Steven Deaton Appointed Atlanta Area President for State Bank and Trust Company

State Bank and Trust Company today announced that it has named banking executive Steven G. Deaton as Atlanta President, reporting to Joe Evans, State Bank's chairman and CEO. Mr. Deaton will be located at State Bank's Alpharetta office.

"Steve is an excellent banker and leader with an appreciation for great customer service. His business sense and values are consistent with State Bank's mission to be the best bank in Georgia and one of the best in the country," Mr. Evans said.

Mr. Deaton has a wide range of experience in his more than 20 years in Georgia banking. Most recently, he served as Georgia President of Business Banking for RBC after its acquisition of Flag Financial Corp. At Flag, Mr. Deaton was Atlanta President and Executive Vice President, overseeing all banking divisions including retail, commercial, private banking and SBA divisions. Mr. Deaton is a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Mr. Deaton joins State Bank as the organization continues to integrate the offices and operations of the former Security Banks. In July, 2009, State Bank acquired assets and deposits of the six community banks operated by Security Bank Corp. With a capital infusion of nearly $300 million, State Bank is one of the best capitalized banks in Georgia and the United States.

As of October 1, State Bank's Atlanta banking operations will consolidate into its Alpharetta location, and the bank is planning a second location in Buckhead in the near future.

"We envision an Atlanta strategy based on a few, large, well-located branches that will effectively utilize people and technology to significantly expand our service area. This is our first step in that direction. We remain firmly committed to growing our presence in Atlanta, and the addition of Steve Deaton is an important part of our plan," Mr. Evans said.

About State Bank and Trust Company

On July 24, 2009, State Bank and Trust Company, led by bank executive Joe Evans, acquired assets and deposits of the six community banks operated by Security Bank Corp. in a transaction facilitated by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC). State Bank raised approximately $300 million in capital to support the acquisition.

Evans, State Bank's Chairman and CEO, is the former CEO of Flag Financial Corp., Century South Banks, and Bank Corporation of Georgia. His banking career spans over 30 years serving communities in Middle and North Georgia. Evans has partnered with Dan Speight and Kim Childers, both of whom were previously senior executives with Flag Financial. Speight serves as State Bank's Vice-Chairman and COO; and Childers is State Bank's President and Chief Credit Officer.