CHARLOTTE – Wachovia Corp. (NYSE: WB) today reported net income of $1.73 billion, or $1.09 per share, in the first quarter of 2006, compared with $1.62 billion, or $1.01 per share, in the first quarter of 2005.

RALEIGH – Visitors to North Carolina spent $14.2 billion in 2005, which is an increase of 7.3 percent from 2004 and the largest single-year increase since 2000, according to Gov. Mike Easley.

RALEIGH – North Carolina’s Touchstone Energy cooperatives are helping to bring the wonder of books and libraries to thousands of Hispanic children by hosting Children’s Day/Book Day celebrations April 24-May 6.

SANFORD – The Pantry, Inc. (Nasdaq: PTRY), the leading independently operated convenience store chain in the southeastern U.S., today announced record financial results for its second fiscal quarter ended March 30.

CHARLOTTE – Two free workshops offering on-site small business loan applications and other small business information will take place in Siler City and Durham on Wednesday, May 3.

RALEIGH – Progress Energy (NYSE: PGN) has been recognized by North Carolina State University for its efforts to promote economic development and job creation in North Carolina.

HAMLET – Owens-Illinois, Inc. today announced a $10 million product line expansion at its Hamlet plant that will add 18-24 new jobs.

FAYETTEVILLE – Progressive State Bank shareholders have approved a merger with New Century Bank South, according to Bill Hedgepeth, president and chief executive of New Century Bank South.

RALEIGH – The Research Triangle Region of North Carolina’s diverse mix of 538 life sciences companies and nearly 29,000 employees make it one of the nation’s leading centers for life sciences, according to a new study released today at the Biotechnology Industry Organization annual meeting in Chicago.

ASHEBORO – FNB Corp. (Nasdaq: FNBN) and Integrity Financial Corporation (Nasdaq: IFCB) today announced the consummation of the merger of Integrity into FNB.

ASHEBORO – FNB Corp. (Nasdaq: FNBN), the holding company for First National Bank and Trust Company and Dover Mortgage Company, has announced its financial results for the first quarter of 2006.

RALEIGH – First Citizens BancShares Inc. (Nasdaq: FCNCA) reports earnings for the quarter ending March 31 of $28.7 million, compared to $25 million for the same period of 2005, an increase of 14.6 percent.

TROY – First Bank, the bank subsidiary of First Bancorp (Nasdaq: FBNC), and Bank of the Carolinas (Nasdaq: BCAR) jointly announce today the signing of a definitive agreement whereby First Bank will purchase the Bank of the Carolinas branch in Carthage.

ANGIER – First Bank announced today that its new branch in the Twin Oaks Shopping Center will open May 1.

CHAPEL HILL – Creating and maintaining a loyal base of customers is the key to success for many industry leaders like the Ritz Carlton, Nordstrom, Ben & Jerry's and Wachovia. Without great customer service any one of these companies could be forced into a price war with competitors as their services and products become viewed as standard commodities available through any company

CARY – The boards of directors of Crescent Financial Corporation (Nasdaq: CRFN) and Port City Capital Bank in Wilmington have announced that they have reached a definitive agreement whereby Port City Capital Bank will be acquired by Crescent Financial Corporation.

CARY – Crescent Financial Corporation (Nasdaq: CRFN), parent company of Crescent State Bank, today announced unaudited net income for the quarter ended March 31 of $982,000, a 53 percent increase over net income of $641,000 for the prior year quarter.

TROY – First Bancorp (Nasdaq: FBNC), the parent company of First Bank, has announced net income of $4,991,000, or 35 cents per diluted share, for the three months ended March 31, a 5.8 percent increase in net income and a 6.1 percent increase in diluted earnings per share from the net income of $4,716,000, or 33 cents per diluted share, reported for the first quarter of 2005.

DUNN – The South River Electric Membership Corporation Board of Directors has approved an increase in rates and charges that will take effect May 1.

RALEIGH – North Carolina’s National College Savings Program, the state of North Carolina-sponsored 529 college saving plan, has expanded its investment options to include funds from The Vanguard Group and has chosen Upromise Investments, Inc. as the program’s new recordkeeper and administrative services agent.

RALEIGH – Coastal Federal Credit Union, which has a branch in Sanford, has launched a new Student Banking program that is designed to meet the growing financial needs of teens and young adults, as well as provide them with resources to develop their money management skills.

RALEIGH – To help meet the needs of a growing number of its members looking for ways to combat rising costs of medical care, Coastal Federal Credit Union has added Health Savings Accounts into its product offering.

CHARLOTTE – The nation's largest wireless carrier continues to grow its North Carolina network. Cingular Wireless today said it recently added 10 new cell sites in the Greensboro area, and plans to turn on a total of 196 statewide before the end of the year. The company has added more than 200 new cell sites in the Carolinas in the last six months, enhancing wireless service for those who live, work and play in the region.

RALEIGH – Capital Bank Corporation (Nasdaq: CBKN), the parent company of Capital Bank, today reported that its first quarter 2006 net income increased 75 percent to $2.8 million, compared to $1.6 million for the first quarter of 2005.

MOCKSVILLE – Bank of the Carolinas (Nasdaq: BCAR) has reported financial results for the three months ended March 31 showing net income of $804,000, a 78.7 percent increase over the $450,000 reported in the first quarter of 2005.

PITTSBORO – Biolex Therapeutics today announced the expansion of its collaboration with Medarex, Inc., an antibody therapeutics company. The collaboration was initially formed in February of 2005 to create a commercial line for an undisclosed Medarex monoclonal antibody using the Biolex LEX System(SM). As a result of the successful achievement of the scientific goals for the first monoclonal antibody, the collaboration has been expanded to include commercial line creation for two additional Medarex antibodies.

ROCKINGHAM – The National Bikers Roundup held at Rockingham Dragway last August attracted more than 100,000 people over its six-day run and generated an economic impact of nearly $50 million in Richmond County and surrounding counties, according to the North Carolina Department of Commerce.

GREENSBORO – Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina will reward and recognize physicians who meet national quality of care standards under a pilot program to be launched in conjunction with the North Carolina State Health Plan.

FAYETTEVILLE – Advanced Internet Technologies has taken another step at battling click fraud through a partnership with Click Authority, a third-party click authentication service.

ABERDEEN – Faison Enterprises, Inc., a privately held development company based in Charlotte, today announced the sale of Aberdeen Commons Shopping Center for $21.6 million to Aberdeen Commons, LLC, which is based in Pinehurst.

MORRISVILLE –Fort Bragg Federal Credit Union has announced that it has begun providing its members, both deployed or on base, with secure access to financial information and online statements through its partnership with Active Data Services, Inc., a business process outsourcing firm and Digital Insight(R), the leading online banking provider.

RALEIGH – The North Carolina Technology Association announced today that it has named three NCTA members to the Management Committee of the Partnership for Defense Innovation, the nonprofit organization that is running the new Defense and Security Technology Accelerator in Fayetteville.