State Bank Names Steven Deaton Chief Banking Officer and Appoints New Regional Presidents

ATLANTA and MACON, Ga., Aug. 12, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- State Bank & Trust Company, a wholly owned subsidiary of State Bank Financial Corporation (NASDAQ: STBZ), today announced that Steven G. Deaton has been promoted to Executive Vice President and Chief Banking Officer.

The bank also announced that Michael Sims will replace Deaton as Atlanta region president, Edmond H. (Eddie) Wilson has been named Middle Georgia president, and Daniel M. Forrester becomes Executive Vice President and Director of Community and Government Relations for Middle Georgia.

"We are fortunate to have a leadership team and a talented group of banking professionals who share a common desire to exceed our client's expectations and to increase shareholder value," said Joe Evans, chairman and CEO of State Bank. "These individuals have all demonstrated the qualities that serve as the foundation for our future growth in the years to come."

Mr. Deaton has a wide range of experience in his more than 20 years in Georgia banking. Most recently, he served as Georgia President of Business Banking for RBC after its acquisition of Flag Financial Corp.  At Flag, Mr. Deaton was Atlanta President and Executive Vice President, overseeing all banking divisions including retail, commercial, private banking and SBA divisions.

Mr. Sims joined State Bank in March 2011 as Executive Vice President and Senior Banking Officer for the Atlanta market. Prior to joining State Bank, Mr. Sims served in several commercial banking leadership positions with SunTrust Banks, Inc. since 2001.  Prior to that, Mr. Sims was Director of Finance and CFO of Ralston-Purina Co.

Mr. Wilson has been involved in Georgia banking for 24 years, joining State Bank in November 2009 as its Executive Vice President and Senior Banking Officer for the Middle Georgia market. Before joining State Bank, he was the founding CEO of River City Bank in Rome, Georgia, served as CEO of SunTrust Bank, Northwest Georgia, and served as President and COO of Georgia Bank & Trust in Calhoun, Georgia. A native of Perry, Georgia, Mr. Wilson began his career in 1986 with The Bank of Perry.

In his newly created position, Mr. Forrester will focus on community relations, civic activities and business development for State Bank. He will serve as the bank's liaison with civic, business and government officials in Middle Georgia. Mr. Forrester has been part of the State Bank senior leadership team in Middle Georgia since its outset in 2009 after serving as president of Security Bank of Bibb County.

About State Bank Financial Corporation and State & Trust Company

Atlanta-based State Bank Financial Corporation (NASDAQ:STBZ) is the holding company for State Bank & Trust Company, one of Georgia's best-capitalized banks, with $2.69 billion in assets as of March 31, 2011. State Bank has locations in Metro Atlanta and Bibb, Houston, Dooly, and Jones counties in Middle Georgia.  

State Bank has been named the top performing bank in the United States, according to Bank Director magazine's 2011 Bank Performance Scorecard, a ranking of the 150 largest U.S. publicly traded banks and thrifts based on 2010 calendar-year financials.

In 2009, State Bank acquired assets and deposits of the six bank subsidiaries of Security Bank Corporation, The Buckhead Community Bank and First Security National Bank in transactions facilitated by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation.  In 2010, State Bank acquired assets and deposits of NorthWest Bank & Trust of Acworth, Georgia. And in 2011, it acquired assets and deposits of United Americas Bank of Atlanta.

State Bank raised $300 million in capital, including investments from the executive management team, to facilitate its acquisitions.

Over the past twenty-five years, State Bank Chairman and CEO Joe Evans and his management team have led some of Georgia's most successful community banks, including Flag Financial Corp., Century South Banks, and Bank Corporation of Georgia. State Bank and Trust Company's headquarters are in Macon, Georgia.

To learn more about State Bank, visit www.statebt.com.

STATE BANK & TRUST COMPANY

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SOURCE State Bank Financial Corporation