Synovus Financial Corp. (NYSE: SNV), the Columbus, Georgia-based financial services company, today announced that its Board of Directors has nominated Joseph J. Prochaska, former Executive Vice President and Chief Accounting Officer of MetLife, and Catherine A. Allen, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of consulting firm The Santa Fe Group, to stand for election at the Company’s 2011 Annual Meeting of Shareholders, currently scheduled for April 27, 2011.

Synovus also announced that four incumbent directors – Daniel P. Amos, Gardiner W. Garrard, Jr., Elizabeth C. Ogie and William B. Turner, Jr. – will not stand for re-election at the Company’s 2011 Annual Meeting.

“Assuming their election at our upcoming Annual Meeting of Shareholders, we look forward to welcoming Joe and Cathy to our Board,” said Richard E. Anthony, Chairman of the Synovus Board of Directors. “On behalf of the Company and the entire Board, I would like to thank Dan, Gardiner, Elizabeth and Brad for their long-time service, important contributions and commitment to Synovus.”

“I deeply appreciate the service of our retiring directors and, at the same time, I am excited about working with Joe and Cathy,” said Kessel D. Stelling, President and CEO of Synovus. “Their impressive business and industry experience will further diversify our Board and provide additional expertise and oversight as we continue to execute our long-term strategy. Our priorities continue to be returning Synovus to profitability and pursuing growth opportunities throughout our footprint.”

These changes will reduce the size of Synovus’ Board and supplement its financial and risk expertise, consistent with best practices of corporate governance.

Mr. Prochaska, 60, served as Executive Vice President and Chief Accounting Officer of MetLife, Inc. from 2003 to 2009. From 1992 to 2003, Mr. Prochaska served in various executive leadership positions at Aon Corporation, including Senior Vice President and Controller, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Aon Group, Inc. and President of Aon’s Financial Services Group. Mr. Prochaska currently serves on the boards of directors of Baird & Warner, Inc. and Xylogenics, Inc. and is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the National Association of Corporate Directors and Financial Executive Institute.

Ms. Allen, 64, is Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of The Santa Fe Group, a consulting group specializing in management for strategic industry and institutional projects to financial institutions and other critical infrastructure groups. Ms. Allen was the founding CEO of BITS, a division of the Financial Service Roundtable and consortium that worked closely with the nations largest financial institutions on a variety of strategic issues. Prior to that, Ms. Allen held various senior executive positions at Citigroup in the retail, bankcard and technology divisions. She currently serves as a member of the New Mexico State Investment Council and she serves on the boards of directors of the Stewart Information Services Corporation, El Paso Electric Company and the Advisory Board of Citibank Global Transaction Services. Previously, Ms. Allen has served on the Financial Services Sector Coordinating Council for Critical Infrastructure Protection (FSSCC) and the Financial Services Technology Consortium (FSTC).