Tennessee

Regulators have pressed banks to watch out for rising concentrations of commercial real estate loans. Some banks have paid heed, but others are skyrocketing past recommended thresholds.

James Cope entered into an agreement with the U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Tennessee to plead guilty to one count of insider trading; he will serve a two-year probationary sentence.

First Tennessee Bank in Memphis has recruited a quartet of executives for its expanding specialty banking lines that serve the franchising, healthcare, music, and transportation industries.

Strong revenue growth powered First Horizon in Memphis to a 7% increase in third-quarter earnings.

First Tennessee Bank in Memphis said Tuesday that has promoted three executives in its Middle Atlantic region.

First Tennessee Bank in Memphis announced Wednesday that it will commit $1 million to Operation Hope’s new HOPE Fund to offer free financial literacy education in low-income communities.

CapStar Financial Holdings in Nashville, Tenn., expects to raise net proceeds of $16.6 million in an initial public offering that it plans to spend on growth and other initiatives — perhaps including M&A.

HomeTrust Bancshares in Asheville, N.C., is beefing up in Tennessee with a deal to acquire TriSummit Bancorp in Kingsport.

Years of branch closures and job cuts are paying off for banks in the form of much-improved efficiency ratios. But with low interest rates still crimping profits, banks remain under pressure to continue reducing expenses.

CapStar Financial Holdings in Nashville, Tenn., whose board includes a top Credit Suisse executive, has filed plans to raise up to $46 million in an initial public offering.

Pinnacle, No. 6 in the overall ranking, is No. 2 in the category for banks with $3 billion to $10 billion of assets.

Fitness/wellness program: The "Biggest Loser" 10-week weight loss campaign awards teams and individuals for the most pounds and largest percentage of pounds lost. During the 2016 campaign, 189 employees lost 876 pounds and received prizes ranging from $600 to $1,000.

Popular with employees: Birthdays mean a day off from work with pay.

First Horizon, No. 35 in the overall ranking, is No. 1 in the category for banks with more than $10 billion of assets.

Employee recognition/appreciation program: First National often provides breakfast or lunch for employees.

The holding company for Tennessee's FirstBank plans to hold an initial public offering, in order to make more than $65 million in distributions and debt repayments to its chairman.

Lending margins are once again contracting thanks to a confluence of factors, and bankers are doing everything from shifting cash into higher-risk securities to reconfiguring branches to pad profits.

First Horizon National in Memphis, Tenn., reports solid quarterly results on the strength of revenue growth.

A trio of banks will buy more than $1.4 billion in franchise loans from GE Capital.

Franklin Financial Network in Tennessee hit a roadblock in its plan to buy Civic Bank & Trust in Nashville, but that didn't stop Franklin from hiring away Civic's chief executive.