ATLANTA, Nov. 20, 2006 (PRIMEZONE) -- First Horizon Bank, part of a $37 billion company that moved into the Atlanta banking market last year, announced today that it has finalized a deal with Atlanta Spirit, LLC -- parent company of the Atlanta Hawks, Atlanta Thrashers and Philips Arena -- to become the exclusive entitlement partner for the premium club level and the suite holder/VIP parking deck at Philips Arena.
The 10.75-year contract with the Atlanta Spirit replaces the club-level sponsorship at the arena previously held by Bank of America.
Terms of the deal call for the club level at Philips Arena to be re-named the "First Horizon Club." New First Horizon Bank signage will be in place before the end of the year throughout the venue, including a reserved parking area for suite holders/VIPs.
Tammy Strawder Driggers, president of First Horizon Bank, Georgia, said, "First Horizon Bank takes a long-term view of our commitment and dedication to the Atlanta region. We're proud to be official sponsors of the Atlanta Hawks and Atlanta Thrashers at Philips Arena and excited about the opportunities this provides for serving as a leader in the community."
"First Horizon is a progressive, young bank that believes in what we are doing and is focused, as we are, on growing its business one customer at a time," said Atlanta Spirit President and CEO Bernie Mullin. "This is a full marketing partnership which provides high visibility and the opportunity to build more one-on-one relationships with the two million guests who enjoy coming through our Philips Arena doors more than 200 times each year."
An event attended by nearly 200 First Horizon employees officially launched the sponsorship on Saturday, Nov. 18, prior to the Atlanta Hawks vs. Miami Heat basketball game.
As the official bank of the Hawks and the Thrashers, four ATM locations inside Philips Arena will be affiliated with the bank. First Horizon offers its bank customers free transactions at any ATM in the country, including no fees from First Horizon and no foreign fees from other banks.
First Horizon also will have exclusive rights to offer Hawks and Thrashers checking, which is expected to be available prior to the 2007-2008 seasons.
First Horizon Bank is part of First Horizon National Corp. (NYSE:FHN), a 142-year-old Tennessee-based corporation. First Horizon has 15 banking and home loan locations in the Atlanta metro area serving more than 19,000 customers with comprehensive financial services and First Horizon business insurance products. The bank has an aggressive growth plan for the Atlanta region, with six new financial center locations scheduled to come online next year.
About First Horizon Bank
First Horizon Bank is a division of First Tennessee Bank National Assoc. and part of First Horizon National Corp. Although First Horizon Bank is new to Atlanta, its sister company, First Horizon Home Loans, has been part of the Atlanta business community for four years. Synaxis Merritt & McKenzie, a commercial insurance brokerage and wholly owned affiliate of First Horizon National Corp., also does business in the Atlanta market.
The 12,000 employees of First Horizon National Corp. provide financial services to individuals and business customers through hundreds of offices located in more than 40 states. The corporation's three major brands -- FTN Financial, First Horizon and First Tennessee -- provide customers with a broad range of products and services including capital markets, mortgage banking and retail/commercial banking services.
FHN companies have been recognized as some of the nation's best employers by AARP, Working Mother and Fortune magazines. FHN also was named one of the nation's 100 best corporate citizens by Business Ethics magazine. More information can be found at www.FirstHorizon.com.