EXHIBIT 99.1

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                CONTACT:  Vicki Kessler
                                                               615-320-7532


               PINNACLE FINANCIAL PARTNERS ISSUES $10 MILLION IN
                           TRUST PREFERRED SECURITIES

         Nashville, Tenn., Dec. 30, 2003 - Pinnacle Financial Partners Inc.,
(Nasdaq: PNFP), the holding company of Pinnacle National Bank, today completed
the issuance of $10 million in trust preferred securities.

         The trust preferred securities will be payable in 2034 and will pay
quarterly dividends at a floating rate. Pinnacle anticipates that substantially
all of the proceeds will be contributed to the capital of Pinnacle National
Bank.

         "We have experienced extraordinary growth in our first three years,"
said Terry Turner, Pinnacle president and chief executive officer. "We
anticipate the capital from today's issuance of trust preferred securities will
support our core growth objectives for the foreseeable future."

         Turner said Pinnacle has for several months been evaluating various
alternatives for raising capital. "Utilizing trust preferred securities allows
us to raise capital while minimizing dilution of the company's earnings per
share and return on equity," he said.

         FTN Financial Capital Markets, a division of First Tennessee Bank, and
Keefe, Bruyette and Woods Inc. acted as placement agents for Pinnacle in the
transaction.

         Pinnacle, having grown to $440 million in assets in less than three
years, is the largest Nashville-based financial services firm and the fastest
growing among the 181 commercial banks chartered in 2000.


                                     (more)



         Pinnacle provides a full range of banking, investment and insurance
products and services targeted at small- to mid-size businesses and their
owners/operators. A number of Pinnacle's senior financial advisors provide
comprehensive wealth management services to help clients protect and distribute
their assets.

         Pinnacle opened its first office in October 2000 in Commerce Center in
downtown Nashville. Since then, the firm has added offices in Rivergate and
Green Hills and in Brentwood and the Cool Springs area of Williamson County.
Pinnacle recently announced it will open an office on West End Ave. in
Nashville in 2004 and is in the site selection process for a third Williamson
County office.

         More information on Pinnacle can be accessed at www.mypinnacle.com.

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Certain of the statements in this release may constitute forward-looking
statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended (the "Securities Act"). The words "expect," "anticipate," "intend,"
"plan," "believe," "seek," "estimate" and similar expressions are intended to
identify such forward-looking statements, but other statements not based on
historical information may also be considered forward-looking. All
forward-looking statements are subject to risks, uncertainties and other facts
that may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of Pinnacle to
differ materially from any results expressed or implied by such forward-looking
statements. Such factors include, without limitation, (i) unanticipated
deterioration in the financial condition of borrowers resulting in significant
increases in loan losses and provisions for those losses, (ii) increased
competition with other financial institutions, (iii) lack of sustained growth
in the economy in the Nashville, Tennessee area, (iv) rapid fluctuations or
unanticipated changes in interest rates, (v) the inability of Pinnacle to
satisfy regulatory requirements for its expansion plans, and (vi) changes in
the legislative and regulatory environment, a more detailed description of
various risks is contained in Pinnacle's most recent annual report on Form
10-KSB. Many of such factors are beyond Pinnacle's ability to control or
predict, and readers are cautioned not to put undue reliance on such
forward-looking statements. Pinnacle disclaims any obligation to update or
revise any forward-looking statements contained in this release, whether as a
result of new information, future events or otherwise.