Centura Buys 49% of 11-State Home Equity Lender

Centura Banks Inc. said it has completed its purchase of a 49% stake in First Greensboro Home Equity Corp.

First Greensboro is a privately owned company specializing in alternative equity lending for homeowners and creative financing for homebuyers. It originates, purchases, and sells residential home equity loans secured primarily by first liens. Its clients are people whose borrowing needs are generally not met by traditional financial institutions, Centura said.

Neither party disclosed terms of the deal, which was first announced in June.

Centura said the investment is expected to be accretive to earnings in the first year.

First Greensboro has 32 offices in 11 states. The company plans to open four more offices by the end of 1996.

Centura has assets of $5.9 billion, 158 branches, and 230 ATMs in North Carolina.

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