SAVANNAH BANCORP INC
8-K, 1998-02-17
NATIONAL COMMERCIAL BANKS
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                                  UNITED STATES
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                              WASHINGTON, DC 20549

                                    FORM 8-K


                                 CURRENT REPORT
                     PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
                         SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

      Date of Report (Date if earliest event reported): February 11, 1998

                         Commission file number 0-18560


                           The Savannah Bancorp, Inc.
             -------------------------------------------------------
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

          Georgia                                       58-1861820
- -----------------------------                        ---------------
(State or other jurisdiction of                       (IRS Employer
 incorporation or organization)                     identification No.)


                       25 Bull Street, Savannah, GA 31401
              --------------------------------------------------------
               (Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)


                               912-651-8200
              --------------------------------------------------------
              (Registrant's telephone number, including area code)


                                 Not Applicable
           ------------------------------------------------------------
           (Former Name or Former Address, If Changed Since Last Report)


ITEM FIVE. OTHER EVENTS

On February 11, 1998, THE SAVANNAH BANCORP, INC. ("Registrant")and BRYAN BANCORP
OF GEORGIA,  INC.  jointly  announced  that they have  entered into a definitive
agreement for a proposed merger of Bryan Bancorp into  Registrant.  The proposed
merger  is  subject  to  any  required  corporate   shareholder  and  regulatory
approvals.

The  Savannah  Bancorp,  Inc. is a one-bank  holding  company.  Its wholly owned
subsidiary,  The  Savannah  Bank,  N.A.operates  four  offices in the  Savannah,
Georgia area. Bryan Bancorp of Georgia, Inc. is also a one-bank holding company.
Its wholly owned  subsidiary,  Bryan Bank & Trust Company has one office located
in Richmond Hill, Georgia.

C.    Exhibits

News release dated February 11, 1998, regarding Registrant  announcing execution
of definitive agreement with Bryan Bancorp of Georgia, Inc.


                                   SIGNATURES
                                ----------------

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,  Registrant
has duly  caused  this  report  to be signed  on its  behalf by the  undersigned
thereunto duly authorized.

                           The Savannah Bancorp, Inc.

Date:  2/11/98                                       By:   Archie H. Davis
       -------                                          ----------------------
                                                              President


<PAGE>


February 11, 1998  

                
                     The Savannah Bancorp and Bryan Bancorp
                      of Georgia Announce Merger Agreement

The Savannah Bancorp (Nasdaq:  SAVB), of Savannah,  Georgia and Bryan Bancorp of
Georgia  ("Bryan") of Richmond Hill,  Georgia  jointly  announced that they have
entered into a definitive  agreement  for a proposed  merger of Bryan Bancorp of
Georgia into The Savannah Bancorp.

Bryan Bancorp of Georgia is the one-bank  holding company for Bryan Bank & Trust
Company in Richmond Hill, Georgia.  The Savannah Bancorp is the one-bank holding
company for The Savannah Bank,  N.A. in Savannah,  Georgia.  Richmond Hill is 20
miles south of downtown Savannah on Interstate 95.

Under the terms of the agreement, Bryan shareholders will receive 1.85 shares of
SAVB common stock for each share of Bryan common stock.  Based on SAVB's closing
stock price of $25.50 on February 10, 1998, the  transaction  would be valued at
approximately $24 million.  The merger, which is anticipated to be accounted for
as a pooling of  interests,  is expected  to be  consummated  by mid-year  1998,
pending  approval of Bryan and SAVB  shareholders,  regulatory  authorities  and
other  customary  conditions  of closing.  The  transaction  is expected to be a
tax-free reorganization for income tax purposes.

Archie H. Davis,  President and Chief Executive Officer of SAVB, stated,  "There
is a new generation of strong community-based banking companies forming during a
period of flux and  consolidation  in the Georgia banking  industry.  We see our
merger with Bryan Bancorp as the first step for our two groups to build a strong
franchise of community banks in our region.  Southeast Georgia deserves a strong
banking  company - a network  of local  banks  with  flexibility,  autonomy  and
decision-making  clout to give our region the  financial  power it needs to grow
and prosper."

Jimmy Burnsed,  President and Chief Executive Officer of Bryan, said, "These two
banking  companies  are a natural  fit. We found in our  negotiations  that both
companies  shared the same  strategic  vision.  It is a strong  match of people,
geography and service philosophies. The combination is far stronger than the two
banks  standing  alone.  We look  forward to a dynamic  future with the Savannah
Bancorp."

J. Wiley Ellis,  Chairman of SAVB,  said,  "A void in personal  banking  service
develops when markets are served only by branches of large out-of-state  banking
networks. We opened our doors in 1990 to insure the Chatham County residents had
a choice for financial  services with the local,  personal  touch.  Bryan Bank &
Trust  formed in 1989 in  neighboring  Bryan County for the same  reasons.  Both
groups are committed to quality customer service.  We live and work here. We are
vitally  interested in the  financial  well-being  of our  hometowns.  This is a
perfect blend of banking philosophies."

C. L. Stafford, Chairman of the Board of Bryan, stated, "Savannah Bancorp is the
right partner for our future. With this match, our stockholders,  our customers,
our  communities  and  our  employees  are  well  served.   This  is  a  winning
combination."

Bryan Bank & Trust Company has one office in Richmond Hill with another  planned
for  mid-year.  As of December 31, 1997,  Bryan had total assets of $66 million,
total deposits of $56 million,  total stockholders'  equity of $7.4 million, and
$1.2 million in 1997 earnings.

The Savannah Bank, N.A. provides banking services from four full service offices
in Savannah, Chatham County, Georgia. A fifth office is scheduled to open in the
Medical Art Shopping Center in the third quarter, 1998. As of December 31, 1997,
SAVB had $164  million in total  assets,  $144  million in total  deposits,  $15
million in total  stockholders'  equity,  and $1.8 million in net income for the
year.  Combined  assets  after the merger will  approximate  $230  million.  The
Savannah  Bancorp,  Inc.  common stock is traded on the Nasdaq  National  Market
System under the symbol SAVB.

SOURCE: The Savannah Bancorp and Bryan Bancorp of Georgia




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