As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on December 30, 2020

Registration No. 333-_____

 

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM S-8

REGISTRATION STATEMENT

UNDER

THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

 

 

REGIONS FINANCIAL CORPORATION

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)

 

 

 

Delaware   63-0589368

(State or Other Jurisdiction of

Incorporation or Organization)

 

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification Number)

1900 Fifth Avenue North

Birmingham, Alabama 35203

(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip code)

Regions Financial Corporation Directors’ Deferred Investment Plan

Regions Financial Corporation Non-Qualified Excess 401(k) Plan

(Full title of the plans)

 

 

Tara A. Plimpton

Chief Legal Officer and

Corporate Secretary

Regions Financial Corporation

1900 Fifth Avenue North

Birmingham, Alabama 35203

(800) 734-4667

(Name, address and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)

Copy to:

Marc Treviño

Jared M. Fishman

Sullivan & Cromwell LLP

125 Broad Street

New York, New York 10004

(212) 558-4000

 

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

 

Large accelerated filer      Accelerated filer  
Non-accelerated filer  

   Smaller reporting company  
     Emerging growth company  

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act.  ☐

 

 

CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE

 

 

Title of securities

to be registered

 

Amount to

be registered

 

Proposed

maximum

offering price

per unit

 

Proposed

maximum

aggregate

offering price

 

Amount of

registration fee

Deferred Compensation Obligations under the Regions Financial Corporation Directors’ Deferred Investment Plan (1)

  $10,000,000   N/A   $10,000,000   $1,091.00

Deferred Compensation Obligations under the Regions Financial Corporation Non-Qualified Excess 401(k) Plan (2)

  $125,000,000   N/A   $125,000,000   $13,637.50

 

 

(1)

The deferred compensation obligations are unsecured obligations of Regions Financial Corporation to pay deferred compensation in the future in accordance with the Regions Financial Corporation Directors’ Deferred Investment Plan (As Amended and Restated as of January 1, 2021), which plan was formerly named the Regions Financial Corporation Directors’ Deferred Stock Investment Plan.

(2)

The deferred compensation obligations are unsecured obligations of Regions Financial Corporation to pay deferred compensation in the future in accordance with the Regions Financial Corporation Non-Qualified Excess 401(k) Plan (As Amended and Restated as of June 1, 2020), which plan was formerly named the Regions Financial Corporation Supplemental 401(k) Plan.

 

 

 


PART I

INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE SECTION 10(a) PROSPECTUS

The documents containing the information specified in Part I of Form S-8 have been or will be sent or given to participants in the Plans (as defined herein) as specified by Rule 428(b)(1) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”). Such documents need not be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), either as part of this Registration Statement or as prospectuses or prospectus supplements pursuant to Rule 424 of the Securities Act. These documents and the documents incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement pursuant to Item 3 of Part II of Form S-8, taken together, constitute a prospectus that meets the requirements of Section 10(a) of the Securities Act.

PART II

INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT

Item 3. Incorporation of Documents by Reference.

The following documents, which have been filed by Regions Financial Corporation (“Regions”) with the SEC, are incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement:

 

  (a)

Regions’ Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019;

 

  (b)

Regions’ Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarterly periods ended March  31, 2020, June  30, 2020 and September 30, 2020; and

 

  (c)

Regions’ Current Reports on Form 8-K filed on March 16, 2020, March  17, 2020, April  27, 2020, May  14, 2020, May  18, 2020, May  21, 2020, June  5, 2020, June  30, 2020 and December 8, 2020.

All documents filed by Regions pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 and 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”) subsequent to the date hereof and prior to the filing of a post-effective amendment indicating that all securities offered hereby have been sold, or that deregisters all securities remaining unsold, shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference herein and to be a part hereof from the respective dates of filing of such documents. Unless otherwise stated in the applicable reports, information furnished under Item 2.02 or 7.01 of Regions’ Current Reports on Form 8-K is not incorporated by reference.

Item 4. Description of Securities.

Deferred Compensation Obligations

The deferred compensation obligations being registered pursuant to the Regions Financial Corporation Directors’ Deferred Investment Plan (As Amended and Restated as of January 1, 2021), which plan was formerly named the Regions Financial Corporation Directors’ Deferred Stock Investment Plan (the “Director Plan”), and the Regions Financial Corporation Non-Qualified Excess 401(k) Plan (As Amended and Restated as of June 1, 2020), which plan was formerly named the Regions Financial Corporation Supplemental 401(k) Plan (the “Non-Qualified Excess 401(k) Plan” and, together with the Director Plan, the “Plans”), represent the obligations of Regions to pay deferred compensation in the future in accordance with the terms of each of the Plans (the “Obligations”). The Director Plan is included as Exhibit 4.7 to this Registration Statement and is incorporated herein by reference. The Non-Qualified Excess 401(k) Plan has been filed with the SEC and is incorporated herein by reference.

 

1


Non-employee members of the Regions Board of Directors are entitled to defer receipt of director fees into the Director Plan, and eligible employees of Regions are entitled to defer certain compensation into the Non-Qualified Excess 401(k) Plan. The Obligations are the general unsecured obligations of Regions subject to the claims of its general creditors. The Plans are considered entirely unfunded for tax purposes. The amount of compensation to be deferred by each participating director or eligible employee (each, a “Participant” and collectively, the “Participants”) is determined in accordance with the applicable Plan based on elections by each Participant.

Under the Plans, amounts credited to a Participant’s account are credited with notional investment returns equal to the performance of certain investments offered under the Plans and selected by the Participant, including Regions common stock. A Participant may designate one or more beneficiaries to receive any portion of the Obligations payable in the event of death. Participants or beneficiaries may not assign or transfer any right or interest in the Plans, and the payments under each of the Plans may not be subject to anticipation, alienation, assignment, garnishment, attachment, receivership, execution, sale, transfer, pledge, encumbrance or levy by creditors of the Participant or the Participant’s beneficiary. Regions reserves the right to amend or terminate the Plans.

Director Plan

Under the Director Plan, Participants are permitted to defer director fees into an account that shall account for the Obligations payable to the Participant in respect of notional investments in Regions common stock (the “Stock Account”) and an account that shall account for notional investment returns in other hypothetical investment options (the “Other Investment Account” and, together with the Stock Account, an “Account”) permitted by the administrative committee of the Director Plan (the “Committee”).

The Obligations are generally paid (or payment commences, in the case of installment payments) upon the earliest of a Participant’s death, a Change of Control (as defined under the Director Plan) or within 30 days after the Plan Year (as defined in the Director Plan) in which the Participant’s separation from service as a director occurred, except with respect to a Participant who is a Specified Employee (as defined in the Director Plan), in which case payment of the Obligations in the Participant’s Account (or in the case of a distribution of installments, payment of the first installment) will be made on the later of: (a) when the Obligations would otherwise become payable or (b) on or within 30 days after the first day of the seventh month after the date of the Participant’s separation from service as a director. Each Participant who is in service as a director has the opportunity to elect to have his or her Account paid either in the form of a single lump sum or in the form of annual installments not to exceed ten installments. In the case of a Participant who dies prior to the payment of his or her full Account, payment shall be made within 90 days after the Participant’s death. In the case of a Change of Control prior to the payment of a Participant’s full Account, payment shall be made within 30 days after the Change of Control.

For the portion of a Participant’s Account attributable to director’s fees deferred prior to the effective date of the Director Plan, as amended and restated, payment will be made in accordance with the Participant’s applicable deferral election and the terms of conditions of the Director Plan as then in effect. Obligations in a Participant’s Stock Account shall be paid in cash, and the number of shares of common stock attributable to the portion of the Participant’s Stock Account that is payable in cash shall be determined based on the Fair Market Value (as defined in the Director Plan) of a share of Regions common stock as of the date of payment to the Participant of such amount.

Non-Qualified Excess 401(k) Plan

Under the Non-Qualified Excess 401(k) Plan, the Obligations are generally payable upon the earlier of a Participant’s death or upon a Termination of Service (as defined in the Non-Qualified Excess 401(k) Plan). The Obligations generally are payable in cash in the form of a lump-sum distribution or in installments paid over 5-year or 10-year periods, as elected by the Participant. If a Participant is a Specified Employee (as defined in the Non-Qualified Excess 401(k) Plan) at the time of his or her termination of employment, any payments that would otherwise be made because of the Termination of Service during the first six months following the Termination of

 

2


Service shall not be paid in that period. Rather, any such payments shall be accumulated and paid to the recipient in a lump sum on the first payroll of the seventh month following the Termination of Service, with continued investment earnings/losses through the date of distribution. All subsequent payments (if any) shall be paid based on the form of distribution elected by the Participant. In the case of a Participant who dies prior to the payment of his or her full deferral account, payment shall be made within 60 days after the Participant’s death.

Item 5. Interests of Named Experts and Counsel.

Not applicable.

Item 6. Indemnification of Directors and Officers.

Section 145 of the Delaware General Corporation Law (the “DGCL”) provides that a corporation may indemnify its directors and officers, as well as other employees and individuals, against expenses (including attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement in connection with specified actions, suits or proceedings, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (other than an action by or in the right of the corporation – a “derivative action”), if they acted in good faith and in a manner that they reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe that their conduct was unlawful. A similar standard is applicable in the case of derivative actions, except that indemnification only extends to expenses (including attorneys’ fees) actually and reasonably incurred in connection with the defense or settlement of such action, and the statute requires court approval before there can be any indemnification where the person seeking indemnification has been found liable to the corporation. The statute provides that it is not exclusive of other rights to which those seeking indemnification may be entitled under any bylaw, agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors or otherwise. Article 10 of Regions’ Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation and Article V, Section 12 of Regions’ By-Laws provide for indemnification of each officer, director, employee and agent of Regions to the fullest extent permitted by the DGCL.

Additionally, Section 102(b)(7) of the DGCL provides that a certificate of incorporation may contain a provision eliminating or limiting the personal liability of a director to the corporation or its stockholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director, provided that such provision shall not eliminate or limit the liability of a director (i) for any breach of the director’s duty of loyalty to the corporation or its stockholders, (ii) for acts or omissions not in good faith or that involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law, (iii) under Section 174 of the DGCL, or (iv) for any transaction from which the director derived an improper personal benefit. Article 10 of Regions’ Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation limits the liability of directors to the fullest extent permitted by Section 102(b)(7).

Section 145 of the DGCL also permits a corporation to purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of its directors and officers, as well as other employees and individuals, against any liability asserted against or incurred by such person in connection with or arising out of such person’s capacity with the corporation, regardless of whether the corporation could permissibly indemnify any such person against such liability. Article V, Section 12 of Regions’ By-Laws permits Regions to provide liability insurance for its directors and officers providing for coverage against loss from claims made against directors and officers in their capacity as such, including in certain instances when Regions could not itself indemnify the directors and officers. Regions has purchased this insurance for its directors and officers.

Item 7. Exemption from Registration Claimed.

Not applicable.

Item 8. Exhibits.

 

Exhibit
No.

  

Description of Exhibit

4.1    Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed by the Registrant on August 6, 2012.

 

3


4.2

Certificate of Designations, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.3 to the Form 8-A filed by the Registrant on November 1, 2012.

 

4.3

Certificate of Designations, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.3 to the Form 8-A filed by the Registrant on April 28, 2014.

 

4.4

Certificate of Designations, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.4 to the Form 8-A filed by the Registrant on April 29, 2019.

 

4.5

Certificate of Designations, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed by the Registrant on June 5, 2020.

 

4.6

By-laws, as amended and restated, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.2 to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed by the Registrant on July 24, 2019.

 

4.7*

Regions Financial Corporation Directors’ Deferred Investment Plan (As Amended and Restated as of January 1, 2021).

 

4.8

Regions Financial Corporation Non-Qualified Excess 401(k) Plan (Amended and Restated as of June 1, 2020), incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.5 to the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed by the Registrant on August 5, 2020.

 

5.1*

Opinion of Maynard, Cooper & Gale, P.C. as to the legality of the securities being registered.

 

23.1*

Consent of Maynard, Cooper & Gale, P.C. (included in Exhibit 5.1).

 

23.2*

Consent of Ernst & Young LLP.

 

24.1*

Power of Attorney.

 

*

Filed herewith

Item 9. Undertakings.

(a) The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes:

(1) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this Registration Statement:

(i) To include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act;

(ii) To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of this Registration Statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in this Registration Statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the SEC pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than a 20% change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the “Calculation of Registration Fee” table in this Registration Statement;

(iii) To include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in this Registration Statement or any material change to such information in this Registration Statement;

 

4


Provided, however, that paragraphs (a)(1)(i) and (a)(1)(ii) do not apply if the Registration Statement is on Form S-3, Form S-8 or Form F-3, and the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in reports filed with or furnished to the SEC by the Registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act that are incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement.

(2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

(3) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering.

(b) The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each filing of the Registrant’s annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan’s annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act) that is incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

(c) Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the Registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the Registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the SEC such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the Registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the Registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the Registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

 

5


SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Birmingham, State of Alabama, on December 30, 2020.

 

REGIONS FINANCIAL CORPORATION
By:  

/s/ John M. Turner, Jr.

  John M. Turner, Jr.
  President and Chief Executive Officer

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, this Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities indicated on December 30, 2020.

 

Signature and Title

/s/ John M. Turner, Jr.

John M. Turner, Jr.

President, Chief Executive Officer and Director

(principal executive officer)

/s/ David J. Turner, Jr.

David J. Turner, Jr.

Senior Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Financial Officer

(principal financial officer)

/s/ Hardie B. Kimbrough, Jr.

Hardie B. Kimbrough, Jr.

Executive Vice President and Controller

(principal accounting officer)

*

Carolyn H. Byrd, Director

*

Don DeFosset, Director

*

Samuel A. Di Piazza, Jr., Director

*

Zhanna Golodryga, Director

*

John D. Johns, Director

*

Ruth Ann Marshall, Director

*

Charles D. McCrary, Independent Chair of the Board

 

6


Signature and Title

*

James T. Prokopanko, Director

*

Lee J. Styslinger III, Director

*

José S. Suquet, Director

*

Timothy Vines, Director

 

*

Tara A. Plimpton, by signing her name hereto, does hereby sign this document on behalf of each of the above named directors of the Registrant pursuant to powers of attorney duly executed by such persons.

 

Dated: December 30, 2020     By:  

/s/ Tara A. Plimpton

     

Tara A. Plimpton

Attorney-In-Fact

Chief Legal Officer and Corporate Secretary

 

7

Exhibit 4.7

REGIONS FINANCIAL CORPORATION

DIRECTORS’ DEFERRED INVESTMENT PLAN

(As Amended and Restated as of January 1, 2021)

WHEREAS, Regions Financial Corporation (“Regions”) previously established the Regions Financial Corporation Directors’ Deferred Stock Investment Plan and desires to amend and restate the Plan (as defined below) to have the following terms and conditions, effective as of January 1, 2021 (the “Effective Date”), except as otherwise noted herein, and to be renamed the “Regions Financial Corporation Directors’ Deferred Investment Plan” (hereinafter described as “the Plan”);

WHEREAS, Regions recognizes the value to its Directors of a plan of deferred compensation;

WHEREAS, the obligations under this Plan are an unfunded liability of Regions;

WHEREAS, Regions now desires to permit Directors to defer receipt of director fees and notionally invest such deferrals into Common Stock and other notional investments selected by the Committee; and

WHEREAS, amounts deferred under the Plan, as in effect prior to the Effective Date, shall be governed by the time and form of payment elections in effect for such deferrals prior to the Effective Date and shall be held in the applicable sub-account under each applicable Participant’s Stock Account.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and of the mutual covenants hereinafter set forth, the Regions Financial Corporation Directors’ Deferred Investment Plan shall contain the following terms and conditions.

ARTICLE I

DEFINITIONS

When used herein, the following words and phrases shall have the meanings set forth below, unless a different meaning is clearly required by the context of the Plan.

“Authorization for Participation” shall mean the form that an individual must submit to the Secretary of the Board in order to participate in the Plan. Such form shall contain the individual’s election to defer receipt of future income, the amount of the deferred income or the percentage of deferred Director’s Fees, and shall set forth the Participant’s beneficiaries and contingent beneficiaries designated to receive any benefits to which the Participant may be entitled in the event of the Participant’s death.

“Board” shall mean the Board of Directors of Regions.

“Change of Control” shall mean: (i) an acquisition (other than directly from the Company) by an individual, entity or a group (excluding the Company or an employee benefit plan of the Company or a corporation controlled by the Company’s shareholders) of 20% or more of the Company’s Common Stock; (ii) a change in a majority of the current Board (the “Incumbent Board”) (excluding any persons approved by a vote of at least a majority of the Incumbent Board other than in connection with an actual or threatened proxy contest); (iii) consummation of a complete liquidation or dissolution of the Company or a merger, consolidation or sale of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets (collectively, a “Business Combination”) other than a Business Combination in which all or substantially all of the stockholders of the Company receive 50% or more of the stock of the company resulting from the Business Combination, at least a majority of the board of directors of the resulting corporation were members of the Incumbent Board, and after which no person owns 20% or more of the stock of the resulting corporation, who did not own such stock immediately before the Business Combination. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the term “Change of Control” shall be limited to those events described above that also qualify as a payment event under § 409A.


“Committee” shall mean the persons appointed by the Board pursuant to Article V to administer the Plan.

“Common Stock” shall mean the shares of common stock, $.01 par value, of Regions and any shares which may, at any time prior to the date on which such term is applicable, be issued in exchange for shares of such Common Stock, whether in subdivision or in combination thereof and whether as part of a classification or reclassification thereof, or otherwise.

“Company” or “Companies” shall include Regions and each affiliate, subsidiary, or local division thereof, and shall mean any one or more of such entities as the context requires.

“Deferred Account” shall mean a separate bookkeeping account with respect to each Participant for the purpose of accounting for Participant deferrals, Company deferred contributions and notional earnings and cash dividends attributed to both, and any other amounts attributable to the Participant’s Deferred Account in accordance with the provisions of the Plan. The Deferred Account shall be comprised of two sub-accounts, a Participant’s Stock Account and Other Investments Account.

“Director” shall mean any person serving on the Board.

“Director’s Fees” shall mean the total amount to be paid by Regions to a Participant as retainer for services as a Director and fees for attending meetings of the Board, including any fees received by such Participant for attending meetings of any committee of the Board.

“Other Investments Account” shall mean the separate sub-account maintained with respect to each Participant for the purpose of accounting for any other hypothetical investments permitted by the Committee (other than notional investments in Common Stock accounted for under the Participant’s Stock Account”), which hypothetical investment options shall consist of, unless otherwise determined by the Committee, the investment options available under Regions’ Non-Qualified Excess 401(k) Plan, as in effect from time to time.

“Participant” shall mean a person who is participating in the Plan pursuant to the provisions of Article II and whose participation in the Plan has not terminated.

“Plan” shall mean the Regions Financial Corporation Directors’ Deferred Investment Plan, as set forth herein, together with any amendments thereto.

“Plan Year” shall mean the period commencing January 1st of each year and ending on December 31 of such year.

“Regions” shall mean Regions Financial Corporation, or any successor thereto.

“Section 409A” or “§ 409A” shall mean Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code and shall include any amendments thereto or successor provisions as well as any applicable current and future regulations, rulings, IRS notices and other binding legal authority interpreting or modifying the legal requirements under Section 409A.

 

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“Specified Employee” shall mean a ‘specified employee’ as defined in § 409A and shall be determined in accordance with Regions’ general policy for determining specified employees under § 409A, as such policy may be amended from time to time.

“Stock Account” shall mean the separate sub-account maintained with respect to each Participant for the purpose of accounting for Common Stock promised to the Participant under the Plan, which Stock Account shall include (i) a sub-account for any of a Participant’s Director’s Fees notionally deferred into Common Stock under this Plan on or after the Effective Date and (ii) a sub-account for any of a Participant’s Director’s Fees deferred under this Plan as in effect prior to the Effective Date. “Trust” shall mean the trust established by the Company to provide a source of funds to pay the amounts deferred under the Plan, which trust is intended to be a “rabbi trust” as contemplated under IRS Revenue Procedure 92-64, and any successor trust thereto.

“Trustee” shall mean the trustee originally appointed to hold and manage the Trust, or any successor thereto, or any successor duly appointed hereunder which is employed to hold and manage the Trust.

ARTICLE II

PARTICIPATION; DEFERRAL ELECTIONS

2.1 Commencement of Participation; Initial Deferral Election. Any person who is a Director and who is not an employee of any Company is eligible to participate in the Plan. Such person’s participation in the Plan shall commence on the first day of the calendar year next following the date on which he or she has submitted an Authorization for Participation to the Secretary of the Board and the Trustee. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the first year in which a Director is eligible to participate in the Plan, the Director may submit an Authorization for Participation within thirty (30) days of the date that he or she first becomes eligible to participate, and in that case the Director may specify that his or her participation shall commence on the first day of the calendar quarter following the submission of such Authorization, even if such participation date is not the first day of a calendar year.

2.2 Subsequent Deferral Elections. After a deferral election made by a Director in accordance with this Article II (including any amounts deferred by a Director under this Plan as in effect prior to the Effective Date) has become irrevocable under Section 409A, the Director may elect to change the time and form of payment of the deferred amount covered by such election only in accordance with Section 409A by submitting a payment election change on a revised Authorization for Participation at least (12) months prior to the date on which the deferred amount (or first installment thereof, as applicable) is scheduled to be paid (the “First Scheduled Payment Date”) that will result in a delay of payment (or commencement of payment) of such deferred amount until the date that is five (5) years after the First Scheduled Payment Date. A payment election change is irrevocable upon receipt and shall not take effect until the first date that is at least twelve (12) months after the date of receipt.

2.3 Cessation of Participation. A Participant shall cease to be a Participant in the Plan when all amounts credited to the Participant’s Deferred Account have been distributed or forfeited in accordance with the terms of the Plan, and the Participant is no longer deferring any Director’s Fees or being credited with any other amounts under the Plan.

ARTICLE III

PARTICIPANT DEFERRALS; COMPANY CONTRIBUTIONS

3.1 Participant Deferral of Director’s Fees. A Participant may defer Director’s Fees under the Plan in amounts equal to all or any part of the Director’s Fees paid to such Participant. A Participant’s Authorization for Participation shall specify the amount, in specified percentages, of Director’s Fees which are to be deferred under the Plan on behalf of such Participant and the portion of such amounts that are to be notionally invested in Common Stock under the Participant’s Stock Account and other hypothetical investments under the Participant’s Other Investments Account. The amount each Participant defers under the Plan shall be deducted from the Director’s Fees such Participant would otherwise have received.

 

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3.2 Amendment or Termination of Participant Deferrals. Participant deferrals may be initially authorized or the amount or percentage thereof altered at any time preceding the first day of the calendar year for which the authorization or alteration is to become effective, and only by the Participant’s submission of an original or revised Authorization for Participation under the terms of Article II and this Article III. Participant deferrals may be terminated by Participants pursuant to Article XII. Participant deferrals may be terminated by Regions pursuant to Articles XIX and XX below.

3.3 Company Contributions. Prior to May 1, 2007, the Company credited an additional amount (referred to herein as a “Company Contribution”) to the Deferred Accounts of Participants who deferred Director’s Fees under the Plan. Company Contribution for each Participant was 25% of the amount of such Participant’s deferred Director’s Fees under the Plan. The Deferred Accounts of applicable Participants reflect such credit. Notwithstanding the above, there have been, and shall be, no Company Contributions for Director’s Fees earned on or after May 1, 2007.

ARTICLE IV

ACCOUNTS AND INVESTMENTS

4.1 Crediting of Deferrals. The Committee will keep a separate accounting for each Participant of the amount of the Participant’s deferred Director’s Fees by crediting the Stock Account and the Other Investments Account, as applicable, of the Participant’s Deferred Account. Deferred amounts shall be notionally invested in notional Common Stock under the Stock Account and other hypothetical investments under the Other Investments Account, as applicable. Each Participant’s Stock Account shall be credited to reflect the number of notional shares or fractional share interests in Common Stock which have inured to the credit of such Participant and each Participant’s Other Investment Account shall be credited to reflect the hypothetical investments, earnings and losses related to the Participant’s other investment elections.

4.2 Investment and Transfers Under Hypothetical Investments in Other Investments Account. On the date or dates permitted by the Committee, a Participant may elect to invest in, or transfer all or a portion of the amounts invested under the Participant’s Other Investment Account, to one or more of the hypothetical investment options available under the Other Investments Fund, subject to the terms and conditions and any limitations imposed by law, regulation or the Committee. The Committee will determine the rules for transfers between and among the hypothetical investment options available for investment under the Other Investments Accounts from time to time. Until such time as a Participant elects the hypothetical investments in which such Participant’s Other Investment Account shall be invested, such account shall be invested in the hypothetical target date fund or money market account available for investments under the Plan, as determined by the Committee. In no event shall an amount invested in a Participant’s Other Investments Account be permitted to be transferred into the Participant’s Stock Account at any time.

4.3 Investment in Stock Account Irrevocable; Count Toward Common Stock Ownership Requirements. The portion of Director’s Fees, if any, that a Participant elects to defer under an applicable deferral election into the Participant’s Stock Account shall be irrevocable once made. The Committee will determine the rules for investments under the Stock Accounts from time to time. In no event shall an amount invested in a Participant’s Stock Account be permitted to be transferred into the Participant’s Other Investments Account at any time. A Participant’s deferral of Director’s Fees in the Stock Account under the Plan shall count towards any Common Stock ownership requirement applicable to such Director from time to time.

 

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ARTICLE V

ADMINISTRATION OF PLAN

5.1 Plan Administration. The Plan will be administered by the Company’s Benefits Management and Human Resources Committee and any successor thereto (the “Committee”) unless otherwise determined by the Compensation and Human Resources Committee of the Board. The Committee will periodically report its activities under the Plan to the Compensation and Human Resources Committee of the Board. The Committee may, from time to time, adopt rules and regulations not inconsistent with the Plan for carrying out the Plan or for providing for matters not specifically covered herein. The Committee shall conduct its business and hold meetings as determined by it from time to time. The Committee may act without a meeting by unanimous consent, in writing, of the action so taken. Committee members may participate in a meeting of the Committee by means of a conference telephone or similar communications equipment by means of which all persons participating in the meeting can communicate with each other at the same time.

5.2 Administrative Powers. The Committee shall have all powers necessary or appropriate to enable it properly to carry out its duties in connection with the operation and administration of the Plan, including, but not limited to, the following powers and duties:

(A) To construe and interpret the provisions of the Plan;

(B) To determine, from time to time, the investment options (other than Common Stock) that are available for hypothetical investments under each Participant’s Other Investments Account;

(C) To authorize the execution on behalf of the Company of any documents required in the administration of the Plan;

(D) To establish rules for the administration of the Plan;

(E) To make determinations from the Company’s records of any facts concerning Participants which are pertinent to the operation of the Plan, such as Director’s Fees, eligibility to participate and other information;

(F) To develop forms to be used in connection with the Plan;

(G) To supervise the maintenance of records, including those with respect to Participant deferrals, Company contributions, stock purchased and distributed to Participants, and dividends, if any, paid to the Trust;

(H) To file with the appropriate government agencies any and all reports and notifications required of the Plan and to provide all Participants and designated beneficiaries with any and all reports and notifications to which they are entitled by law;

(I) To perform any and all other functions reasonably necessary to administer the Plan.

 

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5.3 Delegation. The Committee may appoint a delegate to assume any one or more of the responsibilities set out above. The Company shall indemnify any person involved in the administration of the Plan against all costs, expenses and liabilities, including attorneys’ fees, incurred in connection with any action, suit or proceeding instituted against such person alleging any act of commission or omission performed by such person while acting in good faith in discharging his or her duties with respect to the Plan. This indemnification is limited to such costs and expenses that are not covered under insurance that may now or hereafter be provided by the Company.

ARTICLE VI

COMMON STOCK PURCHASE

6.1 Source of Common Stock. Common Stock may be purchased by the Trustee on the open market; in privately negotiated transactions; or upon exercise of any conversion privileges or other options with respect to any and all Common Stock held in the Trust. Funds held in the Trust may be used to fund such Common Stock purchases.

6.2 Trustee Authority. The Trustee shall have all powers necessary or appropriate to enable it to properly carry out its duties in connection with the purchase of Common Stock pursuant to this Plan, including, but not limited to, the following powers and duties:

(A) To make, execute, acknowledge, and deliver any and all documents of transfer and conveyance and any and all other instruments as may be necessary or appropriate to enable the Trustee to carry out the powers herein granted;

(B) To employ suitable agents and counsel (who may be counsel for the Company), subject to the approval of Regions; and to pay the reasonable expenses and compensation of such agents and counsel; and

(C) To exercise any conversion privileges or other options with respect to Common Stock held as a part of the Trust and to make any payments incidental thereto.

ARTICLE VII

STOCK ACCOUNTS

After each notional deferral into a Participant’s Stock Account, the Trustee will make a notation of the number of notional shares purchased and of the average cost per share of such notional Common Stock. The Trustee will then make a bookkeeping charge against each Participant’s Deferred Account in the amount of the average cost of the Common Stock to be allocated to the Participant’s Stock Account. The accounting for the Stock Accounts shall include notional full shares and any fractional share interest in a share (to four decimal places).

ARTICLE VIII

ASSIGNMENTS

No claim, right, or interest of any Participant under the Plan may be transferred or assigned by voluntary or involuntary act of the Participant or beneficiary hereunder, nor shall they be subject to anticipation, alienation, assignment, garnishment, attachment, receivership, execution, sale, transfer, pledge, encumbrance, or levy by creditors of the Participant or the Participant’s beneficiary hereunder.

 

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ARTICLE IX

DIVIDENDS, EARNINGS AND DEFERRED ACCOUNT INVESTMENT

9.1 Dividends. Cash dividends attributable to the Common Stock attributable to a Participant’s notional investment in Common Stock under such Participant’s Stock Account will be accounted for in such Participant’s Stock Account for reinvestment in Common Stock. Stock dividends and stock splits attributable to the Common Stock attributable to a Participant’s Stock Account will be accounted for in such Participant’s Stock Account as determined by the Committee.

9.2 Other Investments Account Earnings/Losses. Any earning and losses attributable to the hypothetical investments attributable to a Participant’s Other Investments Account will be accounted for in such Participant’s Other Investments Account as determined by the Committee.

9.3 Trustee Discretion. The Trustee, subject to instructions by the Committee and the terms and conditions of the applicable trust agreement, shall have full discretion to sell or allow to expire, as the case may be, any Common Stock, stock rights, warrants, cash, other property or investments attributable to Participants’ Deferred Accounts, in each case, held in anticipation of payments under the Plan. The Trustee, in its discretion, may exercise any or all of such stock rights or warrants applicable to Common Stock held in the Trust, if any, and the Trustee may sell or allow to expire the balance, if any, of such rights or warrants, if any. Cash received by the Trustee from the sale of any stock rights, warrants, or other property or investments will be accounted for in each Participant’s Stock Account or Other Investments Account, as applicable. Notwithstanding any other provision in this Article IX or in the Plan, no Participant shall have any right to sell, allow to expire, or exercise, whichever is applicable, any rights, warrants, cash, other property or other investments relating to amounts held for payment under the Plan.

ARTICLE X

VOTING RIGHTS

The Company shall vote any Common Stock and shall exercise any voting rights with respect to any other investments, in each case, that are held by the Trust, in any manner the Company deems advisable subject to the terms of the Trust.

ARTICLE XI

REPORTS TO PARTICIPANTS

As soon as is practicable following the end of each Plan Year, or more often at the direction of the Committee, the Committee will send to each Participant a written report of any transactions attributable to such Participant’s Deferred Account and the Stock Account and Other Investments Account thereunder and of the balance to the credit of such Participant’s Deferred Account and the Stock Account and Other Investments Account thereunder as of the date of the report.

ARTICLE XII

WITHDRAWAL FROM PLAN

A Participant may stop deferring Directors Fees to the Plan by giving written notice of withdrawal of such Participant’s deferral election to the Secretary of the Board and to the Trustee. Such withdrawal will be effective on the first day of the calendar year following the date such notice is actually given to the Secretary. Such withdrawal will not affect the date of payment of any amount deferred prior to the effective date of such withdrawal. A Participant who has withdrawn and who remains eligible to participate in the Plan may re-enter the Plan by submitting a revised Authorization for Participation to the Secretary in accordance with Article II of the Plan, provided such revised Authorization for Participation shall be effective as of the first day of the calendar year following the date the revised Authorization for Participation is actually delivered to the Secretary.

 

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ARTICLE XIII

TAX WITHHOLDING

The Company or the Trustee of any Trust established to help the Company fund its obligations under the Plan shall make required reporting and withholding of any applicable federal, state or local taxes with respect to benefit distributions under the Plan, and shall pay such amounts to the appropriate taxing authorities. Notwithstanding the preceding, to the extent that withholding of such taxes is not required for distributions of Common Stock or cash under the Plan, no such withholding shall be made.

ARTICLE XIV

TIME AND METHOD OF PAYMENT

14.1 Legacy Deferrals. For the portion of a Participant’s Deferral Account attributable to Director’s Fees deferred prior to the Effective Date, payment will be made in accordance with the Participant’s applicable deferral elections commencing within thirty (30) days after the close of the Plan Year in which the Participant separates from service as a Director, or such later date in the event the Participant makes a subsequent deferral election under Section 2.2 above and except as otherwise provided below.

14.2 Post-Effective Date Deferrals. For the portion of a Participant’s Deferral Account attributable to Director’s Fees deferred on or after the Effective Date, payment will be made in accordance with the Participant’s applicable deferral elections, each of which may provide for payment in a lump sum or in annual installments (not to exceed ten (10) installments) commencing within thirty (30) days after the close of the Plan Year in which the Participant separates from service as a Director, or such later date in the event the Participant makes a subsequent deferral election under Section 2.2 above and except as otherwise provided below. In the event installment payments are elected with respect to any deferral elections, each installment shall be equal to the Deferred Account (or the portion thereof payable in the form of installments) divided by the number of installments remaining as of the date of payment. By way of example, in the case of an election of installments for ten (10) years has been made with respect to all or a portion of a Participant’s Deferred Account, the first installment shall be one-tenth of the Deferred Account (or the portion thereof payable in the form of installments), the second installment shall be one-ninth of the remaining Deferred Account (or the portion thereof payable in the form of installments), and so on.

14.3 Payment Upon Death. Notwithstanding the foregoing, for a Participant who dies prior to the payment of the full Deferral Account, payment shall be made within ninety (90) days after the Participant’s death.

14.4 Change of Control. Notwithstanding the foregoing, upon a Change of Control, any amounts attributable to each Participant’s Deferred Account shall be paid or distributed to the Participant or to his or her beneficiary within thirty (30) days after the Change of Control.

14.5 Specified Employees. Solely with respect to a Participant who is a Specified Employee, payment of the Participant’s Deferred Account (or in the case of a distribution of installments, payment of the first installment) will be made on the later of: (a) the payment date or dates specified in the preceding paragraphs; or (b) on or within thirty (30) days after the first day of the seventh month after the date of the Participant’s separation from service as a Director, to the extent such delay is required for any such payment not to be subject to additional tax and interest under § 409A.

 

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ARTICLE XV

PAYMENT OF THE DEFERRED ACCOUNT

At the time or times specified under Article XIV, a Participant shall receive (i) payment in cash for the amount attributable to the Participant’s Other Investment Account and payable at such time or times as specified in each applicable deferral election, and (ii) payment in cash for the amount attributable to the Participant’s Stock Account and payable at such time or times as specified in each applicable deferral election. The number of full shares attributable to the portion of the Participant’s Stock Account that is payable in cash shall be determined based on the Fair Market Value (as defined in the Regions Financial Corporation 2015 Long Term Incentive Plan or any successor plan thereto) of a share of Common Stock as of a date reasonably determined by the Committee in connection with an applicable payment. If termination is by reason of death, settlement will be made with the Participant’s beneficiary or contingent beneficiary designated on such Participant’s Authorization for Participation. If the Participant has not so designated a beneficiary or contingent beneficiary, or if the designated beneficiary or contingent beneficiary does not survive the Participant, settlement will be made with the Participant’s duly appointed legal representative after satisfaction of any applicable legal requirements; or, if there is no duly appointed legal representative, settlement will be made with the Participant’s surviving spouse, if any; or if there is no surviving spouse, in equal shares to the Participant’s children, if any; and, if there are no surviving spouse or children, settlement will be made with the Participant’s next of kin.

ARTICLE XVI

GOVERNING LAW AND INTERPRETATION; SECTION 409A

16.1 Governing Law and Interpretation. The provisions of this Plan shall be interpreted in accordance with, and governed by, the laws of the State of Alabama without regard to any conflict of laws provisions.

16.2 Code Section 409A. The Plan is intended to comply with § 409A and shall be interpreted and administered in compliance with the requirements of § 409A. Any ambiguity hereunder shall be interpreted in such a way as to comply, to the extent possible, with § 409A or to qualify for an exemption from § 409A. Although the Company may attempt to avoid adverse tax treatment under Section 409A of the Code, the Company makes no representation to that effect and expressly disavows any covenant to maintain favorable or avoid unfavorable tax treatment.

ARTICLE XVII

EXPENSES

Regions will bear the cost of administering the Plan, including any transfer taxes incurred in transferring Common Stock held for payment under the Plan to Participants. Expenses which an individual would normally pay upon the purchase of stock from a broker, including any broker’s fees, commissions, postage or other transaction costs actually incurred, will be included in the amount charged against the Participant’s Stock Account for the purchase of the Common Stock.

ARTICLE XVIII

LIMITATION ON THE SALE OF STOCK

No Common Stock will be sold under the Plan to any person in any state where the sale of such Common Stock is not permitted under the applicable law of such state. For purposes of this Article XVIII, the sale of Common Stock is not permitted under the applicable laws of a state if, inter alia, the securities laws of such state would require this Plan or the Common Stock offered pursuant hereto, to be registered in such state and the Plan or Common Stock is not registered therein.

 

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ARTICLE XIX

AMENDMENT AND TERMINATION OF THE PLAN

19.1 Plan Amendment. Regions reserves the right, by action of the Compensation and Human Resources Committee of the Board that is ratified by the Board, to amend the Plan at any time; provided (i) that no amendment shall affect or diminish any Participant’s right to the deferrals made by such Participant or contributions by the Company prior to the date of such amendment, and (ii) that no amendment shall affect a Participant’s deferral election at any time before January 1 of the calendar year following the year in which such amendment is adopted. Notwithstanding the above, the officers of Regions may amend the Plan without prior consent of the Board solely for the following purposes and subject to the following limitations: (1) for the purpose of compliance with § 409A or any other applicable law or the avoidance of any penalty or excise tax (either to the Company or the Participants) provided such amendment does not increase the cost to the Company or impair the Participant’s right to receive benefits accrued under the Plan; (2) for purposes of efficiently managing the Plan provided that such amendment is purely administrative in nature and does not affect the cost of the Plan or the substantive rights of Participants; and (3) for any other purpose provided such amendment is later ratified by the Board.

19.2 Plan Termination. Regions reserves the right, by action of the Compensation and Human Resources Committee of the Board that is ratified by the Board, to terminate the Plan as of any December 31 on or after the date of such Board action. In the event of such termination, there will be no further Participant deferrals and no further Company contributions to the Plan. Upon termination of the Plan, the Board may further specify that accounts under the Plan shall be paid to the Participants, provided that: (i) no such payment is made before the earlier of the date that is 12 months after the date of Plan termination or the date the payment would otherwise have been made; (ii) no such payment is made later than the date that is 24 months after the date of Plan termination; and (iii) all other requirements of Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-3(j)(4)(ix)(C) and (D) (as they may be amended, or such other regulation or ruling that replaces such sections) are met.

ARTICLE XX

SUSPENSION OR TERMINATION IF STOCK PURCHASE IS PROHIBITED

In the event it is determined by the Board, after obtaining the advice of legal counsel, that purchases of the Common Stock by the Trust would be prohibited under any federal or state law, then the Committee shall direct that Participant deferrals, Company contributions, dividends and any other sources of funds shall be invested as necessary in such other investments as the Committee determines to be most appropriate under the circumstances, and the accounts of the Participants will be credited with investment earnings in accordance with such investments (and amounts so invested shall not be credited with the returns applicable to amounts invested in Regions common stock). At such time as the Board determines that purchases of Common Stock may again be made legally, such alternate investments shall be liquidated and the proceeds used to purchase Common Stock, and the accounts of the affected Participants shall be credited with appropriate returns thereafter.

ARTICLE XXI

NATURE OF COMPANY’S OBLIGATION

21.1 Unfunded Obligation; No Obligation to Fund. The Company’s obligations under this Plan shall be an unfunded and unsecured promise to pay benefits in the future. It is the intention of the Company that the Plan shall be unfunded for purposes of federal and state income tax and for purposes of Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended. The Company has established a Trust as a mechanism to help fund its obligations under the Plan. However, the Company shall not be obligated under any circumstances to continue the Trust or to otherwise fund its obligations under this Plan. The manner of any funding of the Plan (if any), and the continuance or discontinuance of such funding shall be the sole and exclusive decision of the Company.

 

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21.2 Participant as Unsecured Creditor. Any assets which the Company may acquire or set aside to help cover its financial liabilities under the Plan are and must remain general assets of the Company subject to the claims of its creditors. Neither the Company nor this Plan gives a Participant any beneficial ownership interest in any asset of the Company. All rights of ownership in any such assets are and remain in the Company. Participants in the Plan therefore have the status of general unsecured creditors of the Company.

 

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Exhibit 5.1

[Letterhead of Maynard, Cooper & Gale, P.C.]

December 30, 2020

Regions Financial Corporation

1900 Fifth Avenue North

Birmingham, Alabama 35203

 

  Re:

Registration Statement on Form S-8

Ladies and Gentlemen:

We have acted as counsel to Regions Financial Corporation (the “Company”) in connection with a registration statement on Form S-8 (the “Registration Statement”) to be filed by the Company today with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Act”), for the registration by the Company of (i) $10,000,000 of deferred compensation obligations (the “Directors’ Deferred Compensation”) under the Regions Financial Corporation Directors’ Deferred Investment Plan (As Amended and Restated as of January 1, 2021), which plan was formerly named the Regions Financial Corporation Directors’ Deferred Stock Investment Plan (the “Director Plan”), and (ii) $125,000,000 of deferred compensation obligations (the “Non-Qualified Excess 401(k) Plan Deferred Compensation” and, together with the Directors’ Deferred Compensation, the “Obligations”) under the Regions Financial Corporation Non-Qualified Excess 401(k) Plan (As Amended and Restated as of June 1, 2020), which plan was formerly named the Regions Financial Corporation Supplemental 401(k) Plan (the “Non-Qualified Excess 401(k) Plan” and, together with the Director Plan, the “Plans”), issuable under the Plans. The Obligations represent unsecured obligations of the Company to pay deferred compensation in the future in accordance with the respective terms of the Plans.

In arriving at the opinions expressed below, we have examined the following documents: (a) the Company’s Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, (b) the Company’s By-laws (As Amended and Restated as of July 24, 2019), (c) the Registration Statement, (d) the Director Plan, in the form included as Exhibit 4.7 to the Registration Statement, (e) the Non-Qualified Excess 401(k) Plan, in the form included as Exhibit 10.5 to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed with the Commission on August 5, 2020, and (f) relevant resolutions of the Company’s Board of Directors and committees. We have also examined such other corporate and organizational documents and records of the Company and such certificates of public officials and officers of the Company, and made such other investigations, as we have deemed necessary and appropriate for the purposes of such opinion. We have assumed the authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals and the conformity to the originals of all documents submitted to us as copies. In addition, we have assumed and have not verified the accuracy as to factual matters of each document that we have reviewed.

Based upon the foregoing, and subject to the limitations and qualifications herein set forth, we are of the opinion that: (i) when the Registration Statement has become effective under the Act, and the Obligations, as such Obligations are described in the Registration Statement, are incurred in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Plans, and subject to the Company completing all


Regions Financial Corporation

December 30, 2020

Page 2

 

action and proceedings on its part to be taken under the Plans, the Obligations will be legally valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their respective terms; (ii) the Non-Qualified Excess 401(k) Plan is designed to be a “top hat” plan under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (“ERISA”), which is a plan that is unfunded and maintained by an employer for the purpose of providing deferred compensation for a select group of management or highly compensated employees; and (iii) the provisions of the Non-Qualified Excess 401(k) Plan written document comply with the requirements of ERISA applicable to “top hat” plans.

The opinion set forth in clause (i) of the preceding paragraph is subject to the following limitations, qualifications and exceptions: (a) the effect of bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, fraudulent transfer, moratorium or other similar laws now or hereafter in effect relating to or affecting the rights or remedies of creditors; (b) the effect of general principles of equity, whether considered in a proceeding in equity or at law (including the possible unavailability of specific performance or injunctive relief), concepts of materiality, reasonableness, good faith and fair dealing and the discretion of the court before which a proceeding is brought; (c) the effect of the laws of usury or other laws or equitable principles relating to or limiting the interest rate payable on indebtedness; and (d) that certain rights, remedies and waivers contained in the Plans may be limited or rendered ineffective by applicable laws or judicial decisions, but that such laws or judicial decisions do not render the Plans invalid or unenforceable as a whole. We express no opinion with respect to any obligations or liabilities of any other person or entity under the Plans. We express no opinion as to whether the Non-Qualified Excess 401(k) Plan is being operated by the Company as a “top hat” plan under ERISA, or whether the employees that the Company has deemed eligible to participate in the Non-Qualified Excess 40 I(k) Plan would constitute a select group of management or highly compensated employees. Because the Director Plan is not subject to the requirements of ERISA, we express no opinion as to such plan’s compliance with ERISA.

The foregoing opinions are limited to the laws of the State of Alabama, the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware and ERISA. We express no opinion as to any law or matter other than as expressly set forth above, and no opinion on any other matter may be inferred or implied herefrom. The opinions expressed herein are rendered as of the date hereof, and we expressly disclaim any obligation to update this letter or advise you of any change in any matter after the date hereof.

This letter is being furnished in accordance with the requirements of Item 8 of Form S-8 and Item 601(b)(5) of Regulation S-K, as promulgated by the Commission. We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion letter as Exhibit 5.1 to the Registration Statement. In giving such consent, we do not admit that we are within the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Act or the rules and regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder.

Very truly yours,

/s/ Maynard, Cooper & Gale, P.C.

Exhibit 23.2

Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

We consent to the incorporation by reference in the Registration Statement (Form S-8) pertaining to the Deferred Compensation Obligations under the Regions Financial Corporation Directors’ Deferred Investment and Non-Qualified Excess 401(k) Plans of our report dated February 21, 2020, with respect to the consolidated financial statements of Regions Financial Corporation and the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting of Regions Financial Corporation, included in its Annual Report (Form 10-K) for the year ended December 31, 2019, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

/s/ Ernst & Young LLP

Birmingham, Alabama

December 30, 2020

Exhibit 24.1

POWER OF ATTORNEY

KNOWN BY ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that the undersigned Director of Regions Financial Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the “Corporation”), by his or her execution hereof or upon an identical counterpart hereof, does hereby constitute and appoint Tara A. Plimpton, as his or her true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent, with full power of substitution and re-substitution, for the undersigned and in the undersigned’s name, place, and stead, in any and all capacities, for the undersigned and in their respective names as directors of the Company, a Registration Statement on Form S-8 (the “Registration Statement”), registering (i) up to $10,000,000 of deferred compensation obligations under the Regions Financial Corporation Directors’ Deferred Investment Plan and (ii) up to $125,000,000 of deferred compensation obligations under the Regions Financial Corporation Non-Qualified Excess 401(k) Plan, to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) under the Securities Act of 1933 (the “Securities Act”), as amended, and any or all amendments (including post-effective amendments) to such Registration Statement, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto and all documents in connection therewith, with the Commission pursuant to the Securities Act, and hereby grants unto said attorney-in-fact and agent, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done, as fully to all intents and purposes as the undersigned might or could do in person, and the undersigned hereby ratifies and confirms all that said attorney-in-fact and agent, or her substitution, shall do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

This power of attorney will be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware. The execution of this power of attorney is not intended to, and does not, revoke any prior powers of attorney.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the undersigned has hereunto set his or her hand as of this 15th day of December, 2020.

 

/s/ Carolyn H. Byrd

    

/s/ Charles D. McCrary

Carolyn H. Byrd      Charles D. McCrary

/s/ Don DeFosset

    

/s/ James T. Prokopanko

Don DeFosset      James T. Prokopanko

/s/ Samuel A. Di Piazza, Jr.

    

/s/ Lee J. Styslinger III

Samuel A. Di Piazza, Jr.      Lee J. Styslinger III

/s/ Zhanna Golodryga

    

/s/ José S. Suquet

Zhanna Golodryga      José S. Suquet

/s/ John D. Johns

    

/s/ Timothy Vines

John D. Johns      Timothy Vines

/s/ Ruth Ann Marshall

    
Ruth Ann Marshall