The 'Dean' on The Murfreesboro Post

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By: ERIN EDGEMON, Business Editor

Posted: Sunday, October 4, 2009 7:12 am

The 'Dean' | Business, Charlie Myatt, Frist Tennessee

"The Dean" of banking Charlie Myatt retired Oct. 1 after some 40 years with First Tennessee Bank. TMP/E. Edgemon

The man considered by some the “dean of banking” among the active bankers in Rutherford County retired Oct. 1 after some 40 years with First Tennessee Bank.

Charlie Myatt, First Tennessee’s Rutherford County president, is respected by his fellow bankers and in the community for his years of service.

He was the longest tenured president in Rutherford County for the only bank in the county since 1988 to operate under the same name, ownership and leadership.

“Charlie is among the most respected bankers by his peers in the state of Tennessee,” said Lee Moss, chief executive officer of MidSouth Bank and one of Myatt’s best friends. “He has always been a very healthy competitor but also a friend within his peers, and he will be greatly missed within the industry.

Myatt began his career with First Tennessee in Chattanooga in 1969. He served in various positions from senior vice president and manager of the branch division and senior vice president and manager of the east region of Chattanooga’s correspondent division.

He moved to Murfreesboro in 1988 to become regional president. During his tenure as Rutherford County president, the bank has grown from three branch locations to 10.

“Charlie Myatt is the consummate banker: compassionate, empathetic, community minded and a professional in his field,” said Bruce Plummer, vice president, business development at F&M Bank. “It has been my good fortune to have known Charlie since he moved to Murfreesboro in the 1980’s. He dedicated himself to the community early on by accepting volunteer assignments which lead to leadership positions in the community.”

When asked what he was most proud of during his banking career, Myatt said he hopes he has been a positive influence on those he has worked with and helped develop their career.

“I think I have been a consistent and loyal employee who has tried to do the right thing,” he said.

Myatt said the job has also afforded him the opportunity to be an active participant in the community.

“It doesn’t get much better than that,” he said.

Another aspect he has enjoyed is helping customers with their financial needs and seeing them grow and prosper.

His goal when taking the position in Rutherford County was to growing the bank’s operations including building a main office and building a branch network.

“I think we have moved the ball forward,” Myatt said of the legacy of growth he is leaving at the organization.

Myatt said First Tennessee still has a relatively young branch network, and the customer base needs to grow at each branch.

What Myatt has perhaps enjoyed most about his banking career is his involvement in the community, “feeling that you are giving something back and having some impact and influence in the community.”

Myatt served on the Rutherford County Boys & Girls Club board of directors from 1988-09. He saw the club grow from a large house with 30 members to a large facility on Jones Boulevard with some 600 members.

“It has been a gratifying thing to see, something I will always cherish,” he said.

Mark Pirtle, a local businessman, worked with Myatt on the Boys & Girls Club for 10 years.

“He played a vital role in this dynamic Boys & Girls Club,” he said. “He helped shepherd our growth in the need for a facility and growth in the budget.”

As an MTSU graduate, Myatt has given back to MTSU by serving as president of the MTSU Foundation and participating in the Blue Raider Athletic Association.

He served as chair of the MTSU Miller Trust Corp. He helped determine how a $25 million gift to the university would be spent. This gift turned into the Tennessee Miller Coliseum.

Myatt also has served as chairman of the Rutherford County Chamber of Commerce.

Erin Edgemon can be reached at 869-0812 and at eedgemon@murfreesboropost.com.

Tagged under Business, Charlie Myatt, Frist Tennessee

Member Opinions:

By: buddyb1 on 10/5/09
For all the people that have had the honor of working with Charlie knows that he and his wife are a first class show. I'm so glad that Murfreesboro has had and will continue to have them in our community. Job well done Charlie.