Go-Ahead for So. National-United Carolina Deal

The Justice Department approved Tuesday the merger of Southern National Corp. and United Carolina Bancshares, provided that the banks sell 20 branches.

Southern National, based in Winston-Salem, N.C., will sell 15 branches and Whiteville, N.C.-based United Carolina agreed to sell five branches in order to preserve competition in the state, according to the Justice Department.

These branches hold about $488 million of deposits.

The banks also agreed that for one year they will not block other financial institutions from leasing or buying any bank branches that they close after the merger.

The proposed merger still must be approved by the Federal Reserve Board. Southern National has 425 branches and $21.2 billion of assets, and United Carolina has 153 branches and $4.5 billion of assets.

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