Regions Bank and Protective Life Corporation Join to Support Operation HOPE's Mission to Promote Financial Dignity and Empowerment

BIRMINGHAM, Ala., Jan. 23, 2014

Supported by commitments from Regions Bank and Protective Life Insurance, the HOPE Inside offices will offer free adult financial education, individual financial counseling guidance and financial disaster recovery workshops to residents in the Birmingham area who seek to build personal wealth or protect assets from disasters. The first HOPE Inside location in Alabama will be housed in the Regions Bank Five Points South branch in downtown Birmingham.

"We are pleased that Regions Bank and Protective Life Corporation show such dedication to their community. Their commitment will help ensure that the residents of Birmingham will have an opportunity to receive Operation HOPE's qualified financial empowerment service," said Operation HOPE Founder, Chairman and CEO John Hope Bryant. "For more than 20 years, we have been advocating the importance of financial literacy as a tool to combat economic inequality. Through HOPE Inside we are making a measurable impact in communities across the country, like Birmingham."

The HOPE Inside offices will feature a dedicated certified counselor who will provide and coordinate credit, money management and homeownership counseling services. Services are provided free of charge and are available to the general public. The leaders gathered to introduce the new program that will provide financial education to the community.

"This is about helping people succeed financially to make our community stronger," said Regions Financial Corporation CEO Grayson Hall. "Financial education gives people the knowledge and information they need to make decisions that will benefit themselves and their families. Regions is honored to partner with Operation HOPE and Protective Life to provide this service that will help people set and achieve their financial goals."

Through the new HOPE Inside partnership, Operation HOPE will be able to provide customized, one-on-one financial education to more people from throughout the area.

"Operation HOPE is a global leader in helping individuals and families build financial capacity and achieve financial dignity through their strong financial literacy programs," said John D. Johns, CEO, Protective Life Corporation. "We are pleased to partner with Regions to bring the HOPE Inside program to Alabama and we are excited about the impact this program will have in our community."