Alabama

Regions Financial in Birmingham, Ala., has offered to repurchase up to $750 million of its outstanding senior debt.

Regions Financial has a new chief executive for its insurance business.

Panic around energy lending has subsided somewhat as oil prices have climbed and banks have reduced their overall exposure. But expect more trouble ahead if prices level off.

Surging revenue from consumer lending, including auto loans and mortgages, offset credit problems from the energy sector in the second-quarter results of Regions Financial in Birmingham, Ala.

The $126 billion-asset holding company for Regions Bank said Jeremy King, who had been support manager for private wealth, is now executive vice president of wealth management strategy and effectiveness for Regions Wealth Management.

After years of bulking up on shared national credits, a number of regional banks are cutting back because of the heartburn from problem oil and gas loans. A few lenders are refusing to budge, but many will have no choice if they want to dilute the energy risk on their books.

Southern Banc in Gadsden, Ala., said it could report a loss for its fiscal year after recording a charge tied to a bad loan.

Regions Financial in Birmingham has restructured its small and middle-market banking business, and tapped Bill Horton – a 42-year veteran of the company – to oversee the division.

An executive from Regions Financial said recently that his bank plans to pad fee income by expanding into syndication of low-income housing credits. The comment shed light on an increasingly competitive business — and reminded the world again how eager banks are for even incremental boosts to revenue.

Nonperforming commercial-and-industrial loans are soaring, and loans to farmers and construction firms — not just oil and gas companies — are a big reason.