Regions CEO John Turner Shares an Optimistic Financial Forecast

President Chuck Redden and Past President Hatton Smith with Rotarian John Turner

The Rotary Club of Birmingham welcomed Rotarian John Turner, Regions Financial Corporation President & CEO, as the featured speaker for its final meeting of the 2022-2023 club year.

Turner shared that business leaders are cautiously optimistic about the financial landscape in the U.S., despite labor challenges, increasing costs, rising interest rates, and supply chain concerns. Turner highlighted trends that have benefited consumers over recent years and contributed to strong debt-to-income ratios, including rising wages, Covid relief funds, low interest rates, and job stability. He said that, while markers indicate a recession may be possible in other parts of the country, the southeastern U.S. is in a strong position.

He discussed Alabama’s heightened investment in economic development, with impressive projects undertaken across the state resulting in over 13,000 new jobs. He called attention to the high rate of growth in Birmingham’s economy and local investment to promote job growth.

Turner shared that Regions operates withing a strategy focused on soundness, profitability and growth. He thanked Rotarians for their commitment to serving the community and explained the importance of Regions investing in civic events like the World Games and the 2023 International Peace Conference, as well as initiatives supporting scholarships, minority-owned businesses and affordable housing.

“We think our business is only as good as the health of the communities that we operate in,” Turner said. “We’re excited to have an opportunity to associate with Rotary and we’re proud to support so many of the great initiatives this club supports.”

About John Turner
John Turner is president and chief executive officer of Regions Financial Corporation. He leads the company’s Executive Leadership Team. Regions is a regional bank that operates throughout the South, Midwest and Texas and is headquartered in Birmingham, AL.

Effective July 2, 2018, Turner became the chief executive officer and was appointed to Regions’ board of directors. He was named president in December 2017. Previously, Turner served as head of the Corporate Bank, a role he took on in 2014. He joined Regions in 2011 as president of the South Region, leading banking operations in Alabama, Mississippi, South Louisiana and the Florida Panhandle.

Before joining Regions, Turner was named president of Whitney National Bank and Whitney Holding Corporation in 2008 and was elected to the bank and holding company boards of directors. Before that he was responsible for all geographic line banking functions across the bank and served as the company’s Eastern Region President. Turner joined Whitney in 1994 as its Alabama regional president after nine years at AmSouth Bank, where he held senior consumer, commercial and business positions.

Turner holds a bachelor’s degree in economics from the University of Georgia and is currently an advisory trustee for the University of Georgia Foundation. He serves on the Economic Development Partnership of Alabama, United Way of Central Alabama, Business Council of Alabama, Birmingham Business Alliance, A Plus Education Foundation and Infirmary Health System boards. Turner previously served on Public Affairs Research Council of Alabama and is a former chairman of the Mobile Area Chamber of Commerce, the Mobile Area Education Foundation and the United Way of Southwest Alabama. He is a graduate of Leadership Alabama and a former board member of Leadership Mobile.