Jackson W. Moore

Jackson W. Moore
Born	(1948-11-02) November 2, 1948 Birmingham, Alabama, U.S.
Occupation(s)	Lawyer, Banking executive
Years active	1973–2007
Known for	Former executive chairman of Union Planters Bank and Regions Financial Corporation

Jackson W. Moore is an American lawyer and former executive chairman of both Union Planters Bank and Regions Financial Corporation.

Early life

Moore was born on November 2, 1948, in Birmingham, Alabama. He spent his childhood in Clanton, Alabama and completed his education at Chilton County High School in 1966. He obtained a bachelor's degree in banking and finance from the University of Alabama in 1970 and later earned his law degree from Vanderbilt University Law School in 1973.

Career

Following a clerkship at Sullivan and Cromwell in New York specializing in mergers and acquisitions, Moore began practicing law in Memphis, Tennessee in 1973. This followed his service as a captain in the U.S. Army Adjutant General's Corps. He became president and COO of Union Planters Bank in 1989 after joining its board two years earlier.

In 2000, Moore took over as CEO of Union Planters Bank, succeeding Benjamin Rawlins. During a period of declining interest rates, he led Tennessee’s largest bank by shutting down more than 200 inefficient branches, reducing excessive payroll costs and expenses, and optimizing operational efficiency.

Regions & AmSouth

The January 2004 merger between Regions Financial Corporation and Union Planters, valued at $5.9 billion, resulted in the creation of the twelfth largest bank holding company in the United States. Serving five million customers with $56 billion in deposits, the combined entity operated 1,400 branches across fifteen states and held dominant market positions in Louisiana, Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Mississippi, and Tennessee. Moore was appointed chairman and CEO of the newly formed corporation and moved to its headquarters in Birmingham, Alabama.

In October 2006, Moore led Regions through its merger with AmSouth Bancorporation. With approval from the Federal Reserve, this union produced one of the top ten U.S. bank holding companies by assets, boasting over $140 billion under management, two thousand branches spanning sixteen states, and a workforce of thirty-seven thousand employees. Moore assumed the role of Executive Chairman while AmSouth’s C. Dowd Ritter became CEO.

Executive Compensation & Retirement

Moore retired from his position at Regions on December 31, 2007, at age fifty-eight, shifting his focus toward private equity ventures, community involvement, and family life in Memphis. He continues to serve as a trustee for Vanderbilt University and chairs the President's Cabinet at The University of Alabama. Additionally, Moore is an active supporter of the Boy Scouts of America, holding both the Eagle Scout Award and the Distinguished Eagle Scout Award.

In 2006, Moore’s total earnings from Regions Bank exceeded $29 million. This included a base salary of $951,391, stock awards worth more than $2 million, and bonuses totaling $2.5 million. His retirement benefits amounted to $9.4 million from his tenure as CEO of Union Planters Bank. Other perks encompassed a company vehicle, personal access to the corporate jet, $19,000 for membership fees, and nearly $2 million paid toward life insurance premiums.

Personal life

In 1971, Moore married Betty Wilson, daughter of Holiday Inn founder Kemmons Wilson, whom he met during their college years.