Employment Contracts	12 Months Ended
Employment Contracts	Dec. 31, 2011
Employment Contracts [Abstract]
Employment Contracts	Note 16. Employment Contracts Pinnacle Financial has entered into, and subsequently amended, four continuously automatic-renewing three-year employment agreements with four of its senior executives: the President and Chief Executive Officer, the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Administrative Officer and the Chief Financial Officer. These agreements, as amended, will always have a three-year term unless any of the parties to the agreements gives notice of intent not to renew the agreement. The agreements specify that in certain defined “Terminating Events,” Pinnacle Financial will be obligated to pay each of the four senior executives certain amounts, which vary according to the Terminating Event, which is based on their annual salaries and bonuses. These Terminating Events include disability, cause, without cause and other events. In connection with the CPP, the agreements were modified in 2008 to comply with certain limitations specified in the CPP for payment upon certain terminations of employment. In 2009, and in connection with the ongoing developments and updated and revised regulations related to executive compensation issued by the U.S. Treasury under the CPP, the four senior executives again waived their right to receive certain benefits from Pinnacle Financial should payment of the benefit be prohibited by the CPP's limitations on executive compensation at the time of payment would have otherwise been triggered.

The entire disclosure for compensation costs, including compensated absences accruals, compensated absences liability, deferred compensation arrangements and income statement compensation items. Deferred compensation arrangements may include a description of an arrangement with an individual employee, which is generally an employment contract between the entity and a selected officer or key employee containing a promise by the employer to pay certain amounts at designated future dates, usually including a period after retirement, upon compliance with stipulated requirements. This type of arrangement is distinguished from broader based employee benefit plans as it is usually tailored to the employee. Disclosure also typically includes the amount of related compensation expense recognized during the reporting period, the number of shares (units) issued during the period under such arrangements, and the carrying amount as of the balance sheet date of the related liability.

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