President & Chief Executive Officer
First Commercial Bank
JACKSON, MISSISSIPPI – January 23, 2023 – First Commercial Bank is pleased to announce the appointment of Michael Peeler as the new President and Senior Managing Director of the Memphis market. With over thirty years of experience in commercial banking, Peeler brings a wealth of expertise in credit analysis, credit risk, and business development to the role.
“We are excited to have Michael join our team as the leader of our Memphis Market,” said Curt Gabardi, President and CEO of First Commercial Bank. “His extensive background in banking and strong track record of success makes him the ideal candidate for this position. We have full confidence in his ability to drive growth and build upon the already strong foundation we have in Memphis.”
About Michael Peeler
President and Senior Managing Director
First Commercial Bank, Memphis
Peeler spent the first twenty years of his banking career with First Tennessee (First Horizon) in their Middle Tennessee and Memphis markets. In September 2008, Peeler left for a position to lead the C&I function for FirstBank in their Memphis market and a year later became the Memphis Market President. In 2016, Metropolitan Bank recruited Michael as a Senior Managing Director to manage a large commercial and corporate banking portfolio for that growing institution. Following the Metropolitan/Renasant merger, Michael remained on the Renasant C&I team in Memphis until 2019 when he was recruited by a former First Tennessee manager to join Trustmark National Bank as a Senior Vice President in their commercial department. Over his thirty-five years in banking, Michael has been responsible for business development, relationship oversight and economic development for several key institutions in and around the Memphis MSA.
In addition to his professional work, Peeler is actively involved in the community and currently serves in various roles for numerous civic organizations. Michael has been a member of the Memphis Rotary Club for over 20 years and currently serves as Chair of their International Committee. He was selected as a member of the Memphis Business Journal Top 40 under 40 Class of 2004 and was a member of the Leadership Memphis Class of 2005. Peeler is a board member and Treasurer of the Bartlett Area Chamber of Commerce. Additionally, he is currently an Elder of Idlewild Presbyterian Church and is a Faith Encourager with Hopeworks (a re-entry program at the Shelby County Department of Corrections). He is actively engaged in LMI housing initiatives through MICAH (Memphis Interfaith Coalition for Action and Hope). Other current board positions include The Iris Collective, Gift of Life Mid-South, and the Presbytery of the Mid-South. Michael has completed graduate programs at the UVA Darden Advanced School of Commercial Lending, the Southeastern School of Commercial Lending, and the Barrett School of Banking in Memphis. Michael received his Bachelor of Arts in Economics from the University of Virginia in 1988 and he and his wife, Melissa, have three grown daughters: Mary, Anna, and Margie. He enjoys golf, soccer, and piano.
“I am honored to be joining First Commercial Bank and to be given the opportunity to lead the Memphis Market,” said Peeler. “I am excited to get to work and to contribute to the success of this great organization, both professionally and through my commitment to community service.”