ATLANTA -- Bank of America Corp. reported Wednesday it hit its target of hiring more that 1,000 small business bankers in 2012, including 35 in Metro Atlanta.

The Charlotte, N.C.-based bank said it extended $280.2 million in credit to Georgia small businesses and $8.7 billion nationally last year. The $8.7 billion was an increase of 28 percent over 2011.

It recently reported net income of $2.8 billion for 2012. It also saw its head count shrink by about 5,000 employees to 267,190 in the fourth quarter, evidence that BofA is still trimming staff levels as it works to lower its expenses. Branches also continued to close, with BofA reporting 5,478 banking centers across its U.S. franchise at the end of the year, down from 5,702 centers a year earlier. 

Bank of America is the third-largest bank in metro Atlanta with 145 local branches and $20.4 billion in area deposits for a market share of 17 percent. 

ATHENS, Ga. - The Kmart store in Athens along Barnett Shoals Road closed for the final time Sunday.

The store was among a list of 120 stores nationally that Kmart's parent, Sears Holdings, said late last year they would be shuttering nationwide. Locations in Douglasville, Jonesboro and on Cleveland Avenue in Atlanta have already closed.

RELATED | 4 Metro Atlanta locations among Kmart stores to close

Employees in the store were offered the opportunity to apply for positions at other Kmart stores.

Kmart stores in Marietta, Covington, Canton, Mableton, Snellville, Hiram, Peachtree City, Cartersville, Carrollton and Rome remain open.