We have invested in technology and systems sufficient to match any competitor. The difference - our advantage - lies in the people we hire to encounter the people we serve. Our team is comprised of well-trained, highly motivated people of integrity and confidence. Our goal every day is to deliver prompt, accurate, courteous service that exceeds our customers' expectations. And we haven't won unless those customers leave with a "Wow!"

But how do we get there? By using a few uncomplicated promises to win the talent war in every community we serve. We pledge to respect the fundamental worth of every individual. We treat people right. We do what's right. We will safeguard our "culture of the heart."

Through PDE, we have crafted initiatives that focus intensively on people and relationships. We have raised expectations among our team members, established higher standards of excellence and higher levels of accountability. Ultimately, this delivers higher levels of performance from our leaders.

After one full year, Foundations of Leadership inculcated more than 675 team leaders with the simple premises of servant leadership and our Leadership Expectations: live the values, share the vision, make others successful and manage the business. Four hundred more leaders are attending The Leadership Institute at Synovus. Now we have a common language to describe the right way to lead at Synovus companies. With the Right Steps for Performance Development, every team leader has collaborated with every team member to match career and performance goals with the tasks at hand. Lives are changing and hearts have been touched, according to the accounts we've heard.

Our team members have noticed the difference. After our No. 1 placement in 1999, this year Synovus and our family of companies ranked No. 5 in FORTUNE magazine's annual survey of "The 100 Best Companies To Work For." This distinction is predominantly based on the attitudes and opinions of the people who work here. Once again, it's a great honor to be considered in the same league with America's finest companies. And it's a privilege to serve another year as ambassadors for the principles that make companies great and communities strong.

We've restructured all these PDE initiatives within the Center for People Development, so named to recognize that we must prepare team members to be agile, responsive and flexible so we can grow and improve with every challenge, every day.