Words by Anna Duncan Owens | Images by Ryan McGill
For Ashleigh Keeton, banking isn’t just about transactions and spreadsheets—it’s about people.
As the Human Resources Specialist at Pinnacle Bank, she works behind the scenes to support employees and keep things running smoothly. But banking wasn’t always the plan. Her path wasn’t mapped out from the start; instead, it unfolded through curiosity, growth, and a heart for serving others.
Like many in the industry, Ashleigh’s first step into banking was as a universal teller. She enjoyed helping customers but felt drawn to something more.
“I always understood the customer’s side of banking, but I never knew that much about what happened behind the scenes,” she says. When an internal auditor position opened at Pinnacle Bank, she saw an opportunity to expand her skill set and took a leap of faith that opened doors she never expected to walk through.
A year later, another unexpected opportunity arose: the HR Specialist role. Human resources had never been on her radar, and she hesitated at first. But deep down, she knew this was a chance to grow in a new way and make a broader impact. Looking back, she is confident that she made the right decision.
“I love that I’ve learned multiple parts of banking,” she says. “And I love being back to helping people, just in a way I never anticipated.”
Her job is anything but routine. Along with her HR duties, she processes payroll, assists employees with insurance enrollments, onboards new hires, manages accounts payable, and serves on the bank’s IT committee.
“It’s different every day depending on what’s going on in the community or what part of the month it is,” she says. “This job sure does keep me on my toes!”
That connection to the community is one of the things Ashleigh loves most about Pinnacle Bank. She’s especially proud of the bank’s involvement in projects like sponsoring a book vending machine at Maddox Intermediate School, giving students easier access to books. Pinnacle also hosts a hospitality suite at the annual Foothills Festival, a way to show appreciation for the customers who keep their doors open year-round.
Off the clock, Ashleigh is a proud stepmom and loves cheering on her stepdaughter and the Bevill State Community College softball team. When she’s not at a game, she and her family enjoy listening to live music, traveling, and enjoying the local food scene. “There are so many places to eat downtown; you really can’t go wrong,” she says.
On top of everything else, she’s also pursuing a business administration degree at Bevill, with plans to earn her bachelor’s at Athens State University.
Whether she’s helping employees, supporting local initiatives, or working toward her own goals, Ashleigh is dedicated to making a difference, proving herself to be a vital part of Pinnacle Bank and a blessing to the community she serves. WL
