Pinnacle Financial Partners Grows Jacksonville Presence with Five Key Additions

Pinnacle Financial Partners is accelerating its expansion in North Florida with the addition of five highly regarded financial professionals to its Riverside office in Jacksonville. This strategic growth reflects the firm’s deepening investment in the region’s businesses and communities.

 At the forefront of this expansion is Abel Harding, a well-known financial services veteran and civic leader who most recently served as market president at First Horizon. He joins Pinnacle as a financial advisor and area manager to help drive market growth and continue building the firm’s work with Jacksonville’s business and professional communities. Harding brings extensive experience in financial services, market development and civic engagement.

“Abel is a game-changer for our expansion in Jacksonville,” said Scott Keith, regional president at Pinnacle. “His deep roots in the community, his reputation as a connector, and his proven ability to drive growth make him exactly the kind of leader we want representing our firm. Abel will be instrumental in helping us grow our presence and build lasting relationships across the region.”

At First Horizon Bank, Harding led commercial and consumer banking growth across key Florida metros. He serves as the chair of JAXUSA Partnership, the regional economic development arm of the JAX Chamber, a role that makes his move to Pinnacle particularly significant for Jacksonville’s business ecosystem.

Earlier in his career, Harding served as director of communications for the City of Jacksonville, and before that earned acclaim as an investigative political journalist. He has been named among Florida Trend’s 500 Most Influential Business Leaders and the Jacksonville Business Journal’s 40 Under 40.

“I was drawn to Pinnacle by the opportunity to be part of something entrepreneurial in Jacksonville,” said Harding. “The firm is a highly regarded major financial institution but has the energy and culture of a start-up. I’m excited to be part of something being built from the ground up in Jacksonville and work with bankers I respect while delivering exceptional service to clients.”

Alongside Harding, four additional team members bring deep industry knowledge and local market focus.

A trusted figure in the homebuilding and development banking space, Ross McWilliams most recently led homebuilder banking at Ameris Bank. His work with builders and developers has shaped lending strategies across the region. His move to Pinnacle as a financial advisor adds valuable industry insight for commercial clients within the construction and real estate sectors.

Austin Davis, office leader at the firm’s Riverside location brings more than 16 years of experience to the firm. He came to Pinnacle from Truist Bank, where he served as a vice president and market leader focusing on small-business growth. He has also served as an assistant vice president and store manager for Wells Fargo Bank. Davis earned his bachelor’s degree from Florida A&M University and holds numerous certifications, including cash management and banking regulations.

Chris Winsett, a financial advisor, brings over 26 years of experience in relationship banking and strategic financial advising. With past roles at Regions Bank and Truist Financial, Winsett will focus on helping Jacksonville business clients manage working capital, credit needs and long-term financial strategies.

With more than 17 years at Wells Fargo, Megan Kiker a treasury management analyst for the firm has built a reputation for optimizing treasury operations, evaluating financial trends, and strengthening business banking relationships. She will serve commercial clients with treasury solutions tailored to their growth needs.

“We’re not just building a team we’re building momentum,” said Keith. “Our Riverside office is now home to some of the area’s most trusted advisors and that’s a direct reflection of our long term belief in this community.”

Pinnacle Financial Partners provides a full range of banking, investment, trust, mortgage and insurance products and services designed for businesses and their owners and individuals interested in a comprehensive relationship with their financial institution. The firm is the No. 1 bank in the Nashville-Murfreesboro-Franklin MSA, according to 2024 deposit data from the FDIC. Pinnacle is No. 9 on FORTUNE magazine’s 2025 list of 100 Best Companies to Work For® in the U.S., its ninth consecutive appearance and was recognized by American Banker as one of America’s Best Banks to Work For 12 years in a row and No. 1 among banks with more than $10 billion in assets in 2024.

Pinnacle entered North Florida in late 2023 by recruiting local financial services leaders to build a team and open an office in Jacksonville.

The firm began operations in a single location in downtown Nashville, TN in October 2000 and has since grown to approximately $54.3 billion in assets as of March 31, 2025.  As the second-largest bank holding company in Tennessee, Pinnacle operates in several primarily urban markets across the Southeast.

Additional information concerning Pinnacle, which is included in the Nasdaq Financial-100 Index, can be accessed at www.pnfp.com.