I actually don't think this is going to take a year. They seem to be moving along fairly quickly (at least as compared to what they usually do). BB&T has been working on this deal for sometime now (at least 5 months), so things should have been fairly well planned out and plans in place. Whatever it is that they're actually planning, I believe, should be fairly well in place and done in the next three or four months.
I just wish I knew exactly what it is that they're doing. Just my humble estimate based on what I've read and know about IPO's, mergers, and banking.