Regions Bank has created a new Business and Community Banking line of business led by veteran banker Joe DiNicolantonio. The new division reports directly to John Owen, head of business lines and is dedicated to providing a full array of banking, lending, and advisory services to businesses with up to $20 million in sales.

"Small businesses have unique challenges and rely on their bank to help them manage and grow their companies," said Owen. "Joe brings a deep knowledge of both our community markets and small business capabilities to his new role and I'm excited that he will lead our efforts to serve more small businesses."

Previously Regions managed business and community banking, including small business, as part of the company's business services group. Establishing the Business and Community Banking division will allow Regions to increase its historically strong focus on serving small business customers through both branch and relationship-managed channels. John Asbury, head of Business Services, will now focus exclusively on Regions' Commercial Banking, Treasury Management, Real Estate Banking, Business Capital, Specialized Industries and Capital Markets businesses and will continue to report to Owen.

DiNicolantonio joined Regions Bank in 1998 and has held a number of leadership roles in the retail and small business banking arena. Most recently he served as West Tennessee area president with oversight for the bank's retail, commercial, middle market and small business banking activities throughout Memphis, Tenn. and surrounding communities. Prior to this, he held a number of retail and small business banking leadership roles in the bank's Florida market. DiNicolantonio earned a bachelor's degree in Business Administration and Finance from the University of Florida at Gainesville and a master's degree in Business Administration from the University of South Florida at Tampa.