SYNOVUS FINANCIAL CORP
SC 13G/A, 1996-01-30
STATE COMMERCIAL BANKS
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                                  UNITED STATES
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549


                                  SCHEDULE 13G


                    Under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

                              (Amendment No. 20 )*

                             Synovus Financial Corp.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                (Name of Issuer)

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                          $1.00 Par Value Common Stock
                         (Title of Class of Securities)

                                   87161C-10-5
                          -------------------------------
                                 (CUSIP Number)
                      
Check the following box if a fee is being paid with this  statement / /. (A fee
is not required only if the filing person:  (1) has a previous statement on file
reporting  beneficial  ownership  of more  than  five  percent  of the  class of
securities  described  in Item 1;  and (2) has  filed  no  amendment  subsequent
thereto reporting  beneficial  ownership of five percent or less of such class.)
(See Rule 13d-7).

*The  remainder of this cover page shall be filled out for a reporting  person's
initial filing on this form with respect to the subject class of securities, and
for any  subsequent  amendment  containing  information  which  would  alter the
disclosures provided in a prior cover page.

The information required in the remainder of this cover page shall not be deemed
to be "filed" for the purpose of Section 18 of the  Securities  Exchange  Act of
1934 ("Act") or otherwise  subject to the liabilities of that section of the Act
but  shall be  subject  to all other  provisions  of the Act  (however,  see the
Notes).















                                Page 1 of 9 pages


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                                       13G

- ----------------------------------
CUSIP No.  87161C-10-5
- ----------------------------------

- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1           NAME OF REPORTING PERSONS
            S.S. OR I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NOS. OF ABOVE PERSONS

            Synovus  Financial  Corp., as Parent Holding Company of its various
            banking and trust  company  subsidiaries,  Columbus  Bank and Trust
            Company,  as the Parent Bank of Synovus Trust Company,  and Synovus
            Trust Company, in various fiduciary capacities.
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2           CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP
             (a)  | |
             (b)  |X|

- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3           SEC USE ONLY



- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
4           CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION

                  Georgia

- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Number of           5        SOLE VOTING POWER
Shares
Benefi-                         6,297,931
cially
Owned By
Each
Reporting
Person With

                  -------------------------------------------------------------
                    6        SHARED VOTING POWER

                                  269,639
                  -------------------------------------------------------------
                    7        SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER

                                6,594,160
                  -------------------------------------------------------------
                    8        SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER

                                4,293,536
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
9           AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
                10,973,377
               (Includes Beneficial Ownership disclaimed)

- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
10          CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES



- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
11          PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW 9

                  14.2%

- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
12          TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON

               BK and HC

- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                            Page 2 of 9


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                                                                    Page 3 of 9


                 SCHEDULE 13G UNDER THE SECURITIES
                 ---------------------------------
                        EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
                        --------------------
Check the following box if a fee is being paid with this statement.  [   ]

1.       (a)      Name of Issuer: Synovus Financial Corp.

         (b)      Address of Issuer's Principal Executive Offices:

                  One Arsenal Place

                  901 Front Avenue, Suite 301

                  Columbus, Georgia 31901

2.       (a) & (b)  Name and Principal Business Office of Persons Filing:

                  Synovus Trust Company, 1148 Broadway

                  Columbus, Georgia   31901

                  Columbus Bank and Trust Company, 1148 Broadway

                  Columbus, Georgia    31901

                  Synovus Financial Corp., One Arsenal Place, 901 Front Avenue

                  Suite 301, Columbus, Georgia 31901

         (c)      Citizenship:

                  Synovus Financial Corp. is a Georgia business corporation and 

                  its banking and trust  company  subsidiaries  are  Georgia,  

                  Florida, Alabama and National Banking corporations and trust 

                  companies.

         (d)      Title of class of securities: $1.00 par value common stock.

         (e)      CUSIP No. 87161C-10-5

3.       Check whether person filing is a:

         (a)      [ ]   Broker or Dealer registered under Section 15 of the Act

         (b)      [X]   Bank as defined in section 3(a)(6) of the Act





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                                                                    Page 4 of 9



         (c)      [ ]   Insurance Company as defined in section 3(a)(19) of the 
                        Act

         (d)      [ ]   Investment Company registered under section 8 of the 
                        Investment Company Act

         (e)      [ ]   Investment Adviser registered under section 203 of the 
                        Investment Advisers Act of 1940

         (f)      [ ]   Employee  Benefit  Plan,  Pension  Fund which is
                        subject to the provisions of the Employee  Retirement
                        Income  Security Act of 1974 or Endowment  Fund;  see
                        section 240.13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(F)

         (g)      [X]   Parent Holding Company, in accordance with section
                        240.13d-1(b)(ii)(G) (Note: See Item 7)

         (h)      [ ]   Group, in accordance with section 240.13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(H)

4.       If the  percent  of the  class  owned,  as of  December  31 of the year
         covered by the statement,  or as of the last day of any month described
         in Rule 13d-1(b)(2),  if applicable,  exceeds five percent, provide the
         following  information  as of that date and identify those shares which
         there is a right to acquire.

         (a)      Amount beneficially owned (Includes shares as to which 
                  beneficial ownership is disclaimed).

                  December 31, 1995        10,973,377

         (b)      Percent of Class:      14.2%

         (c)      Number of shares as to which such person has:

                  (i)   Sole power to vote or to direct the vote

                                6,297,931

                  (ii)  Shared power to vote or to direct the vote

                                  269,639

                  (iii) Sole power to dispose or to direct the disposition of

                                6,594,160

                  (iv)  Shared power to dispose or to direct the disposition of

                                4,293,536




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                                                                    Page 5 of 9



         For an additional  discussion  on this item,  see Exhibits "A", "B" and
         "C" attached hereto.


5.       Ownership of Five Percent or Less of a Class.

         If this statement is being filed to report the fact that as of the date
         hereof the reporting  person has ceased to be the  beneficial  owner of
         more than five percent of the class of securities,  check the following
         [ ].

            Not Applicable


6.       Ownership of More than Five Percent on Behalf of Another Person.

         If any other  person is known to have the right to receive or the power
         to direct the receipt of dividends  from, or the proceeds from the sale
         of, such  securities,  a statement to that effect should be included in
         response to this item and, if such  interest  relates to more than five
         percent of the class,  such person should be  identified.  A listing of
         the  shareholders  of  an  investment   company  registered  under  the
         Investment Company Act of 1940 or the beneficiaries of employee benefit
         plan, pension fund or endowment fund is not required.

            See Exhibit "B"


7.       Identification and Classification of the Subsidiary Which Acquired the 
         Security Being Reported on By the Parent Holding Company.

         If a parent holding  company has filed this schedule,  pursuant to Rule
         13d-1(b)(ii)(G),  so  indicate  under  Item 3(g) and  attach an exhibit
         stating the  identity  and the Item 3  classification  of the  relevant
         subsidiary.  If a  parent  holding  company  has  filed  this  schedule
         pursuant to Rule 13d-1(c), attach an exhibit stating the identification
         of the relevant subsidiary.

            See Exhibit "C"


8.       Identification and Classification of Members of the Group.

         If a group has filed this schedule pursuant to Rule 13d-1(b)(ii)(H), so
         indicate under Item 3(h) and attach an exhibit stating the identity and
         Item 3 classification of each member of the group. If a group has filed
         this schedule pursuant to Rule 13d-1(c),  attach an exhibit stating the
         identity of each member of the group.

            Not Applicable




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                                                                    Page 6 of 9


9.       Notice of Dissolution of Group.

         Notice of dissolution of a group may be furnished as an exhibit stating
         the date of the  dissolution  and that all further filings with respect
         to transactions in the security reported on will be filed, if required,
         by members of the group, in their individual capacity. See Item 5.

            Not Applicable


10.      Certification.  By  signing  below I  certify  that,  to the best of my
         knowledge and belief, the securities referred to above were acquired in
         the  ordinary  course of business and were not acquired for the purpose
         of and do not have the effect of changing or influencing the control of
         the issuer of such  securities and were not acquired in connection with
         or as a participant in any transaction  having such purposes or effect.
         After reasonable  inquiry and to the best of my knowledge and belief, I
         certify  that the  information  set  forth in this  statement  is true,
         complete and correct.

                                        SYNOVUS FINANCIAL CORP.


                                        By:/s/G. Sanders Griffith, III
                                           G. Sanders Griffith, III
                                           Senior Executive Vice President,
                                           General Counsel and Secretary
January 29, 1996
Date

                                        COLUMBUS BANK AND TRUST COMPANY


                                        By:/s/James D. Yancey
                                           James D. Yancey
                                           Vice Chairman
January 29, 1996
Date

                                        SYNOVUS TRUST COMPANY


                                         By:/s/George G. Flowers
                                            George G. Flowers
                                            President
January 29, 1996                                          
Date


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                                                                    Page 7 of 9

                           EXHIBIT "A"
                           -----------

         In addition to the securities  identified in the response to Item 4, as
of December 31, 1995,  the  banking  and trust company  subsidiaries  of Synovus
Financial Corp.  possessed neither sole nor shared voting or investment power in
connection with 6,540,054 shares of the class of securities which is the subject
of this report which were held in various agency, custody,  safekeeping or asset
management capacities, or with brokers, for various agency, custody, safekeeping
or asset management customers.  Such securities are not included in the response
to such item in this  report.  However,  appropriate  disclosures,  such as that
currently at hand, by  "footnote"  or otherwise,  will be included in all future
reports to  identify  the  volume of such  securities  held in agency,  custody,
safekeeping,  asset management or other capacities in which they possess neither
sole or shared voting or investment power. See Exhibit "C".






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                                                                    Page 8 of 9
                           EXHIBIT "B"
                           ----------

         On  January  3,  1995,  Columbus  Bank and  Trust  Company,  a  banking
subsidiary  of  Synovus   Financial  Corp.,   both  signatory   parties  hereto,
transferred, pursuant to Section 7-1-320 et seq. of  the  Financial Institutions
Code  of  Georgia,  all  of  its  rights,  powers,   privileges,   accounts  and
designations  as a  fiduciary,  including  the sole and/or  shared power to vote
and/or invest the shares of the class of the securities  which is the subject of
this report,  to Synovus Trust  Company,  also a signatory  party hereto and the
wholly-owned  subsidiary of Columbus Bank and Trust Company. Thus, Columbus Bank
and Trust Company no longer directly holds any of the class of securities  which
is the subject of this report.  As of December 31, 1995,  Synovus  Trust Company
possessed in various fiduciary capacities,  the right to receive or the power to
direct the receipt of dividends  from, or the proceeds from the sale of 13.4% of
the class of the  securities  which is the subject of this report,  as set forth
below, the beneficial ownership of which is disclaimed.  The other known persons
having the right, as of December 31, 1995, to receive or the power to direct the
receipt  of  dividends  from,  or the  proceeds  from the sale of,  the class of
securities which is the subject of this report,  are other banking  subsidiaries
of Synovus  Financial  Corp.  as  identified  in  Exhibit  "C",  the  beneficial
ownership of which is disclaimed. None of such other banking subsidiaries, as of
December 31, 1995,  individually  or in the  aggregate,  possessed such right or
power relating to more than five percent of the class of securities which is the
subject of this report.

         Held by Synovus  Trust  Company in various  fiduciary  capacities as of
December 31, 1995:
<TABLE>

        Sole            Shared        Sole Power       Shared Power
     Voting Power    Voting Power     To Dispose       To Dispose
     -------------   ------------     ----------       ------------
     <C>             <C>              <C>              <C>
       5,893,582       269,639         6,089,873        4,293,536
</TABLE>

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                                                                    Page 9 of 9
                           EXHIBIT "C"
                           -----------


         Identified  below are the  subsidiaries of Synovus  Financial Corp. and
its  wholly-owned  banking  subsidiary,  Columbus Bank and Trust Company,  which
hold, in various  fiduciary  capacities,  the class of  securities  which is the
subject of this report.


(1)  Synovus  Trust  Company,   a  trust  company  subsidiary  of
     Columbus Bank and Trust Company.

(2)  The  Quincy  State  Bank,  a banking  subsidiary  of Synovus
     Financial Corp.

(3)  Vanguard  Bank and Trust  Company,  a banking  subsidiary of
     Synovus Financial Corp.

(4)  The National Bank of South Carolina, a banking subsidiary of
     Synovus Financial Corp.


The respective  beneficial  ownership by those subsidiaries of Synovus Financial
Corp.  that held, as of December 31, 1995, the class of securities  which is the
subject of this report is identified below.

(1)  Synovus Trust Company,  The Quincy State Bank, Vanguard Bank
     and Trust  Company,  and The National Bank of South Carolina
     maintain in various  fiduciary  capacities  as to which they
     possess  sole voting  and/or  investment  power,  6,089,873;
     148,434;  88; and 441,446  shares of the class of securities
     which  is  the  subject  of  this  report,   the  beneficial
     ownership of which is disclaimed.

(2)  Synovus  Trust  Company   maintains  in  various   fiduciary
     capacities  as to which it possesses  shared  voting  and/or
     investment   power,   4,293,536   shares  of  the  class  of
     securities  which  is  the  subject  of  this  report,   the
     beneficial ownership of which is disclaimed.


In addition to the foregoing,  and as referenced in Exhibit "A" hereto,  Synovus
Trust  Company,  a trust company  subsidiary of Columbus Bank and Trust Company,
and The  Quincy  State  Bank,  and  Vanguard  Bank and  Trust  Company,  banking
subsidiaries  of Synovus  Financial  Corp.,  respectively,  maintain  in various
agency,  custody,  safekeeping or asset management capacities,  or with brokers,
for  various  agency,  custody,   safekeeping  or  asset  management  customers:
6,499,765; 4,079; and 36,210 shares, respectively,  or an aggregate of 6,540,054
shares, of the class of securities which is the subject of this report.



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