First American National Bank
| Company type | Division |
|---|---|
| Industry | Financial services |
| Predecessor | American National Bank, Fourth and First National Bank |
| Founded | 1930 |
| Defunct | December 2000 |
| Fate | Acquired by AmSouth Bancorporation; brand discontinued |
| Headquarters | Nashville , United States |
Area served | Tennessee, Kentucky, Georgia, Virginia |
| Products | Banking services |
First American National Bank functioned as a division of First American Corporation, a financial services company headquartered in Nashville, Tennessee. Its operations extended across Tennessee, Kentucky, Georgia, and Virginia. The bank's main office was located in the downtown First American Center. Initially established as American National Bank, it combined in 1930 with James E. Caldwell's Fourth and First National Bank, resulting in the formation of First American National Bank. During the 1980s and 1990s, the institution grew by acquiring several regional banks, including Blout National, Park National, Northern Bank of TN, and Middle Tennessee Bank.
In 1971, while constructing the First American Center (currently known as UBS Tower), workers uncovered a sabertooth cat (Smilodon floridanus) fossil beneath the site. First American National Bank supported the archaeological efforts and modified the building plans to preserve the cave remains situated beneath its parking structure. This paleontological find later inspired the logo and mascot for the Nashville Predators hockey franchise established in 1997.
The First American name ceased to exist in December 2000 following its acquisition by Birmingham-based AmSouth Bancorporation, which was a smaller financial entity. Throughout 2000, First American operated as a subsidiary of AmSouth but was subsequently divested after several unprofitable mergers, most notably with Deposit Guaranty Bank from Jackson, Mississippi. This merger expanded market presence into Mississippi, Arkansas, and Louisiana under the Deposit Guaranty brand, while branches in Iowa also functioned outside the First American identity.
The bank’s closure signified the decline of Nashville’s status as a major financial center. Together with Third National Bank (now incorporated into SunTrust) and Commerce Union Bank (now part of Bank of America), First American had been a key competitor for regional market share before all were absorbed by larger banking organizations. By 2007, local Nashville-based banks continued to exist but did not extend their reach beyond Davidson County.
AmSouth continued to uphold First American’s legacy as Nashville’s market leader until SunTrust surpassed it following its acquisition of Memphis-based National Commerce Financial. AmSouth regained this leading position in 2006 prior to merging with Regions Financial Corporation, headquartered in Birmingham. The merged institution preserved its status as Nashville’s dominant market player with AmSouth CEO C. Dowd Ritter remaining at the helm.
Sponsorships
First American held significant sponsorship roles within Nashville, including securing naming rights to the now-defunct First American Music Center for one season before transferring them to AmSouth. The bank also served as the official financial institution for local sports franchises such as the Tennessee Titans, Nashville Predators, Nashville Kats, and Nashville Sounds. Following AmSouth/Regions’ acquisition of First American, these sponsorship agreements were allowed to lapse.
Other "First American" banks
Numerous unrelated regional banks throughout the United States operate under the "First American" name, including one based in Mississippi known as "First American National Bank." These banks have no connections with the former First American National Bank or AmSouth Bancorporation.