Reliant Bancorp
Reliant Bancorp was a Tennessee-based bank holding company that controlled Reliant Bank and operated a regional commercial banking franchise before merging with United Community Bank in 2022.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
Reliant Bancorp, Inc. was an American financial holding company headquartered in Brentwood, Tennessee. Its principal operating subsidiary was Reliant Bank, a commercial bank serving businesses, professionals, individuals, and communities primarily in Middle Tennessee and the Nashville area. The company was the successor to Commerce Union Bancshares, which began operations in 2006 through Commerce Union Bank. The company’s development was shaped by acquisitions and a series of brand and corporate-name changes. In 2014, Commerce Union Bancshares acquired Reliant Bank through a merger. In 2015, the company announced that it would use the Reliant Bank name for its banking operations. The decision was intended in part to prevent confusion with an earlier Nashville institution called Commerce Union Bank that had become defunct and had subsequently been absorbed by Bank of America. At the same time, the company announced a headquarters move from Springfield, Tennessee, to Brentwood, a Nashville suburb. Reliant Bancorp became a publicly traded company on the NASDAQ on July 7, 2015. The public-company structure supported the organization’s regional expansion strategy, including the acquisition of additional Tennessee banking operations. In January 2017, Ron DeBerry retired as chairman and chief executive officer. DeVan D. Ard Jr., who had been president of Commerce Union Bancshares and president and chief executive officer of Reliant Bank, succeeded him as president and chief executive of the banking organization. The corporation changed its legal name to Reliant Bancorp, Inc. on December 31, 2017, aligning the holding-company identity with the Reliant Bank operating brand. On January 1, 2018, it acquired Community First, Inc. and its wholly owned subsidiary, Community First Bank & Trust, based in Columbia, Tennessee. On January 2, 2020, Reliant Bancorp acquired Tennessee Community Bank Holdings, Inc., the parent company of Community Bank, based in Ashland City, Tennessee. These transactions expanded its branch and customer presence across Middle Tennessee. By the time of its merger with United Community Bank in January 2022, Reliant Bancorp operated 24 branches, primarily in the Nashville region. The merger ended Reliant Bancorp’s existence as an independent public company and concluded the Reliant Bancorp corporate chapter. Its history reflects the consolidation of community and regional banks in Tennessee, with growth achieved through bank mergers, geographic expansion, and the development of a unified local banking brand.
History
Reliant Bancorp originated as Commerce Union Bancshares in 2006. The holding company operated Commerce Union Bank and was led in its early period by chairman Charles T. Beasley and president and chief executive officer Ron DeBerry. Its business model centered on regional commercial banking in Tennessee, with services delivered through a locally focused bank rather than through a national financial-services network. A major change came in 2014, when Commerce Union Bancshares acquired Reliant Bank through a merger. The transaction brought the Reliant Bank operating identity into the organization and created the foundation for a broader Tennessee banking platform. In September 2015, the company announced that it would adopt Reliant Bank as the customer-facing banking brand. The choice was intended to avoid confusion with a former Nashville-based Commerce Union Bank that had later merged with Bank of America. The company also announced that its headquarters would move from Springfield to Brentwood, a suburb of Nashville and a major business center in Middle Tennessee. Reliant Bancorp entered the public markets on July 7, 2015, when its shares began trading on the NASDAQ. Public ownership gave the bank holding company a structure for continued growth and acquisition activity. In January 2017, Ron DeBerry retired from the chairman and chief executive roles. DeVan D. Ard Jr., previously president of Commerce Union Bancshares and president and chief executive officer of Reliant Bank, became the organization’s president and chief executive officer. On December 31, 2017, Commerce Union Bancshares changed its corporate name to Reliant Bancorp, Inc. The name change separated the former Commerce Union corporate identity from the legacy brand-confusion issue and aligned the holding company with Reliant Bank, its principal banking subsidiary. The company continued expanding through in-market and regional acquisitions. On January 1, 2018, it acquired Community First, Inc., along with Community First Bank & Trust, which was based in Columbia, Tennessee. On January 2, 2020, it acquired Tennessee Community Bank Holdings, Inc., the parent company of Community Bank in Ashland City, Tennessee. These acquisitions increased Reliant Bancorp’s presence across Middle Tennessee and strengthened its community-banking footprint. The organization provided commercial banking and related financial services through branches and other delivery channels, with a concentration in the Nashville area. At the time of its later combination with United Community Bank, Reliant Bancorp operated 24 branches, primarily around Nashville. Reliant Bancorp merged with United Community Bank in January 2022. The transaction ended Reliant Bancorp’s independent corporate and public-company existence. Its history is therefore best understood as that of a Tennessee regional bank holding company built through a combination of organic banking operations, brand consolidation, and acquisitions of community-bank organizations.
- 2022
Merger with United Community Bank
[1]Reliant Bancorp merged with United Community Bank in January, ending its independent operations.
- 2020
Tennessee Community Bank Holdings acquisition
[1]Reliant Bancorp acquired Tennessee Community Bank Holdings and its Community Bank subsidiary on January 2.
- 2018
Community First acquisition
[1]Reliant Bancorp acquired Community First, Inc. and Community First Bank & Trust on January 1.
- 2017
Chief executive succession
[1]Ron DeBerry retired as chairman and chief executive officer and was succeeded by DeVan D. Ard Jr.
- 2017
Corporate name becomes Reliant Bancorp
[1]Commerce Union Bancshares changed its corporate name to Reliant Bancorp, Inc. on December 31.
- 2015
Reliant Bank brand and Brentwood headquarters announced
[1]The company announced adoption of the Reliant Bank name and a headquarters move from Springfield to Brentwood, Tennessee.
- 2015
NASDAQ listing
[1]Reliant Bancorp became a NASDAQ-listed public company on July 7.
- 2014
Reliant Bank merger
[1]Commerce Union Bancshares acquired Reliant Bank through a merger.
- 2006
Commerce Union Bancshares is founded
[1]Commerce Union Bancshares was established and operated Commerce Union Bank in Tennessee.
Products and positioning
A Tennessee-focused community and commercial banking organization serving businesses, professionals, individuals, and local communities through Reliant Bank.
Banking services
Commercial banking
Reliant Bank’s core business was commercial and community banking for businesses, professionals, individuals, and local organizations. Its regional model emphasized relationship-based banking delivered through a Tennessee branch network.
Lending
Business and commercial real estate lending
The bank’s commercial franchise included lending relationships for operating businesses and commercial real estate borrowers. These services supported the company’s focus on Middle Tennessee businesses and communities.
Retail banking
Personal banking
Reliant Bank also served individual customers through deposit accounts, consumer financial products, and related branch-based banking services. The personal-banking offering complemented its commercial customer base.
Brand decisions
2022
Merger with United Community BankM&ABackground
After building a 24-branch Tennessee banking network, Reliant Bancorp entered into a combination with United Community Bank.
Action taken
The companies merged in January 2022.
Aftermath
Reliant Bancorp ceased to operate as an independent public company and its corporate history concluded with the merger.
2020
Acquisition of Tennessee Community Bank HoldingsM&ABackground
The company continued its regional consolidation strategy through another Tennessee bank-holding-company transaction.
Action taken
Reliant Bancorp acquired Tennessee Community Bank Holdings, the parent of Community Bank in Ashland City, on January 2.
Aftermath
The acquisition added another community-bank operation to the Reliant platform before its eventual combination with United Community Bank.
2018
Acquisition of Community FirstM&ABackground
Reliant Bancorp pursued growth by adding established Tennessee community-banking operations.
Action taken
It acquired Community First, Inc. and Community First Bank & Trust through a merger completed on January 1.
Aftermath
The transaction expanded the organization’s presence in Middle Tennessee.
2017
Corporate renaming to Reliant BancorpStrategyBackground
The holding company’s former Commerce Union identity no longer matched the operating brand used by its bank subsidiary.
Action taken
Commerce Union Bancshares changed its legal corporate name to Reliant Bancorp, Inc. on December 31.
Aftermath
The renamed holding company continued expanding Reliant Bank’s Tennessee community-banking footprint.
2015
Adoption of the Reliant Bank operating brandStrategyBackground
After acquiring Reliant Bank and operating in a market with a legacy Commerce Union Bank name, the company sought a clearer customer-facing identity.
Action taken
The company announced that its banking operations would use the Reliant Bank name and that headquarters would move to Brentwood, Tennessee.
Aftermath
The Reliant identity became the basis for the later Reliant Bancorp corporate name and the organization’s regional banking platform.
Recent events
- 2022
Reliant Bancorp merges with United Community Bank[1]
M&A
Reliant Bancorp combined with United Community Bank in January 2022, ending its status as an independent public company.
- 2020
Reliant Bancorp acquires Tennessee Community Bank Holdings[1]
M&A
The company acquired Tennessee Community Bank Holdings, parent of Community Bank in Ashland City, Tennessee, on January 2, 2020.
- 2018
Reliant Bancorp acquires Community First[1]
M&A
Reliant Bancorp acquired Community First, Inc. and its subsidiary, Community First Bank & Trust, in a merger completed on January 1, 2018.
- 2017
Leadership transition at Reliant Bancorp[1]
Leadership change
Ron DeBerry retired as chairman and chief executive officer, and DeVan D. Ard Jr. assumed leadership as president and chief executive officer.
- 2017
Commerce Union Bancshares changes name to Reliant Bancorp[1]
Other
The corporation formally adopted the Reliant Bancorp, Inc. name on December 31, 2017.
- 2015
Commerce Union Bancshares announces Reliant Bank branding and Brentwood headquarters move[1]
Other
Following its acquisition of Reliant Bank, Commerce Union Bancshares announced that it would use the Reliant Bank name and move its headquarters from Springfield to Brentwood, Tennessee.
- 2015
Reliant Bancorp becomes NASDAQ-listed public company[1]
Other
The company became publicly listed on the NASDAQ on July 7, 2015.
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