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EX-10.2 - EXHIBIT 10.2 - PINNACLE FINANCIAL PARTNERS INCexhibit10_2.htm
EX-10.1 - EXHIBIT 10.1 - PINNACLE FINANCIAL PARTNERS INCexhibit10_1.htm
EX-32.2 - EXHIBIT 32.2 - PINNACLE FINANCIAL PARTNERS INCex32_2.htm
EX-32.1 - EXHIBIT 32.1 - PINNACLE FINANCIAL PARTNERS INCex32_1.htm
EX-31.2 - EXHIBIT 31.2 - PINNACLE FINANCIAL PARTNERS INCex31_2.htm
EX-31.1 - EXHIBIT 31.1 - PINNACLE FINANCIAL PARTNERS INCex31_1.htm
 UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-Q

              (mark one)
QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d)
OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the quarterly period ended March 31, 2017
or
TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OF 15(d)
OF THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the transition period from ____ to ____
Commission File Number: 000-31225

, Inc.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Tennessee
 
62-1812853
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)
 
(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

150 Third Avenue South, Suite 900, Nashville, Tennessee
 
37201
(Address of principal executive offices)
 
(Zip Code)

(615) 744-3700
 (Registrant's telephone number, including area code)
Not Applicable
(Former name, former address and former fiscal year, if changes since last report)

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.
Yes 
No 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate website, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T during the preceding 12 months (or for shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).
Yes 
No
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See definitions of "large accelerated filer", "accelerated filer", "smaller reporting company" and "emerging growth company" in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.  (Check one):
Large Accelerated Filer
Accelerated Filer
Non-accelerated Filer 
(do not check if you are a smaller reporting company)
Smaller reporting company  
 
Emerging growth company  

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).
Yes 
No

As of May 2, 2017 there were 49,828,669 shares of common stock, $1.00 par value per share, issued and outstanding.


Pinnacle Financial Partners, Inc.
Report on Form 10-Q
March 31, 2017

TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page No.
   
PART I – Financial Information:
 4
Item 1. Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)
 4
Item 2. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
 33
Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk
 53
Item 4. Controls and Procedures
 53
   
PART II – Other Information:
 54
Item 1. Legal Proceedings
 54
Item 1A. Risk Factors
 54
Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds
 55
Item 3. Defaults Upon Senior Securities
 55
Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures
 55
Item 5. Other Information
 55
Item 6. Exhibits
 56
Signatures
 57

2


FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

Certain of the statements in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q  may constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. The words "expect," "anticipate," "intend," "plan," "believe," "seek," "estimate" and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements, but other statements not based on historical information may also be considered forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause the actual results to differ materially from the statements, including, but not limited to:  (i) deterioration in the financial condition of borrowers resulting in significant increases in loan losses and provisions for those losses; (ii) continuation of the historically low short-term interest rate environment; (iii) the inability of Pinnacle Financial Partners, Inc. (Pinnacle Financial), or entities in which it has significant investments, like Bankers Healthcare Group, LLC (BHG), to maintain the historical growth rate of its, or such entities', loan portfolio; (iv) changes in loan underwriting, credit review or loss reserve policies associated with economic conditions, examination conclusions, or regulatory developments; (v) effectiveness of Pinnacle Financial's asset management activities in improving, resolving or liquidating lower-quality assets; (vi) increased competition with other financial institutions; (vii) greater than anticipated adverse conditions in the national or local economies including the Nashville-Davidson-Murfreesboro-Franklin MSA, the Knoxville MSA, the Chattanooga, TN-GA MSA and the Memphis, TN-MS-AR MSA,  particularly in commercial and residential real estate markets; (viii) rapid fluctuations or unanticipated changes in interest rates on loans or deposits; (ix) the results of regulatory examinations; (x) the ability to retain large, uninsured deposits; (xi) a merger or acquisition, like Pinnacle Financial's proposed merger with BNC Bancorp (BNC); (xii) risks of expansion into new geographic or product markets; (xiii) any matter that would cause Pinnacle Financial to conclude that there was impairment of any asset, including intangible assets; (xiv) reduced ability to attract additional financial advisors (or failure of such advisors to cause their clients to switch to Pinnacle Bank), to retain financial advisors or otherwise to attract customers from other financial institutions; (xv) further deterioration in the valuation of other real estate owned and increased expenses associated therewith; (xvi) inability to comply with regulatory capital requirements, including those resulting from changes to capital calculation methodologies and required capital maintenance levels; (xvii) risks associated with litigation, including the applicability of insurance coverage; (xviii) the risk of successful integration of the businesses Pinnacle Financial has recently acquired with its business; (xix) approval of the declaration of any dividend by Pinnacle Financial's board of directors; (xx) the vulnerability of Pinnacle Bank's network and online banking portals to unauthorized access, computer viruses, phishing schemes, spam attacks, human error, natural disasters, power loss and other security breaches; (xxi) the possibility of increased compliance costs as a result of increased regulatory oversight, including oversight of companies in which Pinnacle Financial or Pinnacle Bank have significant investments, like BHG, and the development of additional banking products for Pinnacle Bank's corporate and consumer clients;  (xxii) the risks associated with Pinnacle Financial and Pinnacle Bank being a minority investor in BHG, including the risk that the owners of a majority of the equity interests in BHG decide to sell the company if not prohibited from doing so by the terms of our agreement with them; (xxiii) the possibility that the incremental cost and/or decreased revenues associated with exceeding $10 billion in assets will exceed current estimates; (xxiv) changes in state and federal legislation, regulations or policies applicable to banks and other financial service providers, like BHG, including regulatory or legislative developments; (xxv) the risk that the cost savings and any revenue synergies from Pinnacle Financial's proposed merger with BNC may not be realized or take longer than anticipated to be realized; (xxvi) disruption from Pinnacle Financial's proposed merger with BNC with customers, suppliers, employee or other business partners relationships; (xxvii) the occurrence of any event, change or other circumstances that could give rise to the termination of the merger agreement between Pinnacle Financial and BNC; (xxviii) the risk of successful integration of Pinnacle Financial's and BNC's businesses; (xxix) the failure to obtain the necessary approvals by Pinnacle Financial and BNC shareholders; (xxx) the amount of the costs, fees, expenses and charges related to Pinnacle Financial's proposed merger with BNC; (xxxi) reputational risk and the reaction of the parties' customers, suppliers, employees or other business partners to Pinnacle Financial's proposed merger with BNC; (xxxii) the failure of the closing conditions with respect to Pinnacle Financial's proposed merger with BNC to be satisfied, or any unexpected delay in closing the proposed merger; (xxxiii) the risk that the integration of Pinnacle Financial's and BNC's operations will be materially delayed or will be more costly or difficult than expected; (xxxiv) the possibility that Pinnacle Financial's proposed merger with BNC may be more expensive to complete than anticipated, including as a result of unexpected factors or events; (xxxv) the dilution caused by Pinnacle Financial's issuance of additional shares of its common stock in its proposed merger with BNC; and (xxxvi) general competitive, economic, political and market conditions. A more detailed description of these and other risks is contained herein and in Pinnacle Financial's most recent annual report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 27, 2017 and in Part II, Item 1A "Risk Factors" below. Many of such factors are beyond Pinnacle Financial's ability to control or predict and readers are cautioned not to put undue reliance on such forward-looking statements. Pinnacle Financial disclaims any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements contained in this report, which speak only as of the date hereof, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
3


Item 1.
Part I. Financial Information

PINNACLE FINANCIAL PARTNERS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(Unaudited)

   
March 31, 2017
   
December 31, 2016
 
ASSETS
           
Cash and noninterest-bearing due from banks
 
$
95,215,622
   
$
84,732,291
 
Interest-bearing due from banks
   
94,775,935
     
97,529,713
 
Federal funds sold and other
   
2,682,574
     
1,383,416
 
Cash and cash equivalents
   
192,674,131
     
183,645,420
 
                 
Securities available-for-sale, at fair value
   
1,579,776,402
     
1,298,546,056
 
Securities held-to-maturity (fair value of $25,035,844 and $25,233,254 at March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively)
   
24,997,568
     
25,251,316
 
Consumer mortgage loans held-for-sale
   
70,597,985
     
47,710,120
 
Commercial mortgage loans held-for-sale
   
15,354,496
     
22,587,971
 
                 
Loans
   
8,642,032,280
     
8,449,924,736
 
Less allowance for loan losses
   
(58,349,769
)
   
(58,980,475
)
Loans, net
   
8,583,682,511
     
8,390,944,261
 
                 
Premises and equipment, net
   
97,003,955
     
88,904,145
 
Equity method investment
   
210,732,581
     
205,359,844
 
Accrued interest receivable
   
29,568,023
     
28,234,826
 
Goodwill
   
551,546,341
     
551,593,796
 
Core deposits and other intangible assets
   
13,907,909
     
15,104,038
 
Other real estate owned
   
6,234,962
     
6,089,804
 
Other assets
   
348,524,131
     
330,651,002
 
Total assets
 
$
11,724,600,995
   
$
11,194,622,599
 
                 
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
               
Deposits:
               
Noninterest-bearing
 
$
2,508,679,583
   
$
2,399,191,152
 
Interest-bearing
   
1,970,312,733
     
1,808,331,784
 
Savings and money market accounts
   
3,938,368,793
     
3,714,930,351
 
Time
   
863,235,880
     
836,853,761
 
Total deposits
   
9,280,596,989
     
8,759,307,048
 
Securities sold under agreements to repurchase
   
71,157,282
     
85,706,558
 
Federal Funds purchased
   
50,000,000
     
-
 
Federal Home Loan Bank advances
   
181,264,257
     
406,304,187
 
Subordinated debt and other borrowings
   
350,848,829
     
350,768,050
 
Accrued interest payable
   
5,655,284
     
5,573,377
 
Other liabilities
   
62,002,877
     
90,267,267
 
Total liabilities
   
10,001,525,518
     
9,697,926,487
 
Stockholders' equity:
               
Preferred stock, no par value, 10,000,000 shares authorized; no shares issued and outstanding
   
-
     
-
 
Common stock, par value $1.00; 90,000,000 shares authorized; 49,789,649 and 46,359,377 shares issued and outstanding at March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively
   
49,789,649
     
46,359,377
 
Additional paid-in capital
   
1,274,762,698
     
1,083,490,728
 
Retained earnings
   
413,700,739
     
381,072,505
 
Accumulated other comprehensive loss, net of taxes
   
(15,177,609
)
   
(14,226,498
)
Total stockholders' equity
   
1,723,075,477
     
1,496,696,112
 
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity
 
$
11,724,600,995
   
$
11,194,622,599
 

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements (unaudited).
4


PINNACLE FINANCIAL PARTNERS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
(Unaudited)

   
Three months ended
 
   
March 31, 2017
   
March 31, 2016
 
Interest income:
           
Loans, including fees
 
$
93,217,947
   
$
74,404,204
 
Securities:
               
Taxable
   
6,433,088
     
4,466,834
 
Tax-exempt
   
1,677,581
     
1,493,757
 
Federal funds sold and other
   
814,317
     
609,587
 
Total interest income
   
102,142,933
     
80,974,382
 
                 
Interest expense:
               
Deposits
   
8,118,914
     
4,915,563
 
Securities sold under agreements to repurchase
   
49,766
     
48,050
 
Federal Home Loan Bank advances and other borrowings
   
5,207,380
     
2,108,092
 
Total interest expense
   
13,376,060
     
7,071,705
 
Net interest income
   
88,766,873
     
73,902,677
 
Provision for loan losses
   
3,651,022
     
3,893,570
 
Net interest income after provision for loan losses
   
85,115,851
     
70,009,107
 
                 
Noninterest income:
               
Service charges on deposit accounts
   
3,855,483
     
3,442,684
 
Investment services
   
2,821,834
     
2,345,600
 
Insurance sales commissions
   
1,858,890
     
1,705,859
 
Gain on mortgage loans sold, net
   
4,154,952
     
3,567,551
 
Gain on sale of investment securities, net
   
-
     
-
 
Trust fees
   
1,705,279
     
1,580,612
 
Income from equity method investment
   
7,822,737
     
5,147,524
 
Other noninterest income
   
8,162,419
     
8,065,880
 
Total noninterest income
   
30,381,594
     
25,855,710
 
                 
Noninterest expense:
               
Salaries and employee benefits
   
38,352,184
     
32,516,856
 
Equipment and occupancy
   
9,674,658
     
8,130,464
 
Other real estate expense
   
251,973
     
112,272
 
Marketing and other business development
   
1,879,206
     
1,263,361
 
Postage and supplies
   
1,196,445
     
957,087
 
Amortization of intangibles
   
1,196,129
     
873,215
 
Merger related expense
   
672,016
     
1,829,472
 
Other noninterest expense
   
8,830,765
     
8,380,969
 
Total noninterest expense
   
62,053,376
     
54,063,696
 
Income before income taxes
   
53,444,069
     
41,801,121
 
Income tax expense
   
13,791,022
     
13,835,857
 
Net income
 
$
39,653,047
   
$
27,965,264
 
Per share information:
               
Basic net income per common share
 
$
0.83
   
$
0.70
 
Diluted net income per common share
 
$
0.82
   
$
0.68
 
Weighted average shares outstanding:
               
Basic
   
48,022,342
     
40,082,805
 
Diluted
   
48,517,920
     
40,847,027
 

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements (unaudited).
5

 
PINNACLE FINANCIAL PARTNERS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
(Unaudited)

   
Three months ended
March 31,
 
   
2017
   
2016
 
Net income
 
$
39,653,047
   
$
27,965,264
 
Other comprehensive income, net of tax:
               
Change in fair value on available-for-sale securities, net of tax
   
(808,155
)
   
6,431,468
 
Change in fair value of cash flow hedges, net of tax
   
(142,956
)
   
(923,703
)
Net gain on sale of investment securities reclassified from other comprehensive income into net income, net of tax
   
-
     
-
 
Total other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax
   
(951,111
)
   
5,507,765
 
Total comprehensive income
 
$
38,701,936
   
$
33,473,029
 

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements (unaudited).
6

 
PINNACLE FINANCIAL PARTNERS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
(Unaudited)

   
Common Stock
                     
   
Shares
   
Amounts
   
Additional Paid-in Capital
   
Retained Earnings
   
Accumulated Other Comp. Income, net
   
Total Stockholder's Equity
 
Balance at December 31, 2015
   
40,906,064
   
$
40,906,064
   
$
839,617,050
   
$
278,573,408
   
$
(3,485,222
)
 
$
1,155,611,300
 
Exercise of employee common stock options and related tax benefits
   
152,949
     
152,949
     
3,699,161
     
-
     
-
     
3,852,110
 
Common dividends paid
   
-
     
-
     
-
     
(5,791,835
)
   
-
     
(5,791,835
)
Issuance of restricted common shares, net of forfeitures
   
127,462
     
127,462
     
(127,462
)
   
-
     
-
     
-
 
Common stock issued in conjunction with Bankers Healthcare Group investment, net
   
860,470
     
860,470
     
38,939,530
     
-
     
-
     
39,800,000
 
Restricted shares withheld for taxes and related tax benefit
   
(51,990
)
   
(51,990
)
   
(741,561
)
   
-
     
-
     
(793,551
)
Compensation expense for restricted shares
   
-
     
-
     
2,628,788
     
-
     
-
     
2,628,788
 
Net income
   
-
     
-
     
-
     
27,965,264
     
-
     
27,965,264
 
Other comprehensive income
   
-
     
-
     
-
     
-
     
5,507,765
     
5,507,765
 
Balance at March 31, 2016
   
41,994,955
   
$
41,994,955
   
$
884,015,506
   
$
300,746,837
   
$
2,022,543
   
$
1,228,779,841
 
                                                 
Balance at December 31, 2016
   
46,359,377
   
$
46,359,377
   
$
1,083,490,728
   
$
381,072,505
   
$
(14,226,498
)
 
$
1,496,696,112
 
Exercise of employee common stock options
   
148,740
     
148,740
     
2,811,672
     
-
     
-
     
2,960,412
 
Common dividends paid
   
-
     
-
     
-
     
(7,024,813
)
   
-
     
(7,024,813
)
Issuance of restricted common shares, net of forfeitures
   
118,439
     
118,439
     
(118,439
)
   
-
     
-
     
-
 
Issuance of common equity, net of costs
   
3,220,000
     
3,220,000
     
188,973,750
     
-
     
-
     
192,193,750
 
Restricted shares withheld for taxes
   
(56,907
)
   
(56,907
)
   
(3,869,040
)
   
-
     
-
     
(3,925,947
)
Compensation expense for restricted shares
   
-
     
-
     
3,474,027
     
-
     
-
     
3,474,027
 
Net income
   
-
     
-
     
-
     
39,653,047
     
-
     
39,653,047
 
Other comprehensive loss
   
-
     
-
     
-
     
-
     
(951,111
)
   
(951,111
)
Balance at March 31, 2017
   
49,789,649
   
$
49,789,649
   
$
1,274,762,698
   
$
413,700,739
   
$
(15,177,609
)
 
$
1,723,075,477
 

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements (unaudited).
7

 
PINNACLE FINANCIAL PARTNERS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
 (Unaudited)
 
   
Three months ended
March 31,
 
             
   
2017
   
2016
 
Operating activities:
           
Net income
 
$
39,653,047
   
$
27,965,264
 
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
               
Net amortization/accretion of premium/discount on securities
   
1,977,703
     
1,303,239
 
Depreciation, amortization and accretion
   
(429,251
)
   
(428,254
)
Provision for loan losses
   
3,651,022
     
3,893,570
 
Gain on mortgage loans sold, net
   
(4,154,952
)
   
(3,567,551
)
Stock-based compensation expense
   
3,474,027
     
2,628,788
 
Deferred tax expense
   
8,699,482
     
921,718
 
Losses (gains) on dispositions of other real estate and other investments
   
79,571
     
(32,400
)
Income from equity method investment
   
(7,822,737
)
   
(5,147,524
)
Excess tax benefit from stock compensation
   
(3,760,322
)
   
(159,168
)
Gain on other loans sold, net
   
(186,793
)
   
-
 
Other loans held for sale:
               
Loans originated
   
(36,887,584
)
   
(10,504,481
)
Loans sold
   
44,307,853
     
-
 
Mortgage loans held for sale:
               
Loans originated
   
(179,473,354
)
   
(147,888,687
)
Loans sold
   
160,740,441
     
163,949,000
 
Increase in other assets
   
(136,250
)
   
(6,736,913
)
Decrease in other liabilities
   
(24,385,998
)
   
(2,169,127
)
Net cash provided by operating activities
   
5,345,905
     
24,027,474
 
                 
Investing activities:
               
Activities in securities available-for-sale:
               
Purchases
   
(334,875,094
)
   
(102,041,878
)
Sales
   
-
     
-
 
Maturities, prepayments and calls
   
50,445,311
     
28,996,005
 
Activities in securities held-to-maturity:
               
Purchases
   
-
     
-
 
Maturities, prepayments and calls
   
145,000
     
148,426
 
Increase in loans, net
   
(193,557,488
)
   
(289,043,266
)
Purchases of software, premises and equipment
   
(11,446,101
)
   
(2,849,721
)
Purchase of bank owned life insurance policies
   
(25,000,000
)
   
-
 
Increase in equity method investment
   
-
     
(74,100,000
)
Dividends received from equity method investment
   
2,450,000
     
4,920,103
 
Increase in other investments
   
(639,671
)
   
(1,918,978
)
Net cash used in investing activities
   
(512,478,043
)
   
(435,889,309
)
                 
Financing activities:
               
Net increase in deposits
   
521,563,077
     
109,015,688
 
Net decrease in securities sold under agreements to repurchase
   
(14,549,276
)
   
(16,282,804
)
Advances from Federal Home Loan Bank:
               
Issuances
   
-
     
631,000,000
 
Payments/maturities
   
(225,020,191
)
   
(315,015,246
)
Increase in other borrowings, net
   
50,000,000
     
67,344,645
 
Principal payments of capital lease obligation
   
(36,163
)
   
-
 
Proceeds from common stock issuance
   
192,193,750
     
-
 
Exercise of common stock options and stock appreciation rights, net of repurchase of restricted shares
   
(965,535
)
   
3,058,559
 
Excess tax benefit from stock compensation
   
-
     
159,168
 
Common stock dividends paid
   
(7,024,813
)
   
(5,791,835
)
Net cash provided by financing activities
   
516,160,849
     
473,488,175
 
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents
   
9,028,711
     
61,626,340
 
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period
   
183,645,420
     
320,951,333
 
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period
 
$
192,674,131
   
$
382,577,673
 

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements (unaudited).
8

PINNACLE FINANCIAL PARTNERS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Unaudited)

Note 1. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Nature of Business — Pinnacle Financial Partners, Inc. (Pinnacle Financial) is a bank holding company whose primary business is conducted by its wholly-owned subsidiary, Pinnacle Bank. Pinnacle Bank is a commercial bank headquartered in Nashville, Tennessee. Pinnacle Financial completed its acquisitions of CapitalMark Bank & Trust (CapitalMark), Magna Bank (Magna) and Avenue Financial Holdings, Inc. (Avenue) on July 31, 2015, September 1, 2015, and July 1, 2016, respectively. Pinnacle Financial and Pinnacle Bank also collectively hold a 49% interest in Bankers Healthcare Group, LLC (BHG), a full-service commercial loan provider to healthcare and other professional practices. Pinnacle Bank provides a full range of banking services, including investment, mortgage, insurance services, and comprehensive wealth management services, in its primary market areas of the Nashville-Davidson-Murfreesboro-Franklin, Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee, Chattanooga, Tennessee-Georgia and Memphis, Tennessee-Mississippi-Arkansas Metropolitan Statistical Areas. Additionally, on January 22, 2017, Pinnacle Financial and a wholly owned subsidiary of Pinnacle Financial entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger (Merger Agreement) with BNC Bancorp, a North Carolina Corporation (BNC). Pinnacle Bank also entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger with Bank of North Carolina, BNC's wholly-owned bank subsidiary, on January 22, 2017.

Basis of Presentation — The accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with instructions to Form 10-Q and therefore do not include all information and footnotes necessary for a fair presentation of financial position, results of operations, and cash flows in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (U.S. GAAP).  All adjustments consisting of normally recurring accruals that, in the opinion of management, are necessary for a fair presentation of the financial position and results of operations for the periods covered by the report have been included.  The accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the Pinnacle Financial consolidated financial statements and related notes appearing in the 2016 Annual Report previously filed on Form 10-K.

These consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Pinnacle Financial and its wholly-owned subsidiaries. PNFP Statutory Trust I, PNFP Statutory Trust II, PNFP Statutory Trust III and PNFP Statutory Trust IV are affiliates of Pinnacle Financial and are included in these consolidated financial statements pursuant to the equity method of accounting. Significant intercompany transactions and accounts are eliminated in consolidation.

Use of Estimates — The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities as of the balance sheet date and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Material estimates that are particularly susceptible to significant change in the near term include the determination of the allowance for loan losses, determination of any impairment of intangible assets and the valuation of deferred tax assets. There have been no significant changes to Pinnacle Financial's significant accounting policies as disclosed in Pinnacle Financial's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016, with the exception of the adoption of ASU 2016-09, which became effective January 1, 2017, as described more fully in Recently Adopted Accounting Pronouncements below.

Cash Flow Information — Supplemental cash flow information addressing certain cash and noncash transactions for each of the three months ended March 31, 2017 and March 31, 2016 was as follows:

   
For the three months ended
March 31,
 
   
2017
   
2016
 
Cash Transactions:
           
Interest paid
 
$
13,666,769
   
$
7,341,784
 
Income taxes paid, net
   
230,110
     
10,556,737
 
Noncash Transactions:
               
Loans charged-off to the allowance for loan losses
   
5,161,951
     
9,226,906
 
Loans foreclosed upon and transferred to other real estate owned
   
1,498,198
     
-
 
Loans foreclosed upon and transferred to other assets
   
2,593
     
1,384,511
 
Common stock issued in connection with equity-method investment
   
-
     
39,694,036
 
9


Income Per Common Share — Basic net income per common share (EPS) is computed by dividing net income by the weighted average common shares outstanding for the period. Diluted EPS reflects the dilution that could occur if securities or other contracts to issue common stock were exercised or converted. The difference between basic and diluted weighted average shares outstanding is attributable to common stock options, common stock appreciation rights, restricted share awards, and restricted share unit awards. The dilutive effect of outstanding options, common stock appreciation rights, restricted share awards, and restricted share unit awards is reflected in diluted EPS by application of the treasury stock method.

The following is a summary of the basic and diluted net income per share calculations for the three months ended March 31, 2017 and 2016:

   
Three months ended
March 31,
 
   
2017
   
2016
 
Basic net income per share calculation:
           
Numerator - Net income
 
$
39,653,047
   
$
27,965,264
 
                 
Denominator - Weighted average common shares outstanding
   
48,022,342
     
40,082,805
 
Basic net income per common share
 
$
0.83
   
$
0.70
 
                 
Diluted net income per share calculation:
               
Numerator – Net income
 
$
39,653,047
   
$
27,965,264
 
                 
Denominator - Weighted average common shares outstanding
   
48,022,342
     
40,082,805
 
Dilutive shares contingently issuable
   
495,578
     
764,222
 
Weighted average diluted common shares outstanding
   
48,517,920
     
40,847,027
 
Diluted net income per common share
 
$
0.82
   
$
0.68
 

On January 27, 2017, Pinnacle Financial completed the issuance and sale of 3,220,000 shares of common stock (including 420,000 shares issued as a result of the underwriter exercising its over-allotment option) in an underwritten public offering, which shares are included in the share count above. The net proceeds of the offering, after deducting the underwriting discount and estimated offering expenses, were approximately $192.2 million.
 
Recently Adopted Accounting Pronouncements   In March 2016, the FASB issued updated guidance to Accounting Standards Update 2016-09 Stock Compensation Improvements to Employee Share-Based Payment Activity (ASU 2016-09) intended to simplify and improve several aspects of the accounting for share-based payment transactions, including the income tax consequences, classification of such awards as either equity or liabilities and classification of such awards on the statement of cash flows. This ASU impacted Pinnacle Financial's consolidated financial statements by requiring that all income tax effects related to settlements of share-based payment awards be reported as increases (or decreases) to income tax expense. Previously, income tax benefits at settlement of an award were reported as an increase (or decrease) to additional paid-in capital. The ASU also requires that all income tax related cash flows resulting from share-based payments be reported as operating activities in the statement of cash flows whereas cash flows were previously reported as a reduction to operating cash flows and an increase to financing cash flows. The guidance became effective for Pinnacle Financial on January 1, 2017. During the first quarter of 2017, the newly adopted standard resulted in a reduction in tax expense of $3.8 million.

Subsequent Events  ASC 855, Subsequent Events, establishes general standards of accounting for and disclosure of events that occur after the balance sheet date but before financial statements are issued. Pinnacle Financial evaluated all events or transactions that occurred after March 31, 2017 through the date of the issued financial statements.

Note 2. Acquisitions
 
  Avenue Financial Holdings, Inc. On July 1, 2016, Pinnacle Financial consummated its merger with Avenue, and Avenue Bank, Avenue's wholly-owned bank subsidiary. Pursuant to the terms of the Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of January 28, 2016, by and between Pinnacle Financial and Avenue (the Avenue Merger Agreement), Avenue merged with and into Pinnacle Financial, with Pinnacle Financial continuing as the surviving corporation (the Avenue Merger). On that same day, Pinnacle Bank and Avenue Bank merged, with Pinnacle Bank continuing as the surviving entity.
10


The following summarizes the consideration paid and presents a preliminary allocation of purchase price to net assets acquired (dollars in thousands):

   
Number of Shares
   
Amount
 
Equity consideration:
           
Common stock issued
   
3,760,326
   
$
182,469
 
Total equity consideration
         
$
182,469
 
                 
Non-equity consideration:
               
Cash paid to redeem common stock
         
$
20,910
 
Cash paid to exchange outstanding stock options
           
987
 
Total consideration paid
         
$
204,366
 
                 
Allocation of total consideration paid:
               
Fair value of net assets assumed including estimated identifiable intangible assets
         
$
81,695
 
Goodwill
           
122,671
 
           
$
204,366
 
 
Pinnacle Financial accounted for the aforementioned completed mergers under the acquisition method in accordance with ASC Topic 805. Accordingly, the purchase price is allocated to the fair value of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed as of the date of merger.

The following purchase price allocations on the Avenue Merger are preliminary and will be finalized upon the receipt of final valuations on certain assets and liabilities. Upon receipt of final fair value estimates, which must be within one year of the Avenue Merger date, Pinnacle Financial will make any final adjustments to the purchase price allocation and prospectively adjust any goodwill recorded. Material adjustments to merger date estimated fair values would be recorded in the period in which the Avenue Merger occurred, and as a result, previously reported results are subject to change. Information regarding Pinnacle Financial's loan discount and related deferred tax asset, core deposit intangible asset and related deferred tax liability, as well as income taxes payable and the related deferred tax balances recorded in the Avenue Merger, may be adjusted as Pinnacle Financial refines its estimates. Determining the fair value of assets and liabilities, particularly illiquid assets and liabilities, is a complicated process involving significant judgment regarding estimates and assumptions used to calculate estimated fair value. Fair value adjustments based on updated estimates could materially affect the goodwill recorded on the Avenue Merger. Pinnacle Financial may incur losses on the acquired loans that are materially different from losses Pinnacle Financial originally projected.

   
As of July 1, 2016
 
   
Avenue Historical Cost Basis
   
Preliminary Fair Value Adjustments
   
As Recorded by Pinnacle Financial
 
Assets
                 
Cash and cash equivalents
 
$
39,485
   
$
-
   
$
39,485
 
Investment securities(1)
   
163,862
     
(463
)
   
163,399
 
Loans(2)
   
980,319
     
(27,789
)
   
952,530
 
Mortgage loans held for sale
   
3,310
     
-
     
3,310
 
Core deposit intangible(3)
   
-
     
8,845
     
8,845
 
Other assets(4)
   
47,729
     
8,774
     
56,503
 
Total Assets
 
$
1,234,705
   
$
(10,633
)
 
$
1,224,072
 
                         
Liabilities
                       
Interest-bearing deposits(5)
 
$
741,635
   
$
1,400
   
$
743,035
 
Non-interest bearing deposits
   
223,685
     
-
     
223,685
 
Borrowings(6)
   
142,639
     
3,240
     
145,879
 
Other liabilities
   
29,719
     
59
     
29,778
 
Total Liabilities
 
$
1,137,678
   
$
4,699
   
$
1,142,377
 
Net Assets Acquired
 
$
97,027
   
$
(15,332
)
 
$
81,695
 
 
11

Explanation of certain fair value adjustments:
(1)
The amount represents the adjustment of the book value of Avenue's investment securities to their estimated fair value on the date of acquisition.
(2)
The amount represents the adjustment of the net book value of Avenue's loans to their estimated fair value based on interest rates and expected cash flows as of the date of acquisition, which includes estimates of expected credit losses inherent in the portfolio.
(3)
The amount represents the fair value of the core deposit intangible asset representing the intangible value of the deposit base acquired.
(4)
The amount represents the deferred tax asset recognized on the fair value adjustment of Avenue's acquired assets and assumed liabilities as well as the fair value adjustment for property and equipment.
(5)
The amount represents the adjustment necessary because the weighted average interest rate of Avenue's deposits exceeded the cost of similar funding at the time of acquisition. The fair value adjustment will be amortized to reduce future interest expense over the life of the portfolio.
(6)
The amount represents the adjustment necessary because the weighted average interest rate of Avenue's FHLB advances and subordinated debt issuance exceeded the cost of similar funding at the time of acquisition. The fair value adjustment will be amortized to reduce future interest expense over the life of the portfolio.
 
Note 3. Equity method investment

A summary of BHG's financial position as of March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016 and results of operations as of and for the three months ended March 31, 2017 and 2016, were as follows (in thousands):

   
As of
 
   
March 31, 2017
   
December 31, 2016
 
             
Assets
 
$
244,542
   
$
223,246
 
                 
Liabilities
   
165,271
     
139,531
 
Membership interests
   
79,271
     
83,715
 
Total liabilities and membership
 
$
244,542
   
$
223,246
 

 
For the three months ended March 31,
 
 
2017
 
2016
 
           
Revenues
$
34,235
   
$
31,288
 
Net income
$
16,012
   
$
12,154
 

At March 31, 2017, technology, trade name and customer relationship intangibles, net of related amortization, of $15.9 million compared to $16.8 million as of December 31, 2016. Amortization expense of $832,000 was included for the three months ended March 31, 2017 compared to $378,000 for the same period in the prior year. Accretion income of $806,000 was included in the three months ended March 31, 2017 compared to $871,000 for the same period in the prior year.

During the three months ended March 31, 2017, Pinnacle Financial and Pinnacle Bank received dividends from BHG of $2.5 million in the aggregate, respectively, compared to $4.9 million for the same period in the prior year. Earnings from BHG are included in Pinnacle Financial's consolidated tax return. Profits from intercompany transactions are eliminated. No loans were purchased from BHG by Pinnacle Bank for the periods ended March 31, 2017 or March 31, 2016.

12

Note 4.  Securities

The amortized cost and fair value of securities available-for-sale and held-to-maturity at March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016 are summarized as follows (in thousands):

   
Amortized
Cost
   
Gross
Unrealized
Gains
   
Gross
Unrealized
Losses
   
Fair
Value
 
March 31, 2017:
                       
Securities available-for-sale:
                       
U.S. Treasury securities
 
$
250
   
$
-
   
$
-
   
$
250
 
U.S. government agency securities
   
19,213
     
1
     
275
     
18,939
 
Mortgage-backed agency securities
   
1,240,671
     
4,205
     
17,899
     
1,226,977
 
State and municipal securities
   
247,210
     
4,611
     
2,824
     
248,997
 
Asset-backed securities
   
71,942
     
108
     
729
     
71,321
 
Corporate notes and other
   
13,245
     
152
     
105
     
13,292
 
   
$
1,592,531
   
$
9,077
   
$
21,832
   
$
1,579,776
 
Securities held-to-maturity:
                               
State and municipal securities
 
$
24,998
   
$
124
   
$
86
   
$
25,036
 
   
$
24,998
   
$
124
   
$
86
   
$
25,036
 

                         
December 31, 2016:
                       
Securities available-for-sale:
                       
U.S. Treasury securities
 
$
250
   
$
-
   
$
-
   
$
250
 
U.S. government agency securities
   
22,306
     
-
     
537
     
21,769
 
Mortgage-backed agency securities
   
988,008
     
4,304
     
15,686
     
976,626
 
State and municipal securities
   
211,581
     
4,103
     
2,964
     
212,720
 
Asset-backed securities
   
79,318
     
111
     
849
     
78,580
 
Corporate notes and other
   
8,608
     
39
     
46
     
8,601
 
   
$
1,310,071
   
$
8,557
     
20,082
   
$
1,298,546
 
Securities held-to-maturity:
                               
State and municipal securities
 
$
25,251
   
$
87
   
$
105
   
$
25,233
 
   
$
25,251
   
$
87
   
$
105
   
$
25,233
 
 
At March 31, 2017, approximately $1.045 billion of securities within Pinnacle Financial's investment portfolio were pledged to secure either public funds and other deposits or securities sold under agreements to repurchase. At March 31, 2017, repurchase agreements comprised of secured borrowings totaled $71.2 million and were secured by $71.2 million of pledged U.S. government agency securities, municipal securities, asset backed securities, and corporate debentures. As the fair value of securities pledged to secure repurchase agreements may decline, Pinnacle Financial regularly evaluates its need to pledge additional securities to remain adequately secured.

The amortized cost and fair value of debt securities as of March 31, 2017 by contractual maturity are shown below. Actual maturities may differ from contractual maturities of mortgage- and asset-backed securities since the mortgages and assets underlying the securities may be called or prepaid with or without penalty. Therefore, these securities are not included in the maturity categories in the following summary (in thousands):

   
Available-for-sale
   
Held-to-maturity
 
March 31, 2017:
 
Amortized
Cost
   
Fair
Value
   
Amortized Cost
   
Fair
Value
 
Due in one year or less
 
$
2,519
   
$
2,536
   
$
445
   
$
445
 
Due in one year to five years
   
45,041
     
46,143
     
8,262
     
8,285
 
Due in five years to ten years
   
128,637
     
130,524
     
10,817
     
10,897
 
Due after ten years
   
103,721
     
102,275
     
5,474
     
5,409
 
Mortgage-backed securities
   
1,240,671
     
1,226,977
     
-
     
-
 
Asset-backed securities
   
71,942
     
71,321
     
-
     
-
 
   
$
1,592,531
   
$
1,579,776
   
$
24,998
   
$
25,036
 
13

At March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016, the following investments had unrealized losses. The table below classifies these investments according to the term of the unrealized losses of less than twelve months or twelve months or longer (in thousands):

   
Investments with an Unrealized Loss of
less than 12 months
   
Investments with an Unrealized Loss of
12 months or longer
   
Total Investments with an
Unrealized Loss
 
   
Fair Value
   
Unrealized Losses
   
Fair Value
   
Unrealized Losses
   
Fair Value
   
Unrealized
Losses
 
At March 31, 2017
                                   
                                     
U.S. Treasury securities
 
$
-
   
$
-
   
$
-
   
$
-
   
$
-
   
$
-
 
U.S. government agency securities
   
749
     
1
     
12,995
     
274
     
13,744
     
275
 
Mortgage-backed securities
   
1,009,381
     
17,214
     
53,060
     
685
     
1,062,441
     
17,899
 
State and municipal securities
   
101,430
     
2,909
     
310
     
1
     
101,740
     
2,910
 
Asset-backed securities
   
11,008
     
24
     
25,928
     
705
     
36,936
     
729
 
Corporate notes
   
4,542
     
105
     
-
     
-
     
4,542
     
105
 
Total temporarily-impaired securities
 
$
1,127,110
   
$
20,253
   
$
92,293
   
$
1,665
   
$
1,219,403
   
$
21,918
 
                                                 
At December 31, 2016
                                               
                                                 
U.S. Treasury securities
 
$
-
   
$
-
   
$
-
   
$
-
   
$
-
   
$
-
 
U.S. government agency securities
   
-
     
-
     
20,820
     
537
     
20,820
     
537
 
Mortgage-backed securities
   
801,213
     
15,073
     
43,148
     
613
     
844,361
     
15,686
 
State and municipal securities
   
87,277
     
3,068
     
312
     
1
     
87,589
     
3,069
 
Asset-backed securities
   
14,510
     
32
     
34,097
     
817
     
48,607
     
849
 
Corporate notes
   
4,810
     
46
     
-
     
-
     
4,810
     
46
 
Total temporarily-impaired securities
 
$
907,810
   
$
18,219
   
$
98,377
   
$
1,968
   
$
1,006,187
   
$
20,187
 

The applicable dates for determining when securities are in an unrealized loss position are March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016. As such, it is possible that a security had a market value that exceeded its amortized cost on other days during the past twelve-month periods ended March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016, but is in the "Investments with an Unrealized Loss of less than 12 months" category above.

As shown in the tables above, including both available-for-sale and held-to-maturity investment securities, at March 31, 2017, Pinnacle Financial had approximately $21.9 million in unrealized losses on $1.219 billion of securities. The unrealized losses associated with these investment securities are driven by changes in interest rates and are not due to the credit quality of the securities.  These securities will continue to be monitored as a part of Pinnacle Financial's ongoing impairment analysis. Management evaluates the financial performance of the issuers on a quarterly basis to determine if it is probable that the issuers can make all contractual principal and interest payments. Because Pinnacle Financial currently does not intend to sell those securities that have an unrealized loss at March 31, 2017, and it is not more-likely-than-not that Pinnacle Financial will be required to sell the securities before recovery of their amortized cost bases, which may be maturity, Pinnacle Financial does not consider these securities to be other-than-temporarily impaired at March 31, 2017.

Periodically, available-for-sale securities may be sold or the composition of the portfolio realigned to improve yields, quality or marketability, or to implement changes in investment or asset/liability strategy, including maintaining collateral requirements and raising funds for liquidity purposes. Additionally, if an available-for-sale security loses its investment grade or tax-exempt status, the underlying credit support is terminated or collection otherwise becomes uncertain based on factors known to management, Pinnacle Financial will consider selling the security, but will review each security on a case-by-case basis as these factors become known.

14

The carrying values of Pinnacle Financial's investment securities could decline in the future if the financial condition of issuers deteriorates and management determines it is probable that Pinnacle Financial will not recover the entire amortized cost bases of the securities.  As a result, there is a risk that other-than-temporary impairment charges may occur in the future. Additionally, there is a risk that other-than-temporary impairment charges may occur in the future if management's intention to hold these securities to maturity and/or recovery changes. 
 
Note 5. Loans and Allowance for Loan Losses

For financial reporting purposes, Pinnacle Financial classifies its loan portfolio based on the underlying collateral utilized to secure each loan. This classification is consistent with those utilized in the Quarterly Report of Condition and Income filed with the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC).

Pinnacle Financial uses five loan categories: commercial real estate mortgage, consumer real estate mortgage, construction and land development, commercial and industrial, and consumer and other.
Commercial real-estate mortgage loans. Commercial real-estate mortgage loans are categorized as such based on investor exposures where repayment is largely dependent upon the operation, refinance, or sale of the underlying real estate. Commercial real-estate mortgage also includes owner occupied commercial real estate which shares a similar risk profile to Pinnacle Financial's commercial and industrial products.
Consumer real-estate mortgage loans. Consumer real-estate mortgage consists primarily of loans secured by 1-4 residential properties including home equity lines of credit.
Construction and land development loans. Construction and land development loans include loans where the repayment is dependent on the successful operation of the related real estate project. Construction and land development loans include 1-4 family construction projects and commercial construction endeavors such as warehouses, apartments, office and retail space and land acquisition and development.
Commercial and industrial loans. Commercial and industrial loans include loans to business enterprises issued for commercial, industrial and/or other professional purposes.
Consumer and other loans. Consumer and other loans include all loans issued to individuals not included in the consumer real-estate mortgage classification. Examples of consumer and other loans are automobile loans, credit cards and loans to finance education, among others.

Commercial loans receive risk ratings assigned by a financial advisor and approved by a senior credit officer subject to validation by Pinnacle Financial's independent loan review department.  Risk ratings are categorized as pass, special mention, substandard, substandard-nonaccrual or doubtful-nonaccrual.  Pinnacle Financial believes that its categories follow those used by Pinnacle Bank's primary regulators.  At March 31, 2017, approximately 78% of Pinnacle Financial's loan portfolio was analyzed as a commercial loan type with a specifically assigned risk rating in the allowance for loan loss assessment.  Consumer loans and small business loans are generally not assigned an individual risk rating but are evaluated as either accrual or nonaccrual based on the performance of the individual loans.  However, certain consumer real-estate mortgage loans and certain consumer and other loans receive a specific risk rating due to the loan proceeds being used for commercial purposes even though the collateral may be of a consumer loan nature.
 
Risk ratings are subject to continual review by a financial advisor and a senior credit officer. At least annually, Pinnacle Financial's credit procedures require that every risk rated loan of $500,000 or more be subject to a formal credit risk review process by the assigned financial advisor. Each loan's risk rating is also subject to review by Pinnacle Financial's independent loan review department, which reviews a substantial portion of Pinnacle Financial's risk rated portfolio annually. Included in the coverage are independent loan reviews of loans in targeted higher-risk portfolio segments such as certain commercial and industrial loans, land loans and/or loan types in certain geographies.
 
The following table presents Pinnacle Financial's loan balances by primary loan classification and the amount within each risk rating category. Pass rated loans include all credits other than those included in special mention, substandard, substandard-nonaccrual and doubtful-nonaccrual which are defined as follows:

15

·
Special mention loans have potential weaknesses that deserve management's close attention.  If left uncorrected, these potential weaknesses may result in deterioration of the repayment prospects for the asset or in Pinnacle Financial's credit position at some future date.
·
Substandard loans are inadequately protected by the current sound worth and paying capacity of the obligor or of the collateral pledged, if any.  Assets so classified must have a well-defined weakness or weaknesses that jeopardize collection of the debt.  Substandard loans are characterized by the distinct possibility that Pinnacle Financial will sustain some loss if the deficiencies are not corrected.
·
Substandard-nonaccrual loans are substandard loans that have been placed on nonaccrual status.
·
Doubtful-nonaccrual loans have all the characteristics of substandard-nonaccrual loans with the added characteristic that the weaknesses make collection or liquidation in full, on the basis of currently existing facts, conditions and values, highly questionable and improbable.

The following table outlines the amount of each loan classification categorized into each risk rating category as of March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016 (in thousands):
 
   
Commercial real estate - mortgage
   
Consumer real estate - mortgage
   
Construction and land development
   
Commercial and industrial
   
Consumer
and other
   
Total
 
March 31, 2017
                                   
Accruing loans
                                   
        Pass
 
$
3,111,795
   
$
1,171,131
   
$
1,000,453
   
$
2,858,856
   
$
266,341
   
$
8,408,576
 
        Special Mention
   
39,448
     
1,620
     
4,800
     
37,387
     
783
     
84,038
 
        Substandard (1)
   
26,081
     
11,867
     
5,762
     
65,946
     
121
     
109,777
 
        Total
   
3,177,324
     
1,184,618
     
1,011,015
     
2,962,189
     
267,245
     
8,602,391
 
Impaired loans
                                               
        Nonaccrual loans(2)
                                               
                Substandard-nonaccrual
   
4,050
     
8,809
     
4,112
     
7,255
     
822
     
25,048
 
                Doubtful-nonaccrual
   
-
     
-
     
-
     
2
     
-
     
2
 
        Total nonaccrual loans
   
4,050
     
8,809
     
4,112
     
7,257
     
822
     
25,050
 
        Troubled debt restructurings(3)
                                               
                Pass
   
210
     
1,349
     
-
     
720
     
39
     
2,318
 
                Special Mention
   
-
     
233
     
-
     
-
     
-
     
233
 
                Substandard
   
-
     
1,366
     
-
     
10,674
     
-
     
12,040
 
         Total troubled debt restructurings
   
210
     
2,948
     
-
     
11,394
     
39
     
14,591
 
Total impaired loans
   
4,260
     
11,757
     
4,112
     
18,651
     
861
     
39,641
 
Total loans
 
$
3,181,584
   
$
1,196,375
   
$
1,015,127
   
$
2,980,840
   
$
268,106
   
$
8,642,032
 

December 31, 2016
                                   
Accruing loans
                                   
        Pass
 
$
3,137,239
   
$
1,159,003
   
$
897,549
   
$
2,782,000
   
$
264,682
   
$
8,240,473
 
        Special Mention
   
21,449
     
1,620
     
2,716
     
25,641
     
802
     
52,228
 
        Substandard (1)
   
29,674
     
13,833
     
5,788
     
65,215
     
129
     
114,639
 
        Total
   
3,188,362
     
1,174,456
     
906,053
     
2,872,856
     
265,613
     
8,407,340
 
Impaired loans
                                               
        Nonaccrual loans(2)
                                               
                Substandard-nonaccrual
   
4,921
     
8,073
     
6,613
     
7,492
     
475
     
27,574
 
                Doubtful-nonaccrual
   
-
     
-
     
-
     
3
     
-
     
3
 
        Total nonaccrual loans
   
4,921
     
8,073
     
6,613
     
7,495
     
475
     
27,577
 
        Troubled debt restructurings(3)
                                               
                Pass
   
213
     
1,358
     
7
     
713
     
41
     
2,332
 
                Special Mention
   
-
     
236
     
-
     
-
     
-
     
236
 
                Substandard
   
-
     
1,794
     
-
     
10,646
     
-
     
12,440
 
         Total troubled debt restructurings
   
213
     
3,388
     
7
     
11,359
     
41
     
15,008
 
Total impaired loans
   
5,134
     
11,461
     
6,620
     
18,854
     
516
     
42,585
 
Total loans
 
$
3,193,496
   
$
1,185,917
   
$
912,673
   
$
2,891,710
   
$
266,129
   
$
8,449,925
 

(1)
Potential problem loans represent those loans with a well-defined weakness and where information about possible credit problems of borrowers has caused management to have doubts about the borrower's ability to comply with present repayment terms. This definition is believed to be substantially consistent with the standards established by Pinnacle Bank's primary regulators for loans classified as substandard, excluding the impact of nonaccrual loans and troubled debt restructurings. Potential problem loans, which are not included in nonaccrual loans, amounted to approximately $109.8 million at March 31, 2017, compared to $114.6 million at December 31, 2016.
(2)
Included in nonaccrual loans at March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016 are $7.3 million and $8.8 million, respectively, in purchase credit impaired loans acquired with deteriorated credit quality.
(3)
Troubled debt restructurings are presented as an impaired loan; however, they continue to accrue interest at contractual rates.
16

For the three months ended March 31, 2017, the average balance of nonaccrual loans was $26.3 million compared to $43.7 million for the same period in 2016. Pinnacle Financial's policy is that the discontinuation of the accrual of interest income will occur when (1) there is a significant deterioration in the financial condition of the borrower and full repayment of principal and interest is not expected or (2) the principal or interest is more than 90 days past due, unless the loan is both well secured and in the process of collection. As such, at the date the above mentioned loans were placed on nonaccrual status, Pinnacle Financial reversed all previously accrued interest income against current year earnings. Pinnacle Financial's policy is that once a loan is placed on nonaccrual status each subsequent payment is reviewed on a case-by-case basis to determine if the payment should be applied to interest or principal pursuant to regulatory guidelines. Pinnacle Financial recognized approximately $49,000 in interest income from cash payments received on nonaccrual loans during the three months ended March 31, 2017, compared to $31,000 during the three months ended March 31, 2016. Had these nonaccruing loans been on accruing status, interest income would have been higher by $640,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2017 compared to $280,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2016, respectively.

Loans acquired with deteriorated credit quality are recorded pursuant to the provisions of ASC 310-30, Loans and Debt Securities Acquired with Deteriorated Credit Quality, and are referred to as purchase credit impaired loans. The following table provides a rollforward of purchase credit impaired loans from December 31, 2016 through March 31, 2017 (in thousands):

   
Gross Contractual Receivable
   
Accretable
Yield
   
Nonaccretable
Yield
   
Carrying
Value
 
                         
December 31, 2016
 
$
12,468
   
$
-
   
$
(3,633
)
 
$
8,835
 
Acquisitions
   
-
     
-
     
-
     
-
 
Year-to-date settlements
   
(1,814
)
   
-
     
252
     
(1,562
)
Additional fundings
   
5
     
-
     
-
     
5
 
March 31, 2017
 
$
10,659
   
$
-
   
$
(3,381
)
 
$
7,278
 

These loans have been deemed to be collateral dependent and as such, no accretable yield has been recorded for these loans. The carrying value is adjusted for additional draws, pursuant to contractual arrangements, offset by loan paydowns. Year-to-date settlements include both loans that were charged-off as well as loans that were paid off, typically as a result of refinancings at other institutions.
 
The following table details the recorded investment, unpaid principal balance and related allowance of Pinnacle Financial's nonaccrual loans at March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016 by loan classification (in thousands):

 
 
At March 31, 2017
   
At December 31, 2016
 
 
 
Recorded investment
   
Unpaid principal balances(1)
   
Related allowance(2)
   
Recorded investment
   
Unpaid principal balances (1)
   
Related allowance(2)
 
Collateral dependent nonaccrual loans:
                                   
Commercial real estate – mortgage
 
$
2,283
   
$
2,280
   
$
-
   
$
2,308
   
$
2,312
   
$
-
 
Consumer real estate – mortgage
   
2,513
     
2,544
     
-
     
2,880
     
2,915
     
-
 
Construction and land development
   
1,028
     
1,035
     
-
     
3,128
     
3,135
     
-
 
Commercial and industrial
   
6,252
     
6,266
     
-
     
6,373
     
6,407
     
-
 
Consumer and other
   
-
     
-
     
-
     
-
     
-
     
-
 
Total
 
$
12,076
   
$
12,125
   
$
-
   
$
14,689
   
$
14,769
   
$
-
 
 
                                               
Cash flow dependent nonaccrual loans:
                                               
Commercial real estate – mortgage
 
$
1,767
   
$
2,465
   
$
63
   
$
2,613
   
$
3,349
   
$
59
 
Consumer real estate – mortgage
   
6,296
     
6,883
     
1,085
     
5,193
     
5,775
     
688
 
Construction and land development
   
3,083
     
3,756
     
19
     
3,485
     
4,154
     
20
 
Commercial and industrial
   
1,006
     
2,379
     
220
     
1,122
     
2,714
     
77
 
Consumer and other
   
822
     
942
     
465
     
475
     
851
     
227
 
Total
 
$
12,974
   
$
16,425
   
$
1,852
   
$
12,888
   
$
16,843
   
$
1,071
 
 
                                               
Total nonaccrual loans
 
$
25,050
   
$
28,550
   
$
1,852
   
$
27,577
   
$
31,612
   
$
1,071
 

(1)
Unpaid principal balance presented net of fair value adjustments recorded in conjunction with purchase accounting.
(2)
Collateral dependent loans are typically charged-off to their net realizable value and no specific allowance is carried related to those loans.
17


The following table details the average recorded investment and the amount of interest income recognized on a cash basis for the three months ended March 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively, on Pinnacle Financial's nonaccrual loans that remain on the balance sheets as of such date (in thousands):

 
 
For the three months ended
March 31,
 
 
 
2017
   
2016
 
 
 
Average recorded investment
   
Interest income recognized
   
Average recorded investment
   
Interest income recognized
 
Collateral dependent nonaccrual loans:
                       
Commercial real estate – mortgage
 
$
2,100
   
$
-
   
$
3,854
   
$
-
 
Consumer real estate – mortgage
   
2,216
     
-
     
4,462
     
-
 
Construction and land development
   
2,078
     
49
     
7,320
     
31
 
Commercial and industrial
   
6,312
     
-
     
15,451
     
-
 
Consumer and other
   
-
     
-
     
386
     
-
 
Total
 
$
12,706
   
$
49
   
$
31,473
   
$
31
 
 
                               
Cash flow dependent nonaccrual loans:
                               
Commercial real estate – mortgage
 
$
2,386
   
$
-
   
$
1,548
   
$
-
 
Consumer real estate – mortgage
   
6,225
     
-
     
5,815
     
-
 
Construction and land development
   
3,284
     
-
     
74
     
-
 
Commercial and industrial
   
1,064
     
-
     
1,128
     
-
 
Consumer and other
   
649
     
-
     
3,702
     
-
 
Total
 
$
13,608
   
$
-
   
$
12,267
   
$
-
 
 
                               
Total nonaccrual loans
 
$
26,314
   
$
49
   
$
43,740
   
$
31
 
 
At March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016, there were $14.6 million and $15.0 million, respectively, of troubled debt restructurings that were performing as of their restructure date and which were accruing interest.

The following table outlines the amount of each loan category where troubled debt restructurings were made during the three months ended March 31, 2017 and 2016 (dollars in thousands):

   
Three months ended
March 31,
 
2017
 
Number
of contracts
   
Pre Modification Outstanding Recorded Investment
   
Post Modification Outstanding Recorded Investment, net of related allowance
 
Commercial real estate – mortgage
   
-
   
$
-
   
$
-
 
Consumer real estate – mortgage
   
-
     
-
     
-
 
Construction and land development
   
-
     
-
     
-
 
Commercial and industrial
   
1
     
3,457
     
3,457
 
Consumer and other
   
-
     
-
     
-
 
     
1
   
$
3,457
   
$
3,457
 
                         
2016
                       
Commercial real estate – mortgage
   
-
   
$
-
   
$
-
 
Consumer real estate – mortgage
   
-
     
-
     
-
 
Construction and land development
   
-
     
-
     
-
 
Commercial and industrial
   
1
     
2,333
     
1,536
 
Consumer and other
   
-
     
-
     
-
 
     
1
   
$
2,333
   
$
1,536
 

During the three months ended March 31, 2017 and 2016, Pinnacle Financial did not have any troubled debt restructurings that subsequently defaulted within twelve months of the restructuring.
18


To monitor concentration risk, Pinnacle Financial utilizes broadly accepted industry classification systems in order to classify borrowers into various industry classifications.  Pinnacle Financial has a credit exposure (loans outstanding plus unfunded lines of credit) exceeding 25% of Pinnacle Bank's total risk-based capital to borrowers in the following industries at March 31, 2017 with the comparative exposures for December 31, 2016 (in thousands):

 
March 31, 2017
     
 
Outstanding Principal Balances
 
Unfunded Commitments
 
Total exposure
 
Total Exposure at December 31, 2016
 
                         
Lessors of nonresidential buildings
 
$
1,302,962
   
$
359,869
   
$
1,662,831
   
$
1,701,853
 
Lessors of residential buildings
   
487,960
     
291,045
     
779,005
     
874,234
 

The table below presents past due balances by loan classification and segment at March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016, allocated between accruing and nonaccrual status (in thousands):

March 31, 2017
 
30-89 days past due and accruing
   
90 days or more past due and accruing
   
Total past due and accruing
   
Nonaccrual(1)
   
Current and accruing
   
Total Loans
 
Commercial real estate:
                                   
    Owner-occupied
 
$
1,056
   
$
-
   
$
1,056
   
$
3,401
   
$
1,395,055
   
$
1,399,512
 
    All other
   
30
     
-
     
30
     
649
     
1,781,393
     
1,782,072
 
Consumer real estate – mortgage
   
1,917
     
49
     
1,966
     
8,809
     
1,185,600
     
1,196,375
 
Construction and land development
   
1,350
     
-
     
1,350
     
4,112
     
1,009,665
     
1,015,127
 
Commercial and industrial
   
3,514
     
-
     
3,514
     
7,258
     
2,970,068
     
2,980,840
 
Consumer and other
   
5,706
     
1,062
     
6,768
     
821
     
260,517
     
268,106
 
   
$
13,573
   
$
1,111
   
$
14,684
   
$
25,050
   
$
8,602,298
   
$
8,642,032
 

December 31, 2016
                                   
Commercial real estate:
                                   
    Owner-occupied
 
$
3,505
   
$
-
   
$
3,505
   
$
4,254
   
$
1,347,134
   
$
1,354,893
 
    All other
   
-
     
-
     
-
     
667
     
1,837,936
     
1,838,603
 
Consumer real estate – mortgage
   
3,838
     
53
     
3,891
     
8,073
     
1,173,953
     
1,185,917
 
Construction and land development
   
2,210
     
-
     
2,210
     
6,613
     
903,850
     
912,673
 
Commercial and industrial
   
4,475
     
-
     
4,475
     
7,495
     
2,879,740
     
2,891,710
 
Consumer and other
   
7,168
     
1,081
     
8,249
     
475
     
257,405
     
266,129
 
   
$
21,196
   
$
1,134
   
$
22,330
   
$
27,577
   
$
8,400,018
   
$
8,449,925
 

(1) 
Approximately $15.0 million and $16.7 million of nonaccrual loans as of March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively, were performing pursuant to their contractual terms at those dates.
 
The following table shows the allowance allocation by loan classification and accrual status at March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016 (in thousands):

         
Impaired Loans
       
   
Accruing Loans
   
Nonaccrual Loans
   
Troubled Debt Restructurings(1)
   
Total Allowance
for Loan Losses
 
   
March 31, 2017
   
December 31, 2016
   
March 31, 2017
   
December 31, 2016
   
March 31, 2017
   
December 31, 2016
   
March 31, 2017
   
December 31, 2016
 
Commercial real estate –mortgage
 
$
14,105
   
$
13,595
   
$
63
   
$
59
   
$
-
   
$
1
   
$
14,168
   
$
13,655
 
Consumer real estate – mortgage
   
6,132
     
5,874
     
1,085
     
688
     
2
     
2
     
7,219
     
6,564
 
Construction and land development
   
4,422
     
3,604
     
19
     
20
     
-
     
-
     
4,441
     
3,624
 
Commercial and industrial
   
22,650
     
24,648
     
220
     
77
     
42
     
18
     
22,912
     
24,743
 
Consumer and other
   
8,012
     
9,293
     
465
     
227
     
-
     
-
     
8,477
     
9,520
 
Unallocated
   
-
     
-
     
-
     
-
     
-
     
-
     
1,133
     
874
 
   
$
55,321
   
$
57,014
   
$
1,852
   
$
1,071
   
$
44
   
$
21
   
$
58,350
   
$
58,980
 

(1) 
Troubled debt restructurings of $14.6 million and $15.0 million as of both March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively, are classified as impaired loans pursuant to U.S. GAAP; however, these loans continue to accrue interest at contractual rates.
19

 
The following table details the changes in the allowance for loan losses for the three months ended March 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively, by loan classification (in thousands):

   
Commercial real estate - mortgage
 
Consumer real estate - mortgage
 
Construction and land development
 
Commercial and industrial
 
Consumer and other
 
Unallocated
 
Total
 
Three months ended March 31, 2017:
                             
 Balance at December 31, 2016
 
$
13,655
 
$
6,564
 
$
3,624
 
$
24,743
 
$
9,520
 
$
874
 
$
58,980
 
    Charged-off loans
   
-
   
(61
)
 
-
   
(1,158
)
 
(3,943
)
 
-
   
(5,162
)
    Recovery of previously charged-off loans
   
6
   
170
   
33
   
140
   
532
   
-
   
881
 
    Provision for loan losses
   
507
   
546
   
784
   
(813
)
 
2,368
   
259
   
3,651
 
Balance at March 31, 2017
 
$
14,168
 
$
7,219
 
$
4,441
 
$
22,912
 
$
8,477
 
$
1,133
 
$
58,350
 
                                             
Three months ended March 31, 2016:
                                           
 Balance at December 31, 2015
 
$
15,513
 
$
7,220
 
$
2,903
 
$
23,643
 
$
15,616
 
$
537
 
$
65,432
 
    Charged-off loans
   
-
   
(199
)
 
-
   
(1,624
)
 
(7,404
)
 
-
   
(9,227
)
    Recovery of previously charged-off loans
   
58
   
85
   
25
   
1,433
   
540
   
-
   
2,141
 
    Provision for loan losses
   
(2,020
)
 
63
   
1,014
   
692
   
3,106
   
1,038
   
3,893
 
Balance at March 31, 2016
 
$
13,551
 
$
7,169
 
$
3,942
 
$
24,144
 
$
11,858
 
$
1,575
 
$
62,239
 

The following table details the allowance for loan losses and recorded investment in loans by loan classification and by impairment evaluation method as of March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively (in thousands):

 
Commercial real estate - mortgage
Consumer real estate - mortgage
Construction and land development
Commercial and industrial
Consumer and other
Unallocated
Total
 
March 31, 2017
               
Allowance for Loan Losses:
               
Collectively evaluated for impairment
$
14,105
$
6,132
$
4,422
$
22,650
$
8,012
$
1,133
$
56,454
 
Individually evaluated for impairment
 
63
 
1,087
 
19
 
262
 
465
 
-
 
1,896
 
Loans acquired with deteriorated credit quality
 
-
 
-
 
-
 
-
 
-
 
-
 
-
 
Total allowance for loan losses
$
14,168
$
7,219
$
4,441
$
22,912
$
8,477
$
1,133
$
58,350
 
                               
Loans:
                             
Collectively evaluated for impairment
$
3,177,324
$
1,184,618
$
1,011,015
$
2,962,189
$
267,245
   
$
8,602,391
 
Individually evaluated for impairment
 
2,714
 
9,276
 
1,094
 
18,418
 
861
     
32,363
 
Loans acquired with deteriorated credit quality
 
1,546
 
2,481
 
3,018
 
233
 
-
     
7,278
 
Total loans
$
3,181,584
$
1,196,375
$
1,015,127
$
2,980,840
$
268,106
   
$
8,642,032
 
                               
December 31, 2016
                             
Allowance for Loan Losses:
                             
Collectively evaluated for impairment
$
13,595
$
5,874
$
3,604
$
24,648
$
9,293
$
874
$
57,888
 
Individually evaluated for impairment
 
60
 
690
 
20
 
95
 
227
 
-
 
1,092
 
Loans acquired with deteriorated credit quality
 
-
 
-
 
-
 
-
 
-
 
-
 
-
 
Total allowance for loan losses
$
13,655
$
6,564
$
3,624
$
24,743
$
9,520
$
874
$
58,980
 
                               
Loans:
                             
Collectively evaluated for impairment
$
3,188,362
$
1,174,456
$
906,053
$
2,872,856
$
265,613
   
$
8,407,340
 
Individually evaluated for impairment
 
2,750
 
8,941
 
3,212
 
18,331
 
516
     
33,750
 
Loans acquired with deteriorated credit quality
 
2,384
 
2,520
 
3,408
 
523
 
-
     
8,835
 
Total loans
$
3,193,496
$
1,185,917
$
912,673
$
2,891,710
$
266,129
   
$
8,449,925
 
20

The adequacy of the allowance for loan losses is assessed at the end of each calendar quarter. The level of the allowance is based upon evaluation of the loan portfolio, current asset quality trends, known and inherent risks in the portfolio, adverse situations that may affect the borrowers' ability to repay (including the timing of future payment), the estimated value of any underlying collateral, composition of the loan portfolio, economic conditions, historical loss experience, industry and peer bank loan quality indications and other pertinent factors, including regulatory recommendations. The allowance for loan losses for purchased loans is calculated similarly to the method utilized for legacy Pinnacle Bank loans. Pinnacle Financial's accounting policy is to compare the computed allowance for loan losses for purchased loans on a loan-by-loan basis to any remaining fair value adjustment. If the computed allowance is greater than the remaining fair value adjustment, the excess is added to the allowance for loan losses by a charge to the provision for loan losses.

At March 31, 2017, Pinnacle Bank had granted loans and other extensions of credit amounting to approximately $21.8 million to current directors, executive officers, and their related entities, of which $15.0 million had been drawn upon. At December 31, 2016, Pinnacle Bank had granted loans and other extensions of credit amounting to approximately $22.6 million to directors, executive officers, and their related entities, of which approximately $14.8 million had been drawn upon. None of these loans to directors, executive officers, and their related entities were impaired at March 31, 2017 or December 31, 2016.

At March 31, 2017, Pinnacle Financial had approximately $15.4 million in commercial loans held for sale, which included loans previously held in Pinnacle Bank's commercial loan portfolio that it has elected to sell as well apartment loans originated for sale to a third-party as part of a multi-family loan program. Such loans are closed under a pass-through commitment structure wherein Pinnacle Bank's loan commitment to the borrower is the same as the third party's take-out commitment to Pinnacle Bank, and the third party purchase typically occurs within thirty days of Pinnacle Bank closing with the borrowers.

Residential Lending

At March 31, 2017, Pinnacle Financial had approximately $70.6 million of mortgage loans held-for-sale compared to approximately $47.7 million at December 31, 2016. Total loan volumes sold during the three months ended March 31, 2017 were approximately $160.7 million compared to approximately $163.9 million for the three months ended March 31, 2016. During the three months ended March 31, 2017, Pinnacle Financial recognized $4.2 million in gains on the sale of these loans, net of commissions paid, compared to $3.6 million during the three months ended March 31, 2016.

These mortgage loans held-for-sale are originated internally and are primarily to borrowers in Pinnacle Bank's geographic markets. These sales are typically on a mandatory basis to investors that follow conventional government sponsored entities (GSE) and the Department of Housing and Urban Development/U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (HUD/VA) guidelines.
 
Each purchaser of a mortgage loan held-for-sale has specific guidelines and criteria for sellers of loans, and the risk of credit loss with regard to the principal amount of the loans sold is generally transferred to the purchasers upon sale. While the loans are sold without recourse, the purchase agreements require Pinnacle Bank to make certain representations and warranties regarding the existence and sufficiency of file documentation and the absence of fraud by borrowers or other third parties such as appraisers in connection with obtaining the loan. If it is determined that the loans sold were in breach of these representations or warranties, Pinnacle Bank has obligations to either repurchase the loan for the unpaid principal balance and related investor fees or make the purchaser whole for the economic benefits of the loan. To date, repurchase activity pursuant to the terms of these representations and warranties has been insignificant to Pinnacle Bank.

Note 6. Income Taxes

ASC 740, Income Taxes, defines the threshold for recognizing the benefits of tax return positions in the financial statements as "more-likely-than-not" to be sustained by the taxing authority. This section also provides guidance on the derecognition, measurement and classification of income tax uncertainties, along with any related interest and penalties, and includes guidance concerning accounting for income tax uncertainties in interim periods.
 
The unrecognized tax benefit related to uncertain tax positions related to State income tax filings was $1.3 million at March 31, 2017 compared to $196,000 at March 31, 2016. No change was recorded to the unrecognized tax benefit related to uncertain tax positions in each of the three month periods ended March 31, 2017 and 2016.

Pinnacle Financial's policy is to recognize interest and/or penalties related to income tax matters in income tax expense. The total amount of interest and penalties recorded in the income statement for the three months ended March 31, 2017 was $18,000. No interest and penalties were recorded for the three months ended March 31, 2016.

21

Pinnacle Financial's effective tax rate for the three months ended March 31, 2017 was 25.8% compared to 33.1% for the three months ended March 31, 2016. The difference between the effective tax rate and the Federal and State income tax statutory rate of 39.23% is primarily due to state excise tax expense, investments in bank qualified municipal securities, tax benefits of Pinnacle Financial's real estate investment trust subsidiary, participation in the Community Investment Tax Credit (CITC) program, tax benefits associated with share-based compensation and bank-owned life insurance, offset in part by the limitation on deductibility of meals and entertainment expense and certain merger-related expenses. The impact of the adoption of ASU 2016-09 (as described in Note 1) was included in income tax expense for the quarter ended March 31, 2017, resulting in the recognition of $3.8 million of tax benefits which reduced income tax expense. Prior to the adoption of ASU 2016-09, these tax benefits were recorded as an increase to additional paid-in-capital.
 
Note 7. Commitments and Contingent Liabilities

In the normal course of business, Pinnacle Financial has entered into off-balance sheet financial instruments which include commitments to extend credit (i.e., including unfunded lines of credit) and standby letters of credit. Commitments to extend credit are usually the result of lines of credit granted to existing borrowers under agreements that the total outstanding indebtedness will not exceed a specific amount during the term of the indebtedness.  Typical borrowers are commercial concerns that use lines of credit to supplement their treasury management functions, and thus their total outstanding indebtedness may fluctuate during any time period based on the seasonality of their business and the resultant timing of their cash flows.  Other typical lines of credit are related to home equity loans granted to consumers.  Commitments to extend credit generally have fixed expiration dates or other termination clauses and may require payment of a fee. At March 31, 2017, these commitments amounted to $3.3 billion.

Standby letters of credit are generally issued on behalf of an applicant (our customer) to a specifically named beneficiary and are the result of a particular business arrangement that exists between the applicant and the beneficiary.  Standby letters of credit have fixed expiration dates and are usually for terms of two years or less unless terminated beforehand due to criteria specified in the standby letter of credit.  A typical arrangement involves the applicant routinely being indebted to the beneficiary for such items as inventory purchases, insurance, utilities, lease guarantees or other third party commercial transactions.  The standby letter of credit would permit the beneficiary to obtain payment from Pinnacle Financial under certain prescribed circumstances.  Subsequently, Pinnacle Financial would then seek reimbursement from the applicant pursuant to the terms of the standby letter of credit. At March 31, 2017, these commitments amounted to $128.4 million.

Pinnacle Financial follows the same credit policies and underwriting practices when making these commitments as it does for on-balance sheet instruments. Each customer's creditworthiness is evaluated on a case-by-case basis, and the amount of collateral obtained, if any, is based on management's credit evaluation of the customer. Collateral held varies but may include cash, real estate and improvements, marketable securities, accounts receivable, inventory, equipment and personal property.

The contractual amounts of these commitments are not reflected in the consolidated financial statements and only amounts drawn upon would be reflected in the future.  Since many of the commitments are expected to expire without being drawn upon, the contractual amounts do not necessarily represent future cash requirements.  However, should the commitments be drawn upon and should Pinnacle Financial's customers default on their resulting obligation to Pinnacle Financial, the maximum exposure to credit loss, without consideration of collateral, is represented by the contractual amount of those commitments. At both March 31, 2017, and December 31, 2016, Pinnacle Financial had accrued $1.1 million for the inherent risks associated with these off-balance sheet commitments.

Various legal claims also arise from time to time in the normal course of business.  In the opinion of management, the resolution of these claims outstanding at March 31, 2017 will not have a material adverse impact on Pinnacle Financial's consolidated financial condition, operating results or cash flows.

Note 8.  Stock Options and Restricted Shares

As described more fully in the Annual Report on Form 10-K, as of March 31, 2017, Pinnacle Financial has one equity incentive plan under which it is able to grant awards, the 2014 Equity Incentive Plan (2014 Plan) and has assumed the stock option plan of CapitalMark (the CapitalMark Option Plan) in connection with the CapitalMark Merger. In addition, awards previously granted remain outstanding under equity plans previously adopted by Pinnacle Financial's Board of Directors. No new awards may be granted under these other plans or the CapitalMark Option Plan.

22

Total shares available for issuance under the 2014 Plan were approximately 825,000 shares as of March 31, 2017, inclusive of shares returned to plan reserves during the three months ended March 31, 2017. The 2014 Plan also permits Pinnacle Financial to reissue awards currently outstanding that are subsequently forfeited, settled in cash or expired unexercised and returned to the 2014 Plan. Upon the acquisition of CapitalMark, Pinnacle Financial assumed approximately 858,000 of stock options under the CapitalMark Plan. No further shares remain available for issuance under the CapitalMark Option Plan. No options were assumed upon the acquisition of Magna or Avenue as all preexisting Magna and Avenue stock options were converted to cash upon acquisition.
 
Common Stock Options

A summary of the stock option activity within the equity incentive plans during the three months ended March 31, 2017 and information regarding expected vesting, contractual terms remaining, intrinsic values and other matters is as follows:

   
Number
   
Weighted-
Average
Exercise
Price
   
Weighted-
Average
Contractual
Remaining Term
(in years)
   
Aggregate
Intrinsic
Value
(000's)
 
Outstanding at December 31, 2016
   
550,490
   
$
20.75
     
2.61
   
$
26,728
(1) 
Granted
   
-
                         
Exercised(3)
   
(149,213
)
                       
Forfeited
   
-
                         
Outstanding at March 31, 2017
   
401,277
   
$
20.93
     
3.16
   
$
18,265
(2) 
Options exercisable at March 31, 2017
   
401,277
   
$
20.93
     
3.16
   
$
18,265
(2) 

(1)
The aggregate intrinsic value is calculated as the difference between the exercise price of the underlying awards and the quoted closing price of Pinnacle Financial common stock of $69.30 per common share at December 31, 2016 for the 550,490 options that were in-the-money at December 31, 2016.
(2)
The aggregate intrinsic value is calculated as the difference between the exercise price of the underlying awards and the quoted closing price of Pinnacle Financial common stock of $66.45 per common share at March 31, 2017 for the 401,277 options that were in-the-money at March 31, 2017.
(3)
Includes 750 stock options which were exercised in a stock swap transaction which settled in 277 shares of Pinnacle Financial common stock.

Compensation costs related to stock options granted under Pinnacle Financial's equity incentive plan have been fully recognized and all outstanding option awards are fully vested.
 
Restricted Share Awards

A summary of activity for unvested restricted share awards for the three months ended March 31, 2017 is as follows:

   
Number
   
Grant Date
Weighted-Average Cost
 
Unvested at December 31, 2016
   
820,539
   
$
36.47
 
Shares awarded
   
80,745
         
Conversion of previously awarded restricted share units to restricted share awards
   
43,680
         
Restrictions lapsed and shares released to associates/directors
   
(190,488
)
       
Shares forfeited(1)
   
(5,986
)
       
Unvested at March 31, 2017
   
748,490
   
$
43.44
 

(1)
Represents shares forfeited due to employee termination and/or retirement. No shares were forfeited due to failure to meet performance targets.

23

Pinnacle Financial has granted restricted share awards to associates, executive management and outside directors with a combination of time and, in the case of executive management, performance vesting criteria. The following table outlines restricted stock grants that were awarded, grouped by similar vesting criteria, during the three months ended March 31, 2017:

Grant
Year
Group(1)
 
Vesting
Period in years
   
Shares
awarded
 
Restrictions Lapsed and shares released to participants
 
Shares Forfeited by participants(5)
 
Shares Unvested
 
Time Based Awards
                         
2017
Associates(2)
 
5
   
68,850
 
61
 
487
 
68,302
 
                           
Performance Based Awards
                         
2017
Leadership team(3)
 
3
(3) 
 
43,680
 
-
 
-
 
43,680
 
                           
Outside Director Awards(4)
                         
2017
Outside directors
 
1
   
11,895
 
-
 
-
 
11,895
 
 
(1)
Groups include employees (referred to as associates above), the leadership team which includes our named executive officers and other key senior leadership members, and outside directors. When the restricted shares are awarded, a participant receives voting rights and forfeitable dividend rights with respect to the shares, but is not able to transfer the shares until the restrictions have lapsed.  Once the restrictions lapse, the participant is taxed on the value of the award and may elect to sell some shares (or have Pinnacle Financial withhold some shares) to pay the applicable income taxes associated with the award. For time-based restricted share awards, dividends paid on shares for which the forfeiture restrictions do not lapse will be recouped by Pinnacle Financial at the time of termination. For performance-based awards, dividends are placed into escrow until the forfeiture restrictions on such shares lapse.
(2)
The forfeiture restrictions on these restricted share awards lapse in equal annual installments on the anniversary date of the grant.
(3)
Reflects conversion of restricted share units issued in prior years to restricted share awards. The forfeiture restrictions on these restricted share awards lapse in separate equal installments should Pinnacle Financial achieve certain soundness targets over each year of the subsequent vesting period. See further details of these awards under the caption "Restricted Share Units" below.
(4)
Restricted share awards are issued to the outside members of the board of directors in accordance with their board compensation plan.  Restrictions lapse on February 28, 2017 based on each individual board member meeting their attendance goals for the various board and board committee meetings to which each member was scheduled to attend.
(5)
These shares represent forfeitures resulting from recipients whose employment or board membership is terminated during the year-to-date period ended March 31, 2017. Any dividends paid on shares for which the forfeiture restrictions do not lapse will be recouped by Pinnacle Financial at the time of termination.
 
Restricted Share Units

The following table details the Restricted Share Unit awards outstanding at March 31, 2017:

   
Units Awarded
                 
Grant year
 
Named Executive Officers
(NEOs)(1)
 
Leadership Team other than NEOs
 
Applicable Performance Periods associated with each tranche
(fiscal year)
 
Service period per tranche
(in years)
 
Subsequent holding period per tranche
(in years)
 
Shares settled into RSAs as of period end(2)
 
2017
 
72,537-109,339
 
24,916
 
2017
 
2
 
3
 
N/A
 
           
2018
 
2
 
2
 
N/A
 
           
2019
 
2
 
1
 
N/A
 
                           
2016
 
73,474-110,223
 
26,683
 
2016
 
2
 
3
 
N/A
 
           
2017
 
2
 
2
 
N/A
 
           
2018
 
2
 
1
 
N/A
 
                           
2015
 
58,200-101,850
 
28,378
 
2015
 
2
 
3
 
N/A
 
           
2016
 
2
 
2
 
N/A
 
           
2017
 
2
 
1
 
N/A
 
                           
2014(3)
 
58,404-102,209
 
29,087
 
2014
 
5
 
N/A
 
21,856
 
           
2014
 
4
 
N/A
 
21,856
 
           
2015
 
4
 
N/A
 
21,847
 
           
2015
 
3
 
N/A
 
21,847
 
           
2016
 
3
 
N/A
 
21,840
 
           
2016
 
2
 
N/A
 
21,840
 

24

(1)
The named executive officers are awarded a range of awards that may be earned based on attainment of goals between a target level of performance and a maximum level of performance.
(2)
Restricted share unit awards granted in 2017, 2016 and 2015 will be earned and settled in shares of Pinnacle Financial common stock, for which additional forfeiture restrictions may lapse based on Pinnacle Financial's performance in future periods.
(3)
Restrictions on half of the shares previously converted to RSAs will lapse commensurate with the filing of the Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017 and 2018, respectively.
 
Stock compensation expense related to restricted share awards and restricted share units for the three months ended March 31, 2017 and 2016 was $3.5 million and $2.7 million, respectively.
 
Note 9. Derivative Instruments

Financial derivatives are reported at fair value in other assets or other liabilities. The accounting for changes in the fair value of a derivative depends on whether it has been designated and qualifies as part of a hedging relationship. For derivatives not designated as hedges, the gain or loss is recognized in current period earnings.

Non-hedge derivatives

Pinnacle Financial enters into interest rate swaps (swaps) to facilitate customer transactions and meet their financing needs. Upon entering into these instruments to meet customer needs, Pinnacle Financial enters into offsetting positions in order to minimize the risk to Pinnacle Financial. These swaps are derivatives, but are not designated as hedging instruments. A summary of Pinnacle Financial's interest rate swaps related to customers as of March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016 is included in the following table (in thousands):

   
March 31, 2017
   
December 31, 2016
 
   
Notional
Amount
   
Estimated
Fair Value
   
Notional
Amount
   
Estimated
Fair Value
 
Interest rate swap agreements:
                       
Pay fixed / receive variable swaps
 
$
664,946
   
$
14,856
   
$
666,572
   
$
16,004
 
Pay variable / receive fixed swaps
   
664,946
     
(14,978
)
   
666,572
     
(16,138
)
Total
 
$
1,329,892
   
$
(122
)
 
$
1,333,144
   
$
(134
)
 
Hedge derivatives

A summary of Pinnacle Financial's cash flow hedge relationships as of March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016 are as follows (in thousands):

                       
March 31, 2017
   
December 31, 2016
 
   
Forecasted
Notional
Amount
 
Receive Rate
 
Pay
Rate
 
Term(1)
 
Asset/
(Liabilities)
   
Unrealized Loss in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income
   
Asset/ (Liabilities)
   
Unrealized
Loss in Accumulated
Other Comprehensive Income
 
Interest Rate Swap
 
$
33,000
 
3 month LIBOR
   
2.265
%
April 2016-April 2020
 
$
(579
)
 
$
(352
)
 
$
(727
)
 
$
(442
)
Interest Rate Swap
   
33,000
 
3 month LIBOR
   
2.646
%
April 2016-April 2022
   
(1,140
)
   
(693
)
   
(1,304
)
   
(792
)
Interest Rate Swap
   
33,000
 
3 month LIBOR
   
2.523
%
Oct. 2016-Oct. 2020
   
(910
)
   
(553
)
   
(1,081
)
   
(657
)
Interest Rate Swap
   
33,000
 
3 month LIBOR
   
2.992
%
Oct. 2017-Oct. 2021
   
(1,160
)
   
(705
)
   
(1,200
)
   
(729
)
Interest Rate Swap
   
34,000
 
3 month LIBOR
   
3.118
%
April 2018-July 2022
   
(1,201
)
   
(730
)
   
(1,222
)
   
(743
)
Interest Rate Swap
   
34,000
 
3 month LIBOR
   
3.158
%
July 2018- Oct. 2022
   
(1,161
)
   
(706
)
   
(1,198
)
   
(728
)
   
$
200,000
                 
$
(6,151
)
 
$
(3,739
)
 
$
(6,732
)
 
$
(4,091
)
                                                     
(1)
No cash will be exchanged prior to the beginning of the term.

25

The following outlines the interest rate swap agreements in place at March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016 (in thousands):

                       
March 31, 2017
   
December 31, 2016
 
   
Forecasted
Notional
Amount
   
Receive
Rate
 
Pay
Rate
Term(2)
 
Asset/
(Liabilities)
   
Unrealized
Gain in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income
   
Asset/
(Liabilities)
   
Unrealized Gain (Loss) in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income
 
Interest Rate Swap
 
$
27,500
     
2.090
%
1 month LIBOR
July 2014 - July 2021
 
$
274
   
$
167
   
$
395
   
$
240
 
Interest Rate Swap
   
25,000
     
2.270
%
1 month LIBOR
July 2014 - July 2022
   
468
     
284
     
610
     
371
 
Interest Rate Swap
   
27,500
     
2.420
%
1 month LIBOR
July 2014 - July 2023
   
713
     
433
     
874
     
531
 
Interest Rate Swap
   
30,000
     
2.500
%
1 month LIBOR
July 2014 - July 2024
   
750
     
456
     
900
     
547
 
Interest Rate Swap
   
-
     
1.048
%
1 month LIBOR
Aug. 2015-Aug. 2018
   
-
     
-
     
-
     
-
 
Interest Rate Swap
   
-
     
1.281
%
1 month LIBOR
Aug. 2015-Aug. 2019
   
-
     
-
     
-
     
-
 
Interest Rate Swap
   
15,000
     
1.470
%
1 month LIBOR
Aug. 2015-Aug. 2020
   
(125
)
   
(76
)
   
(75
)
   
(46
)
   
$
125,000
                 
$
2,080
   
$
1,264
   
$
2,704
   
$
1,643
 
 
The cash flow hedges were determined to be fully effective during the periods presented. Therefore, no amount of ineffectiveness has been included in net income. The aggregate fair value of the swaps is recorded in other assets or other liabilities with changes in fair value recorded in accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income, net of tax. If a hedge was deemed to be ineffective, the amount included in accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income would be reclassified into a line item within the statement of income that impacts operating results. The hedge would no longer be considered effective if a portion of the hedge becomes ineffective, the item hedged is no longer in existence or Pinnacle Financial discontinues hedge accounting. Pinnacle Financial expects the hedges to remain fully effective during the remaining terms of the swaps. Pinnacle Financial does not expect any amounts to be reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income related to these swaps over the next twelve months.
 
Note 10. Fair Value of Financial Instruments

FASB ASC 820, Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures, which defines fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value in U.S. GAAP and expands disclosures about fair value measurements.  The definition of fair value focuses on the exit price, i.e., the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date, not the entry price, i.e., the price that would be paid to acquire the asset or received to assume the liability at the measurement date.  The statement emphasizes that fair value is a market-based measurement; not an entity-specific measurement.  Therefore, the fair value measurement should be determined based on the assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability.

Valuation Hierarchy

FASB ASC 820 establishes a three-level valuation hierarchy for disclosure of fair value measurements. The valuation hierarchy is based upon the transparency of inputs to the valuation of an asset or liability as of the measurement date. The three levels are defined as follows:

Level 1 – inputs to the valuation methodology are quoted prices (unadjusted) for identical assets or liabilities in active markets.
Level 2 – inputs to the valuation methodology include quoted prices for similar assets and liabilities in active markets, and inputs that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly, for substantially the full term of the financial instrument.
Level 3 – inputs to the valuation methodology are unobservable and significant to the fair value measurement.

A financial instrument's categorization within the valuation hierarchy is based upon the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement. Following is a description of the valuation methodologies used for assets and liabilities measured at fair value, as well as the general classification of such assets and liabilities pursuant to the valuation hierarchy.

26

Assets

Securities available-for-sale – Where quoted prices are available for identical securities in an active market, securities are classified within Level 1 of the valuation hierarchy. Level 1 securities include highly liquid government securities and certain other financial products. If quoted market prices are not available, then fair values are estimated by using pricing models that use observable inputs or quoted prices of securities with similar characteristics and are classified within Level 2 of the valuation hierarchy. In certain cases where there is limited activity or less transparency around inputs to the valuation and more complex pricing models or discounted cash flows are used, securities are classified within Level 3 of the valuation hierarchy.

Other investments – Included in others assets are other investments recorded at fair value primarily in certain nonpublic private equity funds. The valuation of nonpublic private equity investments requires management judgment due to the absence of observable quoted market prices, inherent lack of liquidity and the long-term nature of such assets. These investments are valued initially based upon transaction price. The carrying values of other investments are adjusted either upwards or downwards from the transaction price to reflect expected exit values as evidenced by financing and sale transactions with third parties, or when determination of a valuation adjustment is confirmed through ongoing reviews by senior investment managers. A variety of factors are reviewed and monitored to assess positive and negative changes in valuation including, but not limited to, current operating performance and future expectations of the particular investment, industry valuations of comparable public companies and changes in market outlook and the third-party financing environment over time. In determining valuation adjustments resulting from the investment review process, emphasis is placed on current company performance and market conditions. These investments are included in Level 3 of the valuation hierarchy as these funds are not widely traded and the underlying investments of such funds are often privately-held and/or start-up companies for which market values are not readily available.

Other assets – Included in other assets are certain assets carried at fair value, including interest rate swap agreements, the cash flow hedge and interest rate locks associated with the mortgage loan pipeline.  The carrying amount of interest rate swap agreements is based on Pinnacle Financial's pricing models that utilize observable market inputs. The fair value of the cash flow hedge is determined by calculating the difference between the discounted fixed rate cash flows and the discounted variable rate cash flows.  The fair value of the mortgage loan pipeline is based upon the projected sales price of the underlying loans, taking into account market interest rates and other market factors at the measurement date, net of the projected fallout rate.  Pinnacle Financial reflects these assets within Level 2 of the valuation hierarchy as these assets are valued using similar transactions that occur in the market.

Nonaccrual loans – A loan is classified as nonaccrual when it is probable Pinnacle Financial will be unable to collect all principal and interest payments due in accordance with the contractual terms of the loan agreement. Nonaccrual loans are measured based on the present value of expected payments using the loan's original effective rate as the discount rate, the loan's observable market price, or the fair value of the collateral less selling costs if the loan is collateral dependent. If the recorded investment in the nonaccrual loan exceeds the measure of fair value, a valuation allowance may be established as a component of the allowance for loan losses or the difference may be recognized as a charge-off. Nonaccrual loans are classified within Level 3 of the hierarchy due to the unobservable inputs used in determining their fair value such as collateral values and the borrower's underlying financial condition.

Other real estate owned – Other real estate owned (OREO) represents real estate foreclosed upon by Pinnacle Bank through loan defaults by customers or acquired by deed in lieu of foreclosure. Substantially all of these amounts relate to lots, homes and development projects that are either completed or are in various stages of construction for which Pinnacle Financial believes it has adequate collateral. Upon foreclosure, the property is recorded at the lower of cost or fair value, based on appraised value, less selling costs estimated as of the date acquired with any loss recognized as a charge-off through the allowance for loan losses. Additional OREO losses for subsequent valuation downward adjustments are determined on a specific property basis and are included as a component of noninterest expense along with holding costs. Any gains or losses realized at the time of disposal are also reflected in noninterest expense, as applicable. OREO is included in Level 3 of the valuation hierarchy due to the lack of observable market inputs into the determination of fair value. Appraisal values are property-specific and sensitive to the changes in the overall economic environment.

Liabilities

Other liabilities – Pinnacle Financial has certain liabilities carried at fair value including certain interest rate swap agreements to facilitate customer transactions and the cash flow hedge and interest rate locks associated with the funding for its mortgage loan originations. The fair value of these liabilities is based on Pinnacle Financial's pricing models that utilize observable market inputs and is reflected within Level 2 of the valuation hierarchy.
27

 
The following tables present financial instruments measured at fair value on a recurring basis as of March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016, by caption on the consolidated balance sheets and by FASB ASC 820 valuation hierarchy (as described above) (in thousands):

March 31, 2017
 
Total carrying value in the consolidated balance sheet
   
Quoted market prices in an active market
(Level 1)
   
Models with significant observable market parameters
(Level 2)
   
Models with significant unobservable market parameters
(Level 3)
 
Investment securities available-for-sale:
                       
    U.S. treasury securities
 
$
250
   
$
-
   
$
250
   
$
-
 
    U.S. government agency securities
   
18,939
     
-
     
18,939
     
-
 
    Mortgage-backed agency securities
   
1,226,977
     
-
     
1,226,977
     
-
 
    State and municipal securities
   
248,997
     
-
     
248,997
     
-
 
    Agency-backed securities
   
71,321
     
-
     
71,321
     
-
 
    Corporate notes and other
   
13,292
     
-
     
13,292
     
-
 
Total investment securities available-for-sale
 
$
1,579,776
   
$
-
   
$
1,579,776
   
$
-
 
Other investments
   
10,492
     
-
     
-
     
10,492
 
Other assets
   
14,662
     
-
     
14,662
     
-
 
Total assets at fair value
 
$
1,604,930
   
$
-
   
$
1,594,438
   
$
10,492
 
                                 
Other liabilities
 
$
15,404
   
$
-
   
$
15,404
   
$
-
 
Total liabilities at fair value
 
$
15,404
   
$
-
   
$
15,404
   
$
-
 
                                 
December 31, 2016
                               
Investment securities available-for-sale:
                               
    U.S. treasury securities
 
$
250
   
$
-
   
$
250
   
$
-
 
    U.S. government agency securities
   
21,769
     
-
     
21,769
     
-
 
    Mortgage-backed agency securities
   
976,626
     
-
     
976,626
     
-
 
    State and municipal securities
   
212,720
     
-
     
212,720
     
-
 
    Agency-backed securities
   
78,580
     
-
     
78,580
     
-
 
    Corporate notes and other
   
8,601
     
-
     
8,601
     
-
 
Total investment securities available-for-sale
   
1,298,546
     
-
     
1,298,546
     
-
 
Other investments
   
10,478
     
-
     
-
     
10,478
 
Other assets
   
13,340
     
-
     
13,340
     
-
 
Total assets at fair value
 
$
1,322,364
   
$
-
   
$
1,311,886
   
$
10,478
 
                                 
Other liabilities
 
$
15,758
   
$
-
   
$
15,758
   
$
-
 
Total liabilities at fair value
 
$
15,758
   
$
-
   
$
15,758
   
$
-
 

The following table presents assets measured at fair value on a nonrecurring basis as of March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016 (in thousands):

 
 
March 31, 2017
 
Total carrying value in the consolidated balance sheet
   
Quoted market prices in an active market
(Level 1)
   
Models with significant observable market parameters
(Level 2)
   
Models with significant unobservable market
parameters
(Level 3)
   
Total
losses for the year-to-date period then ended
 
Other real estate owned
 
$
6,235
   
$
-
   
$
-
   
$
6,235
   
$
(78
)
Nonaccrual loans, net(1)
   
23,198
     
-
     
-
     
23,198
     
(1,773
)
Total
 
$
29,433
   
$
-
   
$
-
   
$
29,433
   
$
(1,851
)
                                         
December 31, 2016
                                       
Other real estate owned
 
$
6,090
   
$
-
   
$
-
   
$
6,090
   
$
(135
)
Nonaccrual loans, net(1)
   
26,506
     
-
     
-
     
26,506
     
(7,173
)
Total
 
$
32,596
   
$
-
   
$
-
   
$
32,596
   
$
(7,308
)

(1) Amount is net of valuation allowance of $1.9 million and $1.1 million at March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively, as required by ASC 310-10, "Receivables."
 
In the case of the investment securities portfolio, Pinnacle Financial monitors the portfolio to ascertain when transfers between levels have been affected.  The nature of the remaining assets and liabilities is such that transfers in and out of any level are expected to be rare.  For the three months ended March 31, 2017, there were no transfers between Levels 1, 2 or 3.
28

 
The table below includes a rollforward of the balance sheet amounts for the three months ended March 31, 2017 (including the change in fair value) for financial instruments classified by Pinnacle Financial within Level 3 of the valuation hierarchy measured at fair value on a recurring basis including changes in fair value due in part to observable factors that are part of the valuation methodology (in thousands):

   
For the three months ended March 31,
 
 
 
2017
   
2016
 
 
 
Other assets
   
Other liabilities
   
Other assets
   
Other liabilities
 
Fair value, beginning of period
 
$
10,478
   
$
-
   
$
9,764
   
$
-
 
Total realized gains included in income
   
197
     
-
     
177
     
-
 
Changes in unrealized gains/losses included in other comprehensive income for assets and liabiliaties still held at March 31
   
-
     
-
     
-
     
-
 
Purchases
   
120
     
-
     
325
     
-
 
Issuances
   
-
     
-
     
-
     
-
 
Settlements
   
(303
)
   
-
     
(138
)
   
-
 
Transfers out of Level 3
   
-
     
-
     
-
     
-
 
Fair value, end of period
   
10,492
     
-
     
10,128
     
-
 
Total realized gains included in income related to financial assets and liabilities still on the consolidated balance sheet at March 31
 
$
197
   
$
-
   
$
177
     
-
 

The following methods and assumptions were used by Pinnacle Financial in estimating its fair value disclosures for financial instruments that are not measured at fair value. In cases where quoted market prices are not available, fair values are based on estimates using discounted cash flow models. Those models are significantly affected by the assumptions used, including the discount rates, estimates of future cash flows and borrower creditworthiness. The fair value estimates presented herein are based on pertinent information available to management as of March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016. Such amounts have not been revalued for purposes of these consolidated financial statements since those dates and, therefore, current estimates of fair value may differ significantly from the amounts presented herein.

Securities held-to-maturity - Estimated fair values for investment securities are based on quoted market prices where available.  If quoted market prices are not available, then fair values are estimated by using pricing models that use observable inputs or quoted prices of securities with similar characteristics.

Loans, net - The fair value of our loan portfolio includes a credit risk factor in the determination of the fair value of our loans.  This credit risk assumption is intended to approximate the fair value that a market participant would realize in a hypothetical orderly transaction.  Our loan portfolio is initially fair valued using a segmented approach. We divide our loan portfolio into the following categories: variable rate loans, impaired loans and all other loans. The results are then adjusted to account for credit risk.

For variable-rate loans that reprice frequently and have no significant change in credit risk, fair values approximate carrying values. Fair values for impaired loans are estimated using discounted cash flow models or based on the fair value of the underlying collateral.  For other loans, fair values are estimated using discounted cash flow models, using current market interest rates offered for loans with similar terms to borrowers of similar credit quality. The values derived from the discounted cash flow approach for each of the above portfolios are then further discounted to incorporate credit risk to determine the exit price.

Mortgage loans held-for-sale - Mortgage loans held-for-sale are carried at the lower of cost or fair value.  The estimate of fair value is based on pricing models and other information.

Deposits, securities sold under agreements to repurchase, Federal Home Loan Bank (FHLB) advances, subordinated debt and other borrowings - The carrying amounts of demand deposits, savings deposits, securities sold under agreements to repurchase, floating rate advances from the FHLB, floating rate subordinated debt and other borrowings, and floating rate loans approximate their fair values due to having no stated maturity. Fair values for certificates of deposit, fixed rate advances from the FHLB and fixed rate subordinated debt are estimated using discounted cash flow models, using current market interest rates offered on certificates, advances and other borrowings with similar remaining maturities. For fixed rate subordinated debt, the maturity is assumed to be as of the earliest date that the indebtedness will be repriced.

29

Off-balance sheet instruments - The fair values of Pinnacle Financial's off-balance-sheet financial instruments are based on fees charged to enter into similar agreements. However, commitments to extend credit do not represent a significant value to Pinnacle Financial until such commitments are funded.

The following table presents the carrying amounts, estimated fair value and placement in the fair value hierarchy of Pinnacle Financial's financial instruments at March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016.  This table excludes financial instruments for which the carrying amount approximates fair value.  For short-term financial assets such as cash and cash equivalents, the carrying amount is a reasonable estimate of fair value due to the relatively short time between the origination of the instrument and its expected realization.  For financial liabilities such as non-interest bearing demand, interest-bearing demand, and savings deposits, the carrying amount is a reasonable estimate of fair value due to these products having no stated maturity (in thousands).

(in thousands)
March 31, 2017
 
Carrying/
Notional
Amount
 
Estimated
Fair Value(1)
 
Quoted market prices in an active market
(Level 1)
 
Models with significant observable market parameters
(Level 2)
 
Models with significant unobservable market
parameters
(Level 3)
Financial assets:
                   
Securities held-to-maturity
$
24,998
$
25,036
$
-
$
25,036
$
-
Loans, net
 
8,583,683
 
8,361,595
 
-
 
-
 
8,361,595
Mortgage loans held-for-sale
 
70,598
 
71,799
 
-
 
71,799
 
-
Loans held-for-sale
 
15,354
 
15,611
 
-
 
15,611
 
-
                     
Financial liabilities:
                   
Deposits and securities sold under
                   
agreements to repurchase
 
9,351,754
 
9,071,202
 
-
 
-
 
9,071,202
Federal Home Loan Bank advances
 
181,264
 
181,564
 
-
 
-
 
181,564
Subordinated debt and other borrowings
 
350,849
 
330,418
 
-
 
-
 
330,418
Federal funds purchased
 
50,000
 
50,000
 
-
 
-
 
-
                     
Off-balance sheet instruments:
                   
Commitments to extend credit (2)
 
3,338,086
 
347
 
-
 
-
 
347
Standby letters of credit (3)
 
128,449
 
731
 
-
 
-
 
731
                     
December 31, 2016
                   
Financial assets:
                   
Securities held-to-maturity
$
25,251
$
25,233
$
-
$
25,233
$
-
Loans, net
 
8,390,944
 
8,178,982
 
-
 
-
 
8,178,982
Mortgage loans held for sale
 
47,710
 
47,892
 
-
 
47,892
 
-
Loans held-for-sale
 
22,588
 
22,674
 
-
 
22,674
 
-
                     
Financial liabilities:
                   
Deposits and securities sold under
                   
agreements to repurchase
 
8,845,014
 
8,579,664
 
-
 
-
 
8,579,664
Federal Home Loan Bank advances
 
406,304
 
406,491
 
-
 
-
 
406,491
Subordinated debt and other borrowings
 
350,768
 
328,049
 
-
 
-
 
328,049
                     
Off-balance sheet instruments:
                   
Commitments to extend credit (2)
 
3,374,269
 
383
 
-
 
-
 
383
Standby letters of credit (3)
 
131,418
 
740
 
-
 
-
 
740
                     

(1)
Estimated fair values are consistent with an exit-price concept. The assumptions used to estimate the fair values are intended to approximate those that a market-participant would realize in a hypothetical orderly transaction.
(2)
At the end of each quarter, Pinnacle Financial evaluates the inherent risks of the outstanding off-balance sheet commitments.  In making this evaluation, Pinnacle Financial evaluates the credit worthiness of the borrower, the collateral supporting the commitments and any other factors similar to those used to evaluate the inherent risks of our loan portfolio.  Additionally, Pinnacle Financial evaluates the probability that the outstanding commitment will eventually become a funded loan. As a result, at March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016, Pinnacle Financial included in other liabilities $347,000 and $383,000, respectively, representing the inherent risks associated with these off-balance sheet commitments.
(3)
At March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016, the fair value of Pinnacle Financial's standby letters of credit was $731,000 and $740,000, respectively. This amount represents the unamortized fee associated with these standby letters of credit and is included in the consolidated balance sheet of Pinnacle Financial and is believed to approximate fair value. This fair value will decrease over time as the existing standby letters of credit approach their expiration dates.
30

 
Note 11. Regulatory Matters

Pursuant to Tennessee banking law, Pinnacle Bank may not, without the prior consent of the Commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Financial Institutions (TDFI), pay any dividends to Pinnacle Financial in a calendar year in excess of the total of Pinnacle Bank's retained net income for that year plus the retained net income for the preceding two years. During the three months ended March 31, 2017, Pinnacle Bank paid $7.5 million in dividends to Pinnacle Financial. Pinnacle Financial increased its quarterly common stock dividend to $0.14 beginning in the first quarter of 2016. The amount and timing of all future dividend payments by Pinnacle Financial, if any, is subject to Board discretion and will depend on Pinnacle Financial's earnings, capital position, financial condition and other factors, including new regulatory capital requirements, as they become known to Pinnacle Financial.

Pinnacle Financial and Pinnacle Bank are subject to various regulatory capital requirements administered by federal banking agencies. Failure to meet minimum capital requirements can initiate certain mandatory, and possibly additional discretionary actions, by regulators that, if undertaken, could have a direct material effect on the financial statements. Under capital adequacy guidelines and the regulatory framework for prompt corrective action, Pinnacle Financial and Pinnacle Bank must meet specific capital guidelines that involve quantitative measures of the assets, liabilities, and certain off-balance-sheet items as calculated under regulatory accounting practices. Pinnacle Financial's and Pinnacle Bank's capital amounts and classification are also subject to qualitative judgments by the regulators about components, risk weightings, and other factors.

Quantitative measures established by regulation to ensure capital adequacy require Pinnacle Financial and its banking subsidiary to maintain minimum amounts and ratios of common equity Tier 1 capital to risk-weighted assets, Tier I capital to risk-weighted assets, total risk-based capital to risk-weighted assets and of Tier 1 capital to average assets.

The final rules implementing the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision's capital guidelines for U.S. banks (Basel III rules) became effective for Pinnacle Financial on January 1, 2015 with full compliance with all of the requirements being phased in over a multi-year schedule, and fully phased in by January 1, 2019. The minimum capital level requirements applicable to bank holding companies and banks subject to the rules are: (i) a common equity Tier 1 capital ratio of 4.5%; (ii) a Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio of 6%; (iii) a total risk-based capital ratio of 8%; and (iv) a Tier 1 leverage ratio of 4% for all institutions. The Basel III rules, also establish a capital conservation buffer of 2.5% (to be phased in over three years) above the regulatory minimum risk-based capital ratios. The capital conservation buffer was phased in beginning in January 2016 at 0.625% and is scheduled to increase each year by a like percentage until fully implemented in January 2019. The net unrealized gain or loss on available-for-sale securities is not included in computing regulatory capital. Management believes, as of March 31, 2017, that Pinnacle Financial and Pinnacle Bank met all capital adequacy requirements to which they are subject. To be categorized as well-capitalized under applicable banking regulations, Pinnacle Financial and Pinnacle Bank must maintain minimum total risk-based, Tier 1 risk-based, common equity Tier 1 and Tier 1 leverage ratios as set forth in the following table and not be subject to a written agreement, order or directive to maintain a higher capital level. Pinnacle Financial's and Pinnacle Bank's actual capital amounts and ratios are presented in the following table (in thousands):

   
Actual
   
Minimum Capital
Requirement
   
Minimum
To Be Well-Capitalized
 
   
Amount
   
Ratio
   
Amount
   
Ratio
   
Amount
   
Ratio
 
At March 31, 2017
                                   
Total capital to risk weighted assets:
                                   
Pinnacle Financial
 
$
1,435,331
   
13.7
%
 
$
839,196
   
8.0
%
 
$NA
   
NA
 
Pinnacle Bank
 
$
1,349,946
   
12.9
%
 
$
836,884
   
8.0
%
 
$
1,046,105
   
10.0
%
Tier 1 capital to risk weighted assets:
                                         
Pinnacle Financial
 
$
1,107,531
   
10.6
%
 
$
629,397
   
6.0
%
 
$NA
   
NA
 
Pinnacle Bank
 
$
1,162,969
   
11.1
%
 
$
627,663
   
6.0
%
 
$
836,884
   
8.0
%
Common equity Tier 1 capital to risk weighted assets
                                         
Pinnacle Financial
 
$
1,027,408
   
9.8
%
 
$
472,047
   
4.5
%
 
$NA
   
NA
 
Pinnacle Bank
 
$
1,162,846
   
11.1
%
 
$
470,747
   
4.5
%
 
$
679,968
   
6.5
%
Tier 1 capital to average assets (*):
                                         
Pinnacle Financial
 
$
1,107,531
   
10.3
%
 
$
428,432
   
4.0
%
 
$NA
   
NA
 
Pinnacle Bank
 
$
1,162,969
   
10.9
%
 
$
427,263
   
4.0
%
 
$
534,078
   
5.0
%

(*) Average assets for the above calculations were based on the most recent quarter.
31

 
Note 12.  Subordinated Debt and Other borrowings

Pinnacle Financial has four wholly-owned subsidiaries that are statutory business trusts created for the exclusive purpose of issuing 30-year capital trust preferred securities. Additionally, Pinnacle Financial has entered into certain other subordinated debt agreements and a revolving credit facility as outlined below and fully described in its Annual Report on Form 10-K (in thousands):

Name
Date
Established
Maturity
 
Total Debt Outstanding
   
Interest Rate at
March 31, 2017
 
Coupon Structure
Trust preferred securities
                  
Trust I
December 29, 2003
December 30, 2033
 
$
10,310
     
3.95
%
LIBOR + 2.80%
Trust II
September 15, 2005
September 30, 2035
   
20,619
     
2.55
%
LIBOR + 1.40%
Trust III
September 7, 2006
September 30, 2036
   
20,619
     
2.80
%
LIBOR + 1.65%
Trust IV
October 31, 2007
September 30, 2037
   
30,928
     
3.98
%
LIBOR + 2.85%
                             
Subordinated Debt
                       
Pinnacle Bank Subordinated Notes
July 30, 2015
July 30, 2025
   
60,000
     
4.875
%
Fixed(1)
Pinnacle Bank Subordinated Notes
March 10, 2016
July 30, 2025
   
70,000
     
4.875
%
Fixed(1)
Avenue Subordinated Notes
December 29, 2014
December 29, 2024
   
20,000
     
6.750
%
Fixed(2)
Pinnacle Financial Subordinated Notes
November 16, 2016
November 16, 2026
   
120,000
     
5.250
%
Fixed(3)
                             
Other Borrowings
                          
Revolving credit facility(4)
March 29, 2016
March 27, 2018
   
-
     
-
   
                             
Debt issuance costs and fair value adjustments
   
(1,627
)
          
Total subordinated debt and other borrowings
 
$
350,849
            
______________________
(1) Migrates to three month LIBOR + 3.128% beginning July 30, 2020 through the end of the term.
(2) Migrates to three month LIBOR + 4.95% beginning January 1, 2020 through the end of the term.
(3) Migrates to three month LIBOR + 3.884% beginning November 16, 2021 through the end of the term.
(4) Borrowing capacity on the revolving credit facility is $75.0 million. At March 31, 2017, there was no outstanding balance under this facility. This credit facility was recently amended to extend the maturity date to March 27, 2018.
Additionally, upon consummation of its proposed merger with BNC, Pinnacle Financial will assume BNC's obligations under its outstanding $60.0 million principal amount of subordinated notes issued in September 2014 that mature in October 2024. These notes bear interest at a rate of 5.5% per annum until September 30, 2019 and may not be repaid prior to that date. Beginning on October 1, 2019, if not redeemed on that date, these notes will bear interest at a floating rate equal to the three-month LIBOR determined on the determination date of the applicable interest period plus 359 basis points. Upon consummation of the proposed merger with BNC, Pinnacle Financial will also assume BNC's obligations under its outstanding subordinated notes with a principal balance of $10.6 million as of December 31, 2016. These notes bear interest at a variable rate of 30-day LIBOR plus 5.00% per annum, with a floor of 5.50% and a cap of 9.50%, and have a maturity date of October 15, 2023. The interest rate for these subordinated notes was 5.61% at December 31, 2016. The $50.5 million in aggregate principal amount of subordinated debentures issued by trust affiliates of BNC in connection with the issuance of trust preferred securities will also be assumed in connection with Pinnacle Financial's proposed merger with BNC.

Upon consummation of the proposed merger with BNC, Pinnacle Financial expects that its total assets will exceed $15.0 billion, as a result of a merger which would cause the subordinated debentures Pinnacle Financial and BNC have issued in connection with prior trust preferred securities offerings to cease to qualify as Tier 1 capital under applicable banking regulations. Though these securities would no longer qualify as Tier 1 capital from and after the closing of the merger, Pinnacle Financial believes these subordinated debentures would continue to qualify as Tier 2 capital.

32


ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

The following is a discussion of our financial condition at March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016 and our results of operations for the three months ended March 31, 2017 and 2016.  The purpose of this discussion is to focus on information about our financial condition and results of operations which is not otherwise apparent from our consolidated financial statements.  The following discussion and analysis should be read along with our consolidated financial statements and the related notes included elsewhere herein.

Overview

Our diluted net income per common share for the three months ended March 31, 2017 was $0.82 compared to $0.68 for the same period in 2016. At March 31, 2017, loans had increased to $8.642 billion, as compared to $8.450 billion at December 31, 2016, and total deposits increased to $9.281 billion at March 31, 2017 from $8.759 billion at December 31, 2016.

We acquired a 30% membership interest in Bankers Healthcare Group, LLC (BHG) on February 1, 2015 for $75.0 million and acquired an additional 19% membership interest in BHG on March 1, 2016 for $74.1 million in cash and 860,470 shares of common stock, with a fair value of $39.9 million on the date of the acquisition. We acquired CapitalMark Bank and Trust (CapitalMark) on July 31, 2015 and Magna Bank (Magna) on September 1, 2015. We acquired Avenue Financial Holdings, Inc. (Avenue) and its bank subsidiary Avenue Bank on July 1, 2016. At the acquisition date, CapitalMark had net assets of $73.2 million, including loans of $857.5 million and deposits valued at $953.2 million. At the acquisition date, Magna had net assets of $49.1 million, including loans of $440.7 million and deposits valued at $452.7 million. At the acquisition date, Avenue's net assets were preliminarily fair valued at $81.7 million, including loans of $952.5 million and deposits valued at $966.7 million. These acquisitions further expanded our footprint into our core Tennessee markets.
 
On January 22, 2017, Pinnacle Financial entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger (Merger Agreement), with BNC Bancorp, a North Carolina corporation (BNC), and Blue Merger Sub, Inc., a North Carolina corporation and a direct, wholly owned subsidiary of Pinnacle Financial (Merger Sub), pursuant to which, on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth therein, Merger Sub will merge with and into BNC (Merger), with BNC surviving the Merger (Surviving Company). As soon as reasonably practicable following the Merger and as a part of a single integrated transaction, Pinnacle Financial will cause the Surviving Company to be merged with and into Pinnacle Financial (Second Step Merger), with Pinnacle Financial as the surviving entity, on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Merger Agreement. Immediately following the Second Step Merger, Bank of North Carolina, a North Carolina state bank and a wholly owned subsidiary of BNC, will merge with and into Pinnacle Bank.

Under the terms and subject to the conditions of the Merger Agreement, at the effective time of the Merger (Effective Time), outstanding shares of BNC common stock will be converted into the right to receive 0.5235 shares (Exchange Ratio) of Pinnacle Financial common stock. As of January 13, 2017, BNC had 52,181,073 shares of BNC common stock outstanding, 901,726 shares of BNC common stock in respect of outstanding restricted stock awards and restricted stock unit awards, in the aggregate, and 66,443 outstanding stock options. The Merger Agreement also includes provisions that address the treatment of the outstanding equity awards of BNC in the Merger. Pursuant to the terms of the Merger Agreement, any outstanding options to purchase shares of BNC common stock that are not vested will be accelerated prior to, but conditioned on the occurrence of, the closing of the Merger and all options that are not exercised prior to the closing shall be cancelled and the holders of any such options shall receive an amount in cash equal to the product of (x) the excess, if any, of the average closing prices of Pinnacle Financial common stock for the ten (10) trading days ending on the trading day immediately preceding the closing date of the Merger (adjusted for the Exchange Ratio) over the exercise price of each such option and (y) the number of shares of BNC common stock subject to each such option.

The Merger Agreement was unanimously approved and adopted by the board of directors of Pinnacle Financial and the board of directors of BNC. As of the date hereof, we have received all of the banking regulatory approvals required for consummation of the proposed mergers. BNC is expected to hold a special meeting of its shareholders on June 12, 2017 to, among other things, approve the Merger Agreement and the transactions contemplated thereby, including the Merger, and Pinnacle is expected to hold a special meeting of its shareholders on June 12, 2017 to approve, among other things, the issuance of shares of Pinnacle common stock constituting the consideration to be received by BNC's shareholders in the Merger.

33

Upon consummation of the Merger, we will assume BNC's obligations under its outstanding $60.0 million subordinated notes issued in September 2014 that mature in October 2024 and its $10.6 million subordinated notes that mature in October 2025. The $50.5 million in aggregate principal amount of subordinated debentures issued by trust affiliates of BNC in connection with the issuance of trust preferred securities will also be assumed in connection with the Merger.
 
Results of Operations.  Our net interest income increased $14.9 million to $88.8 million for the first quarter of 2017 compared to $73.9 million for the first quarter of 2016. The net interest margin (the ratio of net interest income to average earning assets) for the three months ended March 31, 2017 was 3.60% compared to 3.78% for the same period in 2016.
 
Our provision for loan losses was $3.7 million for the three months ended March 31, 2017 compared to $3.9 million for the same period in 2016. Net charge-offs were $4.3 million for the three months ended March 31, 2017, compared to $7.1 million for the same period in 2016. Provision expense for both periods was impacted by charge-offs realized in our consumer portfolio, primarily related to non-prime automobile loans.
Our allowance for loan losses as a percentage of total loans decreased from 0.70% at December 31, 2016 to 0.68% at March 31, 2017. Management believes the decrease in the allowance for loan losses as a percentage of total loans was supported by the credit quality in our loan portfolio despite continued charge-off experience related to automobile financing, which represents a small portion of the total portfolio. The overall methodology used to estimate the allowance for loan losses is consistent with the quarter ended December 31, 2016. For purchased loans (including those acquired in connection with our mergers), the allowance for loan losses subsequent to the acquisition date is consistent with that utilized for legacy Pinnacle Financial loans. Our accounting policy is to compare the computed allowance for loan losses on purchased loans to the remaining fair value adjustment at the individual loan level. If the computed allowance is greater than the remaining fair value adjustment, the excess is added to the allowance for loan losses by a provision for loan losses. Additional provisioning for purchased portfolios results from credit deterioration on the individual loan or from increased borrowings on loans and lines that existed as of the acquisition date.

Noninterest income increased by $4.5 million during the three months ended March 31, 2017, compared to the same period in 2016. Income from equity method investment was $7.8 million for the three months ended March 31, 2017 compared to $5.1 million for the same period in the prior year. The quarter ended March 31, 2017, included three months of earnings from BHG at a 49% ownership level compared to two months of earnings from BHG at a 30% ownership level and one month of earnings at the 49% ownership level for the quarter ended March 31, 2016. Gains on mortgage loans sold increased $587,000 over the same period in the prior year due to continued strength in the local housing economy and continued favorable refinancing market conditions. The additional growth within noninterest income was attributable to increased interchange revenues as well as increased production in our fee-based products such as investments, insurance and trust.
Noninterest expense increased by $8.0 million during the three months ended March 31, 2017, as compared to the three months ended March 31, 2016, primarily as a result of increased salaries and employment benefits resulting from annual merit increases awarded in the first quarter of 2017, new hires resulting from our acquisitions and the overall increase in our associate base. Our associate base has expanded from 1,075.0 full-time equivalent associates at March 31, 2016 to 1,217.5 full-time equivalent associates at March 31, 2017, due to both opportunistic hires and our acquisition of Avenue.
During the three months ended March 31, 2017, Pinnacle Financial recorded income tax expense of $13.8 million, unchanged from the three months ended March 31, 2016.  Pinnacle Financial's effective tax rate for the three months ended March 31, 2017 and March 31, 2016 of 25.8% and 33.1%, respectively, differs from the combined federal and state income tax statutory rate primarily due to our investments in bank-qualified municipal securities, tax benefits from our real estate investment trust subsidiary, participation in Tennessee's Community Investment Tax Credit (CITC) program, tax benefits associated with share-based compensation, bank-owned life insurance and tax savings from our captive insurance subsidiary, offset in part by the limitation on deductibility of meals and entertainment expense and certain merger-related expenses. The impact of the adoption of ASU 2016-09 was included in income tax expense for the quarter ended March 31, 2017, resulting in the recognition of $3.8 million of tax benefits which reduced income tax expense. Prior to the adoption of ASU 2016-09, these tax benefits were recorded in the statement of owner's equity directly to additional paid-in-capital.
Our efficiency ratio (the ratio of noninterest expense to the sum of net interest income and noninterest income) was 52.1% for the three months ended March 31, 2017, compared to 54.2% for the same period in 2016. Net income for the three months ended March 31, 2017 was $39.7 million compared to $28.0 million for the same period in 2016.
34

Financial Condition.  Net loans increased $192.7 million, or 2.3%, during the three months ended March 31, 2017, when compared to December 31, 2016. Total deposits were $9.281 billion at March 31, 2017, compared to $8.759 billion at December 31, 2016, an increase of $521.3 million. At March 31, 2017, our capital ratios, including our bank's capital ratios, exceeded those levels necessary to be considered well-capitalized under applicable regulatory guidelines.
From time to time we may be required to support the capital needs of our bank (Pinnacle Bank). At March 31, 2017, we had approximately $57.6 million of cash at the holding company substantially all of which could be used to support our bank. We have established a line of credit with another bank that can be utilized to provide up to $75 million of additional capital support to Pinnacle Bank, if needed.
Critical Accounting Estimates
The accounting principles we follow and our methods of applying these principles conform with U.S. GAAP and with general practices within the banking industry. There have been no significant changes to our Critical Accounting Policies as described in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016.

Results of Operations
The following is a summary of our results of operations (dollars in thousands, except per share data):

   
Three months ended
     2017 - 2016 
   
March 31
   
Percent
   
2017
   
2016
   
Increase (Decrease)
Interest income
 
$
102,143
   
$
80,974
   
26.1
%
Interest expense
   
13,376
     
7,072
   
89.1
%
Net interest income
   
88,767
     
73,902
   
20.1
%
Provision for loan losses
   
3,651
     
3,894
   
(6.2
%)
Net interest income after provision for loan losses
   
85,116
     
70,008
   
21.6
%
Noninterest income
   
30,382
     
25,856
   
17.5
%
Noninterest expense
   
62,054
     
54,064
   
14.8
%
Net income before income taxes
   
53,444
     
41,800
   
27.9
%
Income tax expense
   
13,791
     
13,836
   
(0.3
%)
    Net income
 
$
39,653
   
$
27,964
   
41.8
%
                       
Basic net income per common share
 
$
0.83
   
$
0.70
   
18.6
%
                       
Diluted net income per common share
 
$
0.82
   
$
0.68
   
20.6
%

Net Interest Income.  Net interest income represents the amount by which interest earned on various earning assets exceeds interest paid on deposits and other interest-bearing liabilities and is the most significant component of our revenues. Net interest income totaled $88.8 million for the three months ended March 31, 2017, an increase of $14.9 million from the levels recorded in the same period of 2016. We were able to increase net interest income during the three months ended March 31, 2017 compared to the same period in 2016 due primarily to our focus on growing our loan portfolio both organically and by acquisition. Average loans for the three months ended March 31, 2017 were 26.9% greater than average balances for the same period in 2016.
35

 
The following tables set forth the amount of our average balances, interest income or interest expense for each category of interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities and the average interest rate for interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities, net interest spread and net interest margin for the three months ended March 31, 2017 and 2016 (dollars in thousands):

   
Three Months Ended
March 31, 2017
   
Three Months Ended
March 31, 2016
 
 
 
Average Balances
 
Interest
 
Rates/ Yields
   
Average
Balances
 
Interest
 
Rates/ Yields
 
Interest-earning assets:
                           
Loans (1)
 
$
8,558,267
 
$
93,218
 
4.49
%
 
$
6,742,054
 
$
74,404
 
4.49
%
Securities:
                                   
Taxable
   
1,202,806
   
6,433
 
2.17
%
   
810,913
   
4,467
 
2.22
%
Tax-exempt (2)
   
238,111
   
1,678
 
3.83
%
   
182,762
   
1,494
 
4.40
%
Federal funds sold and other
   
262,790
   
814
 
1.26
%
   
282,867
   
609
 
0.87
%
Total interest-earning assets
   
10,261,974
 
$
102,143
 
4.06
%
   
8,018,596
 
$
80,974
 
4.09
%
Nonearning assets
                                   
Intangible assets
   
566,221
               
440,466
           
Other nonearning assets
   
593,459
               
392,916
           
Total assets
 
$
11,421,654
             
$
8,851,978
           
 
                                   
Interest-bearing liabilities:
                                   
Interest-bearing deposits:
                                   
Interest checking
 
$
1,918,327
 
$
1,724
 
0.36
%
 
$
1,404,963
 
$
932
 
0.27
%
Savings and money market
   
3,900,321
   
4,609
 
0.48
%
   
2,997,586
   
2,952
 
0.40
%
Time
   
845,949
   
1,786
 
0.86
%
   
674,382
   
1,031
 
0.61
%
Total interest-bearing deposits
   
6,664,597
   
8,119
 
0.49
%
   
5,076,931
   
4,915
 
0.39
%
Securities sold under agreements to repurchase
   
79,681
   
50
 
0.25
%
   
69,129
   
48
 
0.28
%
Federal Home Loan Bank advances
   
212,951
   
904
 
1.72
%
   
383,131
   
536
 
0.56
%
Subordinated debt and other borrowings
   
355,082
   
4,303
 
4.92
%
   
162,575
   
1,573
 
3.89
%
Total interest-bearing liabilities
   
7,312,311
   
13,376
 
0.74
%
   
5,691,766
   
7,072
 
0.50
%
Noninterest-bearing deposits
   
2,434,875
   
-
 
-
     
1,960,083
   
-
 
-
 
Total deposits and interest-bearing liabilities
   
9,747,186
 
$
13,376
 
0.56
%
   
7,651,849
 
$
7,072
 
0.37
%
Other liabilities
   
17,396
               
11,976
           
Stockholders' equity 
   
1,657,072
               
1,188,153
           
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity
 
$
11,421,654
             
$
8,851,978
           
Net interest income 
       
$
88,767
             
$
73,902
     
Net interest spread (3)
             
3.32
%
             
3.59
%
Net interest margin (4)
             
3.60
%
             
3.78
%

(1)  Average balances of nonaccrual loans are included in the above amounts.
(2) Yields based on the carrying value of those tax exempt instruments are shown on a fully tax equivalent basis.
(3)  Yields realized on interest-bearing assets less the rates paid on interest-bearing liabilities.  The net interest spread calculation excludes the impact of demand deposits.  Had the impact of demand deposits been included, the net interest spread for the three months ended March 31, 2017 would have been 3.51% compared to a net interest spread of 3.72% for the three months ended March 31, 2016.
(4) Net interest margin is the result of annualized net interest income calculated on a tax-equivalent basis divided by average interest-earning assets for the period.

For the three months ended March 31, 2017 and 2016, our net interest margin was 3.60% and 3.78%, respectively. The net interest margin compressed due to decreasing yields in our securities portfolio and increased funding cost due to our subordinated debt issuance in November 2016. The contraction in net interest margin was offset in part by the impact of recent Federal funds rate increases which positively impacted our floating and variable rate loan and investment portfolios. Excluding the impact of our anticipated merger with BNC, we expect our net interest margin to be relatively stable to slightly lower for the remainder of the year when compared to comparable prior periods.  With BNC, our interest earning assets and liabilities will increase significantly as will the associated interest income and expense amounts, and with the application of fair value accounting to BNC's accounts, we anticipate our net interest margin will likely increase for the first few quarters following consummation of the transaction.  As to liquidity, as we increase in size it may be necessary to increase our level of on-balance sheet liquidity, which could negatively impact in our net interest margin.   

We continue to believe our net interest income should increase throughout the remainder of 2017 compared to 2016 due to an increase in average earning asset volumes, primarily loans, including the loans we acquire in connection with the BNC transaction. We anticipate funding these increased earning assets by growing our core deposits, and utilizing limited wholesale funding to fund any shortfall, if any, resulting from loan growth outpacing deposit growth.

36

Provision for Loan Losses.  The provision for loan losses represents a charge to earnings necessary to establish an allowance for loan losses that, in management's evaluation, should be adequate to provide coverage for the inherent losses on outstanding loans. Based upon management's assessment of the loan portfolio, we adjust our allowance for loan losses to an amount deemed appropriate to adequately cover probable losses inherent in the loan portfolio. Our allowance for loan losses as a percentage of total loans decreased from 0.70% at December 31, 2016 to 0.68% at March 31, 2017.

The provision for loan losses amounted to $3.7 million for the three months ended March 31, 2017 compared to $3.9 million for the three months ended March 31, 2016. Provision expense is impacted by the absolute level of loans, loan growth, the credit quality of the loan portfolio and the amount of net charge-offs. Provision expense in the most recent period was impacted by charge-offs realized in our consumer portfolio, primarily related to automobile loans.

Noninterest Income. Our noninterest income is composed of several components, some of which vary significantly between quarterly and annual periods. Service charges on deposit accounts and other noninterest income generally reflect customer growth trends, while fees from our wealth management departments, the origination of mortgage loans, income from our equity method investment and gains and losses on the sale of securities will often reflect financial market conditions and fluctuate from period to period.

The following is a summary of our noninterest income for the three months ended March 31, 2017 and 2016 (dollars in thousands):

 
Three months ended
 
2017 - 2016
 
March 31
 
Percent
 
2017
 
2016
 
Increase (Decrease)
Noninterest income:
             
Service charges on deposit accounts
$
3,856
 
$
3,443
 
12.0%
Investment services
 
2,822
   
2,346
 
 20.3%
Insurance sales commissions
 
1,859
   
1,706
 
9.0%
Gains on mortgage loans sold, net
 
4,155
   
3,567
 
16.5%
Gain on sale of investment securities, net
 
-
   
-
 
N/A
Income from equity method investment
 
7,823
   
5,147
 
52.0%
Trust fees
 
1,705
   
1,581
 
7.9%
Other noninterest income:
             
Interchange and other consumer fees
 
6,151
   
5,819
 
5.7%
Bank-owned life insurance
 
1,099
   
762
 
44.2%
Loan swap fees
 
261
   
730
 
(64.2%)
Other noninterest income
 
651
   
755
 
(13.8%)
Total other noninterest income
 
8,162
   
8,066
 
1.2%
Total noninterest income
$
30,382
 
$
25,856
 
17.5%

The increase in service charges on deposit accounts in the three months ended March 31, 2017 compared to the three months ended March 31, 2016 is primarily related to increased analysis fees due to an increase in the volume and number of commercial checking accounts. Interchange revenues increased year-over-year, but will be negatively impacted by the Durbin amendment applying to us beginning on July 1, 2017. For our legacy Pinnacle Financial franchise, our current estimates are that the Durbin amendment will negatively impact our noninterest income by approximately $6.5 to $7.5 million over the 12 month period following the date we become subject to the Durbin amendment.
 
Income from our wealth management groups (investments, insurance and trust) is also included in noninterest income. For the three months ended March 31, 2017, commissions and fees from investment services at our financial advisory unit, Pinnacle Asset Management, a division of Pinnacle Bank, increased by $476,000 to $2.8 million as compared to the three months ended March 31, 2016. At March 31, 2017 and 2016, Pinnacle Asset Management was receiving commissions and fees in connection with approximately $2.3 billion and $1.8 billion, respectively, in brokerage assets held with Raymond James Financial Services, Inc. Revenues from the sale of insurance products by our insurance subsidiary for the three months ended March 31, 2017 were approximately $1.9 million compared to $1.7 million for the three months ended March 31, 2016. Included in insurance revenues for the three months ended March 31, 2017 was $613,000 of contingent income received based on 2016 sales production compared to $474,000 recorded in the same period in the prior year. Additionally, at March 31, 2017, our trust department was receiving fees on approximately $1.0 billion of managed assets compared to $1.1 billion at March 31, 2016. Even with the slight decline in managed assets, trust fees increased by 7.9% between the year-to-date periods presented.

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Gains on mortgage loans sold, net, consists of fees from the origination and sale of mortgage loans. These mortgage fees are for loans originated in our current markets that are subsequently sold to third-party investors. Substantially all of these loan sales transfer servicing rights to the buyer. Generally, mortgage origination fees increase in lower interest rate environments and more robust housing markets and decrease in rising interest rate environments and more challenging housing markets. Mortgage origination fees will fluctuate from quarter to quarter as the rate environment changes. Gains on mortgage loans sold, net, were $4.2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2017 as compared to $3.6 million for the same period in the prior year.

Income from equity-method investment is comprised of income from our 49% equity-method investment in BHG.  We acquired a 30% investment during the first quarter of 2015 and subsequently increased our investment by 19% in the first quarter of 2016. Income from this equity-method investment was $7.8 million for the three months ended March 31, 2017 compared to $5.1 million for the same period last year, which included only one month of income resulting from the additional investment. Income from equity-method investment is recorded net of associated expenses, including amortization expense associated with customer lists and other intangible assets of $832,000 and $378,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively. At March 31, 2017, there were $16.3 million of these intangible assets which will be amortized in lesser amounts over the next 18 years.  Also included in income from equity-method investment, is accretion income associated with the fair valuation of certain of BHG's liabilities of $806,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2017, compared to $871,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2016. At March 31, 2017, there were $15.9 million of these liabilities which will be accreted in lesser amounts over the next 9 years.

During the three months ended March 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively, Pinnacle Financial and Pinnacle Bank received $2.5 million and $4.9 million in dividends in the aggregate from BHG, which reduced the carrying amount of our investment in BHG while earnings from BHG increased the carrying amount of our investment in BHG. Our proportionate share of earnings from BHG are included in our consolidated tax return. Profits from intercompany transactions are eliminated. Earnings from BHG may fluctuate from period-to-period.

Included in other noninterest income are interchange and other consumer fees, gains from bank-owned life insurance, swap fees earned for the facilitation of derivative transactions for our clients, and other noninterest income items. Interchange revenues increased as a result of the number of cards being used as compared to the comparable period in 2016. Other noninterest income included changes in the cash surrender value of bank-owned life insurance which was $1.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2017 compared to $762,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2016. The assets that support these policies are administered by the life insurance carriers and the income we receive (i.e., increases or decreases in the cash surrender value of the policies) on these policies is dependent upon the returns the insurance carriers are able to earn on the underlying investments that support the policies. Earnings on these policies generally are not taxable. Loan swap fees are also included in other noninterest income and decreased by $469,000 to $261,000 when compared to the three months ended March 31, 2016 as a result of many of our clients opting for current lower-coupon variable rate structures. We have also experienced increasing interest and continued aggressive pricing for long-term, fixed-rate, on balance sheet lending from our competitors, thus negatively impacting loan swap income. We acquired a mortgage servicing operation in conjunction with our acquisition of Magna; however, during the first quarter of 2016, we sold this operation and recorded a gain of $241,000.

Income from our Equity Method Investment. As our ownership interest in BHG is 49%, we do not consolidate BHG's results of operations or financial position into our financial statements but record the net result of BHG's activities at our percentage ownership in income from equity method investment in noninterest income.  For the three months ended March 31, 2017, BHG reported $34.2 million in gross revenues compared to $31.3 million for the three months ended March 31, 2016. The following discussion considers BHG's results of operations for the three months ended March 31, 2017 and 2016.

Approximately $26.8 million, or 77.8%, of BHG's revenues for the three months ended March 31, 2017 related to gains on the sale of commercial loans BHG had previously issued to doctor, dentist and other medical practices compared to $24.3 million, or 77.6%, for the three months ended March 31, 2016. BHG refers to this activity as its core product. BHG typically funds these loans from cash reserves on its balance sheet.  Subsequently, these core product loans are sold with limited or no recourse to BHG to a network of community banks and other financial institutions at a premium to the par value of the loan. The purchaser may access a BHG cash reserve account of up to 3% of the loan balance to support loan payments.  BHG retains no servicing or other responsibilities related to the core product loan once sold. As a result, this gain on sale premium represents BHG's compensation for absorbing the costs to originate the loan as well as marketing expenses associated with maintaining its business model. At March 31, 2017, there were $1.3 billion in core product loans previously sold by BHG that were actively serviced by BHG's bank network of purchasers. 
38

Traditionally, BHG, at its sole option, may also provide purchasers of these core product loans the ability to substitute the acquired loan with another more recently-issued BHG loan should the previously-acquired loan become at least 90-days past due as to its monthly payments. This substitution is subject to the purchaser having adhered to the standards of its purchase agreement with BHG. Additionally, all substitutions are subject to the approval by BHG's board of managers. As a result, the reacquired loans are deemed purchase credit impaired and recorded on BHG's balance sheet at the net present value of the loan's anticipated cash flows.  BHG will then initiate collection efforts and attempt to restore the reacquired loan to performing status.  During the three months ended March 31, 2017 and March 31, 2016, BHG's substitution losses related to these activities totaled approximately $11.2 million and $6.4 million, respectively. BHG maintained a liability as of March 31, 2017 and 2016 of $52.9 million and $34.5 million, respectively, that represents an estimate of the future inherent losses for the outstanding core portfolio that may be subject to future substitution.

BHG will maintain loans on its balance sheet for a period of time prior to sale or transfer to a purchaser. BHG also has an investment portfolio on which it earns interest and dividend income. Net interest income and fees associated with this activity amounted to $4.2 million and $4.0 million for the three months ended March 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively. 

Additionally, BHG will also refer loans to other financial institutions and, based on an agreement with the institution, earn a fee for doing so. Typically, these are loans that BHG believes would either be classified as consumer-type loans rather than commercial loans, the loans fail to meet the credit underwriting standards of BHG but another institution will accept the loans or these are loans to borrowers in certain geographic locations where BHG has elected not to do business.  For the three months ended March 31, 2017 and 2016, BHG recognized fee income of $2.1 million and $1.3 million, respectively, from these activities. 
 
Noninterest Expense.  Noninterest expense consists of salaries and employee benefits, equipment and occupancy expenses, other real estate expenses, and other operating expenses.  The following is a summary of our noninterest expense for the three months ended March 31, 2017 and 2016 (in thousands):

 
Three months ended
March 31,
 
2017 - 2016
Percent
 
2017
 
2016
 
Increase (Decrease)
Noninterest expense:
             
Salaries and employee benefits:
             
Salaries
$
23,414
 
$
19,205
 
21.9%
Commissions
 
1,631
   
1,432
 
 13.9%
Cash and equity incentives
 
5,921
   
5,847
 
 1.3%
Employee benefits and other
 
7,386
   
6,033
 
22.4%
Total salaries and employee benefits
 
38,352
   
32,517
 
17.9%
Equipment and occupancy
 
9,675
   
8,130
 
19.0%
Other real estate expense
 
252
   
112
 
125.0%
Marketing and business development
 
1,879
   
1,263
 
48.8%
Postage and supplies
 
1,196
   
957
 
25.0%
Amortization of intangibles
 
1,196
   
873
 
37.0%
Merger related expense
 
672
   
1,830
 
(63.3%)
Other noninterest expense
 
8,831
   
8,382
 
5.4%
Total noninterest expense
$
62,053
 
$
54,064
 
14.8%

Total salaries and employee benefits expenses increased approximately $5.8 million for the first three months of 2017 over the same period in 2016. The increase in salaries is the result of our annual merit increases that are effective January 1 as well as the overall increase in our associate base. At March 31, 2017, our associate base had expanded to 1,217.5 full-time equivalent associates as compared to 1,075.0 at March 31, 2016. We expect salary and benefit expenses will continue to rise as we hire more experienced bankers throughout our expanded footprint and include the BNC associates.  Moreover, as our total assets now exceed $10 billion, we also expect our compliance costs and FDIC insurance assessment expense will continue to increase.

39

We believe that cash and equity incentives are a valuable tool in motivating an employee base that is focused on providing our clients effective financial advice and increasing shareholder value. As a result, and unlike many other financial institutions, all of our non-commissioned associates participate in our annual cash incentive plan and all of our associates participate in our equity compensation plans. Under the annual cash incentive plan, the targeted level of incentive payments requires achievement of a certain soundness threshold, a revenue component and a targeted level of earnings (subject to certain adjustments). To the extent that the soundness threshold is met and revenues and earnings are above or below the targeted amount, the aggregate incentive payments are increased or decreased. Historically, we have paid between 0% and 125% of our targeted incentives. We are currently accruing incentive costs for the cash incentive plan in 2017 at less than our targeted awards.

Under our equity incentive plans, we provide a broad-based equity incentive program for all associates including both restricted share awards and performance unit awards. We believe that equity incentives provide a vehicle for all associates to become meaningful shareholders of Pinnacle Financial over an extended period of time and create a shareholder-centric culture throughout our organization. We expect that compensation expense associated with equity awards for the remainder of 2017 will continue to increase when compared to comparable periods in 2016 as a result of the additional associates we have already hired in 2017 and our intention to hire additional experienced financial advisors throughout the remainder of 2017, including those we expect to hire in conjunction with the proposed acquisition of BNC.

Equipment and occupancy expenses for the three months ended March 31, 2017, increased $1.5 million as compared to the same period in the prior year primarily due to our acquisition of Avenue. Additionally, we intend to expand our footprint by one location annually in each of the Knoxville, Chattanooga and Memphis MSAs. In future periods, these expansions may lead to higher equipment and occupancy expenses as well as related increases in salaries and benefits expense.

Marketing and business development expense for the three months ended March 31, 2017 was $1.9 million, or 48.7%, greater than in the same period in 2016. The primary source of the increase is related to our advertising and banking sponsorships with a professional sports franchise in Memphis, which was entered into during the third quarter of 2016.

Intangible amortization expense was $1.2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2017 compared to $873,000 for the same period in 2016.  The following table outlines our amortizing intangible assets, their initial valuation and amortizable lives:

 
Year Acquired 
 
Initial Valuation (in millions)
 
Amortizable Life
(in years)
Core Deposit Intangible:
 
 
 
 
 
Mid- America
 2007
 
$
 9.5
 
10
CapitalMark
 2015
 
 
6.2
 
7
Magna
 2015
 
 
3.2
 
6
Avenue
2016
   
8.8
 
9
Book of Business Intangibles:
 
 
 
 
 
 
Miller Loughry Beach
 2008
 
 
1.3
 
20
CapitalMark Trust
 2015
 
 
0.3
 
16

These assets are being amortized on an accelerated basis which reflects the anticipated life of the underlying assets. Amortization expense is estimated to decrease from $4.3 million to $1.3 million per year over the next five years with lesser amounts for the remaining amortization period.

During the quarter ended March 31, 2017, merger related charges of $672,000 were incurred primarily associated with our proposed acquisition of BNC. We will continue to incur merger related charges as we complete our proposed acquisition and integration of BNC throughout the remainder of 2017 and into the first quarter of 2018.

Total other noninterest expenses increased by $449,000 during the three months ended March 31, 2017 when compared to the same period in 2016. Approximately half of this increase is attributable to increased collections expense related to our consumer automobile portfolio. The remaining increase is attributable to a variety of factors including increased directors fees, franchise tax expense, and regulatory and audit fees.

40

Our efficiency ratio (ratio of noninterest expense to the sum of net interest income and noninterest income) was 52.1% for the three months ended March 31, 2017 compared to 54.2% for the three months ended March 31, 2016. The efficiency ratio measures the amount of expense that is incurred to generate a dollar of revenue. The efficiency ratio for the quarter ended March 31, 2017, was negatively impacted by merger related expense.

Income Taxes. During the three months ended March 31, 2017, Pinnacle Financial recorded income tax expense of $13.8 million, unchanged from the three months ended March 31, 2016.  Pinnacle Financial's effective tax rate for the three months ended March 31, 2017 and March 31, 2016 of 25.8% and 33.1%, respectively, differs from the combined federal and state income tax statutory rate primarily due to our investments in bank-qualified municipal securities, tax benefits from our real estate investment trust subsidiary, participation in Tennessee's Community Investment Tax Credit (CITC) program, tax benefits associated with share-based compensation, bank-owned life insurance and tax savings from our captive insurance subsidiary, offset in part by the limitation on deductibility of meals and entertainment expense and certain merger-related expenses. The impact of the adoption of ASU 2016-09 in the first quarter of 2017 was included in income tax expense for the quarter ended March 31, 2017, resulting in the recognition of $3.8 million of tax benefits which reduced income tax expense. Prior to the adoption of ASU 2016-09, these tax benefits were recorded as a component of additional paid-in-capital.

Financial Condition

Our consolidated balance sheet at March 31, 2017 reflects an increase in total loans outstanding to $8.642 billion compared to $8.450 billion at December 31, 2016. Total deposits increased by $521.3 million between December 31, 2016 and March 31, 2017. Total assets were $11.725 billion at March 31, 2017 compared to $11.195 billion at December 31, 2016.
 
Loans.  The composition of loans at March 31, 2017 and at December 31, 2016 and the percentage (%) of each classification to total loans are summarized as follows (dollars in thousands):

 
March 31, 2017
 
December 31, 2016
 
Amount
 
Percent
 
Amount
 
Percent
Commercial real estate – mortgage
$
3,181,584
 
36.8%
 
$
3,193,496
 
37.8%
Consumer real estate – mortgage
 
1,196,375
 
13.8%
   
1,185,917
 
14.0%
Construction and land development
 
1,015,127
 
11.8%
   
912,673
 
10.8%
Commercial and industrial
 
2,980,840
 
34.5%
   
2,891,710
 
34.2%
Consumer and other
 
268,106
 
3.1%
   
266,129
 
3.2%
Total loans
$
8,642,032
 
100.0%
 
$
8,449,925
 
100.0%

At March 31, 2017, our loan portfolio composition remained relatively consistent with the composition at December 31, 2016. The commercial real estate – mortgage category includes owner-occupied commercial real estate loans which is similar in many ways to our commercial and industrial lending in that these loans are generally made to businesses on the basis of the cash flows of the business rather than on the valuation of the real estate. At March 31, 2017, approximately 44.0% of the outstanding principal balance of our commercial real estate mortgage loans was secured by owner-occupied properties. Growth in the construction and development loan segment reflects the development of the local economies in which we participate and is diversified between commercial, residential and land.

41

The following table classifies our fixed and variable rate loans at March 31, 2017 according to contractual maturities of (1) one year or less, (2) after one year through five years, and (3) after five years.  The table also classifies our variable rate loans pursuant to the contractual repricing dates of the underlying loans (dollars in thousands):

 
Amounts at March 31, 2017
 
Percentage
 
Fixed
 
Variable
 
 
 
At March 31,
 
Rates
 
Rates
 
Totals
 
2017
Based on contractual maturity:
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
Due within one year
$
374,637
 
$
1,381,331
 
$
1,755,968
 
20.3%
Due in one year to five years
 
2,114,493
   
2,012,169
   
4,126,662
 
47.8%
Due after five years
 
987,344
   
1,772,058
   
2,759,402
 
31.9%
Totals
$
3,476,474
 
$
5,165,558
 
$
8,642,032
 
100.0%
                     
Based on contractual repricing dates:
                   
Daily floating rate (*)
$
-
 
$
1,995,775
 
$
1,995,775
 
23.1%
Due within one year
 
374,637
   
2,811,231
   
3,185,868
 
36.9%
Due in one year to five years
 
2,114,493
   
309,793
   
2,424,286
 
28.0%
Due after five years
 
987,344
   
48,759
   
1,036,103
 
12.0%
Totals
$
3,476,474
 
$
5,165,558
 
$
8,642,032
 
100.0%

The above information does not consider the impact of scheduled principal payments.

(*) Daily floating rate loans are tied to Pinnacle Bank's prime lending rate or a national interest rate index with the underlying loan rates changing in relation to changes in these indexes. Included in variable rate loans are $305.4 million of loans which are currently priced at their contractual floors with a weighted average rate of 4.64%.  The weighted average contractual rate on these loans is 3.97%.  As a result, interest income on these loans will not change until the contractual rate on the underlying loan exceeds the interest rate floor.
 
Accruing Loans in Past Due Status.  The following table is a summary of our accruing loans that were past due at least 30 days but less than 89 days and 90 days or more past due as of March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016 (dollars in thousands):

   
March 31,
 
December 31,
 
    Accruing loans past due 30 to 89 days:
 
2017
 
2016
 
         Commercial real estate – mortgage
 
$
1,086
 
$
3,505
 
         Consumer real estate – mortgage
   
1,917
   
3,838
 
         Construction and land development
   
1,350
   
2,210
 
         Commercial and industrial
   
3,514
   
4,475
 
         Consumer and other
   
5,706
   
7,168
 
             Total accruing loans past due 30 to 89 days
 
$
13,573
 
$
21,196
 
               
    Accruing loans past due 90 days or more:
             
         Commercial real estate – mortgage
 
$
-
 
$
-
 
         Consumer real estate – mortgage
   
49
   
53
 
         Construction and land development
   
-
   
-
 
         Commercial and industrial
   
-
   
-
 
         Consumer and other
   
1,062
   
1,081
 
     Total accruing loans past due 90 days or more
 
$
1,111
 
$
1,134
 
               
    Ratios:
             
Accruing loans past due 30 to 89 days as a percentage of total loans
   
0.16
%
 
0.25
%
Accruing loans past due 90 days or more as a percentage of total loans
   
0.01
%
 
0.01
%
Total accruing loans in past due status as a percentage of total loans
   
0.17
%
 
0.26
%

Potential Problem Loans. Potential problem loans, which are not included in nonperforming assets, amounted to approximately $109.8 million, or 1.3% of total loans at March 31, 2017, compared to $114.6 million, or 1.4% of total loans at December 31, 2016. Potential problem loans represent those loans with a well-defined weakness and where information about possible credit problems of borrowers has caused management to have serious doubts about the borrower's ability to comply with present repayment terms. This definition is believed to be substantially consistent with the standards established by Pinnacle Bank's primary regulators, for loans classified as substandard, excluding the impact of substandard nonaccrual loans and substandard troubled debt restructurings. Troubled debt restructurings are not included in potential problem loans. Approximately $105,000 of potential problem loans were past due at least 30 days but less than 90 days as of March 31, 2017.

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Nonperforming Assets and Troubled Debt Restructurings.  At March 31, 2017, we had $31.3 million in nonperforming assets compared to $33.7 million at December 31, 2016. Included in nonperforming assets were $25.1 million in nonaccrual loans and $6.2 million in OREO at March 31, 2017 and $27.6 million in nonaccrual loans and $6.1 million in OREO assets at December 31, 2016.  At March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016, there were $14.6 million and $15.0 million, respectively, of troubled debt restructurings, all of which were accruing as of the restructured date and remain on accrual status but are considered impaired loans pursuant to U.S. GAAP.
 
Allowance for Loan Losses (allowance).   We maintain the allowance at a level that our management deems appropriate to adequately cover the probable losses inherent in the loan portfolio.  As of March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016, our allowance for loan losses was approximately $58.3 million and $59.0 million, respectively, which our management deemed to be adequate at each of the respective dates. Our allowance for loan losses is adjusted to an amount deemed appropriate to adequately cover probable losses in the loan portfolio based on our allowance for loan loss methodology.  Our allowance for loan losses as a percentage of loans decreased from 0.70% at December 31, 2016 to 0.68% at March 31, 2017, primarily attributable to improvements in the credit quality of our legacy Pinnacle Bank portfolio. As a result of our acquired loan portfolios being recorded at fair value upon acquisition, no allowance for loan losses is assigned to purchased loans as of the date of acquisition. However, an allowance for loan losses is recorded for purchased loans that have experienced credit deterioration subsequent to acquisition or increases in balances outstanding. As of March 31, 2017, net loans included a remaining net fair value discount of $29.0 million. For the three months ended March 31, 2017, the net fair value discount changed as follows:

   
Accretable
Yield
   
Nonaccretable
Yield
 
Total
                     
December 31, 2016
 
$
30,364
   
$
3,633
 
$
33,997
Acquisitions
   
-
     
-
   
-
Year-to-date settlements
   
(4,726)
     
(252)
   
(4,978)
March 31, 2017
 
$
25,638
   
$
3,381
 
$
29,019

The following table sets forth, based on management's best estimate, the allocation of the allowance to categories of loans as well as the unallocated portion as of March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016 and the percentage of loans in each category to total loans (dollars in thousands):

 
March 31, 2017
 
December 31, 2016
 
Amount
 
Percent
 
Amount
 
Percent
Commercial real estate - mortgage
$
14,168
 
36.8%
 
$
13,655
 
37.8%
Consumer real estate - mortgage
 
7,219
 
13.8%
   
6,564
 
14.0%
Construction and land development
 
4,441
 
11.8%
   
3,624
 
10.8%
Commercial and industrial
 
22,912
 
34.5%
   
24,743
 
34.2%
Consumer and other
 
8,477
 
3.1%
   
9,520
 
3.2%
Unallocated
 
1,133
 
NA
   
874
 
NA
Total allowance for loan losses
$
58,350
 
100.0%
 
$
58,980
 
100.0%

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The following is a summary of changes in the allowance for loan losses for the three months ended March 31, 2017 and for the year ended December 31, 2016 and the ratio of the allowance for loan losses to total loans as of the end of each period (dollars in thousands):

 
Three months ended
March 31, 2017
 
Year ended
December 31, 2016
Balance at beginning of period
$
58,980
 
$
65,432
Provision for loan losses
 
3,651
   
18,328
Charged-off loans:
         
Commercial real estate – mortgage
 
--
   
(276)-
Consumer real estate – mortgage
 
(61)
   
(788)
Construction and land development
 
--
   
(231)-
Commercial and industrial
 
(1,158)
   
(5,801)
Consumer and other loans
 
(3,943)
   
(24,016)
Total charged-off loans
 
(5,162)
   
(31,112)
Recoveries of previously charged-off loans:
         
Commercial real estate – mortgage
 
6
   
208
Consumer real estate – mortgage
 
170
   
546
Construction and land development
 
33
   
545
Commercial and industrial
 
140
   
2,138
Consumer and other loans
 
532
   
2,895
Total recoveries of previously charged-off loans
 
881
   
6,332
Net charge-offs
 
(4,281)
   
(24,780)
Balance at end of period
$
58,350
 
$
58,980
Ratio of allowance for loan losses to total loans outstanding at end of period
 
0.68%
   
0.70%
Ratio of net charge-offs to average total loans outstanding for the period (1)
 
0.20%
   
0.33%
______________________
(1)
Net charge-offs for the year-to-date period ended March 31, 2017 have been annualized.

Management assesses the adequacy of the allowance prior to the end of each calendar quarter. This assessment includes procedures to estimate the allowance and test the adequacy and appropriateness of the resulting balance.  The level of the allowance is based upon management's evaluation of the loan portfolios, past loan loss experience, known and inherent risks in the portfolio, the views of Pinnacle Bank's regulators, adverse situations that may affect the borrower's ability to repay (including the timing of future payments), the estimated value of any underlying collateral, composition of the loan portfolio, economic conditions, industry and peer bank loan quality indications and other pertinent factors. This evaluation is inherently subjective as it requires material estimates including the amounts and timing of future cash flows expected to be received on impaired loans that may be susceptible to significant change.  For further discussion regarding our allowance for loan losses, refer to the Annual Report on Form 10-K as of and for the year ended December 31, 2016.
Based upon our evaluation of the loan portfolio, we believe the allowance for loan losses to be adequate to absorb our estimate of inherent losses existing in the loan portfolio at March 31, 2017. While our policies and procedures used to estimate the allowance for loan losses, as well as the resultant provision for loan losses charged to operations, are considered adequate by management, they are necessarily approximate and imprecise. There are factors beyond our control, such as conditions in the local and national economy, local real estate market or a particular industry or borrower which may negatively impact, materially, our asset quality and the adequacy of our allowance for loan losses and, thus, the resulting provision for loan losses.

Investments. Our investment portfolio, consisting primarily of U.S. Treasuries, Federal agency bonds, mortgage-backed securities, and state and municipal securities amounted to $1.604 billion and $1.324 billion at March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively. Our investment portfolio serves many purposes including serving as a stable source of income, as collateral for public funds deposits and as a potential liquidity source. A summary of our investment portfolio at March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016 follows:
 
March 31, 2017
December 31, 2016
Weighted average life
5.99 years
5.26 years
Effective duration
3.38%
3.16%
Weighted average coupon
2.84%
2.85%
Tax equivalent yield
2.44%
2.42%

44

Deposits and Other Borrowings.  We had approximately $9.281 billion of deposits at March 31, 2017 compared to $8.759 billion at December 31, 2016. Our deposits consist of noninterest and interest-bearing demand accounts, savings accounts, money market accounts and time deposits. Additionally, we entered into agreements with certain customers to sell certain securities under agreements to repurchase the security the following day. These agreements (which are typically associated with comprehensive treasury management programs for our clients and provide them with short-term returns for their excess funds) amounted to $71.2 million at March 31, 2017 and $85.7 million at December 31, 2016. Additionally, at March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016, Pinnacle Bank had borrowed $181.3 million and $406.3 million, respectively, in advances from the FHLB. At March 31, 2017, Pinnacle Bank also had approximately $1.605 billion in additional availability with the FHLB.

Generally, we have classified our funding base as either core funding or non-core funding.  Core funding consists of all deposits other than time deposits issued in denominations greater than $250,000. All other funding is deemed to be non-core.  The following table represents the balances of our deposits and other funding and the percentage of each type to the total at March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016 (dollars in thousands):

 
March 31,
     
December 31,
   
 
2017
 
Percent
 
2016
 
Percent
Core funding:
       
 
     
 
Noninterest-bearing deposit accounts
$
2,508,680
 
25.3%
 
$
2,399,191
 
25.0%
Interest-bearing demand accounts
 
1,869,570
 
18.8%
   
1,737,996
 
18.1%
Savings and money market accounts
 
3,345,727
 
33.7%
   
3,185,186
 
33.2%
Time deposit accounts less than $250,000
 
564,270
 
5.7%
   
512,599
 
5.3%
    Total core funding
 
8,288,247
 
83.4%
   
7,834,972
 
81.6%
Non-core funding:
                 
   Relationship based non-core funding:
                 
Reciprocating NOW deposits (1)
 
30,725
 
0.3%
   
30,328
 
0.3%
Reciprocating money market accounts (1)
 
537,624
 
5.4%
   
519,769
 
5.4%
Reciprocating time deposits
 
49,331
 
0.5%
   
58,838
 
0.6%
Other time deposits
 
208,060
 
2.1%
   
198,689
 
2.1%
Securities sold under agreements to repurchase
 
71,157
 
0.7%
   
85,707
 
0.9%
Total relationship based non-core funding
 
896,897
 
9.0%
   
893,331
 
9.3%
  Wholesale funding:
                 
Brokered deposits
 
125,035
 
1.3 %
   
49,983
 
0.5%
Brokered time deposits
 
41,575
 
0.4 %
   
66,727
 
0.7%
Federal Home Loan Bank advances
 
181,264
 
1.8 %
   
406,304
 
4.2%
Federal Funds Purchased
 
50,000
 
0.5 %
   
-
 
0.0%
Pinnacle Financial line of credit
 
-
 
0.0 %
   
-
 
0.0%
Subordinated debt- Pinnacle Bank
 
127,549
 
1.3 %
   
127,486
 
1.3%
Subordinated debt- Pinnacle Financial
 
223,300
 
2.2 %
   
223,282
 
2.3%
  Total wholesale funding
 
748,723
 
7.5 %
   
873,782
 
9.1%
Total non-core funding
 
1,645,620
 
16.6 %
   
1,767,113
 
18.4%
Totals
$
9,933,867
 
100.0%
 
$
9,602,085
 
100.0%
______________________
(1)
The reciprocating categories consists of deposits we receive from a bank network (the CDARS network) in connection with deposits of our customers in excess of our FDIC coverage limit that we place with the CDARS network.

Our funding policies impose limits on the amount of non-core funding we can utilize.  Periodically, we may exceed our policy limitations, at which time management will develop plans to bring our funding sources back into compliance with our core funding ratios.  At March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016, we were in compliance with our core funding policies. As noted in the table above, our core funding as a percentage of total funding increased from 81.6% at December 31, 2016 to 83.4% at March 31, 2017, primarily as a result of our decreased FHLB advances and increased levels of core deposits.

Continuing to grow our core deposit base is a key strategic objective of our firm. We have numerous commercial and affluent consumer depositors that maintain significant balances in their transaction and money market accounts. These deposits are subject to significant fluctuations from time to time for such purposes as distributions to owners, taxes, business acquisitions, etc. As a result, our core funding ratios may also fluctuate meaningfully based on these factors.

45

The amount of time deposits as of March 31, 2017 amounted to $863.2 million.  The following table shows our time deposits in denominations of $100,000 and less and in denominations greater than $100,000 by category based on time remaining until maturity and the weighted average rate for each category (in thousands):

 
Balances
 
Weighted Avg. Rate
Denominations less than $100,000
       
Three months or less
$
50,887
 
0.69%
Over three but less than six months
 
42,684
 
0.71%
Over six but less than twelve months
 
58,085
 
0.77%
Over twelve months
 
67,634
 
1.22%
 
$
219,290
 
0.88%
Denominations $100,000 and greater
       
Three months or less
$
152,922
 
0.70%
Over three but less than six months
 
111,853
 
0.89%
Over six but less than twelve months
 
147,768
 
0.80%
Over twelve months
 
231,403
 
1.43%
 
$
643,946
 
1.01%
Totals
$
863,236
 
0.98%

Subordinated debt and other borrowings.  We have four wholly-owned subsidiaries that are statutory business trusts. We are the sole sponsor of the Trusts and acquired each Trust's common securities. The Trusts were created for the exclusive purpose of issuing 30-year capital trust preferred securities and using the proceeds to acquire junior subordinated debentures (Subordinated Debentures) issued by Pinnacle Financial.  The sole assets of the Trusts are the Subordinated Debentures.  At March 31, 2017, our $2.5 million investment in the Trusts is included in other investments in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets and our $82.5 million obligation is reflected as subordinated debt. Additionally, we have entered into certain other subordinated debt agreements and a revolving credit facility,  which we recently amended to extend the maturity date to March 27, 2018, as outlined below and fully described in our Annual Report on Form 10-K (in thousands):

Name
Date
Established
Maturity
 
Total Debt Outstanding
   
Interest Rate at
March 31, 2017
 
Coupon Structure
Trust preferred securities
                  
Trust I
December 29, 2003
December 30, 2033
 
$
10,310
     
3.95
%
LIBOR + 2.80%
Trust II
September 15, 2005
September 30, 2035
   
20,619
     
2.55
%
LIBOR + 1.40%
Trust III
September 7, 2006
September 30, 2036
   
20,619
     
2.80
%
LIBOR + 1.65%
Trust IV
October 31, 2007
September 30, 2037
   
30,928
     
3.98
%
LIBOR + 2.85%
                             
Subordinated Debt
                       
Pinnacle Bank Subordinated Notes
July 30, 2015
July 30, 2025
   
60,000
     
4.875
%
Fixed(1)
Pinnacle Bank Subordinated Notes
March 10, 2016
July 30, 2025
   
70,000
     
4.875
%
Fixed(1)
Avenue Subordinated Notes
December 29, 2014
December 29, 2024
   
20,000
     
6.750
%
Fixed(2)
Pinnacle Financial Subordinated Notes
November 16, 2016
November 16, 2026
   
120,000
     
5.250
%
Fixed(3)
                             
Other Borrowings
                          
Revolving credit facility(4)
March 29, 2016
March 27, 2018
   
-
     
-
   
                             
Debt issuance costs and fair value adjustments
   
(1,627
)
          
Total subordinated debt and other borrowings
 
$
350,849
            
______________________
(1) – Migrates to three month LIBOR + 3.128% beginning July 30, 2020 through the end of the term.
(2) – Migrates to three month LIBOR + 4.95% beginning January 1, 2020 through the end of the term.
(3) – Migrates to three month LIBOR + 3.884% beginning November 16, 2021 through the end of the term.
(4) - Borrowing capacity on the revolving credit facility is $75.0 million. At March 31, 2017, there was no outstanding balance under this facility.
 
Additionally, upon consummation of our proposed merger with BNC, we will assume BNC's obligations under its outstanding $60.0 million subordinated notes issued in September 2014 that mature in October 2024. These notes bear interest at a rate of 5.5% per annum until September 30, 2019 and may not be repaid prior to that date. Beginning on October 1, 2019, if not redeemed on that date, these notes will bear interest at a floating rate equal to the three-month LIBOR determined on the determination date of the applicable interest period plus 359 basis points. Upon consummation of the Merger with BNC, Pinnacle Financial will also assume BNC's obligations under its outstanding subordinated notes with a principal balance of $10.6 million as of December 31, 2016. These notes bear interest at a variable rate of 30-day LIBOR plus 5.00% per annum, with a floor of 5.50% and a cap of 9.50%, and have a maturity date of October 15, 2023. The interest rate for these subordinated notes was 5.61% at December 31, 2016. The $50.5 million in aggregate principal amount of subordinated debentures issued by trust affiliates of BNC in connection with the issuance of trust preferred securities will also be assumed in connection with our merger with BNC.

46

Upon consummation of the Merger, Pinnacle Financial expects that its total assets will exceed $15.0 billion, as a result of a merger, which would cause the subordinated debentures Pinnacle Financial and BNC have issued in connection with prior trust preferred securities offerings to cease to qualify as Tier 1 capital under applicable banking regulations. Though these securities would no longer qualify as Tier 1 capital from and after the closing of the Merger, Pinnacle Financial believes these subordinated debentures would continue to qualify as Tier 2 capital.
 
Capital Resources. At March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016, our shareholders' equity amounted to $1.723 billion and $1.497 billion, respectively, an increase of approximately $226.4 million.  Approximately $192.2 million of this increase is attributable to our issuance of common equity in the first quarter of 2017 to support our future growth. The remaining increase is attributable to net income, equity compensation and changes in our other comprehensive income.

Dividends. Pursuant to Tennessee banking law, our bank may not, without the prior consent of the TDFI, pay any dividends to us in a calendar year in excess of the total of our bank's retained net profits for that year plus the retained net profits for the preceding two years.  During the three months ended March 31, 2017, our bank paid dividends of $7.5 million to us which is within the limits allowed by the TDFI.

During the three months ended March 31, 2017, we paid $7.0 million in dividends to our common shareholders. On April 18, 2017, our board of directors declared a $0.14 quarterly cash dividend to common shareholders which should approximate $7.0 million in aggregate dividend payments that will be paid on May 26, 2017 to common shareholders of record as of the close of business on May 5, 2017. The amount and timing of all future dividend payments, if any, is subject to board discretion and will depend on our earnings, capital position, financial condition and other factors, including new regulatory capital requirements, as they become known to us.

Market and Liquidity Risk Management

Our objective is to manage assets and liabilities to provide a satisfactory, consistent level of profitability within the framework of established liquidity, loan, investment, borrowing, and capital policies. Our Asset Liability Management Committee (ALCO) is charged with the responsibility of monitoring these policies, which are designed to ensure acceptable composition of asset/liability mix. Two critical areas of focus for ALCO are interest rate sensitivity and liquidity risk management.

Interest Rate Sensitivity.  In the normal course of business, we are exposed to market risk arising from fluctuations in interest rates.  ALCO measures and evaluates the interest rate risk so that we can meet customer demands for various types of loans and deposits.  ALCO determines the most appropriate amounts of on-balance sheet and off-balance sheet items.  Measurements which we use to help us manage interest rate sensitivity include an earnings simulation model and an economic value of equity (EVE) model. 

Our interest rate sensitivity modeling incorporates a number of assumptions for both earnings simulation and EVE, including loan and deposit re-pricing characteristics, the rate of loan prepayments, etc. ALCO periodically reviews these assumptions for accuracy based on historical data and future expectations. Our ALCO policy requires that the base scenario assume rates remain flat and is the scenario to which all others are compared in order to measure the change in net interest income and EVE. Policy limits are applied to the results of certain modeling scenarios. While the primary policy scenarios focus is on a twelve month time frame, longer time horizons are also modeled. All policy scenarios assume a static balance sheet, although other scenarios are modeled.
 
Earnings simulation model. We believe interest rate risk is best measured by our earnings simulation modeling. Earning assets, interest-bearing liabilities and off-balance sheet financial instruments are combined with forecasts of interest rates for the next 12 months and are combined with other factors in order to produce various earnings simulations. To limit interest rate risk, we have policy guidelines for our earnings at risk which seek to limit the variance of net interest income in both gradual and instantaneous changes to interest rates. For changes up or down in rates from management's flat interest rate forecast over the next twelve months, management establishes policy limits in the decline in net interest income, assuming a flat balance sheet, for the following scenarios:

 -10.0% for gradual change of 400 basis points; -20.0% instantaneous change of 400 basis points
 -7.5 % for gradual change of 300 basis points; -15.0% instantaneous change of 300 basis points
 -5.0% for gradual change of 200 basis points; -10.0% instantaneous change of 200 basis points
 -2.5% for gradual change of 100 basis points; -5.0% instantaneous change of 100 basis points

47

At March 31, 2017, our earnings simulation model indicated we were in compliance with our policies for both the gradual and instantaneous interest rate changes.
 
Economic value of equityOur EVE model measures the extent that estimated economic values of our assets, liabilities and off-balance sheet items will change as a result of interest rate changes. Economic values are determined by discounting expected cash flows from assets, liabilities and off-balance sheet items, which establishes a base case EVE. To help limit interest rate risk, we have stated policy guidelines for an instantaneous basis point change in interest rates, in the following scenarios:

 +/- 400 basis point change in interest rates, EVE shall not decrease by more than 40 percent
 +/- 300 basis point change in interest rates, EVE shall not decrease by more than 30 percent
 +/- 200 basis point change in interest rates, EVE shall not decrease by more than 20 percent
 +/- 100 basis point change in interest rates, EVE shall not decrease by more than 10 percent

At March 31, 2017, our EVE model indicated we were in compliance with our policies for the scenarios noted above.  However, our policies provide that during certain interest rate cycles, the down basis point rate changes may not be particularly significant given the current slope of the yield curve.  Accordingly, we have currently suspended the calculation of the down rate scenarios for EVE measurement for the down 300 and down 400 scenarios.

We also analyze a most-likely earnings simulation scenario that projects the expected change in rates based on a forward yield curve adopted by management using expected balance sheet volumes forecasted by management.  Separate growth assumptions are developed for loans, investments, deposits, etc.  Other interest rate scenarios analyzed by management may include delayed rate shocks, yield curve steepening or flattening, or other variations in rate movements to further analyze or stress our balance sheet under various interest rate scenarios.

Each of the above analyses may not, on its own, be an accurate indicator of how our net interest income will be affected by changes in interest rates.  Income associated with interest-earning assets and costs associated with interest-bearing liabilities may not be affected uniformly by changes in interest rates.  In addition, the magnitude and duration of changes in interest rates may have a significant impact on net interest income.  For example, although certain assets and liabilities may have similar maturities or periods of repricing, they may react in different degrees to changes in market interest rates.  Interest rates on certain types of assets and liabilities fluctuate in advance of changes in general market rates, while interest rates on other types may lag behind changes in general market rates.  In addition, certain assets, such as adjustable rate mortgage loans, have features (generally referred to as interest rate caps and floors) which limit changes in interest rates.  Prepayment and early withdrawal levels also could deviate significantly from those assumed in calculating the maturity of certain instruments. The ability of many borrowers to service their debts also may decrease during periods of rising interest rates.  ALCO reviews each of the above interest rate sensitivity analyses along with several different interest rate scenarios as part of its responsibility to provide a satisfactory, consistent level of profitability within the framework of established liquidity, loan, investment, borrowing, and capital policies.

We may also use derivative financial instruments to improve the balance between interest-sensitive assets and interest-sensitive liabilities and as one tool to manage our interest rate sensitivity while continuing to meet the credit and deposit needs of our customers. We may also enter into interest rate swaps to facilitate customer transactions and meet their financing needs.  These swaps qualify as derivatives, even though they are not designated as hedging instruments.

Based on information gathered from these various modeling scenarios management believes that at March 31, 2017, our balance sheet would likely be asset sensitive.

ALCO may determine that Pinnacle Financial should over time become more or less asset or liability sensitive depending on the underlying balance sheet circumstances and the firm's conclusions as to anticipated interest rate fluctuations in future periods.  At present, ALCO has determined that its "most likely" rate scenario considers two increases in short-term interest rates in 2017 while the longer end of the rate curve will increase only slightly.  Our "most likely" rate forecast has been basically consistent for several quarters and is based primarily on information we acquire from a service which includes a consensus forecast of numerous benchmarks. Over the last 36 months we have taken steps to make our balance sheet more asset sensitive, which should favorably position us in a rising rate environment. We believe current growth in our balance sheet will also assist us in achievement of increased asset sensitivity over time; however, we may also implement a series of actions designed to accelerate our achievement of neutrality or asset sensitivity as conditions warrant.

48

Liquidity Risk Management.  The purpose of liquidity risk management is to ensure that there are sufficient cash flows to satisfy loan demand, deposit withdrawals, and our other needs.  Traditional sources of liquidity for a bank include asset maturities and growth in core deposits.  A bank may achieve its desired liquidity objectives from the management of its assets and liabilities and by internally generated funding through its operations.  Funds invested in marketable instruments that can be readily sold and the continuous maturing of other earning assets are sources of liquidity from an asset perspective.  The liability base provides sources of liquidity through attraction of increased deposits and borrowing funds from various other institutions. Maintaining increased levels of liquid assets on our balance sheet, in the form of readily marketable investment securities or other highly liquid assets, could negatively impact our profitability as the interest we earn on these assets is less than that we earn on other earning assets like loans.

To assist in determining the adequacy of our liquidity, we perform a variety of liquidity stress tests including idiosyncratic, systemic and combined scenarios for both moderate and severe events. Liquidity is defined as the ability to convert assets into cash or cash equivalents without significant loss and to raise additional funds by increasing liabilities. Liquidity management involves maintaining our ability to meet the daily cash flow requirements of our customers, both depositors and borrowers. We maintain a minimum liquid asset balance to ensure our ability to meet our obligations. The size of the minimum liquid asset balance is determined through severe liquidity stress testing. At March 31, 2017, we were in compliance with our liquidity stress testing policy requirements.

Changes in interest rates also affect our liquidity position. We currently price deposits in response to market rates and our management intends to continue this policy. If deposits are not priced in response to market rates, a loss of deposits could occur which would negatively affect our liquidity position.

Scheduled loan payments are a relatively stable source of funds, but loan payoffs and deposit flows fluctuate significantly, being influenced by interest rates, general economic conditions, competition and the specific needs of our customers. Additionally, debt security investments are subject to prepayment and call provisions that could accelerate their payoff prior to stated maturity.  We attempt to price our deposit products to meet our asset/liability objectives consistent with local market conditions.  Our ALCO is responsible for monitoring our ongoing liquidity needs.  Our regulators also monitor our liquidity and capital resources on a periodic basis and may require that we increase our levels of liquidity or the mixture of our liquidity components.
 
In addition, our bank is a member of the FHLB Cincinnati.  As a result, our bank receives advances from the FHLB Cincinnati, pursuant to the terms of various borrowing agreements, which assist it in the funding of its home mortgage and commercial real estate loan portfolios. Under the borrowing agreements with the FHLB Cincinnati, our bank has pledged certain qualifying residential mortgage loans and, pursuant to a blanket lien, all qualifying commercial mortgage loans as collateral. As such, Pinnacle Bank may use the FHLB Cincinnati as a source of liquidity depending on its ALCO strategies. Additionally, we may pledge additional qualifying assets or reduce the amount of pledged assets with the FHLB Cincinnati to increase or decrease our borrowing capacity with the FHLB Cincinnati. At March 31, 2017, we believe we had an estimated $1.606 billion in additional borrowing capacity with the FHLB Cincinnati.  However, incremental borrowings are made via a formal request by Pinnacle Bank and the subsequent approval by the FHLB Cincinnati. At March 31, 2017, our bank had received advances from the FHLB Cincinnati totaling $181.2 million. Additionally, Pinnacle Financial recognized a discount on FHLB Cincinnati advances in conjunction with previous acquisitions. The remaining discount was $72,000 at March 31, 2017. At March 31, 2017, the scheduled maturities of these advances and interest rates are as follows (in thousands):

Scheduled Maturities
Amount
Interest Rates(1)
2017
$
101,000
1.08%
2018
 
80,002
1.12%
2019
 
-
0.00%
2020
 
168
2.25%
2021
 
-
0.00%
Thereafter
 
22
2.75%
Total
$
181,192
 
Weighted average interest rate
1.10%
______________________
(1)
Some FHLB Cincinnati advances include variable interest rates and could increase in the future.  The table reflects rates in effect as of March 31, 2017.

49

Pinnacle Bank also has accommodations with upstream correspondent banks available for unsecured short-term advances which aggregate $140.0 million.  These accommodations have various covenants related to their term and availability, and in most cases must be repaid within a month. We had $50 million of outstanding borrowings at March 31, 2017 under these agreements. Our bank also has approximately $1.856 billion in available Federal Reserve discount window lines of credit.

At March 31, 2017, excluding reciprocating time deposits issued through the CDARS network, we had $166.6 million brokered certificates of deposit. Historically, we have issued brokered certificates through several different brokerage houses based on competitive bid.  Through the Avenue acquisition, we acquired non-reciprocal time deposits issued through the CDARS network. We also obtained $50 million in non-reciprocal insured cash sweep deposits under a two-year $200 million agreement. Typically, these funds have been for varying maturities of up to two years and were issued at rates which were competitive to rates we would be required to pay to attract similar deposits within our local markets as well as rates for FHLB Cincinnati advances of similar maturities.  Although we consider these deposits to be a ready source of liquidity under current market conditions, we anticipate that these deposits will continue to represent a small percentage of our total funding in 2017 as we seek to continue maintaining a higher level of core deposits.

Industry regulators have defined additional liquidity guidelines, through the issuance of the Basel III Liquidity Coverage Ratio (LCR) and the Modified LCR, for banking institutions greater than $250 billion in assets, and $50 billion in assets respectively, in the United States. These regulatory guidelines became effective January 2015 with phase in over subsequent years and will require these large institutions to follow prescriptive guidance in determining an absolute level of a high quality liquid asset (HQLA) buffer that must be maintained on their balance sheets in order to withstand a potential liquidity crisis event. Although Pinnacle follows the principles outlined in the Interagency Policy Statement on Liquidity Risk Management, issued March 2010, to determine its HQLA buffer, Pinnacle is not currently subject to these regulations. However, these formulas could eventually be imposed on smaller banks, such as Pinnacle Bank, and require an increase in the absolute level of liquidity on our balance sheet. Consequently, this could result in lower net interest margins for us in future periods.     

At March 31, 2017, we had no significant commitments for capital expenditures, although we intend to construct a new retail location in each of the Knoxville, Chattanooga and Memphis MSAs annually. We will incur additional capital expenditures as we develop an infrastructure to incorporate the Bank of North Carolina into our network. Our management believes that we have adequate liquidity to meet all known contractual obligations and unfunded commitments, including loan commitments and reasonable borrower, depositor, and creditor requirements over the next twelve months.
 
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements.  At March 31, 2017, we had outstanding standby letters of credit of $128.4 million and unfunded loan commitments outstanding of $3.3 billion. Because these commitments generally have fixed expiration dates and many will expire without being drawn upon, the total commitment level does not necessarily represent future cash requirements. If needed to fund these outstanding commitments, Pinnacle Bank has the ability to liquidate Federal funds sold or on a short-term basis to borrow and purchase Federal funds from other financial institutions.
 
Impact of Inflation

The consolidated financial statements and related consolidated financial data presented herein have been prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP and practices within the banking industry which require the measurement of financial position and operating results in terms of historical dollars without considering the changes in the relative purchasing power of money over time due to inflation. Unlike most industrial companies, virtually all the assets and liabilities of a financial institution are monetary in nature. As a result, interest rates have a more significant impact on a financial institution's performance than the effects of general levels of inflation.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

Except as set forth below, there are currently no new accounting standards that have been issued that will have a significant impact on the Company's financial position, results of operations or cash flows upon adoption that were not disclosed in the Company's most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K.

In January 2017, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update 2017-01, Business Combinations (Topic 805): Clarifying the Definition of a Business. The amendment in this ASU clarifies the definition of a business with the objective of adding guidance to assist entities with evaluating whether transactions should be accounted for as acquisitions (or disposals) or assets or businesses. The amendments are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017, including interim periods within those periods. Pinnacle Financial is currently evaluating the impact of the new guidance on its consolidated financial statements.

50

In January 2017, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2017-04, Intangibles – Goodwill and Other (Topic 350): Simplifying the Test for Goodwill Impairment to simplify how an entities other than private companies, such as public business entities and not-for-profit entities, are required to test goodwill for impairment by eliminating the comparison of the implied fair value of the reporting unit's goodwill with the carrying amount of that goodwill. The amendments are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019, including interim periods within those periods. Pinnacle Financial is currently evaluating the impact of the new guidance on its consolidated financial statements.

In March 2017, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2017-08, Receivables – Nonrefundable Fees and Other Costs (Subtopic 310-20): Premium Amortization on Purchased Callable Debt Securities. The amendment in this ASU shortens the amortization period for certain callable debt securities held at a premium to the earliest call date. The amendment does not require an accounting change for securities held at a discount; the discount continues to be amortized to maturity. The amendments are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, including interim periods within those periods. Early adoption is permitted with modified retrospective application. Pinnacle Financial is currently evaluating the impact of the new guidance on its consolidated financial statements.

In February 2016, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update 2016-02 Leases guidance requiring the recognition in the statement of financial position of lease assets and lease liabilities by lessees for those leases classified as operating leases under previous GAAP. The guidance requires that a lessee should recognize lease assets and lease liabilities as compared to previous GAAP that did not require lease assets and lease liabilities to be recognized for most leases. The guidance becomes effective for us on January 1, 2019.  Pinnacle Financial is currently evaluating the impact on its consolidated financial statements.
 
In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-13, Financial Instruments - Credit Losses: Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments (the ASU), which introduces the current expected credit losses methoology. Among other things, the ASU requires the measurement of all expected credit losses for financial assets, including loans and available-for-sale debt securities, held at the reporting date based on historical experience, current conditions, and reasonable and supportable forecasts that affect the collectability of the reported amount. The new model will require institutions to calculate all probable and estimable losses that are expected to be incurred through the loan's entire life. ASU 2016-13 also requires the allowance for credit losses for purchased financial assets with credit deterioration since origination to be determined in a manner similar to that of other financial assets measured at amortized cost; however, the initial allowance will be added to the purchase price rather than recorded as credit loss expense. The disclosure of credit quality indicators related to the amortized cost of financing receivables will be further disaggregated by year of origination (or vintage). Institutions are to apply the changes through a cumulative-effect adjustment to their retained earnings as of the beginning of the first reporting period in which the standard is effective. The amendments are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2020. Early application will be permitted for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018. Pinnacle Financial is currently assessing the impact of the new guidance on its consolidated financial statements.

In August 2016, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update 2016-15 Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230) intended to reduce the diversity in practice around how certain transactions are classified within the statement of cash flows. The guidance is effective for public companies for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2017, including interim periods within those fiscal years. Early adoption is permitted with retrospective application. Pinnacle Financial is currently evaluating the impact of the new guidance on its consolidated financial statements.

In May 2014, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update 2014-09 Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606) developed as a joint project with the International Accounting Standards Board to remove inconsistencies in revenue requirements and provide a more robust framework for addressing revenue issues. The ASU's core principle is that an entity should recognize revenue when it transfers promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which an entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. In August 2015, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update 2015-14, which deferred the effective date by one year (i.e., interim and annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017). Early adoption is permitted, but not before the original effective date (i.e., interim and annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2016). The ASU may be adopted using either a modified retrospective method or a full retrospective method. Pinnacle Financial intends to adopt the ASU during the first quarter of 2018, as required, using a modified retrospective approach. Pinnacle Financial's preliminary analysis suggests that the adoption of this accounting guidance is not expected to have a material impact on the Company's consolidated financial statements as the majority of its revenue stream is generated from financial instruments which are not within the scope of this ASU. However, Pinnacle Financial is still evaluating the impact for other fee-based income. The FASB continues to release new accounting guidance related to the adoption of this ASU and the results of Pinnacle Financial's materiality analysis may change based on conclusions reached as to the application of this new guidance.
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Other than those pronouncements discussed above and those which have been recently adopted, there were no other recently issued accounting pronouncements that are expected to materially impact Pinnacle Financial.

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ITEM 3. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

The information required by this Item 3 is included on pages 33 through 52 of Part I - Item 2 - "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations."

ITEM 4. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures

Pinnacle Financial maintains disclosure controls and procedures, as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Exchange Act"), that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by it in the reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC's rules and forms and that such information is accumulated and communicated to Pinnacle Financial's management, including its Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. Pinnacle Financial carried out an evaluation, under the supervision and with the participation of its management, including its Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of its disclosure controls and procedures as of the end of the period covered by this report. Based on the evaluation of these disclosure controls and procedures, the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that Pinnacle Financial's disclosure controls and procedures were effective.

Changes in Internal Controls

There were no changes in Pinnacle Financial's internal control over financial reporting during Pinnacle Financial's fiscal quarter ended March 31, 2017 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, Pinnacle Financial's internal control over financial reporting.
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PART II. OTHER INFORMATION

 
ITEM 1. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

Various legal proceedings to which Pinnacle Financial or a subsidiary of Pinnacle Financial is a party arise from time to time in the normal course of business. There are no material pending legal proceedings to which Pinnacle Financial or a subsidiary of Pinnacle Financial is a party or of which any of their property is the subject.
 
ITEM 1A.  RISK FACTORS
 
Except as set forth below there have been no material changes to the risk factors included in "Item 1A Risk Factors" in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2016:

Holders of Pinnacle Financial's and Pinnacle Bank's indebtedness and junior subordinated debentures have rights that are senior to those of Pinnacle Financial's shareholders.

At March 31, 2017, Pinnacle Financial had outstanding trust preferred securities and accompanying junior subordinated debentures totaling $82.5 million. Payments of the principal and interest on the trust preferred securities are conditionally guaranteed by Pinnacle Financial, and the accompanying subordinated debentures are senior to shares of Pinnacle Financial's common stock. As a result, Pinnacle Financial must make payments on the subordinated debentures (and the related trust preferred securities) before any dividends can be paid on common stock and, in the event of Pinnacle Financial's bankruptcy, dissolution or liquidation, the holders of the subordinated debentures must be satisfied before any distributions can be made on Pinnacle Financial's common stock. Pinnacle Financial has the right to defer distributions on its junior subordinated debentures (and the related trust preferred securities) for up to five years, during which time no dividends may be paid on its common stock. If our financial condition deteriorates or if we do not receive required regulatory approvals, we may be required to defer distributions on our junior subordinated debentures. Upon consummation of the Merger with BNC, Pinnacle Financial will assume $50.5 million in outstanding principal of junior subordinated debentures issued by certain of BNC's subsidiaries. Such subordinated debentures will similarly rank senior to shares of Pinnacle's common stock.

From time to time, Pinnacle Financial and Pinnacle Bank have issued, and in connection with the Avenue merger, assumed, subordinated notes. At March 31, 2017, we had an aggregate of $270.0 million of subordinated notes outstanding, not including the subordinated debentures issued in connection with our trust preferred securities. In addition, upon consummation of the Merger with BNC, we will assume $70.6 million of subordinated notes issued by BNC. The terms of these notes prohibit or will prohibit Pinnacle Financial or Pinnacle Bank, as applicable, from declaring or paying any dividends or distributions on its common stock at any time when payment of interest on these notes has not been timely made and while any such accrued and unpaid interest remains unpaid. Moreover, the notes we have issued or assumed, and the notes issued by BNC that we will assume in connection with the proposed Merger with BNC, rank, or will rank, senior to shares of Pinnacle Financial's common stock. In the event of any bankruptcy, dissolution or liquidation of Pinnacle Financial, these notes, along with Pinnacle Financial's other indebtedness, would have to be repaid before Pinnacle Financial's shareholders would be entitled to receive any of the assets of Pinnacle Financial.

Pinnacle Financial or Pinnacle Bank may from time to time issue additional subordinated indebtedness that would have to be repaid before Pinnacle Financial's shareholders would be entitled to receive any of the assets of Pinnacle Financial or Pinnacle Bank.
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ITEM 2.  UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS
The following table discloses shares of our common stock repurchased during the three months ended March 31, 2017.

Period
Total Number of Shares Repurchased (1)
Average Price Paid Per Share
Total Number of Shares Purchased as Part of Publicly Announced Plans or Programs
Maximum Number (or Approximate Dollar Value) of Shares That May Yet Be Purchased Under the Plans or Programs
January 1, 2017 to January 31, 2017
27,662
$
67.25
-
-
February 1, 2017 to February 28, 2017
27,076
 
70.55
-
-
March 1, 2017 to March 31, 2017
114
 
66.97
-
-
     Total
54,852
$
68.87
-
-
______________________
(1)
During the quarter ended March 31, 2017, 173,683 shares of restricted stock previously awarded to certain of our associates vested. We withheld 54,852 shares to satisfy tax withholding requirements associated with the vesting of these restricted shares.


ITEM 3. DEFAULTS UPON SENIOR SECURITIES
Not applicable

ITEM 4. MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES
Not applicable

ITEM 5. OTHER INFORMATION
 None
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ITEM 6.  EXHIBITS
10.1
First Amendment to Loan Agreement dated as of March 27, 2017 by and between U.S. Bank National Association and Pinnacle Financial Partners, Inc.
10.2
Second Amendment to Loan Agreement dated as of April 26, 2017 by and between U.S. Bank National Association and Pinnacle Financial Partners, Inc.
31.1
Certification pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a)
31.2
Certification pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a)
32.1
Certification pursuant to 18 USC Section 1350 – Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
32.2
Certification pursuant to 18 USC Section 1350 – Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
101.INS
XBRL Instance Document
101.SCH
XBRL Schema Document
101.CAL
XBRL Calculation Linkbase Document
101.LAB
XBRL Label Linkbase Document
101.PRE
XBRL Presentation Linkbase Document
101.DEF
XBRL Definition Linkbase Document
56


SIGNATURES
 
     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

   
PINNACLE FINANCIAL PARTNERS, INC.
     
     
May 5, 2017
 
/s/ M. Terry Turner
   
M. Terry Turner
   
President and Chief Executive Officer


May 5, 2017
 
/s/ Harold R. Carpenter
   
Harold R. Carpenter
   
Chief Financial Officer

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