As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 27, 2020

Registration No. 333-        

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM S-3

REGISTRATION STATEMENT

UNDER

THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

PINNACLE FINANCIAL PARTNERS, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Tennessee	62-1812853
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)	(I.R.S. Employee Identification Number)

150 Third Avenue South

Suite 900

Nashville, Tennessee 37201

(615) 744-3700

(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of registrant’s principal executive offices)

M. Terry Turner

President and Chief Executive Officer

Pinnacle Financial Partners, Inc.

150 Third Avenue South

Suite 900

Nashville, Tennessee 37201

(615) 744-3700

(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number including area code, of agent for service)

Copy to:

D. Scott Holley

Bass, Berry & Sims PLC

150 Third Avenue South, Suite 2800

Nashville, Tennessee 37201

(615) 742-6200

Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public: From time to time after the effective date of this Registration Statement.

If the only securities being registered on this Form are being offered pursuant to dividend or interest reinvestment plans, please check the following box:    ☐

If any of the securities being registered on this Form are to be offered on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, other than securities offered only in connection with dividend or interest reinvestment plans, check the following box:    ☑

If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, please check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering.    ☐

If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering.    ☐

If this Form is a registration statement pursuant to General Instruction I.D. or a post-effective amendment thereto that shall become effective upon filing with the Commission pursuant to Rule 462(e) under the Securities Act, check the following box:    ☑

If this Form is a post-effective amendment to a registration statement filed pursuant to General Instruction I.D. filed to register additional securities or additional classes of securities pursuant to Rule 413(b) under the Securities Act, check the following box:    ☐

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 the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

Large accelerated filer	☒		Accelerated filer	☐
Non-accelerated filer	☐	(Do not check if 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 7(a)(2)(B).    ☐

CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE

Title of Each Class of Securities to be Registered (1)	Amount to be Registered (2)(3)	Proposed Maximum Offering Price Per Unit (2)(3)	Proposed Maximum Aggregate Offering Price (2)(3)	Amount of Registration Fee (3)
Common Stock, par value $1.00 per share (4)
Preferred Stock, no par value per share (4)
Debt Securities
Warrants
Depositary Shares (4)(5)
Units (6)
Stock Purchase Contracts

(1) The securities of each class may be offered and sold by the Registrant and/or may be offered and sold from time to time by one or more selling securityholders to be identified in the future. The selling securityholders may purchase the securities directly from the Registrant, or from one or more underwriters, dealers or agents.

(2) An indeterminate aggregate initial offering price or number of the securities of each identified class is being registered as may from time to time be offered at indeterminate prices. Separate consideration may or may not be received for securities that are issuable on exercise, conversion or exchange of other securities or that are issued in units or represented by depositary shares. In accordance with General Instruction II.E. to Form S-3 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), information as to each class of securities to be registered is not specified. The securities covered by this Registration Statement may be sold or otherwise distributed separately or together with any other securities covered by this Registration Statement.

(3) In accordance with Rule 456(b) and Rule 457(r) of the Securities Act, the registrant is deferring payment of all of the registration fee.

(4) Shares of preferred stock, common stock and depositary shares of the Registrant may be issuable for separate consideration or upon conversion of other securities registered hereunder.

(5) In the event that Pinnacle Financial Partners, Inc. elects to offer to the public fractional interests in shares of preferred stock registered hereunder, depositary shares, evidenced by depositary receipts issued pursuant to a deposit agreement, will be distributed to those persons purchasing such fractional interests, and the shares of preferred stock will be issued to the depositary under any such agreement.

(6) Any securities registered hereunder may be sold as units with other securities registered hereunder. Each unit will be issued under a unit agreement or indenture and will represent an interest in two or more securities, which may or may not be separable from one another.

PROSPECTUS

PINNACLE FINANCIAL PARTNERS, INC.

Common Stock

Preferred Stock

Debt Securities

Warrants

Depositary Shares

Units

Stock Purchase Contracts

Pinnacle Financial Partners, Inc., or one or more selling securityholders to be identified in the future, may offer, issue and sell from time to time, together or separately, in one or more offerings any combination of (i) our common stock, (ii) our preferred stock, which we may issue in one or more series, (iii) senior or subordinated debt securities, (iv) warrants, (v) depositary shares, (vi) units and (vii) stock purchase contracts. The debt securities may consist of debentures, notes, or other types of debt. The debt securities, preferred stock and warrants may be convertible, exercisable or exchangeable for common or preferred stock or other securities of ours. The preferred stock may be represented by depositary shares. The units may consist of any combination of the securities listed above.

We, or the selling securityholders, may offer and sell these securities in amounts, at prices and on terms determined at the time of the offering. We will not receive any proceeds from any sale of securities by any such selling securityholders.

We will provide the specific terms of these securities in supplements to this prospectus. You should read this prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement, as well as the documents incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference in this prospectus and any prospectus supplement, carefully before you make your investment decision. We may also authorize one or more free writing prospectuses to be provided to you in connection with any offering pursuant to this prospectus or any prospectus supplement.

Our common stock is listed on the Nasdaq Global Select Market and trades on that exchange under the symbol “PNFP.” On May 26, 2020, the closing price of our common stock on the Nasdaq Global Select Market was $40.81 per share. You are urged to obtain current market quotations of the common stock. Each prospectus supplement will indicate if the securities offered thereby will be listed on any securities exchange.

This prospectus may not be used to sell securities unless accompanied by a prospectus supplement.

The securities described herein may be sold on a continuous or delayed basis, through agents, dealers or underwriters, or directly to purchasers. The prospectus supplement for each offering of securities will describe in detail the plan of distribution for that offering. If our agents or any dealers or underwriters are involved in the sale of the securities, the applicable prospectus supplement will set forth the names of the agents, dealers or underwriters and any applicable commissions or discounts. Our net proceeds from the sale of securities will also be set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement. For general information about the distribution of securities offered, please see “Plan of Distribution” in this prospectus.

Investing in our securities involves risks. You should carefully consider the risk factors beginning on page v of this prospectus and set forth in the documents incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference herein together with any information set forth in a “Risk Factors” section of any applicable prospectus supplement before making any decision to invest in our securities.

THE SECURITIES THAT MAY BE ISSUED AND SOLD PURSUANT TO THIS PROSPECTUS WILL BE EQUITY SECURITIES IN OR UNSECURED OBLIGATIONS OF PINNACLE FINANCIAL PARTNERS, INC. AND WILL NOT BE SAVINGS ACCOUNTS, DEPOSITS OR OTHER OBLIGATIONS OF ANY BANK OR NONBANK SUBSIDIARY OF PINNACLE FINANCIAL PARTNERS, INC. AND WILL NOT BE INSURED BY THE FEDERAL DEPOSIT INSURANCE CORPORATION, THE DEPOSIT INSURANCE FUND OR ANY OTHER GOVERNMENTAL AGENCY. THE DEBT SECURITIES THAT MAY BE ISSUED UNDER THIS PROSPECTUS WILL NOT BE NOT BANK DEPOSITS AND WILL NOT BE INSURED BY THE FEDERAL DEPOSIT INSURANCE CORPORATION OR ANY OTHER GOVERNMENTAL AGENCY, NOR ARE THEY OBLIGATIONS OF, OR GUARANTEED BY, A BANK.

NEITHER THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION, ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION, THE FEDERAL DEPOSIT INSURANCE CORPORATION, THE BOARD OF GOVERNORS OF THE FEDERAL RESERVE SYSTEM NOR ANY OTHER REGULATORY BODY HAS APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED OF THESE SECURITIES OR PASSED UPON THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS PROSPECTUS. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE.

The date of this prospectus is May 27, 2020.

IMPORTANT NOTICE ABOUT INFORMATION PRESENTED IN THIS PROSPECTUS AND THE ACCOMPANYING PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT

We may provide information to you about the securities we are offering in three separate documents that progressively provide more detail:

• this prospectus, which provides general information, some of which may not apply to your securities;

• the accompanying prospectus supplement, which describes the terms of the securities, some of which may not apply to your securities; and

• if necessary, a pricing supplement, which describes the specific terms of your securities.

If the terms of your securities vary among the pricing supplement, the prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus, you should rely on the information in the following order of priority:

• the pricing supplement, if any;

• the prospectus supplement; and

• this prospectus.

We include cross-references in this prospectus and the accompanying prospectus supplement to captions in these materials where you can find further related discussions. The following table of contents and the table of contents included in the accompanying prospectus supplement provide the pages on which these captions are located.

Unless indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, we have not taken any action that would permit us to publicly sell these securities in any jurisdiction outside the United States. If you are an investor outside the United States, you should inform yourself about and comply with any restrictions as to the offering of the securities and the distribution of this prospectus.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS	i
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION	ii
INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN INFORMATION BY REFERENCE	ii
SPECIAL NOTE ON FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS	iii
RISK FACTORS	v
PINNACLE FINANCIAL PARTNERS, INC.	1
PINNACLE BANK	1
USE OF PROCEEDS	1
DESCRIPTIONS OF SECURITIES WE MAY OFFER	1
DESCRIPTION OF COMMON STOCK	3
DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED STOCK	9
DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES	11
DESCRIPTION OF WARRANTS	22
DESCRIPTION OF DEPOSITARY SHARES	23
DESCRIPTION OF UNITS	26
DESCRIPTION OF STOCK PURCHASE CONTRACTS	27
DESCRIPTION OF GLOBAL SECURITIES	28
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION	30
SELLING SECURITYHOLDERS	33
EXPERTS	33
LEGAL MATTERS	34

ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS

This prospectus is a part of an automatic shelf registration statement filed by Pinnacle Financial Partners, Inc. with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or the SEC, as a “well-known seasoned issuer” as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, which we refer to as the Securities Act. Under this shelf registration process, we, or any selling securityholder, may, from time to time, offer and sell any combination of the securities described in this prospectus in one or more offerings.

The registration statement containing this prospectus, including the exhibits to the registration statement, provides additional information about us and the securities offered under this prospectus. The registration statement, including the exhibits and the documents incorporated or deemed incorporated herein by reference, can be read on the SEC website or at the SEC offices as described under the heading “Where You Can Find More Information.”

Each time we offer and sell, or one of the selling securityholders offers and sells, securities pursuant to this prospectus, we will provide a prospectus supplement containing specific information about the terms of a particular offering. The prospectus supplement may add, update or change information in this prospectus. We may also prepare free writing prospectuses that describe particular securities. Any free writing prospectus should also be read in connection with this prospectus and with any prospectus supplement referred to therein. If the information in the prospectus is inconsistent with a prospectus supplement and any applicable free writing prospectus, you should rely on the information in that prospectus supplement and any applicable free writing prospectus. You should read carefully both this prospectus and, if applicable, any prospectus supplement together with the documents we have incorporated by reference in this prospectus or any applicable prospectus supplement. For purposes of this prospectus, any reference to an applicable prospectus supplement may also refer to a free writing prospectus, unless the context otherwise requires.

The distribution of this prospectus and any applicable prospectus supplement and the offering of the securities in certain jurisdictions may be restricted by law. Persons into whose possession this prospectus and any applicable prospectus supplement come should inform themselves about and observe any such restrictions. This prospectus and any applicable prospectus supplement do not constitute, and may not be used in connection with, an offer or solicitation by anyone in any jurisdiction in which such offer or solicitation is not authorized or in which the person making such offer or solicitation is not qualified to do so or to any person to whom it is unlawful to make such offer or solicitation.

You should not assume that the information contained in this prospectus or any prospectus supplement is accurate on any date subsequent to the date set forth on the front of such document or that any information we have incorporated by reference is correct on any date subsequent to the date of the document incorporated by reference, even though this prospectus and any prospectus supplement is delivered or securities are sold on a later date.

Unless this prospectus indicates otherwise or the context otherwise requires, the terms “we,” “our,” “us,” “Pinnacle Financial” or the “Company” as used in this prospectus refer to Pinnacle Financial Partners, Inc. and its subsidiaries, including Pinnacle Bank, which we sometimes refer to as “Pinnacle Bank,” the “bank,” our “bank subsidiary” or our “bank,” except that such terms refer to only Pinnacle Financial and not its subsidiaries in the sections entitled “Description of Common Stock,” “Description of Preferred Stock,” “Description of Warrants,” “Description of Debt Securities,” “Description of Depositary Shares,” “Description of Units,” and “Description of Stock Purchase Contracts.”

i

WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

We file annual, quarterly and other reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. The SEC maintains a website that contains reports, proxy statements, registration statements and other information, including our filings with the SEC. The SEC website address is www.sec.gov. We make available free of charge through our web site most of the filings we make with the SEC as soon as reasonably practicable after such material is electronically filed with or furnished to the SEC. Our website address is www.pnfp.com. Please note that our website address is provided as an inactive textual reference only. Information contained on or accessible through our website is not part of this prospectus or any prospectus supplement, and is therefore not incorporated by reference herein unless such information is otherwise specifically referenced or incorporated by reference elsewhere in this prospectus or the applicable prospectus supplement.

We have filed with the SEC a registration statement on Form S-3 under the Securities Act for the securities being offered under this prospectus. This prospectus, which is part of that registration statement, does not contain all of the information set forth in the registration statement and accompanying exhibits. This prospectus contains descriptions of certain agreements or documents that are exhibits to the registration statement. The statements as to the contents of such exhibits, however, are brief descriptions and are not necessarily complete, and each statement is qualified in all respects by reference to such agreement or document.

INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN INFORMATION BY REFERENCE

The SEC allows us to “incorporate by reference” into this prospectus the information in documents we file with the SEC, which means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to those documents. The information incorporated by reference is considered to be a part of this prospectus and should be read with the same care. When we update the information contained in documents that have been incorporated by reference, by making future filings with the SEC, the information incorporated by reference in this prospectus is considered to be automatically updated and superseded. In other words, in all cases, if you are considering whether to rely on information contained in this prospectus or information incorporated by reference into this prospectus, you should rely on the information contained in the document that was filed later. We incorporate by reference the documents listed below (other than, in each case, documents or information deemed to be furnished and not filed in accordance with SEC rules), which are considered to be a part of this prospectus:

• our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019, filed with the SEC on February  25, 2020 (including the portions of our Definitive Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A, filed with the SEC on March 12, 2020, specifically incorporated by reference therein);

• our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2020, filed with the SEC on May 8, 2020;

• our Current Reports on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on January  7, 2020, January  24, 2020, March  9, 2020 and April 24, 2020; and

• the description of our common stock contained in the Registration Statement on Form 8-A/A, filed on January 12, 2009, including all amendments and reports filed for purposes of updating such description.

All reports and other documents we subsequently file with the SEC under Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, or the Exchange Act, until our offering is completed will also be incorporated by reference into this prospectus and deemed to be part hereof (other than any information furnished to, rather than filed with, the SEC, unless expressly stated otherwise therein). The most recent information that we file with the SEC automatically updates and supersedes older information. The information contained in any such filing will be deemed to be a part of this prospectus commencing on the date on which the document is filed.

ii

You may request a copy of these filings (other than an exhibit to a filing unless that exhibit is specifically incorporated by reference into that filing), at no cost, by writing to us at the following address or calling us at the following telephone number:

Pinnacle Financial Partners, Inc.

150 Third Avenue South, Suite 900

Nashville, Tennessee 37201

Attention: Investor Relations

Telephone: (615) 744-3700

We will provide to each person, including any beneficial owner, to whom a copy of this prospectus is delivered a copy of any or all of the information that has been incorporated by reference in this prospectus but not delivered with this prospectus. We will provide this information upon written or oral request at no cost to the requester. You should direct your requests to us at the address or telephone number above.

SPECIAL NOTE ON FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This prospectus, the documents incorporated by reference or deemed incorporated by reference herein, any related prospectus supplement and any other written or oral statements made by us from time to time may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws, including the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts.

Forward-looking information can be identified through the use of words such as “intend,” “plan,” “project,” “predict,” “continue,” “seek,” “aim,” “potential,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “contemplate,” “possible,” “will,” “may,” “should,” “would” and “could.” Forward-looking statements and information are not historical facts, are premised on many factors and assumptions, and represent only management’s expectations, estimates and projections regarding future events. Similarly, these statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve certain risks and uncertainties that are difficult to predict, like the potential impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, and which may include, but are not limited to, those listed below and the risk factors discussed under Item 1A of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019, as supplemented by the risk factors discussed under Part II, Item 1A of our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2020, as well as other risks and uncertainties set forth from time to time in our other filings with the SEC.

We intend such forward-looking statements to be covered by the safe harbor provisions for forward-looking statements contained in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, and are including this statement for purposes of invoking these safe harbor provisions. Such forward-looking statements may be deemed to include, among other things, statements relating to our future financial performance, the performance of our loan portfolio, the performance of Bankers Healthcare Group, LLC, or BHG, the expected amount of future credit reserves and charge-offs, delinquency trends, growth plans, regulatory developments, securities that we may offer from time to time, and management’s long-term performance goals, as well as statements relating to the anticipated effects on financial condition and results of operations from expected developments or events, our business and growth strategies, including future acquisitions of banks, specialty finance or wealth management businesses, internal growth and plans to form additional de novo branch offices. Actual results could differ materially from those addressed in the forward-looking statements as a result of numerous factors, including the following:

• deterioration in the financial condition of borrowers of ours or BHG resulting in significant increases in credit losses and provisions for those losses and, in the case of BHG, substitutions;

• the effects of the emergence of widespread health emergencies or pandemics, including the magnitude and duration of the COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on general economic and financial market conditions and on our and our customers’ business, results of operations, asset quality and financial condition;

iii

• the ability to grow and retain low-cost core deposits and retain large, uninsured deposits, including during times when we are seeking to lower rates we pay on deposits;

• our inability, or the inability of entities in which we have significant investments, like BHG, to maintain the historical growth rate of our, or such entities’, loan portfolio;

• changes in loan underwriting, credit review or loss reserve policies associated with economic conditions, examination conclusions, or regulatory developments;

• effectiveness of our asset management activities in improving, resolving or liquidating lower-quality assets;

• the impact of competition with other financial institutions, including pricing pressures and the resulting impact on our results, including as a result of compression to net interest margin;

• adverse conditions in the national or local economies in our markets, including those throughout Tennessee, North Carolina, Georgia, South Carolina and Virginia, particularly in commercial and residential real estate markets;

• fluctuations or differences in interest rates on loans or deposits from those that we are modeling or anticipating, including as a result of our inability to better match deposit rates with the changes in the short-term rate environment, or that affect the yield curve or changes to the interest rate at which commercial banks borrow and lend their excess reserves to each other overnight to include a possible negative interest rate environment;

• the results of regulatory examinations;

• our ability to identify potential candidates for, consummate, and achieve synergies from, potential future acquisitions;

• difficulties and delays in integrating acquired businesses or fully realizing costs savings and other benefits from acquisitions;

• BHG’s ability to profitably grow its business and successfully execute on its business plans;

• risks of expansion into new geographic or product markets including the recent expansion into the Atlanta, Georgia metro market;

• any matter or development, including those resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic, that would cause us to conclude that there was impairment of any asset, including goodwill or other intangible assets;

• reduced ability to attract additional financial advisors (or failure of those advisors to cause their clients to switch to us), to retain financial advisors (including as a result of the competitive environment for associates) or otherwise to attract customers from other financial institutions;

• deterioration in the valuation of other real estate owned and increased expenses associated therewith;

• inability to comply with regulatory capital requirements, including those resulting from changes to capital calculation methodologies, required capital maintenance levels or regulatory requests or directives, particularly if our level of applicable commercial real estate loans were to exceed percentage levels of total capital in guidelines recommended by its regulators;

• approval of the declaration of any dividend by our board of directors;

• the vulnerability of our network and online banking portals, and the systems of parties with whom we contract, to unauthorized access, computer viruses, phishing schemes, spam attacks, human error, natural disasters, power loss and other security breaches;

• the possibility of increased compliance and operational costs as a result of increased regulatory oversight (including by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau), including oversight of companies in which we have significant investments, like BHG, and the development of additional banking products for our corporate and consumer clients;

iv

• the risks associated with our 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 us;

• changes in state and federal legislation, regulations or policies applicable to banks and other financial service providers, like BHG, including regulatory or legislative developments;

• the availability of and access to capital;

• adverse results (including costs, fines, reputational harm, inability to obtain necessary approvals and/or other negative effects) from current or future litigation, regulatory examinations or other legal and/or regulatory actions, including as a result of our participation in and execution of government programs related to the COVID-19 pandemic, such as the Paycheck Protection Program;

• general competitive, economic, political and market conditions; and

• the other factors and information contained in this prospectus and in the other reports and filings that we make with the SEC, including those described in “Item 1A Risk Factors” of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019 and “Part II, Item 1A Risk Factors” of our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2020, which risks may be heightened by the disruption and uncertainty resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic.

We urge investors to consider all of these factors carefully in evaluating the forward-looking statements contained in this prospectus, any prospectus supplement, any related free-writing prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference herein or therein. All subsequent written or oral forward-looking statements attributable to us or persons acting on our behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by these cautionary statements. The forward-looking statements included in this filing are made only as of the date of this filing. We assume no obligation and do not intend to revise or update any forward-looking statements contained in this prospectus, any prospectus supplement, any related free-writing prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference herein or therein, except as required by law.

RISK FACTORS

An investment in our securities involves significant risks. You should read and carefully consider the risks and uncertainties and the risk factors contained in Item 1A under the caption “Risk Factors” and elsewhere in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019 (filed with the SEC on February 25, 2020) and under Part II, Item 1A and elsewhere in our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2020 (filed with the SEC on May 8, 2020), which are incorporated into this prospectus by reference, as updated by our annual and quarterly reports for subsequent fiscal years or fiscal quarters, that we file with the SEC after the date of this prospectus which are incorporated by reference into this prospectus. See “Where You Can Find More Information” for information about how to obtain a copy of these documents. You should also carefully consider the risks and other information that may be contained in, or incorporated by reference into, any applicable prospectus supplement, before you make an investment decision regarding the securities. See “Special Note on Forward-Looking Statements.”

v

PINNACLE FINANCIAL PARTNERS, INC.

Pinnacle Financial is a Tennessee corporation that was incorporated on February 28, 2000 and is a bank holding company and financial holding company. Pinnacle Financial is the parent company of Pinnacle Bank and owns 100% of Pinnacle Bank’s capital stock. The primary business of Pinnacle Financial is conducted by Pinnacle Bank. Pinnacle Financial and Pinnacle Bank also collectively hold a 49% interest in BHG. BHG is engaged in the origination of commercial and consumer loans primarily to healthcare providers and other professionals throughout the United States. As of March 31, 2020, Pinnacle Financial had total consolidated assets of approximately $29.264 billion, total deposits of approximately $21.333 billion, total liabilities of approximately $24.879 billion and shareholders’ equity of approximately $4.385 billion.

Our principal executive offices are located at 150 Third Avenue South, Suite 900, Nashville, Tennessee 37201 and our telephone number at these offices is (615) 744-3700. Our internet address is www.pnfp.com. Please note that our website address is provided as an inactive textual reference and the information on our website is not incorporated by reference into this prospectus.

PINNACLE BANK

Pinnacle Bank is a Tennessee state-chartered non-member bank that is regulated and examined by the Tennessee Department of Financial Institutions, or the TDFI, and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, or the FDIC. Pinnacle Bank started operations on October 27, 2000, in Nashville, Tennessee, and has since grown through a combination of acquisitions and organic growth to 111 offices. Pinnacle Bank offers commercial and private banking products and services. It and its subsidiaries also offer asset management, private wealth management and other investment and insurance agency services. Prior to September 4, 2012, when it converted from a national bank to a state bank, Pinnacle Bank was known as Pinnacle National Bank.

USE OF PROCEEDS

We will not receive any proceeds from any sales of securities by a selling securityholder.

Unless otherwise provided in the applicable prospectus supplement to this prospectus used to offer specific securities, we expect to use the net proceeds from any offering of securities by us for general corporate purposes, which may include funding the cash portion of the purchase price or providing capital for acquisitions, capital expenditures, investments, working capital, capitalizing Pinnacle Bank and the repayment, redemption or refinancing of all or a portion of any of our or Pinnacle Bank’s indebtedness or other securities outstanding at a particular time. Pending such use, we may temporarily invest the net proceeds in short-term securities or reduce our short-term indebtedness, or we may hold the net proceeds in deposit accounts in our subsidiary bank.

DESCRIPTIONS OF SECURITIES WE MAY OFFER

This prospectus contains summary descriptions of the common stock, preferred stock, debt securities, warrants, depositary shares, units and stock purchase contracts that we, or any selling securityholders, may offer and sell from time to time. We may issue the debt securities as exchangeable for and/or convertible into shares of common stock or preferred stock. The preferred stock may also be exchangeable for and/or convertible into shares of common stock or another series of preferred stock. When one or more of these securities are offered in the future, a prospectus supplement will explain the particular terms of the securities and the extent to which these general provisions may apply. These summary descriptions and any summary descriptions in the applicable prospectus supplement, or free writing prospectus, as applicable, do not purport to be complete descriptions of the terms and conditions of each security and are qualified in their entirety by reference to our amended and restated charter, as amended and amended and restated bylaws, as amended, the Tennessee Business Corporation

1

Act, or TBCA, and any other documents referenced in such summary descriptions and from which such summary descriptions are derived. If any particular terms of a security described in the applicable prospectus supplement, or free writing prospectus, as applicable, differ from any of the terms described herein, then the terms described herein will be deemed superseded by the terms set forth in that prospectus supplement, or free writing prospectus, as applicable.

We may issue securities in book-entry form through one or more depositaries, such as The Depository Trust Company, Euroclear or Clearstream, named in the applicable prospectus supplement. Each sale of a security in book-entry form will settle in immediately available funds through the applicable depositary, unless otherwise stated. We will issue the securities only in registered form, without coupons, although we may issue the securities in bearer form if so specified in the applicable prospectus supplement. If any securities are to be listed or quoted on a securities exchange or quotation system, the applicable prospectus supplement will say so.

2

DESCRIPTION OF COMMON STOCK

The following is a description of our common stock and certain provisions of our amended and restated charter, as amended, and amended and restated bylaws, as amended, and certain provisions of applicable law. The following is only a summary and is qualified by applicable law and by the provisions of our amended and restated charter, as amended, and amended and restated bylaws, as amended, which are incorporated by reference as exhibits into the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part, and copies of which have been filed with the SEC and are also available upon request from us. You should read the prospectus supplement applicable to a particular issuance of securities, which will contain additional information and which may update or change some of the information below.

General

Our authorized capital stock consists of 180 million shares of common stock, par value $1.00 per share, and 10 million shares of preferred stock, no par value. As of May 26, 2020, 75,848,356 shares of our common stock were outstanding, and no shares of preferred stock were outstanding.

Our outstanding shares of common stock are fully paid and nonassessable. Holders of our common stock are entitled to one vote for each share held of record on all matters submitted to a vote of the shareholders. Holders of our common stock do not have pre-emptive rights and are not entitled to cumulative voting rights with respect to the election of directors. Our common stock is neither redeemable nor convertible into other securities, and there are no sinking fund provisions with respect to the common stock.

Subject to the preferences applicable to any shares of our preferred stock outstanding at the time, holders of our common stock are entitled to, in the event of liquidation, share ratably in all assets remaining after payment of liabilities.

Election of Directors

Our amended and restated charter, as amended, and amended and restated bylaws, as amended, provide that each member of our board of directors is elected annually to a one year term. As a result of our adopting a majority voting standard for directors at the 2015 annual meeting of shareholders, should a nominee to serve as a director that is nominated in an uncontested election fail to receive an affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast at the meeting at which the nominee is up for election, in person or by proxy, then that nominee, if that individual is an incumbent director, must tender his or her resignation to the chairman of our board of directors following the shareholder vote pursuant to our corporate governance guidelines. Subsequently, the nominating and corporate governance committee of our board of directors will consider the relevant facts and circumstances, including the factors that may have given rise to the resulting shareholder vote and the service and qualifications of the impacted director(s), and recommend to the board of directors within ninety days of the shareholder vote as to whether to accept or reject the resignation of the impacted director(s). Our board of directors will also consider the relevant facts and circumstances when considering whether to accept or reject the nominating and corporate governance committee’s recommendation. Subsequently, we will describe a full explanation of the above process and the decisions regarding the impacted director(s) continued service on the board of directors in a Form 8-K filing with the SEC. Any director who tenders his resignation in the manner described in this paragraph will not participate in any discussion or recommendation related to the above process.

Our amended and restated bylaws, as amended, also grant our board of directors the power to increase or decrease the number of directors and to fill vacancies. The overall effect of this provision may be to prevent a person or entity from seeking to acquire control of us through an increase in the number of directors on our board of directors and the election of designated nominees to fill newly created vacancies.

3

Dividends

Holders of our common stock are entitled to receive dividends when, as and if declared by our board of directors out of funds legally available for dividends. In order to pay any dividends, we will need to receive dividends from Pinnacle Bank or have other sources of funds. Under Tennessee banking law, Pinnacle Bank is subject to restrictions on the payment of dividends to us. Pursuant to these laws, Pinnacle Bank may not, without the prior consent of the Commissioner of the TDFI pay any dividends to us in a year in excess of the total of Pinnacle Bank’s net income for that year plus the retained net income for the preceding two years.

During the year ended December 31, 2019, we paid $50.2 million in dividends to common shareholders. Our ability to pay dividends to our shareholders in the future will depend on our and Pinnacle Bank’s earnings and financial condition, liquidity and capital requirements, the general economic and regulatory climate, our ability to service any equity or debt obligations senior to our common stock and other factors deemed relevant by our board of directors.

Corporate Transactions

Our amended and restated charter, as amended, with exceptions, requires that any merger or similar transaction involving us or any sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of our assets will require the affirmative vote of a majority of our directors then in office and the affirmative vote of a majority of the holders of the outstanding shares of our stock entitled to vote on the transaction.

Our amended and restated charter, as amended, describes the factors that our board of directors must consider in evaluating whether an acquisition proposal made by another party is in our shareholders’ best interests. The term “acquisition proposal” refers to any offer of another party to:

• make a tender offer or exchange offer for our common stock or any other equity security of ours;

• merge or consolidate us with another corporation; or

• purchase or otherwise acquire all or substantially all of the properties and assets owned by us.

The board of directors, in determining what is in our and our shareholders’ best interests, is required to give due consideration to all relevant factors, including, without limitation:

• the short-term and long-term social and economic effects of the transaction on our and our subsidiaries’ employees, clients, shareholders and other constituents;

• the consideration being offered by the other corporation in relation to (1) our current value at the time of the proposal as determined in a freely negotiated transaction and (2) the board of directors’ estimate of our future value as an independent company at the time of the proposal; and

• the short-term and long-term social and economic effects on the communities within which we operate.

We have included this provision in our amended and restated charter, as amended, because serving our community was, and remains, one of the reasons for organizing Pinnacle Bank. As a result, the board of directors believes its obligation in evaluating an acquisition proposal extends beyond evaluating merely the payment being offered in relation to the market or book value of our common stock at the time of the proposal.

While the value of what is being offered to shareholders in exchange for their stock is the main factor when weighing the benefits of an acquisition proposal, our board of directors believes it is appropriate to also consider all other relevant factors. For example, the board will evaluate what is being offered in relation to our current value at the time of the proposal as determined in a freely negotiated transaction and in relation to the board’s estimate of our future value as an independent concern at the time of the proposal. A takeover bid often places the target corporation virtually in the position of making a forced sale, sometimes when the market price of its

4

stock may be depressed. Our board of directors believes that frequently the payment offered in such a situation, even though it may exceed the value at which shares are then trading, is less than that which could be obtained in a freely negotiated transaction. In a freely negotiated transaction, management would have the opportunity to seek a suitable partner at a time of its choosing and to negotiate for the most favorable price and terms that would reflect not only on our current value, but also our future value.

One effect of the provision requiring our board of directors to take into account specific factors when considering an acquisition proposal may be to discourage a tender offer in advance. Often an offeror consults the board of a target corporation before or after beginning a tender offer in an attempt to prevent a contest from developing. In our board’s opinion, this provision will strengthen its position in dealing with any potential offeror that might attempt to acquire the company through a hostile tender offer. Another effect of this provision may be to dissuade shareholders who might be displeased with the board’s response to an acquisition proposal from engaging us in costly litigation.

The applicable charter provisions would not make an acquisition proposal regarded by our board of directors as being in our best interests more difficult to accomplish. It would, however, permit the board to determine that an acquisition proposal was not in our best interests, and thus to oppose it, on the basis of the various factors that the board deems relevant. In some cases, opposition by the board might have the effect of maintaining incumbent management.

Our amended and restated charter, as amended, provides that all extraordinary corporate transactions to which we are a party must be approved by a majority of the directors and a majority of the shares entitled to vote.

Anti-Takeover Statutes

The Tennessee Control Share Acquisition Act generally provides that, except as stated below, “control shares” will not have any voting rights. Control shares are shares acquired by a person under certain circumstances which, when added to other shares owned, would give such person effective control over one-fifth, one-third, or a majority of all voting power in the election of a Tennessee corporation’s directors. Shares acquired by such person that causes it to exceed each of these thresholds will be deemed to be control shares. However, voting rights will be restored to control shares by resolution approved by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the corporation’s voting stock, other than shares held by the owner of the control shares. If voting rights are granted to control shares which give the holder a majority of all voting power in the election of the corporation’s directors, then the corporation’s other shareholders may require the corporation to redeem their shares at fair value.

The Tennessee Control Share Acquisition Act is not applicable to us because our amended and restated charter, as amended, does not contain a specific provision “opting in” to the act as is required under the act.

The Tennessee Investor Protection Act, or TIPA, provides that unless a Tennessee corporation’s board of directors has recommended a takeover offer to shareholders, no offeror beneficially owning 5% or more of any class of equity securities of the offeree company, any of which was purchased within the preceding year, may make a takeover offer for any class of equity security of the offeree company if after completion the offeror would be a beneficial owner of more than 10% of any class of outstanding equity securities of the company unless the offeror, before making such purchase: (1) makes a public announcement of his or her intention with respect to changing or influencing the management or control of the offeree company; (2) makes a full, fair and effective disclosure of such intention to the person from whom he or she intends to acquire such securities; and (3) files with the Tennessee Commissioner of Commerce and Insurance, or the Commissioner, and the offeree company a statement signifying such intentions and containing such additional information as may be prescribed by the Commissioner.

The offeror must provide that any equity securities of an offeree company deposited or tendered pursuant to a takeover offer may be withdrawn by an offeree at any time within seven days from the date the offer has

5

become effective following filing with the Commissioner and the offeree company and public announcement of the terms or after 60 days from the date the offer has become effective. If the takeover offer is for less than all the outstanding equity securities of any class, such an offer must also provide for acceptance of securities pro rata if the number of securities tendered is greater than the number the offeror has offered to accept and pay for. If such an offeror varies the terms of the takeover offer before its expiration date by increasing the consideration offered to offerees, the offeror must pay the increased consideration for all equity securities accepted, whether accepted before or after the variation in the terms of the offer.

The TIPA does not apply to us, as it does not apply to bank holding companies subject to regulation by a federal agency.

The TBCA generally prohibits a “business combination” by us or a subsidiary with an “interested shareholder” within five years after such shareholder becomes an interested shareholder. We or a subsidiary of ours can, however, enter into a business combination within that period if, before the interested shareholder became such, our board of directors approved the business combination or the transaction in which the interested shareholder became an interested shareholder. After that five-year moratorium, the business combination with the interested shareholder can be consummated only if it satisfies certain fair price criteria or is approved by two-thirds of the other shareholders.

For purposes of the TBCA, a “business combination” includes mergers, share exchanges, sales and leases of assets, issuances of securities, and similar transactions. An “interested shareholder” is generally any person or entity that beneficially owns 10% or more of the voting power of any outstanding class or series of our stock. Our charter does not have special requirements for transactions with interested parties; however all business combinations, as defined above, must be approved by a majority of our directors and a majority of the shares entitled to vote.

The Tennessee Greenmail Act applies to a Tennessee corporation that has a class of voting stock registered or traded on a national securities exchange or registered with the SEC pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Exchange Act. Under the Tennessee Greenmail Act, we may not purchase any of our shares at a price above the market value of such shares from any person who holds more than 3% of the class of securities to be purchased if such person has held such shares for less than two years, unless the purchase has been approved by the affirmative vote of a majority of the outstanding shares of each class of voting stock issued by us or we make an offer, of at least equal value per share, to all shareholders of such class.

Indemnification

The TBCA provides that a corporation may indemnify any of its directors and officers against liability incurred in connection with a proceeding if: (a) such person acted in good faith; (b) in the case of conduct in an official capacity with the corporation, the person reasonably believed such conduct was in the corporation’s best interests; (c) in all other cases, the person reasonably believed that the person’s conduct was at least not opposed to the best interests of the corporation; and (d) in connection with any criminal proceeding, such person had no reasonable cause to believe the person’s conduct was unlawful. In actions brought by or in the right of the corporation, however, the TBCA provides that no indemnification may be made if the director or officer was adjudged to be liable to the corporation. The TBCA also provides that in connection with any proceeding charging improper personal benefit to an officer or director, no indemnification may be made if such officer or director is adjudged liable on the basis that such personal benefit was improperly received. In cases where the director or officer is wholly successful, on the merits or otherwise, in the defense of any proceeding instigated because of his or her status as a director or officer of a corporation, the TBCA mandates that the corporation indemnify the director or officer against reasonable expenses incurred in the proceeding. The TBCA provides that a court of competent jurisdiction, unless the corporation’s charter provides otherwise, upon application, may order that an officer or director be indemnified for reasonable expenses if, in consideration of all relevant circumstances, the court determines that such individual is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnification,

6

notwithstanding the fact that (a) such officer or director was adjudged liable to the corporation in a proceeding by or in the right of the corporation; (b) such officer or director was adjudged liable on the basis that personal benefit was improperly received by the officer or director; or (c) such officer or director breached the officer’s or director’s duty of care to the corporation.

Our amended and restated charter, as amended, provides that we will indemnify our directors and officers to the maximum extent permitted by the TBCA. Our amended and restated bylaws, as amended, provide that we shall indemnify our directors and officers that are made a party to a proceeding because they were a director or officer of ours for reasonable expenses, judgments, fines, penalties and amounts paid in settlement (including attorneys’ fees) incurred in connection with the proceeding if he or she acted in a manner believed in good faith to be in or not opposed to our best interests, and in the case of any criminal proceeding, he or she had no reasonable cause to believe his or her conduct was unlawful. In addition, our amended and restated bylaws, as amended, provide that we shall pay for or reimburse the reasonable expenses incurred by a director or officer who is a party to a proceeding in advance of final disposition of the proceeding if he or she furnishes us with (1) a written affirmation of his or her good faith belief that he or she has met the applicable standard of conduct that would entitle him or her to indemnification and (2) a written statement that he or she will repay any advances if it is ultimately determined that he or she is not entitled to indemnification.

Under our amended and restated bylaws, as amended, the termination of a proceeding by judgment, order, settlement, or conviction, or upon a plea of nolo contendere or its equivalent, is not, of itself, determinative of whether the director or officer met the standard of conduct required in order for him or her to be entitled to indemnification. Our board of directors, shareholders or independent legal counsel determines whether the director or officer has met the applicable standard of conduct in each specific case.

Our amended and restated charter, as amended, and amended and restated bylaws, as amended, also provide that the indemnification rights contained therein do not exclude other indemnification rights to which a director or officer may be entitled under any bylaw, resolution or agreement, either specifically or in general terms approved by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the shares entitled to vote. We can also provide for greater indemnification than is provided for in the amended and restated bylaws, as amended, if we choose to do so, subject to approval by our shareholders and the limitations provided in our amended and restated charter, as amended, as discussed in the subsequent paragraph.

Our amended and restated charter, as amended, eliminates, with exceptions, the potential personal liability of a director for monetary damages to us and our shareholders for breach of a duty as a director. There is, however, no elimination of liability for:

• a breach of the director’s duty of loyalty to our shareholders;

• an act or omission not in good faith or which involves intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law; or

• any payment of a dividend or approval of a stock repurchase that is illegal under the TBCA.

Our amended and restated charter, as amended, does not eliminate or limit our right or the right of our shareholders to seek injunctive or other equitable relief not involving monetary damages.

The indemnification provisions of the amended and restated bylaws, as amended, specifically provide that we may purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any director or officer against any liability asserted against and incurred by him or her in his or her capacity as a director, officer, employee or agent whether or not we would have had the power to indemnify him or her against such liability.

Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers or persons controlling us pursuant to the foregoing provisions, we have been informed that in the opinion of the SEC such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is therefore unenforceable.

7

Transfer Agent

Computershare Trust Company, N.A. serves as the registrar and transfer agent for our common stock.

8

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED STOCK

We summarize below some of the provisions that will apply to the preferred stock that we may issue pursuant to this prospectus unless the applicable prospectus supplement provides otherwise. This summary may not contain all information that is important to you. The complete terms of the preferred stock will be contained in the prospectus supplement applicable to the particular series of preferred stock that we issue. You should read the prospectus supplement, which will contain additional information and which may update or change some of the information below.

General

We have authority to issue 10 million shares of preferred stock, no par value per share. Currently, there are no shares of our preferred stock outstanding.

Our board of directors has the authority, without further action by the shareholders, to issue preferred stock in one or more series and to fix the number of shares, dividend rights, conversion rights, voting rights, redemption rights, liquidation preferences, sinking funds, and any other rights, preferences, privileges and restrictions applicable to each such series of preferred stock.

Prior to the issuance of a new series of preferred stock, we will amend our amended and restated charter, as amended, designating the stock of that series and the terms of that series. Each series of preferred stock that we issue will constitute a separate class of stock. The issuance of any preferred stock could adversely affect the rights of the holders of our common stock and, therefore, reduce the value of the common stock. The ability of our board of directors to issue preferred stock could discourage, delay or prevent a takeover or other corporate action.

The terms of any particular series of preferred stock will be described in the prospectus supplement relating to that particular series of preferred stock, including, where applicable:

• the designation, stated value and liquidation preference of such preferred stock and the amount of stock offered;

• the offering price;

• the dividend rate or rates (or method of calculation), the date or dates from which dividends shall accrue, the priority as to payment of dividends with respect to other classes or series of our shares of capital stock, and whether such dividends shall be cumulative or non-cumulative and, if cumulative, the dates from which dividends shall commence to cumulate;

• any redemption or sinking fund provisions;

• the amount that shares of such series shall be entitled to receive in the event of our liquidation, dissolution or winding-up;

• the terms and conditions, if any, on which shares of such series shall be convertible or exchangeable for shares of our stock of any other class or classes, or other series of the same class;

• the voting rights, if any, of shares of such series;

• the status as to reissuance or sale of shares of such series redeemed, purchased or otherwise reacquired, or surrendered to us on conversion or exchange;

• the conditions and restrictions, if any, on the payment of dividends or on the making of other distributions on, or the purchase, redemption or other acquisition by us or any subsidiary of ours, of the common stock or of any other class of our shares ranking junior to the shares of such series as to dividends or upon liquidation;

• whether the preferred stock of such series will be listed on a national securities exchange or quoted on an automated quotation system;

9

• the conditions and restrictions, if any, on the creation of indebtedness of us or of any subsidiary, or on the issuance of any additional stock ranking on a parity with or prior to the shares of such series as to dividends or upon liquidation; and

• any additional dividend, liquidation, redemption, sinking or retirement fund and other rights, preferences, privileges, limitations and restrictions of such preferred stock.

The description of the terms of a particular series of preferred stock in the applicable prospectus supplement will not be complete. You should refer to the applicable amendment to our amended and restated charter, as amended, creating a particular series of preferred stock for complete information regarding a series of preferred stock.

The preferred stock will, when issued against payment of the consideration payable therefor, be fully paid and nonassessable. Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, each series of preferred stock will, upon issuance, rank senior to our common stock and on a parity in all respects with each other outstanding series of preferred stock. The rights of the holders of our preferred stock will be subordinate to those of our general creditors.

10

DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES

We may issue senior debt securities or subordinated debt securities. Senior debt securities will be issued under an indenture, referred to as the “senior indenture,” between us and a senior indenture trustee to be named in the applicable prospectus supplement. Subordinated debt securities will be issued under a separate indenture, referred to as the “subordinated indenture,” between us and a subordinated indenture trustee to be named in the applicable prospectus supplement. The senior indenture and the subordinated indenture are sometimes collectively referred to in this prospectus as the “indentures.” The indentures will be subject to and governed by the Trust Indenture Act of 1939. A copy of the form of each of these indentures is included as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part.

The following briefly describes the general terms and provisions of the debt securities which may be offered and the indentures governing them. The particular terms of the debt securities offered, and the extent, if any, to which these general provisions may apply to the debt securities so offered, will be described in more detail in the applicable prospectus supplement relating to those securities. The following descriptions of the indentures are not complete and are subject to, and are qualified in their entirety by reference to, all the provisions of the respective indentures.

General

We will issue any senior notes under a senior indenture which we will enter into with the trustee named in the senior indenture. We will issue any subordinated notes under a subordinated indenture which we will enter into with the trustee named in the subordinated indenture. We have filed forms of these indentures as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part. We use the term “indentures” to refer to both the senior indenture and the subordinated indenture. The indentures will be qualified under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended. We use the term “trustee” to refer to either the senior trustee or the subordinated trustee, as applicable.

The following summaries of material provisions of the senior debt securities, the subordinated debt securities and the indentures are subject to, and qualified in their entirety by reference to, all the provisions of the indenture applicable to a particular series of debt securities and any supplemental indenture applicable thereto. We urge you to read the applicable prospectus supplement that is related to the debt securities that we sell under this prospectus, as well as the complete indenture, and any supplements thereto, that contain the terms of the debt securities. Except as we may otherwise indicate, the terms of the senior indenture and the subordinated indenture are identical.

We may issue, from time to time, debt securities, in one or more series, that will consist of either our senior debt (“senior debt securities”) or our subordinated debt (“subordinated debt securities”). Debt securities, whether senior or subordinated, may be issued as convertible debt securities or exchangeable debt securities.

The indentures do not limit, or otherwise restrict, the amount of debt securities that we may issue, and do not limit us from issuing any other debt, including secured and unsecured debt. We may issue debt securities up to an aggregate principal amount as we may authorize from time to time, which securities may be in any currency or currency unit designated by us.

The terms of each series of debt securities will be established by or pursuant to a supplemental indenture. The prospectus supplement relating to any particular debt securities will contain, where applicable, the following terms of and other information relating to any offered debt securities:

• the title and series designation of the debt securities;

• the limit, if any, upon the aggregate principal amount or issue price of the debt securities of a series;

• the classification of such debt securities as senior or subordinated debt securities and the specific designation;

11

• the price or prices at which the debt securities will be issued, which may be expressed as a percentage of the aggregate principal amount of those debt securities;

• the designation, aggregate principal amount and authorized denominations of the debt securities;

• the issue date or dates of the series and the maturity date or dates of the series;

• whether the securities will be issued at par or at a premium over or a discount from their face amount;

• any fixed or variable interest rate or rates per annum or the method or formula for calculating the interest rate and basis upon which interest shall be calculated;

• the right, if any, to extend interest payment periods and the duration of the extension;

• the interest payment dates and the record dates for the interest payments;

• the date from which interest will accrue;

• any repayment, redemption, prepayment, repurchase or sinking fund provisions, including any redemption notice provisions;

• the terms on which holders of the debt securities may convert or exchange these securities into or for common or preferred stock or other securities of ours offered hereby, into or for common or preferred stock or other securities of an entity affiliated with us or debt or equity or other securities of an entity not affiliated with us, or for the cash value of our stock or any of the above securities, the terms on which conversion or exchange may occur, including whether conversion or exchange is mandatory, at the option of the holder or at our option, the period during which conversion or exchange may occur, the initial conversion or exchange price or rate and the circumstances or manner in which the amount of common or preferred stock or other securities issuable upon conversion or exchange may be adjusted;

• the currency of denomination of the securities;

• the place where we will pay principal, premium, if any, and interest, if any, and the place where the debt securities may be presented for transfer;

• the principal amount payable, whether at maturity or upon earlier acceleration;

• if payments of principal of, premium, if any, or interest, if any, on the debt securities will be made in one or more currencies or currency units other than that or those in which the debt securities are denominated, the manner in which the exchange rate with respect to these payments will be determined;

• the currency or currencies, if other than the currency of the United States, in which principal and interest will be paid;

• if other than denominations of $1,000 or multiples of $1,000, the denominations the debt securities will be issued in;

• whether the debt securities will be issued in the form of global securities or certificates;

• the applicability of and additional provisions, if any, relating to the defeasance of the debt securities;

• the portion of principal amount of the debt securities payable upon declaration of acceleration of the maturity date, if other than the principal amount;

• the dates on which premium, if any, will be paid;

• any agents for the debt securities, including trustees, depositories, authentication or paying agents, transfer agents or registrars;

• any addition to, or modification or deletion of, any events of default or covenants contained in the applicable indenture relating to the debt securities;

• a discussion of any material United States federal income tax considerations applicable to the debt securities;

12

• our right, if any, to defer payment of interest and the maximum length of this deferral period; and

• other specific terms, including any additional events of default or covenants.

We may issue debt securities as original issue discount securities, which are securities that are offered and sold at a discount to their stated principal amount or as payment-in-kind securities which may constitute original issue discount securities for U.S. federal income tax purpose. Even if we do not issue the debt securities below their stated principal amount, for United States federal income tax purposes the debt securities may be deemed to have been issued with a discount because of certain interest payment characteristics. We will describe in any applicable prospectus supplement the material United States federal income tax considerations applicable to debt securities issued at a discount or deemed to be issued at a discount, and will describe any special United States federal income tax considerations that may be applicable to the particular debt securities.

The debt securities will represent our general obligations. We are a non-operating holding company and almost all of our operating assets are owned by our subsidiaries. We rely primarily on dividends from our subsidiaries to meet our obligations. We are a legal entity separate and distinct from our banking and non-banking affiliates. The principal sources of our income are dividends and interest from Pinnacle Bank.

Pinnacle Bank is subject to restrictions imposed by state and federal law on any extensions of credit to, and certain other transactions with, us and certain other affiliates, and on investments in stock or other securities thereof. In addition, payment of dividends to us by Pinnacle Bank is subject to ongoing review by banking regulators. Because we are a holding company, our right to participate in any distribution of assets of any subsidiary upon the subsidiary’s liquidation or reorganization or otherwise is subject to the prior claims of creditors of the subsidiary, except to the extent we may ourselves be recognized as a creditor of that subsidiary.

Ranking of Debt Securities; Holding Company Structure

Senior Debt Securities. Payment of the principal of, premium, if any, and interest, if any, on senior debt securities will rank on a parity with all of our other unsecured and unsubordinated debt.

Subordinated Debt Securities. Payment of the principal of, premium, if any, and interest, if any, on subordinated debt securities will be junior in right of payment to the prior payment in full of all of our senior indebtedness, including senior debt securities. We will state in the applicable prospectus supplement relating to any subordinated debt securities the subordination terms of the securities as well as the aggregate amount of outstanding indebtedness, as of the most recent practicable date, that by its terms would be senior to those subordinated debt securities. We will also state in that prospectus supplement limitations, if any, on the issuance of additional senior indebtedness.

Holding Company Structure. The debt securities will be our exclusive obligations. We are a holding company and substantially all of our consolidated assets are held by our subsidiaries. Accordingly, our cash flows and our ability to service our debt, including the debt securities, are dependent upon the results of operations of our subsidiaries and the distribution of funds by our subsidiaries to us. Various statutory and regulatory restrictions, however, limit directly or indirectly the amount of dividends our subsidiaries can pay, and also restrict certain subsidiaries from making investments in or loans to us.

Because we are a holding company, the debt securities will be effectively subordinated to all existing and future liabilities, including indebtedness, customer deposits, trade payables, guarantees and lease obligations, of our subsidiaries. Therefore, our rights and the rights of our creditors, including the holders of the debt securities, to participate in the assets of any subsidiary upon that subsidiary’s liquidation or reorganization will be subject to the prior claims of the subsidiary’s creditors and, if applicable, its depositors, except to the extent that we may ourselves be a creditor with recognized claims against the subsidiary, in which case our claims would still be effectively subordinate to any security interest in, or mortgages or other liens on, the assets of the subsidiary and would be subordinate to any indebtedness of the subsidiary senior to that held by us. If a receiver or conservator were appointed for Pinnacle Bank, the Federal Deposit Insurance Act recognizes a priority in favor of the holders

13

of withdrawable deposits (including the FDIC as subrogee or transferee) over general creditors. Claims for customer deposits would have a priority over any claims that we may ourselves have as a creditor of Pinnacle Bank. Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, the indentures will not limit the amount of indebtedness or other liabilities that we and our subsidiaries may incur.

We may structure one or more series of subordinated debt securities so that they qualify as capital under federal regulations applicable to bank holding companies. We may adopt this structure whether or not those regulations may be applicable to us at the time of issuance.

Registration and Transfer

Holders may present debt securities in registered form for transfer or exchange for other debt securities of the same series at the offices of the applicable indenture trustee according to the terms of the applicable indenture and the debt securities.

Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, the debt securities will be issued in fully registered form, and in denominations of $1,000 and any integral multiple thereof.

No service charge will be required for any transfer or exchange of the debt securities but we generally may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge payable in connection with any transfer or exchange.

Payment and Place of Payment

We will pay or deliver principal and any premium and interest, if any, in the manner, at the places and subject to the restrictions set forth in the applicable indenture, the debt securities and the applicable prospectus supplement. However, at our option, we may pay any interest by check mailed or wire transfer to the holders of registered debt securities.

Global Securities

Each indenture provides that we may issue debt securities in global form. If any series of debt securities is issued in global form, the prospectus supplement will describe any circumstances under which beneficial owners of interests in any of those global debt securities may exchange their interests for debt securities of that series and of like tenor and principal amount in any authorized form and denomination. See “Description of Global Securities.”

Redemption and Repurchase

The debt securities of any series may be redeemable at our option, may be subject to mandatory redemption pursuant to a sinking fund or otherwise, or may be subject to repurchase by us at the option of the holders, in each case upon the terms, at the times and at the prices set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement and pricing supplement, if any.

Conversion or Exchange Rights

Debt securities may be convertible into or exchangeable for our other securities or property. The terms and conditions of conversion or exchange will be set forth in the supplemental indenture related to that series of debt securities and will be described in the relevant prospectus supplement. The terms will include, among others, the following:

• the conversion or exchange price;

• the conversion or exchange period;

• provisions regarding our or the holders’ ability to convert or exchange the debt securities, including whether the conversion or exchange is mandatory, at the option of the holder or at our option;

14

• events requiring adjustment to the conversion or exchange price;

• provisions affecting conversion or exchange in the event of our redemption of the debt securities; and

• any anti-dilution provisions, if applicable.

Absence of Limitation on Indebtedness and Liens; Absence of Event Risk Protection

Unless otherwise stated in the prospectus supplement relating to a series of debt securities, the indentures will not limit the amount of indebtedness, guarantees or other liabilities that we and our subsidiaries may incur and will not prohibit us or our subsidiaries from creating or assuming liens on our properties, including the capital stock of our subsidiaries. Unless otherwise provided in the related prospectus supplement, the indentures will not require us to maintain any financial ratios or specified levels of net worth, revenues, income, cash flow or liquidity, and will not contain provisions which would give holders of the debt securities the right to require us to repurchase their debt securities in the event we undergo a takeover, recapitalization or similar restructuring or change in control.

Merger, Consolidation or Sale of Assets

The indentures provide that we may consolidate with or merger with or into, or sell, convey, transfer, lease or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of our assets to any person or entity; provided that:

• the resulting person, if other than Pinnacle Financial, is a corporation organized under the laws of the United States, any state thereof, or the District of Columbia, and expressly assumes the due and punctual payment of the principal of, and premium, if any, and interest, if any, on all the debt securities and the performance of every covenant of the indenture to be performed or observed by us, by supplemental indenture satisfactory to the trustee, executed and delivered to the trustee by such corporation;

• immediately after giving effect to such transactions, no event of default, or event which, after notice or lapse of time, or both, would become an event of default under the indenture, shall have happened and be continuing; and

• we have delivered to the trustee an officers’ certificate and an opinion of counsel each stating that such transaction and such supplemental indenture comply with the indenture provisions relating to a merger, consolidation and sale of assets.

Upon any such consolidation or merger, or any sale, conveyance, transfer, lease or other disposition of all or substantially all of the property and assets of Pinnacle Financial, the successor person formed by such consolidation or into which Pinnacle Financial is merged or to which such sale, conveyance, transfer, lease or other disposition is made shall succeed to, and be substituted for, and may exercise every right and power of, Pinnacle Financial under the applicable indenture with the same effect as if such successor person had been named as the company in such indenture and thereafter the predecessor person, except in the case of a lease, shall be relieved of all obligations and covenants under the applicable indenture and the debt securities.

The indentures do not provide for any right of acceleration in the event of a consolidation, merger, sale of all or substantially all of the assets, recapitalization or change in our stock ownership. In addition, the indentures do not contain any provision which would protect the holders of debt securities against a sudden and dramatic decline in credit quality resulting from takeovers, recapitalizations or similar restructurings.

Subordination of the Subordinated Debt Securities

The subordinated indenture will provide that the subordinated debt securities are subordinated and junior in right of payment to our obligations to the holders of senior indebtedness (as defined below) to the extent specified in the subordinated indenture. This means that in the case of any insolvency, liquidation or other certain specified events of or relating to Pinnacle Financial as a whole, whether voluntary or involuntary, all obligations

15

to holders of senior indebtedness shall be entitled to be paid in full before any payment shall be made on account of the principal of, premium, if any, or interest on the subordinated debt securities. In the event of any such proceeding, after payment in full of all sums owing with respect to senior indebtedness, the holders of the subordinated debt securities, together with the holders of any obligations of Pinnacle Financial ranking on a parity with the subordinated debt securities, shall be entitled to be paid from the remaining assets of Pinnacle Financial the amounts at the time due and owing on account of unpaid principal of and interest on the subordinated debt securities before any payment or other distribution, whether in cash, property or otherwise, shall be made on account of any capital stock or any obligations of Pinnacle Financial ranking junior to the subordinated debt securities.

In addition, if there shall have occurred and be continuing a default in any payment with respect to any senior indebtedness or an event of default with respect to any senior indebtedness as a result of which the maturity thereof is accelerated, unless and until such payment default or event of default shall have been cured or waived or shall have ceased to exist, no payments shall be made by us with respect to the principal or interest on the subordinated debt securities.

The term “senior indebtedness” means the following, whether now outstanding or subsequently created, assumed or incurred:

• all obligations of Pinnacle Financial for borrowed money;

• all obligations of Pinnacle Financial evidenced by debentures, notes, debt securities or other similar instruments;

• all obligations of Pinnacle Financial in respect of letters of credit, security purchase facilities or bankers acceptances or similar instruments (or reimbursement obligations with respect thereto);

• all obligations of Pinnacle Financial to pay the deferred purchase price of property or services, except trade accounts payable arising in the ordinary course of business;

• indebtedness of Pinnacle Financial secured by any mortgage, pledge, lien, charge, encumbrance or any security interest existing on property owned by Pinnacle Financial but excluding any obligations of Pinnacle Financial which are treated as capitalized leases under generally accepted accounting principles, or GAAP;

• Pinnacle Financial’s obligations associated with derivative products including, but not limited to, interest rate and currency future or exchange contracts, foreign exchange contracts, swap agreements (including interest rate and foreign exchange rate swap agreements), cap agreements, floor agreements, collar agreements, options, interest rate future or option contracts, commodity contracts, and similar arrangements;

• purchase money and similar obligations (including any obligations of Pinnacle Financial which are treated as capitalized leases under GAAP);

• obligations to general creditors of Pinnacle Financial;

• a deferred obligation of, or any such obligation, directly or indirectly guaranteed by, Pinnacle Financial which obligation is incurred in connection with the acquisition of any business, properties or assets not evidenced by a note or similar instrument given in connection therewith;

• all obligations of the type referred to in the foregoing bullet points above of other persons or entities for the payment of which Pinnacle Financial is responsible or liable as obligor, guarantor or otherwise, whether or not classified as a liability on a balance sheet prepared in accordance with GAAP;

• all obligations of the type referred to in the foregoing bullet points above of other persons or entities secured by any lien on any property or assets of Pinnacle Financial, whether or not such obligation is assumed by Pinnacle Financial; and

16

• any renewals, amendments, deferrals, supplements, extensions, refundings or replacements of any of the foregoing;

provided, however, senior indebtedness excludes:

• any such indebtedness, obligation or liability referred to above as to which, in the instrument creating or evidencing the same or pursuant to which the same is outstanding, it is provided that such indebtedness, obligation or liability is not superior in right of payment to the subordinated debt securities, or ranks pari passu with the subordinated debt securities;

• any such indebtedness, obligation or liability which is subordinated to indebtedness of Pinnacle Financial to substantially the same extent as or to a greater extent than the subordinated debt securities are subordinated;

• any indebtedness to a subsidiary of Pinnacle Financial;

• any trade account payables in the ordinary course of business; and

• the subordinated debt securities.

The subordinated debt securities will rank senior to all of Pinnacle Financial’s equity securities, including its preferred stock, whether now outstanding or subsequently created.

The indentures do not limit the aggregate amount of senior indebtedness that may be issued by Pinnacle Financial.

Events of Default

Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, the following are events of default under the senior indenture, with respect to the senior debt securities and under the subordinated indenture with respect to the subordinated debt securities:

• default in the payment of interest on the debt securities when due and the default continues for a period of 30 days or more;

• default in the payment of the principal amount, or premium, if any, on the debt securities when due either at maturity, upon redemption, by declaration or otherwise;

• default in the payment of any sinking or purchase fund or analogous obligation when the same becomes due, and such default continues for 30 days or more;

• default in the performance, or breach, of any covenant or agreement in the indenture and the default or breach continues for a period of 90 days or more after we receive written notice of such default from the trustee or we and the trustee receive notice from the holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of the series;

• specified events of bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, administration or similar proceedings with respect to us or Pinnacle Bank have occurred; or

• any other event of default provided with respect to the debt securities of a series.

Except as provided for otherwise in a supplemental indenture, no event of default with respect to a particular series of debt securities necessarily constitutes an event of default with respect to any other series of debt securities. Unless otherwise provided by the terms of an applicable series of debt securities, if an event of default under the indentures occurs with respect to the debt securities of any series and is continuing, then the trustee or the holders of not less than 51% of the aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series may by written notice require us to repay immediately the entire principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series (or such lesser amount as may be provided in the terms of the securities), together with all

17

accrued and unpaid interest and premium, if any. In the case of an event of default resulting from specified events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization, the principal (or such specified amount) of and accrued and unpaid interest, if any, on all outstanding debt securities may become and be immediately due and payable without any declaration or other act on the part of the trustee or any holder of outstanding debt securities.

After a declaration of acceleration and before a judgment or decree for payment of the money due has been obtained by the trustee, the holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of outstanding debt securities of any series may rescind this accelerated payment requirement if all existing events of default, except for nonpayment of the principal on the debt securities of that series that has become due solely as a result of the accelerated payment requirement, have been cured or waived and if the rescission of acceleration would not conflict with any judgment or decree. The holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of any series also have the right to waive past defaults, except a default in paying principal, premium, if any, or interest on any outstanding debt security, a default in the payment of any sinking or purchase fund or analogous obligation with respect to the debt securities of such series or in respect of a covenant or a provision that cannot be modified or amended without the consent of all holders of the debt securities of that series.

A holder of any debt security of any series will have the right to institute a proceeding with respect to the applicable indenture or for any remedy under the indenture, if:

• such holder has previously given written notice to the trustee of a continuing event of default;

• the holders of not less than 51% in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of the series have made a written request to the trustee to institute proceedings in respect of the event of default,

• the holder or holders have offered reasonable indemnity to the trustee and the trustee has failed to institute such proceeding within 60 days after it received this notice, and

• the indenture trustee has not received from the holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series a direction inconsistent with the request;

provided, however, the holder of any debt security has the right to receive payment of the principal of and interest, if any, on, and any additional amounts in respect of, such debt security on the respective due dates (or, in the case of redemption, on the redemption date) and to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment.

The indentures require us, within 120 days after the end of our fiscal year, to furnish to the trustee a statement as to any default in the performance of any of our covenants, conditions, or agreements contained in the indenture.

Modification and Waiver

Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, Pinnacle Financial and the applicable indenture trustee may amend and modify each indenture or debt securities under that indenture with the consent of holders of at least a majority in principal amount of each series of all outstanding debt securities then outstanding under the indenture affected. However, without the consent of each holder of any debt security issued under the applicable indenture, we may not amend or modify that indenture to:

• change the maturity date or the stated payment date of any payment of premium or interest payable on the debt securities;

• reduce the principal amount on the debt securities;

• change the method of computing the amount of principal or any interest of any debt security;

• change or waive the redemption or repayment provisions of the debt securities;

• change the currency in which principal, any premium or interest is paid or the place of payment;

18

• reduce the percentage in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of any series which must consent to an amendment, supplement or waiver or consent to take any action;

• impair the right to institute suit for the enforcement of any payment on the debt securities;

• waive a payment default with respect to the debt securities;

• reduce the interest rate or extend the time for payment of interest on the debt securities;

• adversely affect the ranking or priority of the debt securities of any series; or

• release any guarantor or co-obligor from any of its obligations under its guarantee or the indenture, except in compliance with the terms of the indenture.

Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, we and the applicable indenture trustee may also amend and modify each indenture without the consent of any holder for any of the following purposes:

• to evidence a successor to Pinnacle Financial;

• to cure any ambiguity, to correct or supplement any provision in the applicable indenture, or to make any other provisions with respect to matters or questions arising under that indenture, so long as the interests of holders of debt securities of any series are not adversely affected in any material respect by the actions taken to cure, correct or supplement a provision in an indenture;

• to add to our covenants for the benefit of the holders of all or any series of debt securities;

• to add events of default for the benefits of the holders of all or any series of debt securities;

• to add guarantors or co-obligors with respect to any series of debt securities;

• to secure any series of debt securities;

• to establish the form or terms of any series of debt securities;

• to add additional events of default with respect to all or any series of debt securities;

• to add additional provisions as may be expressly permitted by the Trust Indenture Act;

• to comply with the requirements of the SEC in connection with the qualification of the indenture under the Trust Indenture Act;

• to evidence and provide for the acceptance of appointment by a successor indenture trustee; or

• to make any change that does not adversely affect in any material respect the interests of any holder of the debt securities of a series.

Satisfaction, Discharge and Covenant Defeasance

The indentures provide that we may terminate our obligations under the indenture with respect to any series of debt securities, when:

• either:

• all debt securities of any series issued that have been authenticated and delivered have been delivered to the trustee for cancellation; or

• all the debt securities of any series issued that have not been delivered to the trustee for cancellation have become due and payable, will become due and payable within one year, or are to be called for redemption within one year and we have made arrangements satisfactory to the trustee for the giving of notice of redemption by such trustee in our name and at our expense, and in each case, we have irrevocably deposited or caused to be deposited with the trustee sufficient funds to pay and discharge the entire indebtedness on the series of debt securities; and

• we have paid or caused to be paid all other sums then due and payable under such indenture; and

19

• we have delivered to the trustee an officers’ certificate and an opinion of counsel, each stating that all conditions precedent under such indenture relating to the satisfaction and discharge of such indenture have been complied with.

The indentures also provide that we may elect to have our obligations under the indenture discharged with respect to the outstanding debt securities of any series (“legal defeasance”). Legal defeasance means that we will be deemed to have paid and discharged the entire indebtedness represented by the outstanding debt securities of such series under the indenture, except for:

• the rights of holders of the debt securities to receive principal, interest and any premium when due;

• our obligations with respect to the debt securities concerning issuing temporary debt securities, registration of transfer of debt securities, mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen debt securities and the maintenance of an office or agency for payment for security payments held in trust;

• the rights, obligations, duties and immunities of the trustee; and

• the defeasance provisions of the indenture.

In addition, the indentures provide that we may elect to have our obligations released with respect to certain covenants in the indentures (“covenant defeasance”). If we so elect, any failure to comply with these obligations will not constitute a default or an event of default with respect to the debt securities of such series. In the event covenant defeasance occurs, certain events, not including non-payment, bankruptcy and insolvency events, described under “Events of Default” will no longer constitute an event of default for that series.

In order to exercise either legal defeasance or covenant defeasance with respect to outstanding debt securities of any series:

• we must irrevocably have deposited or caused to be deposited with the trustee as trust funds for the purpose of making the following payments, specifically pledged as security for, and dedicated solely to the benefits of the holders of the debt securities of a series:

• money in an amount; or

• U.S. government obligations (or equivalent government obligations in the case of debt securities denominated in other than U.S. dollars or a specified currency) that will provide, not later than one day before the due date of any payment, money in an amount; or

• a combination of money and U.S. government obligations (or equivalent government obligations, as applicable),

in each case sufficient, in the written opinion (with respect to U.S. or equivalent government obligations or a combination of money and U.S. or equivalent government obligations, as applicable) of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants, to pay and discharge, and which shall be applied by the trustee to pay and discharge, all of the principal (including mandatory sinking fund payments), interest and any premium at due date or maturity;

• in the case of legal defeasance, we have delivered to the trustee an opinion of counsel stating that, under then applicable Federal income tax law, the holders of the debt securities of that series will not recognize income, gain or loss for Federal income tax purposes as a result of the deposit, defeasance and discharge to be effected and will be subject to the same Federal income tax as would be the case if the deposit, defeasance and discharge did not occur;

• in the case of covenant defeasance, we have delivered to the trustee an opinion of counsel to the effect that the holders of the debt securities of that series will not recognize income, gain or loss for Federal income tax purposes as a result of the deposit and covenant defeasance to be effected and will be subject to the same Federal income tax as would be the case if the deposit and covenant defeasance did not occur;

20

• no event of default or default with respect to the outstanding debt securities of that series has occurred and is continuing at the time of such deposit after giving effect to the deposit or, in the case of legal defeasance, no default relating to bankruptcy or insolvency has occurred and is continuing at any time on or before the 91st day after the date of such deposit, it being understood that this condition is not deemed satisfied until after the 91st day;

• the legal defeasance or covenant defeasance will not cause the trustee to have a conflicting interest within the meaning of the Trust Indenture Act, assuming all debt securities of a series were in default within the meaning of the Trust Indenture Act;

• the legal defeasance or covenant defeasance will not result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a default under, any other agreement or instrument to which we are a party;

• if prior to the stated maturity date, notice shall have been given in accordance with the provisions of the indenture;

• the legal defeasance or covenant defeasance will not result in the trust arising from such deposit constituting an investment company within the meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, unless the trust is registered under that Act or exempt from registration; and

• we have delivered to the trustee an officers’ certificate and an opinion of counsel stating that all conditions precedent with respect to the legal defeasance or covenant defeasance have been complied with.

Restrictive Covenants

We will set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement any restrictive covenants applicable to any issue of debt securities.

Governing Law

Unless indicated otherwise in the applicable prospectus supplement, the indentures and the debt securities will be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York.

21

DESCRIPTION OF WARRANTS

We summarize below some of the provisions that will apply to the warrants that we may issue pursuant to this prospectus unless the applicable prospectus supplement provides otherwise. This summary may not contain all information that is important to you. The complete terms of the warrants will be contained in the applicable warrant certificate and warrant agreement. These documents have been or will be included or incorporated by reference as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part. You should read the warrant certificate and the warrant agreement. You should also read the prospectus supplement, which will contain additional information and which may update or change some of the information below.

We may issue, together with other securities or separately, warrants to purchase debt securities, common stock, preferred stock or other securities. We may issue the warrants under warrant agreements to be entered into between us and a bank or trust company, as warrant agent, all as set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement. The warrant agent would act solely as our agent in connection with the warrants of the series being offered and would not assume any obligation or relationship of agency or trust for or with any holders or beneficial owners of warrants.

The applicable prospectus supplement will describe the following terms, where applicable, of warrants in respect of which this prospectus is being delivered:

• the title of the warrants;

• the designation, amount and terms of the securities for which the warrants are exercisable and the procedures and conditions relating to the exercise of such warrants;

• the designation and terms of the other securities, if any, with which the warrants are to be issued and the number of warrants issued with each such security;

• the price or prices at which the warrants will be issued;

• the aggregate number of warrants;

• any provisions for adjustment of the number or amount of securities receivable upon exercise of the warrants or the exercise price of the warrants;

• the price or prices at which the securities purchasable upon exercise of the warrants may be purchased;

• if applicable, the date on and after which the warrants and the securities purchasable upon exercise of the warrants will be separately transferable;

• if applicable, a discussion of the material U.S. federal income tax considerations applicable to the warrants;

• any other terms of the warrants, including terms, procedures and limitations relating to the exchange and exercise of the warrants;

• the date on which the right to exercise the warrants shall commence and the date on which the right shall expire;

• if applicable, the maximum or minimum number of warrants which may be exercised at any time;

• the identity of the warrant agent;

• any mandatory or optional redemption provision;

• whether the warrants are to be issued in registered or bearer form;

• whether the warrants are extendible and the period or periods of such extendibility;

• information with respect to book-entry procedures, if any; and

• any other terms of the warrants.

Before exercising their warrants, holders of warrants will not have any of the rights of holders of the securities purchasable upon such exercise, including the right to receive dividends, if any, or payments upon our liquidation, dissolution or winding-up or to exercise voting rights, if any.

22

DESCRIPTION OF DEPOSITARY SHARES

We summarize below some of the provisions that will apply to depositary shares unless the applicable prospectus supplement provides otherwise. This summary may not contain all information that is important to you. The complete terms of the depositary shares will be contained in the depositary agreement and depositary receipt applicable to any depositary shares. These documents will be included or incorporated by reference as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part. You should read the depositary agreement and the depositary receipt. You should also read the prospectus supplement applicable to a particular issuance of depositary shares, which will contain additional information and which may update or change some of the information below.

General

We may, at our option, offer fractional shares of preferred stock, rather than full shares of preferred stock. If we do so, we may issue receipts for depositary shares that each represent a fraction of a share of a particular series of preferred stock. The prospectus supplement will indicate that fraction. The shares of preferred stock represented by depositary shares will be deposited under a depositary agreement between us and a bank or trust company that meets certain requirements and is selected by us, which we refer to as the “bank depositary.” Each owner of a depositary share will be entitled to all the rights and preferences of the preferred stock represented by the depositary share, including any dividend, voting, redemption, conversion and liquidation rights described in a prospectus supplement, in proportion to the applicable fraction of a share of preferred stock represented by such depositary share. The depositary shares will be evidenced by depositary receipts issued pursuant to the depositary agreement. Depositary receipts will be distributed to those persons purchasing the fractional shares of preferred stock in accordance with the terms of the offering.

The following summary description of certain common provisions of a depositary agreement and the related depositary receipts and any summary description of the depositary agreement and depositary receipts in the applicable prospectus supplement do not purport to be complete and are qualified in their entirety by reference to all of the provisions of such depositary agreement and depositary receipts. The forms of the depositary agreement and the depositary receipts relating to any particular issue of depositary shares will be filed with the SEC each time we issue depositary shares, and you should read those documents for provisions that may be important to you.

Dividends and Other Distributions

If we pay a cash distribution or dividend on a series of preferred stock represented by depositary shares, the bank depositary will distribute such dividends to the record holders of such depositary shares in proportion to the number of depositary shares owned by such holders on the relevant record date. If the distributions are in property other than cash, the bank depositary will distribute the property to the record holders of the depositary shares in proportion to the number of depositary shares owned by such holders on the relevant record date. However, if the bank depositary determines that it is not feasible to make the distribution of property, the bank depositary may, with our approval, sell such property and distribute the net proceeds from such sale to the record holders of the depositary shares.

Redemption of Depositary Shares

If we redeem a series of preferred stock represented by depositary shares, the bank depositary will redeem the depositary shares from the proceeds received by the bank depositary in connection with the redemption. The redemption price per depositary share will equal the applicable fraction of the redemption price per share of the preferred stock. If fewer than all the depositary shares are redeemed, the depositary shares to be redeemed will be selected by lot or pro rata as the bank depositary may determine.

23

Voting Deposited Preferred Stock

Upon receipt of notice of any meeting at which the holders of the preferred stock represented by depositary shares are entitled to vote, the bank depositary will mail the notice to the record holders of the depositary shares relating to such preferred stock. Each record holder of these depositary shares on the record date, which will be the same date as the record date for the preferred stock, may instruct the bank depositary as to how to vote the preferred stock represented by such holder’s depositary shares. The bank depositary will endeavor, insofar as practicable, to vote the amount of the preferred stock represented by such depositary shares in accordance with such instructions, and we will take all action that the bank depositary deems necessary in order to enable the bank depositary to do so. The bank depositary will abstain from voting shares of the preferred stock to the extent it does not receive specific instructions from the holders of depositary shares representing such preferred stock.

Amendment and Termination of the Depositary Agreement

Unless otherwise provided in the applicable prospectus supplement or required by law, the form of depositary receipt evidencing the depositary shares and any provision of the depositary agreement may be amended by agreement between the bank depositary and us. The depositary agreement may be terminated by the bank depositary or us only if:

• all outstanding depositary shares have been redeemed;

• there has been a final distribution in respect of the preferred stock in connection with any liquidation, dissolution, or winding up of our company, and such distribution has been distributed to the holders of depositary shares; or

• consent of the holders of at least two-thirds of the depositary shares outstanding is obtained.

Charges of Bank Depositary

We will pay all transfer and other taxes and governmental charges arising solely from the existence of the depositary arrangements. We will pay charges of the bank depositary in connection with the initial deposit of the preferred stock and any redemption of the preferred stock. Holders of depositary receipts will pay other transfer and other taxes and governmental charges and any other charges, including a fee for the withdrawal of shares of preferred stock upon surrender of depositary receipts, as are expressly provided in the depositary agreement for their accounts.

Withdrawal of Preferred Stock

Except as may be provided otherwise in the applicable prospectus supplement and unless the related depositary shares have been called for redemption, upon surrender of depositary receipts at the principal office of the bank depositary, subject to the terms of the depositary agreement, the owner of the depositary shares may demand delivery of the number of whole shares of preferred stock and all money and other property, if any, represented by those depositary shares. Partial shares of preferred stock will not be issued. If the depositary receipts delivered by the holder evidence a number of depositary shares in excess of the number of depositary shares representing the number of whole shares of preferred stock to be withdrawn, the bank depositary will deliver to such holder at the same time a new depositary receipt evidencing the excess number of depositary shares. Holders of preferred stock thus withdrawn may not thereafter deposit those shares under the depositary agreement or receive depositary receipts evidencing depositary shares therefor.

Miscellaneous

The bank depositary will forward to holders of depositary receipts all reports and communications from us that are delivered to the bank depositary and that we are required to furnish to the holders of the preferred stock.

24

Neither the bank depositary nor we will be liable if we are prevented or delayed by law or any circumstance beyond our control in performing our obligations under the depositary agreement. The obligations of the bank depositary and us under the depositary agreement will be limited to performance in good faith of our duties thereunder, and we will not be obligated to prosecute or defend any legal proceeding in respect of any depositary shares or preferred stock unless satisfactory indemnity is furnished. We may rely upon written advice of counsel or accountants, or upon information provided by persons presenting preferred stock for deposit, holders of depositary receipts or other persons believed to be competent and on documents believed to be genuine.

Resignation and Removal of Bank Depositary

The bank depositary may resign at any time by delivering to us notice of its election to do so, and we may at any time remove the bank depositary. Any such resignation or removal will take effect upon the appointment of a successor bank depositary and its acceptance of such appointment. The successor bank depositary must be appointed within 60 days after delivery of the notice of resignation or removal and must be a bank or trust company meeting the requirements of the depositary agreement.

25

DESCRIPTION OF UNITS

We may issue units comprised of one or more of the other securities described in this prospectus in any combination. Each unit will be issued so that the holder of the unit is also the holder of each security included in the unit. Thus, the holder of a unit will have the rights and obligations of a holder of each included security. The unit agreement under which a unit is issued may provide that the securities included in the unit may not be held or transferred separately, at any time or at any time before a specified date. The applicable prospectus supplement may describe:

• the designation and terms of the units and of the securities comprising the units, including whether and under what circumstances those securities may be held or transferred separately;

• any provisions for the issuance, payment, settlement, transfer or exchange of the units or of the securities comprising the units;

• the terms of the unit agreement governing the units;

• material United States federal income tax considerations relevant to the units; and

• whether the units will be issued in fully registered global form.

This summary of certain general terms of units and any summary description of units in the applicable prospectus supplement do not purport to be complete and are qualified in their entirety by reference to all provisions of the applicable unit agreement and, if applicable, collateral arrangements and depositary arrangements relating to such units. The forms of the unit agreements and other documents relating to a particular issue of units will be filed with the SEC each time we issue units, and you should read those documents for provisions that may be important to you.

26

DESCRIPTION OF STOCK PURCHASE CONTRACTS

We may issue stock purchase contracts for the purchase or sale of:

• debt or equity securities issued by us or securities of third parties, a basket of such securities, an index or indices of such securities or any combination of the above as specified in the applicable prospectus supplement;

• currencies; or

• commodities.

Each stock purchase contract will entitle the holder thereof to purchase or sell, and obligate us to sell or purchase, on specified dates, such securities, currencies or commodities at a specified purchase price, which may be based on a formula, all as set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement. We may, however, satisfy our obligations, if any, with respect to any stock purchase contract by delivering the cash value of such stock purchase contract or the cash value of the property otherwise deliverable or, in the case of stock purchase contracts on underlying currencies, by delivering the underlying currencies, as set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement. The applicable prospectus supplement will also specify the methods by which the holders may purchase or sell such securities, currencies or commodities and any acceleration, cancellation or termination provisions or other provisions relating to the settlement of a stock purchase contract.

The stock purchase contracts may require us to make periodic payments to the holders thereof or vice versa, which payments may be deferred to the extent set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement, and those payments may be unsecured or prefunded on some basis. The stock purchase contracts may require the holders thereof to secure their obligations in a specified manner to be described in the applicable prospectus supplement. Alternatively, stock purchase contracts may require holders to satisfy their obligations thereunder when the stock purchase contracts are issued. Our obligation to settle such prepaid stock purchase contracts on the relevant settlement date may constitute indebtedness. Accordingly, pre-paid stock purchase contracts will be issued under either the senior indenture or the subordinated indenture.

27

DESCRIPTION OF GLOBAL SECURITIES

Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, we may issue the securities in the form of one or more fully registered global securities that will be deposited with a depository or its nominee identified in the applicable prospectus supplement and registered in the name of that depository or its nominee. In those cases, one or more registered global securities will be issued in a denomination or aggregate denominations equal to the portion of the aggregate principal or face amount of the securities to be represented by registered global securities. Unless and until it is exchanged in whole for securities in definitive registered form, a registered global security may not be transferred except as a whole by and among the depository for the registered global security, the nominees of the depository or any successors of the depository or those nominees.

If not described below, any specific terms of the depository arrangement with respect to any securities to be represented by a registered global security will be described in the prospectus supplement relating to those securities. We anticipate that the following provisions will apply to all depository arrangements.

Ownership of beneficial interests in a registered global security will be limited to persons, called participants, that have accounts with the depository or persons that may hold interests through participants. Upon the issuance of a registered global security, the depository will credit, on its book-entry registration and transfer system, the participants’ accounts with the respective principal or face amounts of the securities beneficially owned by the participants. Any dealers, underwriters or agents participating in the distribution of the securities will designate the accounts to be credited.

Ownership of beneficial interests in a registered global security will be shown on, and the transfer of ownership interests will be effected only through, records maintained by the depository, with respect to interests of participants, and on the records of participants, with respect to interests of persons holding through participants. The laws of some states may require that some purchasers of securities take physical delivery of these securities in definitive form. These laws may impair your ability to own, transfer or pledge beneficial interests in registered global securities.

So long as the depository, or its nominee, is the registered owner of a registered global security, that depository or its nominee, as the case may be, will be considered the sole owner or holder of the securities represented by the registered global security for all purposes. Except as described below, owners of beneficial interests in a registered global security will not be entitled to have the securities represented by the registered global security registered in their names, will not receive or be entitled to receive physical delivery of the securities in definitive form and will not be considered the owners or holders of the securities. Accordingly, each person owning a beneficial interest in a registered global security must rely on the procedures of the depository for that registered global security and, if that person is not a participant, on the procedures of the participant through which the person owns its interest, to exercise any rights of a holder under the applicable indenture, warrant agreement or unit agreement. We understand that under existing industry practices, if we request any action of holders or if an owner of a beneficial interest in a registered global security desires to give or take any action that a holder is entitled to give or take, the depository for the registered global security would authorize the participants holding the relevant beneficial interests to give or take that action, and the participants would authorize beneficial owners owning through them to give or take that action or would otherwise act upon the instructions of beneficial owners holding through them.

Payments of principal of, and premium, if any, and interest on, debt securities, and any payments to holders with respect to other securities represented by a registered global security registered in the name of a depository or its nominee will be made to the depository or its nominee, as the case may be, as the registered owner of the registered global security. None of Pinnacle Financial, the trustees, the warrant agents or any preferred stock depositary, as applicable, will have any responsibility or liability for any aspect of the records relating to or the payments made on account of beneficial ownership interests in the registered global security or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any records relating to those beneficial ownership interests.

28

We expect that the depository for any of the securities represented by a registered global security, upon receipt of any payment of principal, premium, interest or other distribution of underlying securities or other property to holders on that registered global security, will immediately credit participants’ accounts in amounts proportionate to their respective beneficial interests in that registered global security as shown on the records of the depository. We also expect that payments by participants to owners of beneficial interests in a registered global security held through participants will be governed by standing customer instructions and customary practices, as is now the case with the securities held for the accounts of customers in bearer form or registered in “street name,” and will be the responsibility of those participants.

If the depository for any of these securities represented by a registered global security is at any time unwilling or unable to continue as depository or ceases to be a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act, and a successor depository registered as a clearing agency under the Exchange Act is not appointed by us within 90 days, we will issue securities in definitive form in exchange for the registered global security that had been held by the depository. In addition, under the terms of the indenture, we may at any time and in our sole discretion decide not to have any of the securities represented by one or more registered global securities. We understand, however, that, under current industry practices, the depository would notify its participants of our request, but will only withdraw beneficial interests from a global security at the request of each participant. We would issue definitive certificates in exchange for any such interests withdrawn. Any securities issued in definitive form in exchange for a registered global security will be registered in the name or names that the depository gives to the applicable trustee, warrant agent, unit agent or other relevant agent of ours or theirs. It is expected that the depository’s instructions will be based upon directions received by the depository from participants with respect to ownership of beneficial interests in the registered global security that had been held by the depository.

29

PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

We and/or the selling securityholders may offer and sell the securities being offered hereby in one or more of the following ways from time to time:

• to or through underwriters, brokers or dealers;

• directly to one or more other purchasers;

• through a block trade in which the broker or dealer engaged to handle the block trade will attempt to sell the common stock as agent, but may position and resell a portion of the block as principal to facilitate the transaction;

• through agents on a best-efforts basis; or

• otherwise through a combination of any of the above methods of sale.

The selling securityholders may also sell shares of common stock under Rule 144 of the Securities Act, or any other available exemption, rather than under this prospectus.

In addition, we and/or the selling securityholders may enter into option, share lending or other types of transactions that require us and/or the selling securityholders to deliver shares of common stock to an underwriter, broker or dealer, who will then resell or transfer the shares of common stock under this prospectus. We and/or the selling securityholders may enter into hedging transactions with respect to our securities. For example, we and/or the selling securityholders may:

• enter into transactions involving short sales of the shares of common stock by underwriters, brokers or dealers;

• sell shares of common stock short and deliver the shares to close out short positions;

• enter into option or other types of transactions that require us to deliver shares of common stock to an underwriter, broker or dealer, who will then resell or transfer the shares of common stock under this prospectus; or

• loan or pledge the shares of common stock to an underwriter, broker or dealer, who may sell the loaned shares or, in the event of default, sell the pledged shares.

Each time that we and/or the selling securityholders use this prospectus to sell our securities, we will also provide a prospectus supplement that contains the specific terms of the offering. The prospectus supplement will set forth the terms of the offering of such securities, including:

• the name or names of any underwriters, dealers or agents and the type and amounts of securities underwritten or purchased by each of them; and

• the public offering price of the securities and the proceeds to us and any discounts, commissions or concessions allowed or reallowed or paid to dealers.

Sales of the securities may be effected from time to time in one or more transactions, including negotiated transactions:

• at a fixed price or prices, which may be changed;

• at market prices prevailing at the time of sale;

• at prices related to prevailing market prices; or

• at negotiated prices.

Any public offering price and any discounts or concessions allowed or reallowed or paid to dealers may be changed from time to time.

30

If underwriters are used in the sale of any securities, the securities will be acquired by the underwriters for their own account and may be resold from time to time in one or more transactions, including negotiated transactions, at a fixed public offering price or at varying prices determined at the time of sale. The securities may be either offered to the public through underwriting syndicates represented by managing underwriters, or directly by underwriters. Generally, the underwriters’ obligations to purchase the securities will be subject to certain conditions precedent. The underwriters will be obligated to purchase all of the securities if they purchase any of the securities.

We and/or the selling securityholders may sell the securities through agents from time to time. The prospectus supplement will name any agent involved in the offer or sale of our securities and any commissions we pay to them. Generally, any agent will be acting on a best efforts basis for the period of its appointment.

We and/or the selling securityholders may authorize underwriters, dealers or agents to solicit offers by certain purchasers to purchase our securities at the public offering price set forth in the prospectus supplement pursuant to delayed delivery contracts providing for payment and delivery on a specified date in the future. The contracts will be subject only to those conditions set forth in the prospectus supplement, and the prospectus supplement will set forth any commissions or discounts we pay for solicitation of these contracts.

In connection with the sale of any of the securities, underwriters or agents may receive compensation from us and/or the selling securityholders in the form of underwriting discounts or commissions and may also receive compensation from purchasers of the securities, for whom they may act as agents, in the form of discounts, concessions or commissions. Underwriters may sell the securities to or through dealers, and such dealers may receive compensation in the form of discounts, concessions or commissions from the underwriters and/or commissions from the purchasers for whom they may act as agents. Discounts, concessions and commissions may be changed from time to time. Dealers and agents that participate in the distribution of the securities may be deemed to be underwriters under the Securities Act, and any discounts, concessions or commissions they receive from us and any profit on the resale of securities they realize may be deemed to be underwriting compensation under applicable federal and state securities laws.

Pursuant to a requirement by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”), the maximum commission or discount to be received by any FINRA member or independent broker-dealer may not be greater than 8% of the gross proceeds received by us from the sale of any securities registered pursuant to SEC Rule 415.

Agents and underwriters may be entitled to indemnification by us and/or the selling securityholders against certain civil liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act, or to contribution with respect to payments which the agents or underwriters may be required to make in respect thereof. Agents and underwriters may be customers of, engage in transactions with, or perform services for us and/or the selling securityholders in the ordinary course of business.

Unless otherwise specified in the related prospectus supplement, each series of securities will be a new issue with no established trading market, other than our common stock, which is listed on the Nasdaq Global Select Market. We expect that any common stock sold pursuant to a prospectus supplement will be listed on the Nasdaq Global Select Market, subject to official notice of issuance. We may elect to list any series of debt securities or preferred stock on an exchange, but we are not obligated to do so. It is possible that one or more underwriters may make a market in the securities, but such underwriters will not be obligated to do so and may discontinue any market making at any time without notice. No assurance can be given as to the liquidity of, or the trading market for, any offered securities.

We and/or the selling securityholders may enter into derivative transactions with third parties, or sell securities not covered by this prospectus to third parties in privately negotiated transactions. If the applicable prospectus supplement so indicates in connection with those derivatives, then the third parties may sell securities covered by this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement, including in short sale transactions. In that event, the third party may use securities pledged by us and/or the selling securityholders or borrowed from us

31

and/or the selling securityholders or others to settle those sales or to close out any related open borrowings of stock, and may use securities received from us in settlement of those derivatives to close out any related open borrowings of securities. The third party in such sale transactions will be an underwriter and will be identified in the applicable prospectus supplement (or a post-effective amendment to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part).

Until the distribution of the securities is completed, rules of the SEC may limit the ability of any underwriters and selling group members to bid for and purchase the securities. As an exception to these rules, underwriters are permitted to engage in some transactions that stabilize the price of the securities. Such transactions consist of bids or purchases for the purpose of pegging, fixing or maintaining the price of the securities.

Underwriters may engage in overallotment. If any underwriters create a short position in the securities in an offering in which they sell more securities than are set forth on the cover page of the applicable prospectus supplement, the underwriters may reduce that short position by purchasing the securities in the open market.

The lead underwriters may also impose a penalty bid on other underwriters and selling group members participating in an offering. This means that if the lead underwriters purchase securities in the open market to reduce the underwriters’ short position or to stabilize the price of the securities, they may reclaim the amount of any selling concession from the underwriters and selling group members who sold those securities as part of the offering.

In general, purchases of a security for the purpose of stabilization or to reduce a short position could cause the price of the security to be higher than it might be in the absence of such purchases. The imposition of a penalty bid might also have an effect on the price of a security to the extent that it were to discourage resales of the security before the distribution is completed.

We and/or the selling securityholders do not make any representation or prediction as to the direction or magnitude of any effect that the transactions described above might have on the price of the securities. In addition, we and/or the selling securityholders do not make any representation that underwriters will engage in such transactions or that such transactions, once commenced, will not be discontinued without notice.

If we and/or the selling securityholders offer securities in a subscription rights offering to our existing security holders, we and/or the selling securityholders may enter into a standby underwriting agreement with dealers, acting as standby underwriters. We and/or the selling securityholders may pay the standby underwriters a commitment fee for the securities they commit to purchase on a standby basis. If we and/or the selling securityholders do not enter into a standby underwriting arrangement, we and/or the selling securityholders may retain a dealer-manager to manage a subscription rights offering for us and/or the selling securityholders.

Underwriters, dealers and agents may engage in transactions with us and/or the selling securityholders or perform services for us and/or the selling securityholders in the ordinary course of business.

If indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, we and/or the selling securityholders will authorize underwriters or other persons acting as our agents to solicit offers by particular institutions to purchase securities from us and/or the selling securityholders at the public offering price set forth in such prospectus supplement pursuant to delayed delivery contracts providing for payment and delivery on the date or dates stated in such prospectus supplement. Each delayed delivery contract will be for an amount no less than, and the aggregate amounts of securities sold under delayed delivery contracts shall be not less nor more than, the respective amounts stated in the applicable prospectus supplement. Institutions with which such contracts, when authorized, may be made include commercial and savings banks, insurance companies, pension funds, investment companies, educational and charitable institutions and others, but will in all cases be subject to our and/or the selling securityholders’ approval. The obligations of any purchaser under any such contract will be subject to the conditions that (a) the purchase of the securities shall not at the time of delivery be prohibited under the laws of

32

any jurisdiction in the United States to which the purchaser is subject, and (b) if the securities are being sold to underwriters, we and/or the selling securityholders shall have sold to the underwriters the total amount of the securities less the amount thereof covered by the contracts. The underwriters and such other agents will not have any responsibility in respect of the validity or performance of such contracts.

To comply with applicable state securities laws, the securities offered by this prospectus will be sold, if necessary, in such jurisdictions only through registered or licensed brokers or dealers. In addition, securities may not be sold in some states unless they have been registered or qualified for sale in the applicable state or an exemption from the registration or qualification requirement is available and is complied with.

SELLING SECURITYHOLDERS

Selling securityholders are persons or entities that, directly or indirectly, have acquired or will from time to time acquire from us, securities in various private transactions. Such selling securityholders may be parties to registration rights agreements with us, or we otherwise may have agreed or will agree to register their securities for resale. The initial purchasers of our securities, as well as their transferees, pledges, donees or successors, all of whom we refer to as “selling securityholders,” may from time to time offer and sell the securities pursuant to this prospectus and any applicable prospectus supplement.

Information about selling securityholders, where applicable, will be set forth in a prospectus supplement, in a post-effective amendment to the registration statement to which this prospectus is a part, and in filings we make with the SEC, which we incorporate by reference into this registration statement.

EXPERTS

The consolidated financial statements of Pinnacle Financial as of December 31, 2019 and 2018, and for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2019 and the effectiveness of Pinnacle Financial’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2019, have been audited by Crowe LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, as set forth in its reports appearing in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019 and incorporated by reference in this prospectus. Pinnacle Financial’s consolidated financial statements as of December 31, 2019 and 2018 and for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2019 are incorporated by reference herein and in the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part in reliance on Crowe LLP’s reports, given on the authority of such firm as experts in auditing and accounting.

33

LEGAL MATTERS

Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, the validity of the securities offered hereby will be passed upon for us by Bass, Berry & Sims PLC, Nashville, Tennessee. If the matters in connection with offerings made pursuant to this prospectus are passed upon by counsel for the underwriters, dealers or agents, if any, such counsel will be named in the prospectus supplement relating to such offering.

34

PART II

INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS

Item 14. Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution.

The following table sets forth the estimated costs and expenses payable by Pinnacle Financial in connection with the registration of the securities being registered under this Registration Statement. All amounts shown are estimates except the SEC registration fee:

Securities and Exchange Commission Fee	(1)
Listing Fees	(2)
FINRA Filing Fee	(2)
Legal Fees and Expenses	(2)
Accounting Fees and Expenses	(2)
Transfer agent, registrar and trustee fees	(2)
Printing Fees	(2)
Miscellaneous	(2)
Total	(2)

(1) The Registrant is registering an indeterminate amount of securities under this Registration Statement and, in accordance with Rules 456(b) and 457(r), the Registrant is deferring payment of the registration fee until the time the securities are sold under this Registration Statement pursuant to a prospectus supplement.

(2) The calculation of these fees and expenses is dependent on the number of issuances and amount of securities offered and, accordingly, cannot be estimated at this time. An estimate of the aggregate amount of these expenses will be reflected in the applicable prospectus supplement.

Item 15. Indemnification of Directors and Officers.

The TBCA provides that a corporation may indemnify any of its directors and officers against liability incurred in connection with a proceeding if: (a) such person acted in good faith; (b) in the case of conduct in an official capacity with the corporation, the person reasonably believed such conduct was in the corporation’s best interests; (c) in all other cases, the person reasonably believed that the person’s conduct was at least not opposed to the best interests of the corporation; and (d) in connection with any criminal proceeding, such person had no reasonable cause to believe the person’s conduct was unlawful. In actions brought by or in the right of the corporation, however, the TBCA provides that no indemnification may be made if the director or officer was adjudged to be liable to the corporation. The TBCA also provides that in connection with any proceeding charging improper personal benefit to an officer or director, no indemnification may be made if such officer or director is adjudged liable on the basis that such personal benefit was improperly received. In cases where the director or officer is wholly successful, on the merits or otherwise, in the defense of any proceeding instigated because of his or her status as a director or officer of a corporation, the TBCA mandates that the corporation indemnify the director or officer against reasonable expenses incurred in the proceeding. The TBCA provides that a court of competent jurisdiction, unless the corporation’s charter provides otherwise, upon application, may order that an officer or director be indemnified for reasonable expenses if, in consideration of all relevant circumstances, the court determines that such individual is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnification, notwithstanding the fact that (a) such officer or director was adjudged liable to the corporation in a proceeding by or in the right of the corporation; (b) such officer or director was adjudged liable on the basis that personal benefit was improperly received by the officer or director; or (c) such officer or director breached the officer’s or director’s duty of care to the corporation.

Pinnacle Financial’s amended and restated charter, as amended, provides that it will indemnify its directors and officers to the maximum extent permitted by the TBCA. Pinnacle Financial’s amended and restated bylaws, as amended, provide that it shall indemnify its directors and officers that are made a party to a proceeding

II-1

because they were a director or officer of Pinnacle Financial for reasonable expenses, judgments, fines, penalties and amounts paid in settlement (including attorneys’ fees) incurred in connection with the proceeding if he or she acted in a manner believed in good faith to be in or not opposed to Pinnacle Financial’s best interests, and in the case of any criminal proceeding, he or she had no reasonable cause to believe his or her conduct was unlawful. In addition, Pinnacle Financial’s amended and restated bylaws, as amended, provide that it shall pay for or reimburse the reasonable expenses incurred by a director or officer who is a party to a proceeding in advance of final disposition of the proceeding if he or she furnishes Pinnacle Financial with (1) a written affirmation of his or her good faith belief that he or she has met the applicable standard of conduct that would entitle him or her to indemnification and (2) a written statement that he or she will repay any advances if it is ultimately determined that he or she is not entitled to indemnification.

Under Pinnacle Financial’s amended and restated bylaws, as amended, the termination of a proceeding by judgment, order, settlement, or conviction, or upon a plea of nolo contendere or its equivalent, is not, of itself, determinative of whether the director or officer met the standard of conduct required in order for him or her to be entitled to indemnification. Pinnacle Financial’s board of directors, shareholders or independent legal counsel determines whether the director or officer has met the applicable standard of conduct in each specific case.

Pinnacle Financial’s amended and restated charter, as amended, and amended and restated bylaws, as amended, also provide that the indemnification rights contained therein do not exclude other indemnification rights to which a director or officer may be entitled under any bylaw, resolution or agreement, either specifically or in general terms approved by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the shares entitled to vote. Pinnacle Financial can also provide for greater indemnification than is provided for in its amended and restated bylaws, as amended, if Pinnacle Financial chooses to do so, subject to approval by its shareholders and the limitations provided in its amended and restated charter, as amended, as discussed in the subsequent paragraph.

Pinnacle Financial’s amended and restated charter, as amended, eliminates, with exceptions, the potential personal liability of a director for monetary damages to Pinnacle Financial and its shareholders for breach of a duty as a director. There is, however, no elimination of liability for:

• a breach of the director’s duty of loyalty to Pinnacle Financial or its shareholders;

• an act or omission not in good faith or which involves intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law; or

• any payment of a dividend or approval of a stock repurchase that is illegal under the TBCA.

Pinnacle Financial’s amended and restated charter, as amended, does not eliminate or limit Pinnacle Financial’s right or the right of its shareholders to seek injunctive or other equitable relief not involving monetary damages.

The indemnification provisions of its amended and restated bylaws, as amended, specifically provide that Pinnacle Financial may purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any director or officer against any liability asserted against and incurred by him or her in his or her capacity as a director, officer, employee or agent whether or not Pinnacle Financial would have had the power to indemnify against such liability.

Item 16. Exhibits.

Exhibit Number	Description
1.1	Form of Underwriting Agreement for any offering of securities*
3.1	Amended and Restated Charter of Pinnacle Financial Partners, Inc., as amended (Restated for SEC filing purposes only) (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on April 18, 2018)

II-2

Exhibit Number	Description
3.2	Second Amended and Restated Bylaws of Pinnacle Financial Partners, Inc., as amended (Restated for SEC filing purposes only) (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on October 20, 2017)
4.1	See Exhibits 3.1 and 3.2 for provisions of the Amended and Restated Charter of Pinnacle Financial Partners, Inc., as amended, and Second Amended and Restated Bylaws of Pinnacle Financial Partners, Inc., as amended, which define the rights of securityholders
4.2	Form of certificate of amendment of the Charter with respect to any preferred stock issued hereunder*
4.3	Specimen of Common Stock Certificate (incorporated by reference to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form SB-2, as amended (File No. 333-38018))
4.4	Form of Warrant Agreement*
4.5	Form of Warrant Certificate (included in Exhibit 4.4)*
4.6	Specimen of Preferred Stock Certificate*
4.7	Form of Debt Security*
4.8	Form of Subordinated Debt Security*
4.9	Form of Indenture for Senior Indebtedness**
4.10	Form of Indenture for Subordinated Indebtedness**
4.11	Form of Depositary Agreement*
4.12	Form of Depositary Receipt (included in Exhibit 4.11)
4.13	Form of Unit Agreement*
5.1	Opinion of Bass, Berry & Sims PLC**
23.1	Consent of Crowe LLP**
23.2	Consent of Bass, Berry & Sims PLC (included in Exhibit 5.1 filed herewith)
24.1	Power of Attorney (See page II-6 of this Registration Statement)
25.1	Form T-1 Statement of Eligibility of Trustee under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, to act as Trustee under the Senior Indenture*
25.2	Form T-1 Statement of Eligibility of Trustee under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, to act as Trustee under the Subordinated Indenture*

* To be filed subsequently by an amendment to the Registration Statement or by a Current Report of the Company on Form 8-K and incorporated by reference therein.

** Filed herewith.

Item 17. Undertakings.

The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:

(1) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement:

(i) To include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933;

II-3

(ii) To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of the registration statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the registration statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than 20% change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the “Calculation of Registration Fee” table in the effective registration statement;

(iii) To include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the registration statement or any material change to such information in the registration statement;

provided, however, that paragraphs (i), (ii) and (iii) above do not apply if the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in reports filed with or furnished to the Commission by the registrant pursuant to section 13 or section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that are incorporated by reference in the registration statement, or is contained in a form of prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended that is part of the registration statement.

(2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

(3) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering.

(4) That, for purposes of determining liability under the Securities Act of 1933 to any purchaser:

(i) Each prospectus filed by the registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b)(3) shall be deemed to be part of the registration statement as of the date the filed prospectus was deemed part of and included in the registration statement; and

(ii) Each prospectus required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424(b)(2), (b)(5) or (b)(7) as part of a registration statement in reliance on Rule 430B relating to an offering made pursuant to Rule 415(a)(1)(i), (vii) or (x) for the purpose of providing the information required by section 10(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 shall be deemed to be part of and included in the registration statement as of the earlier of the date such form of prospectus is first used after effectiveness or the date of the first contract of sale of securities in the offering described in the prospectus. As provided in Rule 430B, for liability purposes of the issuer and any person that is at that date an underwriter, such date shall be deemed to be a new effective date of the registration statement relating to the securities in the registration statement to which that prospectus relates, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof. Provided, however, that no statement made in a registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement or made in a document incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference into the registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement will, as to a purchaser with a time of contract of sale prior to such effective date, supersede or modify any statement that was made in the registration statement or prospectus that was part of the registration statement or made in any such document immediately prior to such effective date

(5) That, for the purpose of determining liability of a registrant under the Securities Act of 1933 to any purchaser in the initial distribution of the securities, the undersigned registrant undertakes that in a primary offering of securities of the undersigned registrant pursuant to this registration statement, regardless of the underwriting method used to sell the securities to the purchase, if the securities are offered or sold to such purchaser by means of any of the following communications the undersigned registrant will be a seller to the purchaser and will be considered to offer or sell such securities to such purchaser:

II-4

(i) any preliminary prospectus or prospectus of the undersigned registrant relating to the offering required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424;

(ii) any free writing prospectus relating to the offering prepared by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant or used or referred to by the undersigned registrant;

(iii) the portion of any other free writing prospectus relating to the offering containing material information about the undersigned registrant or its securities provided by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant; and

(iv) any other communication that is an offer in the offering made by the undersigned registrant to the purchaser.

(6) That, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of the registrant’s annual report pursuant to section 13(a) or section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan’s annual report pursuant to section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) that is incorporated by reference in the registration statement will be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of the securities at that time will be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act of 1933 and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act of 1933 and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes to file an application for the purpose of determining the eligibility of the trustee to act under subsection (a) of section 310 of the Trust Indenture Act (“Act”) in accordance with the rules and regulations prescribed by the Commission under section 305(b)(2) of the Act.

II-5

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, the registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-3 and has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Nashville, State of Tennessee, on May 27, 2020.

PINNACLE FINANCIAL PARTNERS, INC.
By:	/s/ M. Terry Turner
	M. Terry Turner
	President and Chief Executive Officer

KNOW ALL BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints M. Terry Turner and Harold R. Carpenter and each of them, his or her true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent, with full power of substitution and resubstitution, in any and all capacities, to sign any or all amendments (including post-effective amendments and amendment pursuant to Section 462 of the Securities Act) to this Registration Statement, and to file the same with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorney-in-fact and agent full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in and about the premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as he or she might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents, or their substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof. This power of attorney may be executed in counterparts.

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, this registration statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

Signature	Title	Date
/s/ Robert A. McCabe, Jr. Robert A. McCabe, Jr.	Chairman of the Board	May 27, 2020
/s/ M. Terry Turner M. Terry Turner	Director, President and Chief Executive Officer (Principal Executive Officer)	May 27, 2020
/s/ Harold R. Carpenter Harold R. Carpenter	Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial Officer and Principal Accounting Officer)	May 27, 2020
/s/ Richard D. Callicutt, II Richard D. Callicutt, II	Director, Chairman of the Carolinas and Virginia	May 27, 2020
/s/ Abney S. Boxley Abney S. Boxley	Director	May 27, 2020
/s/ Charles E. Brock Charles E. Brock	Director	May 27, 2020
/s/ Renda J. Burkhart Renda J. Burkhart	Director	May 27, 2020

II-6

Signature	Title	Date
/s/ Gregory L. Burns Gregory L. Burns	Director	May 27, 2020
/s/ Marty G. Dickens Marty G. Dickens	Director	May 27, 2020
/s/ Thomas C. Farnsworth, III Thomas C. Farnsworth, III	Director	May 27, 2020
/s/ Joseph C. Galante Joseph C. Galante	Director	May 27, 2020
/s/ Glenda Baskin Glover Glenda Baskin Glover	Director	May 27, 2020
/s/ David B. Ingram David B. Ingram	Director	May 27, 2020
/s/ Ronald L. Samuels Ronald L. Samuels	Director	May 27, 2020
/s/ Gary L. Scott Gary L. Scott	Director	May 27, 2020
/s/ Reese L. Smith, III Reese L. Smith, III	Director	May 27, 2020
/s/ G. Kennedy Thompson G. Kennedy Thompson	Director	May 27, 2020

II-7