[logo]  NEWS RELEASE

                                   FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE



DATE:          April 28, 1995

CONTACT:  David T. Gardner
          Director of Investor Relations
          (706)649-5220


SYNOVUS  ANNOUNCES COMPLETION OF 
CITIZENS & MERCHANTS STATE BANK MERGER

     Synovus Financial Corp. (NYSE-"SNV"), the Columbus, Georgia
based multi-financial services company, today announced the
completion of the merger of Citizens & Merchants Corporation
("C&M"), the parent of $51.4 million asset Citizens & Merchants
State Bank, Douglasville, Georgia, into Synovus. Citizens &
Merchants State Bank is Synovus' first acquisition in the
fast-growing suburbs west of Atlanta and the bank will continue
to operate under its existing corporate identity, management
team and local board of directors. 

     Citizens & Merchants State Bank was founded in 1987. Year-end
December 31, 1994 return on assets and return on equity were
1.74% and 13.33%, respectively. First quarter March 31, 1995
return on assets and return on equity were 2.10% and 17.86%,
respectively. Net charge-offs for 1994 were .07% and for the
first quarter of 1995 were (.03)%, indicating that recoveries
exceeded charge-offs for the quarter.

     Commenting on the merger, Synovus Chairman Jim Blanchard said
"We are extremely pleased to welcome Citizens & Merchants State
Bank to the Synovus family of companies. Douglasville is an
especially attractive market and we have joined forces with a
truly outstanding team. Their demonstrated ability to grow the
bank while performing at the highest levels of profitability
provides our organization with an excellent example of how to
develop new and profitable business. Ken Barber and his
management team and directors have done a super job in
Douglasville and we look forward to their continued success."

     Ken Barber, C&M President and CEO commented "We are very
excited about the opportunity of combining our highly successful
organization with the premier banking institution in the
Southeast. The overall financial strength and diversity of
Synovus will offer our customers and employees a full array of
services which are unmatched in our marketplace."  

     The transaction was effected by a tax-free exchange of common
stock accounted for as a pooling of interests. The holders of
C&M stock received .50 shares of Synovus stock for each share of
C&M stock. C&M shareholders received 626,481 shares of Synovus
stock worth approximately $12,843,000 million at Synovus' April
27th closing price of $20.50 . The acquisition should contribute
to Synovus' earnings per share in 1995.

     Synovus Financial Corp. (Syn * o * vus) is a $7.3 billion
asset, multi-financial services company composed of 34 banks
serving communities throughout Georgia, Alabama, Florida and
South Carolina, an 80.8% ownership of Total System Services,
Inc. (NYSE - TSS), one of the world's largest credit card
processing companies, and Synovus Securities, Inc., a full
service brokerage firm. The name "Synovus" was created by the
combination of synergy and novus- synergy meaning the
interaction of separate components such that the total effect is
greater than the sum of its parts, and novus (Latin for "new"),
meaning usually of superior quality and different from others
listed in the same category.