Pinnacle Opens its First Economic Empowerment Resource Center in North Carolina

Pinnacle Financial Partners recently opened its first Pinnacle Economic Empowerment Resource (PEER) Center in North Carolina. PEER Centers are focused on providing the community with financial education and support from an office embedded in historically underserved communities. Located at 413 Dalton Avenue, the full-service location is home to three banking veterans, two of them new to the firm. Sherry Robinson joins the firm as an office leader, while Kyle Cunningham and Ashley Saavedra will serve as financial specialists.

“At Pinnacle, we always seek to make a positive impact on the communities we serve,” said Katie Elder, area manager. “Everyone deserves the opportunity to take part in and benefit from our growing economies and that’s what the PEER Center are all about. Sherry, Kyle and Ashley bring extensive experience in helping people achieve their financial goals. Their commitment to serving and uplifting the community speaks to Pinnacle’s goal of bringing everyone with us by meeting the specific needs of the communities we serve by continuing to provide distinctive service and effective advice.”

Because of Pinnacle’s geographic model of local leadership and decision-making, the Charlotte PEER Center’s offerings are customized to meet the specific needs of the community. This office offers financial coaching, personal financial planning, and educational opportunities for homeownership and small business startup and growth. Along with all traditional banking services, the PEER Center offers specialized lending designed for people living with low to moderate incomes and/or in minority communities.

 In addition, the PEER Center will continue to build and strengthen nonprofit partnerships in the local community. The Charlotte PEER Center is working with community organizations that provide not only financial education and services, but workforce development, family services, youth services, social change and business training. Nonprofit partners will be able to use the space to offer services, classes or workspace.

“We are excited about the PEER Center in Charlotte,” said Tim Riley, owner and founder of Grey Nation Squad. “Our partnership with Pinnacle will further the mission and vision of the likeminded individuals and organizations we work with on aging gracefully while providing high impact outreach to our community.”

Robinson has 28 years of industry experience and comes to the firm from SunTrust, where she served as branch manager and assistant vice president. She also previously worked at TD Bank as a business development and sales manager. Robinson is involved in several community organizations, including the Grey Nation Squad, LLC, the Western Women’s Business Center and the Urban League of Central Carolinas.

Cunningham comes to Pinnacle from Towne Bank, where he served as branch operations manager, and brings with him 22 years of financial experience. He has also held key positions at First Citizens Bank. He is a graduate of Cleveland Community College and currently volunteers with Junior Achievement and Samaritans Purse.

Saavedra has been with Pinnacle for seven years having worked at the firm’s SouthPark office before joining the PEER Center team. In the community she serves as a financial literacy/ education volunteer with The Boys and Girls Club of Greater Charlotte and The Salvation Army.

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 and fastest growing bank in the Nashville-Murfreesboro-Franklin MSA, according to 2023 deposit data from the FDIC. Pinnacle is No. 11 on the 2024 list of 100 Best Companies to Work For® in the U.S., its eighth consecutive appearance and was recognized by American Banker as one of America’s Best Banks to Work For 11 years in a row and No. 1 among banks with more than $10 billion in assets in 2023.

Pinnacle entered the North Carolina market in 2017 when it acquired BNC Bancorp, offering community bank service with the resources and sophistication of a larger firm. Pinnacle is ranked as the No. 1 workplace in the Triad, Triangle and Charlotte markets, as listed by the Triad Business Journal, Triangle Business Journal and Charlotte Observer.

The firm began operations in a single location in downtown Nashville, TN in October 2000 and has since grown to approximately $49.4 billion in assets as of June 30, 2024. 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.