Our Story
The First Horizon story is about enduring relationships with clients, associates and communities. Without them, no company could survive and thrive for nearly 160 years.
Our story began in 1864, when Ohio businessman Frank S. Davis arrived in Memphis to open the city’s first national bank. Davis saw a genuine need for banking and credit to finance rebuilding and new commercial growth. Davis’ foresight led him to found First National Bank of Memphis, which has evolved into the First Horizon Bank we know today.
A brief timeline:
1864
Davis submitted a national charter to establish First National Bank of Memphis.
1865
First National moved to a home of its own at 14 Madison Avenue in Downtown Memphis.
1878
As thousands of Memphians died in the yellow fever epidemic and many more fled the city, bookkeeper Charles Q. Harris kept the bank open, serving clients and distributing relief funds from across the country.
1908
As Memphis experienced rapid growth, the old bank building was razed, and a new one was constructed.
1941
First National built its first suburban branch at 1338 Union, now the heart of Midtown Memphis.
1964
On its 100th anniversary, First National moved into a new 25-story corporate headquarters at 165 Madison, where we remain today.
1977
First National changed its name to First Tennessee to reflect the bank’s expansion beyond Memphis.
2004
First Horizon National Corporation became our parent company name.
2014
First Tennessee celebrated 150 years of serving the community.
2017
First Tennessee completed the largest merger in our history to date, with Capital Bank, making us the fourth-largest regional bank in the Southeast.
2019
During Memphis’ bicentennial year, we announced our entire company would operate under the unified First Horizon brand name, marking a new era in our rich history. Concurrently, First Tennessee filed an application to convert from a national bank into a Tennessee state-chartered bank to better align with the bank’s strategic priorities, streamline oversight processes and provide better client service under the bank’s new First Horizon brand.
In November 2019, First Horizon National Corporation and Lafayette, Louisiana-based IberiaBank Corporation agreed to merge. The combined company would be one of the largest financial services companies headquartered in the South and one of the top 25 banks in the U.S. in deposits.
2020
The merger with IberiaBank Corporation closed on July 2, 2020. The combined company’s enhanced scale, diversified business model and expertise in financial services uniquely positioned us to better serve our clients and communities, accelerate our growth and create long-term shareholder value. Our headquarters remained in Memphis, Tennessee.
At the end of 2020, our parent company dropped "National" from its name, becoming First Horizon Corporation, to more closely align with our First Horizon brand.
First Horizon has served clients through civil war, two world wars, yellow fever epidemics, financial panics, the Great Depression and the Great Recession. Our clients and our companies have endured adversity, seized opportunity and embraced change. We’re proud of our legacy, and we're focused on building for the future.
We’ve been recognized as an innovative user of technology, having introduced clients to innovations such as branch banking, drive-through banking, ATMs, remote deposit capture and the Visa payroll card, and was among the first banks in the nation to offer mobile deposit. Our associates provide the highest-quality service in banking, insurance, fixed-income investments, mortgage, credit and financial planning, and we claim some of the most loyal and satisfied clients in our industry.
