Regions Financial Corp. has completed its acquisition of Montgomery-based investment banking firm The Frazer Lanier Company, expanding its municipal finance and corporate investment banking services.

The Birmingham-based financial company announced Thursday that the acquisition has officially closed. Founded in 1976, Frazer Lanier provides investment banking services specializing in municipal and corporate securities and has served corporations, cities, counties and local boards throughout its history.

According to Regions, the acquisition is intended to strengthen the bank’s capital markets capabilities while enhancing services for public sector and institutional clients across its multi-state footprint.

Frazer Lanier has built its business by serving as an underwriter or placement agent for tax-exempt and taxable bonds, helping public entities and organizations access financing.

“Two of our top priorities at Regions Bank are strategically expanding our services and investing in top-tier banking talent,” John Turner, chairman, president and CEO of Regions Financial Corp., said in a news release. “By welcoming experienced bankers from Frazer Lanier to the Regions family, we are connecting Regions’ clients with even greater capabilities while advancing our long-term strategy for growth.”

As part of the acquisition, Frazer Lanier will be integrated into Regions Bank’s Capital Markets division within the company’s Corporate Banking group.

Brian Willman, head of Corporate Banking for Regions, said the two organizations share a similar approach to serving clients.

“Frazer Lanier has built trust by staying close to clients and helping them navigate important decisions,” Willman said. “Together, we can expand that model by bringing more ideas, more capabilities and more connectivity to clients across our markets.”

Regions said the acquisition will expand its municipal finance and investment banking capabilities, strengthen its services for cities, counties and other public entities, and provide clients with broader access to financing and capital markets solutions.

Financial terms of the acquisition were not disclosed.

MOBILE, Ala. (WALA) – A Mobile County grand jury has indicted the former finance director for the city of Semmes on ethics and theft charges.

Heather Renee Davis, who also previously served as city clerk for the city of Satsuma, faces a 12-count indictment. Ten of the counts are ethics violations.

Allegations

Prosecutors allege Davis improperly used her public positions in Semmes and Satsuma for personal gain, including misappropriating public money and resources.

Two counts accuse her of first-degree theft by deception involving amounts over $2,500. One count is tied to the city of Semmes and one to the city of Satsuma.

Arrest and bond

Jail records show Davis was arrested and later released after posting a $60,000 bond.

Today’s installment of campaign-related news items from across the country.

* When it comes to campaign finance laws, both parties’ campaign committees have faced restrictions on how much money they could spend in coordination with candidates’ campaigns. Those limits are now effectively gone.

As MS NOW’s Jordan Rubin explained, “The Supreme Court’s GOP-appointed majority ruled for Republicans in their campaign finance challenge to restrictions on political parties spending on ads with input from the party’s candidate.”

A Punchbowl News report added that the ruling, written by Justice Brett Kavanaugh, “handed Republicans a massive win” and is likely to “usher in the biggest change to campaign finance law since the Citizens United decision.”

The same report went on to note that Tuesday’s high court ruling “allows for unrestricted coordination between candidates and party committees. That means committees, like the NRSC or the DCCC, can run unlimited TV ads with allied candidates. More importantly, they can also buy those ads at the much cheaper rate offered to candidates. … Tuesday’s SCOTUS ruling will also eradicate the need for independent expenditure arms at party committees.”

Republicans already enjoyed a significant financial advantage over Democrats. The Republican-appointed justices just made it easier for the GOP to capitalize on that advantage.

* In Colorado’s closely watched Democratic primaries, incumbent Sen. John Hickenlooper fended off a challenge from the left, but some of his colleagues weren’t as fortune: Democratic socialist Melat Kiros ended long-serving Rep. Diana DeGette’s career in Denver’s congressional district, while state Attorney General Phil Weiser scored a major upset by defeating incumbent Sen. Michael Bennet in a gubernatorial primary.

* In the race for North Carolina’s open Senate seat, former Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper leads former Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Whatley in the latest New York Times/Siena poll, 50% to 43%, pointing to a possible pickup opportunity for Democrats.