James Barnett Joins Pinnacle in Birmingham

James Barnett has joined the Birmingham team of Pinnacle Financial Partners, a bank based in Nashville, TN, solidifying the growing presence of Pinnacle in the market. He is a senior credit officer bringing 18 years of financial services experience to the firm.

“Pinnacle is dedicated to putting people first,” said Mark Imig, Pinnacle’s regional president in Birmingham. “While many companies are experiencing challenges, we continue to attract experienced professionals with the wisdom of many years in the industry and the autonomy to work in the clients’ best interest. We’ve made significant, consistent and long-term investments in both people and culture, leading to rapid, reliable and sustainable growth in Alabama. In addition to his wealth of knowledge in financial services, James is extremely well-regarded within the business community and has earned a reputation for partnership and professionalism that will serve Pinnacle clients well.”

Barnett is Pinnacle’s first senior credit officer in the region, and he will help build a credit team to partner with local financial advisors in reviewing and structuring deals in the best interests of clients and the firm. That culture of teamwork and collaboration between credit advisors and lenders is one of hallmarks of Pinnacle’s work environment and one of many reasons it is ranked as one of the best places to work in the nation and in almost every market we serve

 “I found Pinnacle’s culture to be markedly different from others in the industry,” said Barnett. “The firm’s model is designed to foster close relationships between lending and credit because we all share common goals and a common incentive plan. This cultural distinction is clearly evident in the continued awards we receive for our great workplace and our client service. It was tangible as I met with the firm’s leadership and associates in person, and it gives us a great opportunity to support our clients and community here in Central Alabama.”

Barnett joins Pinnacle from PNC Bank, where he served as the commercial credit director. He also worked at BBVA in Birmingham as the East Region and industry specialist credit risk officer.

Barnett earned his bachelor’s degree and MBA from Auburn University. He has served on the board of the YMCA and has dedicated time and resources to Hope Inspired Ministries, United Way of Central Alabama, Breast Cancer Research Foundation of Alabama, Church of the Highlands and Cornerstone Schools of Alabama.

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. Pinnacle earned a spot on FORTUNE's 2021 list of 100 Best Companies to Work For® in the U.S., its fifth consecutive appearance. American Banker recognized Pinnacle as one of America’s Best Banks to Work For nine years in a row and No. 1 among banks with more than $11 billion in assets in 2021.

Pinnacle entered Alabama in the summer of 2021 by hiring a team of local financial services professionals to open offices in Huntsville and Birmingham.

The firm began operations in a single location in downtown Nashville, TN, in October 2000 and has since grown to approximately $38.5 billion in assets as of Dec. 31, 2021. As the second-largest bank holding company headquartered in Tennessee, Pinnacle operates in 15 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.