Regions Bank on Wednesday announced Bill Linginfelter – the company’s Atlanta market executive and Commercial Banking regional executive for Georgia and the Carolinas – will retire at the end of the year following 16 years of service to Regions and more than 46 years in banking. 

Veteran Atlanta banker Mary Beth Coke, who joined Regions last year and works hand-in-hand with Linginfelter in serving business clients, will succeed Linginfelter as Atlanta market executive and Commercial Banking regional executive. 

“Thanks largely to Bill Linginfelter, Regions Bank is known as a super-regional bank that offers the products and services of a money center bank with the care and customized attention that only a local banker provides,” said John Turner, Chairman, President and CEO of Regions Financial Corp. “Bill leads by helping associates discover their talents and empowering them to flourish in ways that benefit the bank, its customers, and the communities we serve. It takes an exceptional leader to build on the legacy of someone like Bill, and we are proud that such a leader – Mary Beth Coke – is already part of the Regions family and surrounded by Regions’ strong Atlanta leadership team.” 

Turner added, “Mary Beth is actively building on Bill’s legacy by deepening relationships with clients and fostering continued teamwork among our Atlanta bankers as we help people and businesses achieve financial success. She is passionate about service, innovation, and data-driven decision making. And that’s how we’ll continue to win in Atlanta and beyond.”

Linginfelter joined Regions in 2008 after spending the first three decades of his career in leadership roles for other financial institutions. Linginfelter began his banking career in 1978 in a training program for Fulton National Bank, a predecessor for Bank of America. He later held the role of Georgia CEO for SouthTrust Bank and Wachovia Bank, before helping establish Atlanta as a key growth market for Regions. 

Coke joined Regions in 2023 following 20 years of Commercial Banking and leadership roles at Truist and SunTrust. Linginfelter and Coke will work hand-in-hand through the end of the year to establish a seamless transition. Together, they will meet with clients, community organizations, and others to reaffirm Regions’ commitment to not only custom-tailored financial services but also strategic community engagement that enables Regions to make a meaningful difference throughout North Georgia. That strategy involves advancing economic and community development, supporting education and workforce readiness, and increasing financial wellness. 

Coke will maintain her role as board chair for the Georgia Council on Economic Education (GCEE), whose mission is to equip Georgia’s K-12 students with the tools and knowledge of personal finance and economics so they can make better decisions for themselves, their families, and their communities. Additionally, she and Linginfelter will coordinate with additional members of Regions’ Atlanta leadership team and leading business groups in the area to establish seamless board representation, maintaining the bank’s strategic and consistent civic involvement. 

“Our focus at Regions is to remove barriers to success – and to help more people succeed and thrive,” Coke said. “We do that by devoting more of our time, talents, and financial resources toward causes that empower more people, elevate our neighborhoods, and result in a stronger community for everyone.  

“Banking at its core is about getting to know people, understanding the needs of businesses, and leveraging your experience and insights to connect them with solutions that are designed to help them succeed,” Coke added. “I look forward to guiding our teams as we work to make sure more people and businesses know Regions is a trusted source for helping them build successful outcomes. We’re not here to say, ‘No,’ or, ‘We can’t.’ We’re here to say, ‘How can we help you?’”

Regions’ Atlanta leadership team also includes Mia Hubbard, Consumer Banking executive for Georgia and the Carolinas, and Ty Smith, Private Wealth Management regional executive, who guides teams delivering in-depth investment services. Together, Coke, Hubbard, Smith, and additional Regions leaders will focus their teams on successfully implementingRegions360. Regions360 is the bank’s way of bringing together Regions colleagues in Consumer Banking, Commercial Banking, Mortgage Banking, Wealth Management, and other functions to deliver holistic financial solutions for Atlanta-area clients as “One Team, One Regions.” 

It’s a service commitment that Linginfelter is proud to have supported – and one he is confident will remain strong. 

“Putting people first should always remain at the top of the list,” Linginfelter said. “You get the job done by having the right people in place. You keep the right people in place by taking good care of them. You take good care of your people by paying attention to their needs, and finding solutions for those needs. And they turn around and do the same for clients and the community. I’m truly grateful for the experiences I’ve had throughout my career. And I know Mary Beth and our entire Atlanta leadership team will continue to lean into the tailored service and customized solutions that define Regions’ approach to banking.”