American Banker·2026-01-22 20:02Core Insights - Pinnacle Financial Partners is aggressively hiring, planning to add 225 to 250 revenue-producing bankers in 2026 and 250 to 275 in 2027 [2][11] - The bank's hiring targets for 2026 represent a potential increase of 15% at the high end compared to the previous year, where a combined total of 217 bankers were hired [3][4] - The merger with Synovus Financial has created a combined entity with approximately $117 billion in assets, nearly double the size of each bank prior to the merger [5] Hiring Strategy - The bank is focusing on recruiting experienced bankers in the Southeast, leveraging market disruptions caused by mergers and acquisitions [2][5] - CEO Kevin Blair emphasized a direct approach to hiring, avoiding traditional recruitment methods and instead targeting top bankers in each market [5][6] Market Position and Growth - The combined bank operates in nine states, including Tennessee, North Carolina, and Florida, which are seen as having strong growth potential [7] - Loan growth is projected to be 9% to 11% higher by the end of 2026, with contributions expected from newly hired relationship managers and specialty businesses [9] Financial Outlook - Deposits are anticipated to reach between $106.5 billion and $108.5 billion by year-end, up from a combined total of $98.7 billion at the end of last year [10] - The bank expects to achieve $100 million in annualized merger-related expense savings this year, with a systems conversion planned for March 2027 [12]