In 1897, former North Carolina governor Angus MacLean and Judge Thomas A. McNeill started the Bank of Lumberton with $15,000.
Southern National had not intended to sell the business but NCNB made a good offer and the bank could use the money for its South Carolina purchases.
[7][8] Another failed deal in 1990 would have given Southern National $1 billion in South Carolina assets and 53 offices in the state.
NBSC had $540 million in assets, while Southern National Corp. had $3.4 billion and was N.C.'s fifth largest bank holding company.
Also that year, Southern National announced its largest acquisition yet--Workmen's Federal Savings Bank of Mount Airy, with $260 million in assets.
The company's North Carolina banking operations began moving to Winston-Salem, though Orr and the corporate headquarters stayed in Lumberton.
"[11] The deal would make Southern National number one in deposits in Fayetteville, the state's fifth-largest banking market.
[11] In 1993, Southern National announced the acquisition of First Savings Bank, FSB, headquartered in Greenville, South Carolina.
Orr and new BB&T chairman John Allison said the merger would likely prevent out-of-state banks from taking over.