Knoxville’s Next Chapter: Why Local Partnership Matters More Than Ever

By Harry Gross, East Tennessee Market President, Truist Bank

With contributions from Waynette Davis, Truist Knoxville Market President

For 100 years, Truist and its predecessor institutions have had the privilege of serving Knoxville, growing alongside the businesses, families and communities that make this region strong and special. That milestone isn’t just about history. It’s about what we’ve learned and how we continue to evolve to meet the needs of local businesses.

Today, the pace of change facing business owners is faster and more complex than ever. Whether you’re launching a company, scaling for growth, managing through economic shifts, or planning what comes next, the stakes are high. And increasingly, business leaders aren’t looking for a bank. They’re looking for a trusted and experienced advisor.

That’s where we believe Truist is different.

At Truist, we’ve intentionally structured our Commercial Bank around local, visible leadership and local connections because we know that context and relationships matter.

Here in Knoxville, our teammates live and work in the same community as our clients. We understand the regional economy, the local talent pool, and the opportunities shaping East Tennessee’s future. And we’re empowered to act, bringing the full and broad capabilities of Truist to the table while staying grounded in the relationships that matter most.

As Knoxville Market President, Waynette Davis works closely with our clients and local teammates every day to ensure we are not only accessible, but accountable—helping businesses move forward with clarity and confidence.

We also believe how we serve matters as much as what we deliver.

Our strategic approach—Business Lifecycle Advisory—is built on a simple idea: every business and owner is different, and their financial needs evolve over time. Instead of offering one-size-fits-all solutions, we start by understanding where a business is in its lifecycle and what it needs to succeed next.

That means asking better questions, listening closely, and aligning our advice and solutions to the realities business owners face every day.

A growing company may need capital and operational guidance to scale effectively. An established business may be focused on optimizing performance and managing risk. A founder planning for transition may need strategic advice on valuation, succession, or sale.

By understanding these moments, we can deliver tailored guidance that creates real value—not just transactions.

Another key differentiator is how we bring the bank together around our clients.

Through our integrated relationship management approach, we connect clients to a broad range of expertise, from payments and capital markets to wealth planning and industry-specific advisory.

What matters most is how those teams work together. We approach every client relationship as a coordinated effort, bringing the right people to the table at the right time, with a shared focus on delivering outcomes.

Even as our capabilities have grown and evolved, our purpose has remained the same: to inspire and build better lives and communities.

That purpose shows up in how we work, leading with care, putting client needs first, partnering intentionally, and following through with accountability.

Knoxville is a community defined by resilience, innovation, and growth. As we celebrate 100 years here, we’re proud of the role we’ve played—and even more energized about what comes next.

For local businesses, the question isn’t just who can provide capital. It’s who understands your business and can help you navigate what’s ahead.

At Truist, we’re committed to being that partner—for the next 100 years and beyond.

About Truist
Truist Financial Corporation is a purpose-driven financial services company committed to inspiring and building better lives and communities. Headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, Truist has leading market share in many of the high-growth markets in the U.S. and offers a wide range of products and services through wholesale and consumer businesses, including consumer and small business banking, commercial and corporate banking, investment banking and capital markets, wealth management, payments, and specialized lending businesses. Truist is a top 10 commercial bank with $549 billion as of March 31, 2026. Truist Bank, Member FDIC. Equal Housing Lender. Learn more at Truist.com.