Pinnacle Bank Names Cliff Dennett President and CEO
Dennett, the bank's chief credit officer, takes over leadership from Jeffrey D. Payne as the changes take effect Feb. 1, 2027.
Updated on Nov. 7, 2026 in People
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Pinnacle Bank, a California lender, has named Cliff Dennett president and chief executive officer, with the leadership changes taking effect Feb. 1, 2027. Jeffrey D. Payne will become board chair and Susan K. Black will become vice chair.
Why it matters
The planned succession moves a longtime credit executive into the top job as the bank approaches $1 billion in total assets. Susan K. Black called the transition the culmination of the board's long-term succession planning.
Pinnacle Bank reported $993.60 million in total assets as of Sept. 30, 2026, up 10% from $905.7 million a year earlier. Payne has led the bank since 2017 and said Dennett should guide it past the $1 billion mark.
The players
Pinnacle Bank
Pinnacle Bank is a California lender whose total assets have grown to nearly $1 billion.
Cliff Dennett
Cliff Dennett is a veteran banker with nearly 30 years of experience who previously served as the bank's chief credit officer.
Jeffrey D. Payne
Jeffrey D. Payne has led Pinnacle Bank since 2017 and will move into the role of board chair.
Susan K. Black
Susan K. Black is a banking figure who will serve as vice chair of Pinnacle Bank's board.
The details
The board appointed Dennett as a director as part of a planned succession. Dennett was previously Pinnacle Bank's chief credit officer and has nearly 30 years of banking experience, while Ed Rossi will continue advising the board and bank.
Timeline
Sept. 30, 2026: Pinnacle Bank's total assets measured at $993.60 million.
Feb. 1, 2027: Leadership changes take effect.
Market Landscape
Pinnacle Bank's asset growth of 10% over the past year places it on a path toward the $1 billion mark among California lenders. The leadership handoff positions Dennett to steer that expansion as the bank prepares for its next milestone.
For customers and depositors of Pinnacle Bank, the leadership change takes effect Feb. 1, 2027, and the extraction does not indicate any change to products or account terms. The transition keeps a longtime executive in charge as the bank grows toward $1 billion in assets.
The takeaway
Leadership succession planned well in advance can give a growing bank continuity as it expands. Watching how Dennett manages the path past $1 billion will show whether that planning holds.
Further reading
For more on executive moves at regional lenders, see People in our Business coverage.
Source note: This article includes information reported by TokenPost.
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