First Horizon Bank
First Horizon Corporation (NYSE: FHN) is a Memphis, Tennessee-based bank holding company that owns and operates First Horizon Bank, a regional institution providing retail banking, commercial lending, wealth management, and other financial services primarily in the southeastern United States.[1][2] Founded in 1864 as the First National Bank of Memphis, it holds the distinction of being Tennessee's oldest chartered bank and has evolved through rebranding—from First Tennessee Bank in 1977 to the unified First Horizon brand in 2019—and strategic expansions, including the 2017 merger with Capital Bank and the 2020 acquisition of IberiaBank Corporation, which positioned it among the top 25 U.S. banks by deposits.[3][3] As of September 30, 2025, the corporation reported $83.2 billion in assets, more than 7,200 associates, and 416 banking centers across 12 states focused on the Southeast.[4][1] A notable event in its recent history was the February 2022 agreement to be acquired by TD Bank Group for approximately $13.4 billion, which was mutually terminated in May 2023 due to prolonged regulatory approval delays unrelated to the transaction's merits, allowing First Horizon to resume independent operations and strategic initiatives.[5][6] The bank has been recognized for innovations such as early adoption of mobile deposit and ATMs, as well as awards for workplace culture and customer service, reflecting its emphasis on technological advancement and regional stability amid a 160-year legacy.[3][7]Overview
Corporate structure and operations
First Horizon Corporation functions as a bank holding company and financial holding company, with First Horizon Bank serving as its principal operating subsidiary, a Tennessee-chartered bank.[8][9] The corporation, headquartered at 165 Madison Avenue in Memphis, Tennessee, consolidates numerous subsidiaries that facilitate banking, securities, insurance, leasing, advisory services, and community development activities.[1][9] As of December 31, 2024, First Horizon Corporation reported $82.2 billion in assets, over 7,200 associates, and more than 450 business locations across its subsidiaries.[1][8] First Horizon Bank, the core operational entity, maintains 416 banking centers in 12 southern U.S. states, focusing on retail, commercial, and specialized banking services.[1][7] Key subsidiaries under the Bank include FHN Financial Securities Corp. for brokerage and securities operations, First Horizon Advisors, Inc. for wealth management and advisory, First Horizon Insurance Agency, Inc. for insurance products, and entities like FT Leasing, Inc. for equipment financing, alongside multiple community development and investment funds such as First Horizon Community Development Enterprises, LLC.[9] Most subsidiaries are wholly owned, though exceptions exist, such as 300,000 shares of non-voting preferred stock in First Horizon Bank held externally with a $300 million liquidation preference, and 51% ownership in 840 Denning LLC.[9] Governance is led by a board of directors that concurrently serves First Horizon Bank, ensuring aligned oversight.[10] Bryan Jordan holds the positions of Chairman, President, and Chief Executive Officer, guiding strategic operations across the organization.[11] The company's financial reporting emphasizes operational segments—regional banking, fixed income, corporate, and non-strategic—distinct from its legal subsidiary framework to reflect business activities.[8][12] First Horizon Corporation is publicly traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker FHN.[2]
Geographic footprint and market position
First Horizon Bank maintains a regional footprint with 416 banking centers operating across 12 states primarily in the southeastern United States, headquartered in Memphis, Tennessee.[1] Tennessee hosts the largest concentration of these branches, with 137 locations as of December 31, 2024.[13] The bank's presence extends to other southern states including Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, and North Carolina, focusing on retail and commercial banking in growing markets.[14] As a leading regional bank, First Horizon Corporation reported $83.2 billion in assets as of September 30, 2025, positioning it among the top 40 largest banks in the United States by asset size.[4] [15] In its core Tennessee markets, the bank holds significant deposit market share, including 33.35% in the Memphis metropolitan area with $14.01 billion in local deposits as of June 2025, and remains the leading deposit holder in Chattanooga.[16] [17] This dominance in home-state markets, coupled with a 13% statewide deposit share in Tennessee, underscores its competitive strength in community banking and commercial services within the Southeast.[18]History
Origins and early development (19th to mid-20th century)
First Horizon Corporation, the parent of First Horizon Bank, traces its origins to the First National Bank of Memphis, chartered on March 25, 1864, by Ohio businessman Frank S. Davis during the Union occupation of Memphis in the American Civil War.[19][20] This institution became the city's inaugural national bank under the National Banking Acts of 1863 and 1864, aimed at stabilizing the currency and supporting postwar economic reconstruction in the region.[3][21] In 1865, the bank relocated to a two-story building at 14 Madison Avenue in downtown Memphis to accommodate its operations.[3][20] The bank demonstrated resilience amid early adversities, including the yellow fever epidemics of 1873 and 1878; during the latter outbreak, bookkeeper Charles Q. Harris sustained operations and facilitated the distribution of relief funds.[3][21] Growth accelerated with the 1897 acquisition of German Bank, which elevated deposits from $700,000 to approximately $1.5 million.[21][20] Memphis's population boom necessitated a new headquarters in 1908.[3] By 1913, the bank played a pivotal role in establishing the Federal Reserve System, serving as one of five institutions to incorporate the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis.[21][20] Further consolidation occurred in 1926 through a merger with Central-State National Bank, after which S.E. Ragland assumed the presidency.[21][20] The institution adapted to suburban expansion by opening its first branch outside downtown at 1338 Union Avenue in Midtown Memphis in 1941.[3] Under subsequent leaders like Norfleet Turner, the bank expanded to seven branches by 1952, reflecting sustained regional development and economic recovery through the early postwar era.[21][20]Growth and rebranding in the late 20th century
In the 1960s, First National Bank of Memphis solidified its position as the largest bank in the Mid-South by 1967, following the completion of a new 25-story headquarters in 1964 and the opening of additional branches.[20][21] This era marked initial steps toward broader regional dominance, with the formation of First National Holding Company in 1969 to facilitate expansion beyond single-bank operations.[20] The 1970s saw accelerated growth through structural reorganization and acquisitions. In 1971, the entity reorganized as First Tennessee National Corporation, a multi-bank holding company, enabling the acquisition of five Tennessee banks by 1972.[20][21] Under leadership of Ronald Terry, elected chairman and CEO in 1973, the corporation pursued further acquisitions and unified subsidiary banks under a common branding strategy.[21] A pivotal rebranding occurred in 1977, when First National Bank of Memphis changed its name to First Tennessee Bank, reflecting expansion across Tennessee and beyond the Memphis market.[3][20][21] Diversification intensified in the 1980s, with entry into non-traditional banking services. In 1981, the bank launched First Express, a nationwide check-clearing service, enhancing operational efficiency.[20] By 1982, it became the first bank in the Southeast to offer discount brokerage services, broadening its financial product offerings.[20] A 1987 restructuring decentralized authority into 16 regional operations, improving localized service delivery and supporting sustained branch growth.[21] The 1990s emphasized mortgage and capital markets expansion amid rising competition. Bond trading volume in the division grew from $66 billion in 1990 to $147.8 billion by 1993, achieving a 30.8% compound annual growth rate.[20] Key acquisitions included Maryland National Mortgage Corporation and SNMC Management Corporation in 1993, which increased annual mortgage originations from $700 million to $7.2 billion, followed by the 1995 purchase of Carl I. Brown and Company, positioning First Tennessee among the top 10 U.S. mortgage originators with offices in 25 states.[20] By the mid-1990s, the bank held dominant market share in retail and commercial banking across much of Tennessee, leading in deposits in three of the state's five major metro areas and operating over 200 branches.[20] This period culminated in the adoption of the tagline "All Things Financial" in 1999, underscoring its evolution into a comprehensive financial services provider.[20]Key mergers and acquisitions (2000s–2010s)
In the 2010s, First Horizon National Corporation intensified its merger and acquisition strategy to expand its regional footprint in the southeastern United States, following a period of relative restraint in the 2000s amid economic volatility and the 2008 financial crisis. A key early transaction was the 2015 acquisition of TrustAtlantic Bank, a North Carolina-based institution with 24 branches primarily in the eastern part of the state. First Tennessee Bank, First Horizon's primary banking subsidiary, announced the $60 million deal in July 2014 to enter new markets and diversify its deposit base; regulatory approvals followed from the Federal Reserve in September 2015 and the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, with the merger closing on October 2, 2015, thereby adding approximately $1.2 billion in assets and enhancing First Horizon's presence in the Raleigh-Durham area.[22][23] The most significant deal of the decade was the 2017 merger with Capital Bank Financial Corp., valued at $2.1 billion in stock and cash. Announced on May 4, 2017, the transaction integrated Capital Bank's 200 branches across Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia, nearly doubling First Horizon's branch network to over 400 locations and elevating its total assets toward $40 billion. Federal Reserve approval came on October 30, 2017, citing adequate capital management and competitive considerations; the parent companies merged on November 30, 2017, followed immediately by the bank subsidiaries' combination, marking First Horizon's largest acquisition to date and positioning it as the fourth-largest regional bank in the Southeast by deposits.[24][25][3] That same year, First Horizon acquired Coastal Securities Group Inc., a Houston-based fixed-income broker-dealer, to bolster its capital markets capabilities in institutional trading and sales.[26] Capping the period, First Horizon announced a merger of equals with IBERIABANK Corporation on November 4, 2019, in an all-stock transaction valued at approximately $3.9 billion. The deal combined First Horizon's $24 billion in assets with IBERIABANK's $31.7 billion, spanning 12 states and over 400 branches, aiming to create a top-25 U.S. bank by deposits headquartered in the South. Regulatory scrutiny focused on antitrust and community reinvestment impacts, with the merger ultimately closing in July 2020 after shareholder and agency approvals.[27][3] These transactions reflected First Horizon's shift toward inorganic growth to achieve scale in retail banking and regional diversification, supported by post-crisis capital recovery.[28]Post-2020 developments and aborted TD acquisition
On February 28, 2022, Toronto-Dominion Bank Group announced an agreement to acquire First Horizon Corporation for $13.4 billion in cash, or $25 per share, a 32% premium over First Horizon's closing price the prior day.[29] The transaction, if completed, would have significantly expanded TD's U.S. footprint in the Southeast, adding approximately 300 branches and positioning the combined entity as the sixth-largest U.S. bank by deposits.[29][30] Regulatory review extended beyond initial expectations amid heightened scrutiny of bank mergers following the 2023 regional banking crisis, prompting an agreement on February 9, 2023, to push the outside closing date to May 27, 2023.[31] On May 4, 2023, TD and First Horizon mutually terminated the deal, citing uncertainty over the timing of required approvals from U.S. regulators, which stemmed from TD's unrelated deficiencies in anti-money laundering (AML) and Bank Secrecy Act (BSA) compliance under a U.S. Department of Justice probe.[32][33] As part of the termination, TD paid First Horizon a $200 million reverse termination fee plus $25 million for expense reimbursement, while First Horizon's Series G preferred stock conversion terms remained unchanged at $25 per share.[32] The collapse led to an immediate 43% drop in First Horizon's stock price on May 4, 2023, reflecting market disappointment over lost synergies and growth prospects.[34] First Horizon's leadership, including CEO Bryan Jordan, emphasized a pivot to standalone operations from a position of "strength and stability," initiating aggressive deposit-gathering campaigns that secured $6 billion in new deposits and 32,000 customers by mid-2023 through elevated certificate of deposit rates.[32][35] The bank also deployed a $154 million employee retention program, achieving 94% staff retention, and allocated $100 million to technology enhancements, including a 20% expansion of its tech workforce and implementation of the nCino platform to streamline lending processes and reduce annual staff hours by 1,500.[35][36] By October 2024, First Horizon's common stock had rebounded from a post-termination low of $10 to $16.60, supported by deposit stabilization at $65.43 billion as of June 30, 2023, and sustained customer retention above 90%.[35][33] Into 2025, the bank reported robust third-quarter earnings on October 15, with notable items impacting results by only $9 million after-tax, and successfully passed its company-run stress test on July 30, maintaining capital ratios well above regulatory minimums under severe hypothetical downturns.[4][37] Additional initiatives included a April 2025 strategic alliance with LPL Financial to bolster wealth management offerings and a migration of its digital banking platform to NCR's AWS-hosted solution for improved client access.[38][39]Business Segments
Retail and consumer banking
First Horizon Bank's retail and consumer banking segment offers deposit accounts, lending products, and digital services tailored to individual customers' daily financial needs, emphasizing accessibility through physical branches and online platforms. Customers can select from multiple checking account options, such as basic, interest-bearing, and premium variants, all featuring free digital and mobile banking, a standard debit card, and reimbursement of ATM fees at non-network machines.[40] Savings products include traditional savings accounts and money market accounts designed for higher yields on liquid funds.[41] As of December 31, 2024, the bank maintained a stable deposit base supported by a diverse consumer customer segment, contributing to its overall position as the 33rd-largest bank in the United States by assets.[41][42] Lending options in the consumer segment encompass personal unsecured loans with fixed rates and quick approval processes, unsecured lines of credit for flexible borrowing, auto loans, home equity lines of credit, and mortgage products for home purchases or refinancing.[43][44] Credit card offerings include Visa Classic cards with low interest rates and rewards, as well as secured Visa cards for credit building, featuring limits from $250 to $5,000, no annual fees, and zero liability protection against unauthorized charges.[45][46] These products are supported by online application tools and borrower resources to facilitate decision-making.[44] The bank's retail network consists of 416 branches across 12 southern U.S. states, with the highest concentration in Tennessee (137 locations), enabling in-person services like drive-thru banking and personalized consultations alongside digital alternatives such as mobile deposits and bill pay.[13] First Horizon has received recognition for its consumer banking, including placement on Forbes' list of best-in-state banks in multiple markets as of July 2025, reflecting customer satisfaction with service quality and local focus.[47] Service fees for consumer deposit accounts, including maintenance charges and balance requirements, are standardized and disclosed to promote transparency.[48]Commercial and business banking
First Horizon Corporation's commercial and business banking activities, housed primarily within its Regional Banking segment, deliver tailored financial products to mid-market companies, small businesses, and organizations throughout its southeastern U.S. footprint spanning 24 states with over 450 locations as of December 31, 2024.[49] These offerings encompass commercial loans, lines of credit, deposit accounts, and treasury management solutions designed to support operational cash flow, capital needs, and risk mitigation for clients ranging from startups to established enterprises.[50] [51] Specialized services include corporate banking and syndications, where dedicated teams provide industry-specific expertise in areas such as consumer and retail, energy and renewables, healthcare, industrials, financial institutions, and real estate, gaming, and leisure.[52] Key features involve asset-backed financing, loan syndication, capital markets access, market risk management, international services, and institutional investments, enabling mid-market firms to secure customized capital solutions and optimize liquidity.[52] For smaller entities, business banking extends digital tools like mobile apps for account viewing, ACH/wire payments, and remote check deposits, alongside basic lending and checking products.[53] [54] The segment's lending portfolio forms a core component of First Horizon's overall $63 billion in total loans as of late 2024, with major emphases on commercial and industrial (C&I) loans—often unsecured or traditional—and secured commercial real estate (CRE) loans, geographically concentrated in high-growth southeastern markets.[13] [8] Over half of the portfolio features variable interest rates tied to short-term benchmarks, facilitating responsiveness to monetary policy shifts and supporting disciplined credit underwriting amid regional economic dynamics.[55] This structure underscores a focus on diversified, relationship-driven lending that prioritizes credit quality and deposit growth within the bank's $83.2 billion asset base as of September 30, 2025.[4]Capital markets and wealth management
FHN Financial Capital Markets, a division of First Horizon Bank, specializes in fixed income sales and trading, providing execution and strategies for institutional investors across the United States and internationally.[56] The division also engages in public finance activities, including municipal underwriting and advisory services for issuers, with notable growth in municipal bond issuance volumes reported in recent years.[57] Complementing capital markets, FHN Financial Portfolio Advisors manages over $36 billion in assets under management, offering investment solutions that leverage the broader resources of First Horizon Bank for institutional and high-net-worth clients.[58] First Horizon's wealth management services, delivered through First Horizon Advisors, include customized financial planning, investment management, trust and estate planning, insurance, retirement strategies, and asset protection.[59] These offerings target individuals, families, executives, business owners, retirees, and multi-generational clients, emphasizing local expertise and a client-centric approach built on over 160 years of institutional history.[59] In April 2025, First Horizon announced a strategic partnership with LPL Financial, transitioning its advisory platform to LPL's custody and technology services; by August 2025, the onboarding was complete, encompassing approximately 125 advisors and $18 billion in client assets, with $12 billion migrated in the initial phase.[60] This arrangement enables First Horizon Advisors to provide securities, advisory, and insurance products while maintaining branded services under First Horizon.[59] Investment products offered are not FDIC-insured and involve market risk.[59]Financial Performance
Asset base and key metrics
As of September 30, 2025, First Horizon Corporation reported total assets of $83.2 billion, up from $82.2 billion at December 31, 2024, driven by growth in earning assets amid stable deposit funding.[4][1] The asset base is dominated by loans and leases totaling $62.3 billion, encompassing commercial real estate, business, and consumer lending portfolios concentrated in the southeastern United States.[61] Investment securities and cash equivalents comprise the balance, supporting liquidity and interest income generation. Deposits, the primary liability funding assets, reached $65.5 billion at quarter-end, reflecting retention of approximately 97% of targeted balances despite competitive pressures.[61][62] Total shareholders' equity stood at $9.2 billion, bolstering the bank's resilience.[61]| Key Metric | Value | Period Ending |
|---|---|---|
| Common Equity Tier 1 Ratio | 11.1% | June 30, 2025 |
| Net Interest Margin | 3.4% | September 30, 2025 |
| Stressed CET1 (Minimum Projected) | 9.7% | 2025 Stress Test |