ASHEBORO – In a move to grow its footprint, satisfy customer demand, and raise awareness of its banking philosophy in the Piedmont Triad, First National Bank and Trust Co. (Nasdaq:FNBN) has filed an application with the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency to open the bank’s newest community office here.

FAYETTEVILLE – Despite the fact that the Nielsen Station Index does not take the language of viewers into consideration in the Raleigh-Durham-Fayetteville market, six-month-old WUVC-TV achieved impressive November 2003 Sweeps results, tying with only one other station for the No. 1 spot among men 18-34 in prime time with a 3.0 rating.

CHARLOTTE – Wachovia Corp. (NYSE: WB) reported 2003 earnings of $4.3 billion, or $3.18 per share, up 20 percent from 2002 earnings.

TRINITY – U.S. Rep. Howard Coble on Tuesday will present Trinity Furniture with an Export Achievement Award from the U.S. Department of Commerce, the Randolph County Economic Development Corporation announced today.

FAYETTEVILLE – Total Billings Inc. has successfully completed the City of Baltimore’s Parking Amnesty Notice Program, delivering more than 197,000 delinquent parking notices in both a printed and digital format.

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – International Speedway Corp. (Nasdaq: ISCA), the owner of North Carolina Speedway in Rockingham, reported 2003 earnings of $105.4 million, or $1.98 per share, on $575.7 million in revenue. Those results were up from a $411 million loss on $550.6 million in revenue during 2002.

CHARLOTTE – The U.S. Small Business Administration has assigned Ivan Hankins as its representative for the Triangle and northeast North Carolina, including Chatham, Lee and Harnett counties.

CHARLOTTE – The U.S. Small Business Administration has approved Omni National Bank as an additional Preferred Lender in the state of North Carolina.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Small Business Administration reopened its 7(a) loan program today with an additional $470 million in lending authority and a loan cap of $750,000 per loan recipient.

LILLINGTON – Saab Barracuda has been awarded a five-year, $240 million defense contract to make a camouflage material the company manufactures exclusively for the U.S. military in Harnett County.

RAMSEUR – Ramseur Interlock, which makes knitted jersey collars and cuffs, will close its manufacturing plant on Jan. 31, putting 86 people out of work.

RALEIGH – Progress Energy (NYSE: PGN), which provides electricity to much of the Sandhills, reported 2003 earnings of $782 million, or $3.30 per share, on $8.73 billion in revenue, up from $528 million in earnings on $8.08 billion in revenue during 2002.

SANFORD – The Pantry, Inc. (NASDAQ: PTRY), the leading independently operated convenience store chain in the southeastern United States, today announced the pricing of the public offering of 5,000,000 shares of its common stock at $20 per share.

SANFORD – The Pantry, Inc. (NASDAQ: PTRY), the leading independently operated convenience store chain in the southeastern United States, today announced financial results for its first fiscal quarter ended Dec. 25, 2003.

ROCKINGHAM – North Carolina business and community leaders will lobby Congress next month to continue funding the Interstate 73/74 corridor through the state before federal authorization for the proposed highways runs out.

ASHEBORO – FNB Corp. Chairman and President Michael C. Miller will speak on Tuesday, Feb. 3, at the 2004 Super Community Bank Conference in Atlanta. He will be assisted by FNB Chief Financial Officer Jerry A. Little.

ASHEBORO – FNB Corp. (Nasdaq: FNBN), the holding company for First National Bank and Trust Co., Rowan Bank and Dover Mortgage Co., reported 2003 earnings of $8.4 million, or $1.43 a share, up from $8.2 million in 2002.

RALEIGH – First Citizens BancShares Inc. (Nasdaq: FCNCA) reported 2003 earnings of $75.2 million, or $7.19 per share, down 19 percent from the $92.8 million earned in 2002.

TROY – First Bancorp (Nasdaq: FBNC), the parent company of First Bank, reported 2003 earnings of $19.4 million, or $2.03 per share, a record for the bank and a 13 percent increase from the $17.2 million earned in 2002.

PINEHURST – Cyberlux Corp. (OTC: CYBL), a developer and manufacturer of diodal lighting products, has consolidated administrative offices from Pinehurst, Atlanta, Albuquerque, N.M., and Marietta, Ohio, to a new headquarters in Durham.

CARY – Crescent Financial Corp. (Nasdaq: CRFN), parent company of Crescent State Bank, reported 2003 earnings of $1.7 million, or 61 cents per share, a 35 percent increase over 2002 earnings of $1.2 million.

PINEHURST – Patrick A. Corso, who repositioned Pinehurst Resort as a leader in the golf and hospitality industries in his 17 years at the helm, has resigned his position as president and chief executive.

RALEIGH – Progress Energy (NYSE: PGN), which provides electricity to much of the Sandhills, today announced that William Cavanaugh, chairman and chief executive, will retire as CEO on March 1.

CHARLOTTE – Bank of America Corp. (NYSE: BAC) reported 2003 earnings of $10.81 billion, or $7.13 per share, up 17 percent from the $9.25 billion the bank earned in 2002.

WINSTON-SALEM – For the fourth time in the past six years, BB&T Corp. (NYSE: BBT) is the nation’s most “small-business friendly” financial holding company, according to the U.S. Small Business Administration.

WINSTON-SALEM – BB&T Corp. (NYSE: BBT) reported 2003 earnings of $1.06 billion, or $2.07 per share, down 18 percent from $1.3 billion, or $2.70 per share, in earnings during 2002.

FAYETTEVILLE – Advanced Internet Technologies has purchased the web design and web hosting portion of Core Computer Technologies in a transaction that also includes a partnership between the Fayetteville companies.

ASHEBORO – Acme-McCrary Corp. has reached an agreement to purchase U.S. hosiery production assets from Phantom USA Inc. The acquisition is expected to close on Jan. 31. Terms weren’t disclosed.