Turner: Pinnacle hiring remains on pause

Pinnacle Financial Partners’ leaders aren’t ready to refire their recruiting engine amid the COVID-19 pandemic — even though they see some opportunities to take market share from competitors they say are struggling.

Speaking to analysts and investors Wednesday after his team reported second-quarter results, President and CEO Terry Turner said the downtown-based regional bank’s hiring plans are still on pause except for critical positions and in Atlanta. Turner, who has been open about Pinnacle’s shift to a more defensive stance in the face of the COVID recession, said his team could ramp up quickly once it finds “a certain footing.”