The merger of Pinnacle Financial Partners and Synovus has been recognized as Deal of the Year for mergers and acquisitions by the Atlanta Business Chronicle and ACG Atlanta. 

The Pinnacle and Synovus merger created the largest bank holding company headquartered in Georgia. With more than 900 team members and 45 locations in metro Atlanta, Pinnacle strengthens its commitment to Atlanta with its planned Midtown headquarters. The firm continues to invest in the region by adding experienced bankers to its team, reflecting a long-term commitment to serving clients locally and helping Atlanta businesses grow.

“This is a win worth celebrating, and it belongs to the people who made this merger possible,” said Pinnacle CFO Jamie Gregory. “Bringing two banks together is an enormous undertaking. Our team members tackled it with determination and collaboration while continuing to serve clients. And our clients and investors believe in what we’re building. This recognition is a moment to celebrate how far we’ve come as we stay focused on the work ahead.” 

The annual awards recognize the M&A and corporate financial deals driving growth in metro Atlanta. Program organizers cited the Pinnacle-Synovus merger as ‘one of the most impactful transactions during the past year.’ 

The $8.6 billion all-stock merger of Pinnacle Financial Partners and Synovus Financial Corp. was completed in January 2026. The combination created a regional bank with more than 400 locations across nine states with the holding company headquartered in Atlanta and the bank headquartered in Nashville, Tennessee.

The merger brought together Pinnacle’s local relationship-based banking and recruiting model with Synovus’ specialized banking capabilities, expanding the combined firm’s reach and resources for clients. The bank continues to operate under the Pinnacle and Synovus brands until systems conversion and brand consolidation in March 2027.

The annual Deals of the Year Awards program recognizes 10 award categories, including M&A, and celebrates the individuals behind the transactions, honoring those who drive capital formation, job growth and business transformation across the region.