CHARLOTTE – Wachovia’s online customers now have even more protection from identity thieves and online criminals. The company has introduced Wachovia Security Plus, a new enhanced suite of security measures, to toughen Wachovia’s already-strong security measures in the fight against online theft and fraud.

CHARLOTTE – Wachovia Corp. (NYSE: WB) has reported net income of $2.3 billion, or $1.20 per share, in the fourth quarter of 2006, compared with $1.71 billion, or $1.09 per share, in the fourth quarter of 2005.

ASHEBORO – A grant of $244,200 for state-of-the-art machining simulation training equipment has been awarded to Randolph Community College by the Duke Energy Carolinas’ Community College Grant Program, which is managed by the Foundation For The Carolinas.

RALEIGH – North Carolina’s Touchstone Energy cooperatives are giving deserving students the opportunity to attend two renowned N.C. basketball camps again in 2007.

SANFORD – The Pantry, Inc. (Nasdaq:PTRY), the leading independently operated convenience store chain in the southeastern U.S., today announced that, following months of negotiations, it has signed a definitive agreement to acquire 66 Petro Express convenience stores in the Carolinas from Petro Express, Inc.

RALEIGH – Local taxes and fees in Fayetteville totaled about $1,454 per resident in 2005, ranking the city 20th out of 29 major North Carolina cities in local government costs, according to a new report from the Center for Local Innovation.

RALEIGH – Progress Energy (NYSE: PGN) today announced it expects 2007 core ongoing earnings to be between $2.70 and $2.90 per share.

SANFORD – The Pantry, Inc. (NASDAQ: PTRY), the leading independently operated convenience store chain in the southeastern U.S., today announced that it has completed the acquisition of 16 Angler’s Mini-Mart convenience stores in the Charleston, S.C., market.

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. 28.

SANFORD – The Pantry, Inc. (Nasdaq: PTRY), the leading independently operated convenience store chain in the southeastern U.S., today announces significantly lower gas margins for its first fiscal quarter ended Dec. 28.

DURHAM – The buying power of minority consumers in North Carolina soared from 1990-2006, providing strong and growing new markets for businesses and investment, according to a new study by the North Carolina Institute of Minority Economic Development.

PINEHURST – A “report card” on the state of men’s health in North Carolina will be released Monday in Chapel Hill at the first-ever North Carolina Men’s Health Summit.

FAYETTEVILLE – The City of Fayetteville and Cumberland County have joined forces to launch a BRAC Project Committee to help them efficiently and effectively prepare for the opportunities presented by the Base Realignment and Closure plan approved in 2005.

RALEIGH – N.C. Department of Labor officials said today that the agency is taking orders from frantic businesses seeking labor law posters with the state’s new minimum wage of $6.15 an hour that the state legislature approved effective Jan. 1.

RALEIGH – The emergence of North Carolina as one of the safest states to work in the United States continued in 2006 as a key work safety indicator – fatalities at work – once again dropped, according to figures released today by the N.C. Department of Labor.

SOUTHERN PINES – The Jefferson Inn, which offers the only hotel accommodations in downtown Southern Pines, has re-opened after a multi million-dollar renovation that took a year to complete.

RALEIGH – Gov. Mike Easley announced today that Harnett County and five other counties in North Carolina have been selected to participate in the 21st Century Communities program, an initiative led by the N.C. Department of Commerce to foster long-term economic growth in the state’s most distressed communities.

ASHEBORO – FNB United Corp. (NASDAQ: FNBN), the holding company for First National Bank and Trust Company, today reported that exceptional loan and deposit growth both organically and through acquisitions contributed to record profits in 2006.

RALEIGH – First Citizens BancShares Inc. (Nasdaq: FCNCA) reports earnings for the year ending Dec. 31 of $126.5 million, compared to $112.9 million for 2005, an increase of $13.6 million, or 12.1 percent.

TROY – First Bank online banking users will have a new way to reduce fraud beginning Jan. 16. The new security feature employs two-factor mutual authentication to protect the front door (i.e. log-in) of First Bank online offerings.

CARY – Crescent Financial Corporation (Nasdaq: CRFN), parent company of Crescent State Bank in Cary and Port City Capital Bank in Wilmington, has announced unaudited net income for the year ended Dec. 31 of $4,904,000, or a 56 percent increase over net income of $3,144,000 for the year ended Dec. 31, 2005.

TROY – First Bancorp (Nasdaq: FBNC), the parent company of First Bank, has announced fourth quarter net income of $5,144,000, or 36 cents per diluted share, for the three months ended Dec. 31, compared to net income of $7,413,000, or 52 cents per diluted share, for the fourth quarter of 2005.

RALEIGH – The state trade association for North Carolina’s Touchstone Energy cooperatives has launched its new website at www.ncelectriccooperatives.com.

RALEIGH – Capital Bank Corporation (Nasdaq: CBKN), the parent company of Capital Bank, has reported 2006 net income of $12.3 million, compared to $6.7 million for the year ended Dec. 31, 2005.

RALEIGH – Capital Bank Corporation (Nasdaq: CBKN) today announced that its board of directors approved a 33.3 percent increase in the company’s regular quarterly cash dividend on its common stock to 8 cents from 6 cents per share, effective with the first quarter 2007 dividend payment.

PITTSBORO – Biolex Therapeutics today announced the initiation of a Phase 2a clinical trial of its lead product candidate Locteron, a best-in-class controlled-release interferon alfa.

PITTSBORO – Biolex Therapeutics announced that it will be presenting at the 25th Annual JPMorgan Healthcare Conference on Thursday at 1:30 p.m. PST in the Elizabethan C/D room of the Westin St. Francis Hotel in San Francisco.

WINSTON-SALEM – BB&T Corporation (NYSE: BBT) subsidiary Branch Banking and Trust Company has completed its acquisition of insurance premium finance company AFCO Credit Corporation and its Canadian affiliate, CAFO Inc., from Mellon Financial Corporation.

WINSTON-SALEM – BB&T Corporation (NYSE: BBT) has reported earnings for the fourth quarter and the full year 2006. For the fourth quarter, net income totaled $250.8 million, or 46 cents per diluted share, compared with $429.6 million, or 78 cents per diluted share, earned during the fourth quarter of 2005.

BLOOMFIELD, Conn. – CIGNA HealthCare announced today that it is offering the availability of Health Savings Accounts through JPMorgan Chase to employers with fewer than 50 employees.