CHARLOTTE – Wachovia Corp. (NYSE: WB) announced today that it is offering a free reporting service called Visa Information Source Select that will make it easier for business owners to monitor monthly business and employee expenditures.

CHARLOTTE – Wachovia Corporation (NYSE: WB) today announced the launch of Healthcare eBOX, a new treasury solution designed to speed up revenue cycles and reduce processing costs for health care providers.

SANFORD – The Pantry, Inc. (Nasdaq: PTRY), the leading independently operated convenience store chain in the southeastern U.S., today announced preliminary financial results for its first fiscal quarter ended Dec. 29.

ASHEBORO – Randolph Hospital and the Randolph Cancer Center have filed a Certificate of Need with the state for a new $7 million Cancer Center to be located on the hospital’s campus.

RALEIGH – Progress Energy (NYSE: PGN) announced today that its Progress Energy Carolinas subsidiary has selected its Harris Nuclear Plant site near New Hill in southwestern Wake County to evaluate for possible future nuclear generation expansion.

RALEIGH -- Progress Energy, for the second year in a row, has been named as one of America's best companies for developing and increasing multicultural business opportunities. Over 525,000 woman- and minority-owned businesses had the opportunity to vote in the 2005 online election to identify the best corporate and organizational buyers of products and services from diversity-owned businesses in the United States.

CHARLOTTE -- Piedmont Natural Gas (NYSE: PNY) and its Nashville Gas division customers should soon see some relief in their January natural gas bills. As a result of significant decreases in its wholesale cost of gas within the past week, Piedmont is working with the Utility Commissions in North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee to receive expedited approval to lower its rates for natural gas service, effective January 1.

SANFORD – The Pantry, Inc. (Nasdaq: PTRY), the leading independently operated convenience store chain in the southeastern U.S., today announced financial results for its first fiscal quarter ended Dec. 29.

ANN ARBOR, Mich.--Consumer satisfaction with virtually all of the top 40 retail websites has dropped over the holiday season according to an updated study done by ForeSee Results and FGI Research called the Top 40 Online Retail Satisfaction Index.

FAYETTEVILLE – New Century Bank of Fayetteville has changed its name to New Century Bank South.

DUNN – New Century Bancorp (Nasdaq: NCBC), the holding company for New Century Bank and New Century Bank South, reported net income for the year ended Dec. 31 of $3.6 million, compared to $2.1 million for the same period in 2004, an increase of 71 percent.

SANFORD – Kelly MarCom, an integrated marketing communications firm, announced today that it has signed NASCAR driver Kerry Earnhardt, eldest son of NASCAR legend Dale Earnhardt, to provide marketing and public relations services and to expand sponsorship and endorsement opportunities.

RALEIGH – North Carolina’s rapidly growing Hispanic population contributes more than $9 billion to the state’s economy through its purchases, taxes and labor, while costing the state budget a net $102 per Hispanic resident in health care, education and correctional services, according to a new study by researchers at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

SOUTHERN PINES – Elyse C. Hillegass, president and chief executive of the Moore County Chamber of Commerce since August 2003, has resigned to assume the same position at the Gaston Chamber of Commerce in Gastonia.

ASHEBORO – FNB Corp. (Nasdaq: FNBN), the holding company for First National Bank and Trust Company, Alamance Bank and Dover Mortgage Company, has announced its financial results for the fourth quarter of 2005.

TROY – First Bancorp (Nasdaq: FBNC), the parent company of First Bank, announced fourth quarter net income today of $5,431,000, or 38 cents per diluted share, for the three months ended Dec. 31, compared to net income of $5,311,000, or 37 cents per diluted share, for the fourth quarter of 2004.

TROY – First Bancorp (Nasdaq: FBNC), the parent company of First Bank, which does business in Virginia as “First Bank of Virginia,” announced today that it has reached a definitive agreement to purchase the First Citizens Bank branch in Dublin, Va.

RALEIGH – First Citizens BancShares Inc. (Nasdaq: FCNCA) reports earnings for the quarter ending Dec. 31 of $27.8 million, compared to $24.8 million for the corresponding period of 2004, an increase of 12.4 percent, according to Lewis R. Holding, chairman of the board.

CARY – Crescent Financial Corporation (Nasdaq: CRFN), parent company of Crescent State Bank, today announced unaudited net income for the year ended Dec. 31 of $3,144,000, a 35 percent increase over net income of $2,333,000 for the previous year.

ABERDEEN – Corneal Science Corporation, an ocular pharmaceutical company that focuses its products on the treatment of dry eye syndrome, announced today that it will be moving its manufacturing operations from South Dakota to a new plant in Aberdeen.

RALEIGH – Capital Bank Corporation (Nasdaq: CBKN), the parent company of Capital Bank, today reported that its annual 2005 earnings were a record $6.7 million, compared to $5.3 million for the year ended Dec. 31, 2004.

RALEIGH -- College financial aid officers will be available at 42 locations across North Carolina from 9 a.m. until noon (9:30 am until 3:00 pm in Charlotte only) on Saturday, February 18 to help students and families complete and submit their Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) forms.

SANFORD – Central Electric Membership Corporation is offering up to $6,000 in local scholarships to students in Chatham, Harnett, Lee and Moore counties.

RALEIGH -- Capital Bank Corporation (Nasdaq: CBKN), headquartered in Raleigh, N.C. and the parent company of Capital Bank, today announced that it has completed the acquisition of 1st State Bancorp, Inc. (Nasdaq: FSBC) headquartered in Burlington, N.C. and the parent company of 1st State Bank.

ORLANDO -- The home building market is expected to have lots of energy in 2006. A new survey of home builders (1), released by Lowe's at the 2006 International Builders' Show, demonstrates one of the biggest trends in home building is a strong focus on energy-efficient materials and products. In fact, nine out of ten builders surveyed say they are incorporating energy-saving products into new homes at all price levels.

MOCKSVILLE – Bank of the Carolinas (Nasdaq: BCAR), which has branches in Asheboro and Carthage in the Sandhills, reported financial results for the three months and year ended Dec. 31.

CHARLOTTE – Bank of America Corporation today reported that 2005 net income rose 19 percent to $16.89 billion from $14.14 billion a year earlier.

RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK -- The North Carolina Biotechnology Center has launched a program to match Biotechnology Center loans of up to $250,000 with "angel network" or venture capital investments to help bootstrap biotechnology companies in the state.

BUIES CREEK – BB&T has donated $700,000 to Campbell University to create scholarships for students interested in majoring in business, trust and investment management, law or those receiving a Master of Business Administration degree.

WINSTON-SALEM – BB&T Corporation (NYSE: BBT) reported today earnings for the fourth quarter and the full year 2005.

CHARLOTTE -- Bank of America Corporation completed its merger with MBNA Corporation, creating the largest credit card issuer in the United States as measured by balances.