CHARLESTON -- BB&T and Wesbanco cemented spots Sept. 10 as the two top money winners in the Bureau of Treasury Investments’ on-line CD auction series, each grabbing the maximum $5 million.

            Wesbanco has a Wheeling presence, as does Main Street Bank, which also bid successfully for $5 million. Fifth Third Bank in Huntington and Harrison County Bank of Lost Creek also garnered $5 million.

            BB&T and Wesbanco are the top two bidders in the auction series, with cumulative successful bids of $93 million. Wesbanco has lodged top bids totaling $71 million.

            Banks have precisely 30 minutes in which to lodge bids. A bank representative only knows whether it is “in” or “out” of the money. Banks are rated from top to bottom, depending on interest rate, time and the amount of money bid. Fifth Third Bank lodged the highest bid at .41 percent.

            The BTI has made $1.2 million in interest above what it would have made had it simply invested directly in U.S. Treasury bills. The BTI has put $554 million on deposit with state banks since the auctions began in March of 2006.