In Brief: Flag of Georgia Buying Branch, Deposits

Flag Financial Corp. of Lagrange, Ga., said it has a deal to buy a branch from First Georgia Bank, Brunswick.

The price was not undisclosed. The deal, which is expected to close early next year, includes $9 million of deposits but no loans.

The branch, in the town of Blackshear, would be taken over by Empire Banking Co. of Homerville, which Flag expects to buy this quarter.

J. Daniel Speight Jr., Flag's president and chief executive officer, said the branch would enhance Flag's presence in southeastern Georgia and the deposits "will provide a stable source of funds to support our lending activities."

Flag owns three banks, which have $443 million of assets and 19 branches. It is buying two other Georgia banks in addition to Empire. The pending deals would bring Flag's assets to $570 million.

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