Another report predicts change at BB&T.

Byline: Richard Craver

Oct. 12--An investment-banking company has issued a report casting doubt on BB&T Corp.'s chances of remaining an independent bank.

FIG Partners LLC, based in Atlanta, said its analysts spoke last week with executives from 12 community banks in the Carolinas, including Southern Community Financial Corp. in Winston-Salem, FNB Corp. of Asheboro and FNB Financial Services of Greensboro.

Analyst Christopher Marinac wrote that for the second consecutive year, the consensus from the executives was that they believed that BB&T could be sold in the next few years. Marinac did not return messages asking for further comment. BB&T dismissed the report.

Southern Community also was featured in a report about its short-term prospects.

"After spending this week in North Carolina, we remain convinced that a change of ownership at BB&T is clearly possible the next 18-24 months," Marinac wrote. He does not mention potential buyers. Analysts said that in most bank deals, the seller is the initiator of talks.

The FIG Partners report is the third analysis issued since Oct. 4 that discusses the possibility of BB&T being sold.

Bob Denham, a spokesman for BB&T, said yesterday that the FIG Partners report is "nothing more than innuendo and rumor. The report has no …