With 10 patents and four more pending, OZK Labs — beyond the murals and free Starbucks — is doing some cool work for Little Rock-based Bank OZK, formerly Bank of the Ozarks. But this isn’t technology for technology’s sake. The overarching goal of the unit

Executives at five banks in the region share the why behind their loan growth.

In January, Atlanta-based SunTrust Bank appointed a new president of its Tampa and southwest Florida markets. Tim Schar, 48, comes to SunTrust from San Francisco-based Apple Pie Capital, a financier for franchise businesses.

Michael Jones brings plenty of institutional knowledge to his new leadership post with Regions Bank in Tampa, Florida.

The Sembler Co. has completed its 10-month renovation to Disston Plaza in St. Petersburg, with a new Publix Super Markets Inc. store and improvements to lighting, roofing, landscaping and signage.