Senior Vice President, Pinnacle Bank 

Words by Justin Hunter | Image by Ryan McGill

“…And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us….” - Hebrews 12:1

The morning of April 20, 1998, Patriot’s Day, was damp and cold in Boston, Massachusetts. It was the kind of cold that seeps underneath every layer of clothing. The sun had not awakened when Karen Crump took the shuttle bus ride from her hotel to the Boston Marathon staging area in the town of Hopkinton. She was among over 28,000 anxious and excited runners participating in the 102nd running of the iconic marathon.

“As you know, in anything like that, it’s not the race; it’s all the training you’ve done to get ready for the race,” says Crump. “I think it’s the same thing with any career or whatever you put your mind to do. It’s not that one moment, but everything leading up to it. It’s the drive and dedication that gets you up every morning. It’s not the race. It’s the process.”

The lesson Crump draws from her once-in-a-lifetime experience is that life’s marathon is filled with challenges and opportunities, and it takes a team to accomplish them. As Senior Vice President (SVP) and Senior Lending Officer at Pinnacle Bank in Jasper, she manages a team of loan officers that ensure businesses and individuals receive the necessary banking support to thrive in their business. The loan process isn’t just one moment, but a culmination of a relationship developed between the bank and the business owners. 

The “minutes” Crump logged to find her stride in the finance world began with her education in Jasper. She graduated from Walker High School in 1985, spent a year at Walker College (now Bevill State) and transferred to The University of Alabama. While pursuing her undergraduate degree at the Culverhouse School of Business, she found her path in banking.

Her first job was at SouthTrust Bank, which eventually became Wells Fargo, where she served in many areas, including loan review and consumer and commercial lending. Crump also served as Senior Lending Officer for the Jasper offices and as Credit Administrator and SVP of Centralized Underwriting in Birmingham. 

After a five-year rest from the banking industry to be a stay-at-home mom to two young sons, J. Michael and Bryson, Crump returned to Pinnacle and resumed her career. Ten years later, she was promoted to Senior Vice President. “Pinnacle Bank is about relationship banking with the community.  We truly care about our customers”.

Crump hopes to inspire young men and women to find the path God has set before them and run with endurance, staying focused as they work towards their goals. 

“You work to find your niche, find what drives you, what gets you coming into work every day,” says Crump. “Set your goals and realize the path may not be easy. You may get sidetracked or find a different path, but in the end, it’s usually all for a reason.” 78