Chris Holmes was named President of FirstBank in 2012 and CEO in 2013 as part of a planned transition of the bank’s executive leadership.
While his career has included working with banks in several countries around the world, his global view of economics includes an understanding that banking is driven by local needs and providing individual service to customers. Originally from Lexington, Tennessee, Chris has a background in both rural communities and urban metro centers that is uniquely suited for leadership at FirstBank.
As President and CEO, Chris is responsible for leading and managing all facets of the bank’s operations, including establishing its long-term goals, strategies and corporate vision.
In 2016, Chris led FirstBank’s transition from a privately held, single shareholder bank to a publicly traded company listed on the New York Stock Exchange. FB Financial Corporation’s initial public offering, which closed with $128.5 million in proceeds, was the largest IPO in Tennessee banking history. FirstBank also grew through the 2015 acquisition of Northwest Georgia Bank, and the 2017 acquisitions of Clayton Bank and Trust and American City Bank, which expanded the bank’s footprint across Tennessee.
In 2018, FirstBank purchased 14 retail branch locations from Atlantic Capital Bank, which further increased the Bank’s presence in the Knoxville, Chattanooga and North Georgia markets.
Most recently, executed a merger agreement with Franklin Synergy Bank (FSB). The combination of the two banks, resulted in FirstBank becoming the third largest headquartered bank in Tennessee with $11 billion in assets. The merger also significantly enhanced FirstBank’s operations in the Nashville MSA, advancing the Bank’s deposit market share to #6 in Nashville, #1 in Williamson County and #2 in Rutherford County.
Prior to joining FirstBank in 2010 as Chief Banking Officer, Chris served as the Director of Corporate Financial Services and the Chief Retail Banking Officer for Greenville, S.C.-based South Financial Group. Previously, he worked for 20 years in the Memphis-area market, first with EY and then in several management positions for National Bank of Commerce, which was acquired by SunTrust, and Trustmark National Bank.
Currently, Chris serves as a Director on the following boards:
• Delta Dental
• FB Financial Corporation (FBK)
• FirstBank
• Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce
• Pinson Hospital Hospitality House
• Tennessee Bankers Association, Chairman
• Tennessee Hospital Association, Ex-Officio
• YMCA of Middle Tennessee, Executive Committee
In addition, Chris serves on the Governor’s Tennessee Business Leadership Council, an organization comprised of key business leaders who work to improve the overall business climate in the state; and he is a cabinet member of Partnership 2030, an organization spearheaded by the Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce who works to form future regional strategy for economic development.
Away from the office, Chris enjoys traveling and spending time with his wife, Susan, three daughters, Hayley, Hannah and Hope. He also enjoys hunting, biking, snow skiing and playing golf.