Underwriter professional designations. Johnson is a graduate of Baylor University.

Merriam has 30 years of experience in insurance and employee benefits consulting. He is former president of the Memphis chapter of the Society of Financial Service Professionals, and is a member of the National Association of Health Underwriters and the Association of Health Insurance Advisors. He holds a Chartered Life Underwriter professional designation. Merriam is a graduate of The University of Memphis.

Rogers, with 15 years of insurance experience, is a member of the National Association of Health Underwriters and is a 2011 graduate of the New Memphis Institute, formerly known as The Leadership Academy. He is actively involved in a number of Memphis community organizations, including teaching at Advance Memphis and serving on the development board for Church Health Center. Rogers is a graduate of the University of Mississippi.

This expansion is the second significant addition to Regions Insurance during the fourth quarter of 2012. Last month Regions Insurance opened its first office in Atlanta, Ga. serving clients throughout the state and adding ten associates with expertise in transportation, contracting and manufacturing, and employee benefits.

Regions Insurance, an affiliate of Regions Bank, is ranked among the top 25 U.S. insurance brokers and is the fifth largest insurance broker based in the Southeast. Regions Insurance offers comprehensive insurance solutions and risk management services for businesses and individuals through more than 500 insurance professionals located throughout the 16 states Regions serves. Additional information about Regions Insurance and its products and services may be found at www.regionsinsurance.com.

About Regions Financial Corporation

Regions Financial Corporation (NYS: RF) , with $122 billion in assets, is a member of the S&P 500 Index and is one of the nation's largest full-service providers of consumer and commercial banking, wealth management, mortgage, and insurance products and services. Regions serves customers in 16 states across the South, Midwest and Texas, and through its subsidiary, Regions Bank, operates approximately 1,700 banking offices and 2,100 ATMs. Additional information about Regions and its full line of products and services can be found at www.regions.com.

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Regions Financial Corporation
Evelyn Mitchell, 205-264-4551

KEYWORDS: United States North America Alabama Tennessee

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