# Park National Corporation: AI strategy

Source: https://www.bankingnewsai.com/banks/park-national
Last updated: Oct 5, 2026

*A relationship-banking Ohio holding company that treats AI as 'a tool', not a strategy: an AI-powered Auto-Coach for bankers, no AI in its 10-K, and a 2026-2030 plan about digital elegance with human empathy.*

## How is Park National Bank using AI?

Park National Corporation, the Newark, Ohio parent of The Park National Bank (about $12.6 billion in assets at June 30, 2026), is a sceptical and low-profile AI adopter. Its 2025 annual report, filed with the SEC on March 9, 2026, says Park implemented an 'AI-powered Auto-Coach' that 'puts the right answers at our bankers' fingertips', while Chairman David Trautman, writing about investor questions on AI, says 'AI has a place. It is a tool, and a cracking cool one' and compares it to a chisel and mallet in Michelangelo's hands. The same report describes a virtual voice assistant whose self-service use grew 132% in 2025, chat volumes up 25%, and a new nCino commercial loan origination system due in May 2026. Park's 2025 10-K and its June 2026 10-Q do not mention artificial intelligence, and it has named no AI vendor, budget or AI executive. Its main news has been the all-stock merger with First Citizens Bancshares of Dyersburg, Tennessee, closed February 1, 2026, which took it past $10 billion in assets, with the First Citizens systems conversion planned for the third quarter of 2026.

*Thin public record: Park's AI record is one named tool (the AI-powered Auto-Coach for bankers) and a chairman's shareholder-letter paragraph; its 2025 10-K and June 2026 10-Q do not mention AI, it names no AI vendor, budget or AI leader, and its 2025-2026 news is the First Citizens merger.*

## At a glance

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Lead bank | The Park National Bank |
| Ticker | PRK |
| Headquarters | Newark, OH |
| Consolidated assets | $12,609 million (Jun 30, 2026) |
| Federal Reserve rank | 125 |
| Charter | National bank (OCC) |

## Key points

- Named tool: the AI-powered Auto-Coach, implemented in 2025 to give bankers answers quickly so they can help customers and 'never miss an opportunity to serve more' (2025 annual report).
- Chairman's view: AI 'is a tool, and a cracking cool one', but 'the tool will only be able to do so much'; results depend on the person using it.
- Service channels: chat volumes rose 25% and use of the virtual voice assistant for self-service grew 132% in 2025; the report does not say the assistant is AI-based.
- No AI in the 10-K (filed February 23, 2026) or the 10-Q (filed August 7, 2026); no named AI vendor, spend, headcount effect or AI leader.
- Technology agenda is conversion work: nCino commercial LOS due May 2026 and the First Citizens systems conversion planned for the third quarter of 2026.

## Timeline

- Jul 27, 2026 — **Q2 2026 results; conversion on track for third quarter** Net income of $58.8 million; the CEO said teams were making exceptional progress toward the third-quarter First Citizens systems conversion. ([Park National Corporation (GlobeNewswire)](https://globenewswire.com/news-release/2026/07/27/3333881/0/en/park-national-corporation-reports-financial-results-for-second-quarter-and-first-half-of-2026.html))
- Apr 24, 2026 — **Q1 2026 results** Net income of $41.7 million included $15.5 million ($12.4 million after tax) of merger-related expenses. ([Park National Corporation (GlobeNewswire)](https://globenewswire.com/news-release/2026/04/24/3281078/0/en/Park-National-Corporation-reports-financial-results-for-first-quarter-2026.html))
- Mar 9, 2026 — **Annual report: Auto-Coach and a chairman's note on AI** The 2025 annual report describes the AI-powered Auto-Coach for bankers, a new nCino commercial loan origination system due May 2026, and Trautman's 'we are looking for Real I' remark on AI questions from investors. ([Park National Corporation (SEC filing, ARS)](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/805676/000080567626000023/a2025annualreport_finalx.htm))
- Feb 23, 2026 — **10-K filed with no AI disclosure** Park's annual report on Form 10-K for 2025 does not mention artificial intelligence. ([Park National Corporation (SEC filing)](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/805676/000080567626000017/prk-20251231.htm))
- Feb 2, 2026 — **First Citizens merger completed** Pro forma total assets of $12.6 billion and more than 100 branches in Ohio, Kentucky, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee; First Citizens operates as a division until conversion later in 2026. ([Park National Corporation (GlobeNewswire)](https://globenewswire.com/news-release/2026/02/02/3230229/4491/en/p.html))
- Oct 28, 2025 — **Agreement to buy First Citizens Bancshares** Park agreed to pay $317 million in stock for the Dyersburg, Tennessee bank, a deal that would take it past the $10 billion-asset threshold. ([American Banker](https://americanbanker.com/news/ohio-community-bank-makes-deal-to-top-10b-enter-tennessee))
- Jul 29, 2025 — **Matt Miller named CEO from January 1, 2026** Park's board elected President Matthew R. Miller to succeed David L. Trautman as CEO of Park and The Park National Bank; Trautman continues as Board Chair. ([Park National Corporation (GlobeNewswire)](https://globenewswire.com/news-release/2025/07/29/3123162/4491/en/Park-National-Corporation-names-Matthew-R-Miller-Chief-Executive-Officer-David-L-Trautman-to-continue-as-Board-Chair.html))

## Where AI runs

| Use case | What | Status | Detail | Sources |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| [Customer-facing chatbots](https://www.bankingnewsai.com/ai-regulation/by-use-case#customer-chatbots) | AI-powered Auto-Coach for bankers | In production | An AI-powered tool that surfaces answers to bankers so they can help customers faster and spot cross-sell opportunities; implemented in 2025. | [Park National Corporation (SEC filing, ARS)](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/805676/000080567626000023/a2025annualreport_finalx.htm) |
| [Customer-facing chatbots](https://www.bankingnewsai.com/ai-regulation/by-use-case#customer-chatbots) | Chat and virtual voice assistant | In production | Chat volumes rose 25% and self-service through the virtual voice assistant grew 132% in 2025; the report does not say whether the assistant uses AI. | [Park National Corporation (SEC filing, ARS)](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/805676/000080567626000023/a2025annualreport_finalx.htm) |
| [AI governance (general)](https://www.bankingnewsai.com/ai-regulation/by-use-case#governance-general) | AI as a tool under human judgment | Announced | The chairman's shareholder letter frames AI as a tool whose value depends on the person wielding it; it sets out no policy or governance structure. | [Park National Corporation (SEC filing, ARS)](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/805676/000080567626000023/a2025annualreport_finalx.htm) |

## Disclosed numbers

| Measure | Value | As of | Sources |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Lead-bank assets (Fed release) | $12,609 million | Jun 30, 2026 | [Federal Reserve Board](https://www.federalreserve.gov/releases/lbr/current/) |
| Virtual voice assistant self-service growth | 132% in 2025 | Dec 31, 2025 | [Park National Corporation (SEC filing, ARS)](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/805676/000080567626000023/a2025annualreport_finalx.htm) |
| Chat volume growth | 25% in 2025 | Dec 31, 2025 | [Park National Corporation (SEC filing, ARS)](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/805676/000080567626000023/a2025annualreport_finalx.htm) |
| Pro forma total assets after the First Citizens merger | $12.6 billion | Dec 31, 2025 | [Park National Corporation (GlobeNewswire)](https://globenewswire.com/news-release/2026/02/02/3230229/4491/en/p.html) |
| Q2 2026 net income | $58.8 million | Jun 30, 2026 | [Park National Corporation (GlobeNewswire)](https://globenewswire.com/news-release/2026/07/27/3333881/0/en/park-national-corporation-reports-financial-results-for-second-quarter-and-first-half-of-2026.html) |

## Quotes

> "Our sense is that AI has a place. It is a tool, and a cracking cool one. But the tool will only be able to do so much." — David L. Trautman, Chairman (then CEO until December 31, 2025), shareholder letter in the 2025 annual report, Mar 9, 2026 ([Park National Corporation (SEC filing, ARS)](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/805676/000080567626000023/a2025annualreport_finalx.htm))

## Who runs AI

- **Matthew R. Miller** — President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO since January 1, 2026) ([Park National Corporation (SEC filing, ARS)](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/805676/000080567626000023/a2025annualreport_finalx.htm), [Park National Corporation (GlobeNewswire)](https://globenewswire.com/news-release/2025/07/29/3123162/4491/en/Park-National-Corporation-names-Matthew-R-Miller-Chief-Executive-Officer-David-L-Trautman-to-continue-as-Board-Chair.html))
- **David L. Trautman** — Chairman (CEO until December 31, 2025) ([Park National Corporation (SEC filing, ARS)](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/805676/000080567626000023/a2025annualreport_finalx.htm), [Park National Corporation (GlobeNewswire)](https://globenewswire.com/news-release/2025/07/29/3123162/4491/en/Park-National-Corporation-names-Matthew-R-Miller-Chief-Executive-Officer-David-L-Trautman-to-continue-as-Board-Chair.html))
- **Brady T. Burt** — Chief Financial Officer, Secretary and Treasurer ([Park National Corporation (SEC filing)](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/805676/000080567626000061/prk-20260630.htm))

## Regulators it answers to

- [OCC](https://www.bankingnewsai.com/ai-regulation/occ) — The Park National Bank is a national bank, so the OCC examines its model-risk and third-party risk management, including any AI in vendor tools such as Auto-Coach. See [OCC Bulletin 2011-12](https://www.bankingnewsai.com/ai-regulation/documents/occ-bulletin-2011-12), [OCC Bulletin 2023-17](https://www.bankingnewsai.com/ai-regulation/documents/occ-bulletin-2023-17).
- [Federal Reserve](https://www.bankingnewsai.com/ai-regulation/federal-reserve) — Park National Corporation is a financial holding company supervised by the Federal Reserve; SR 11-7 model-risk guidance is the baseline for AI models it adopts. See [SR 11-7](https://www.bankingnewsai.com/ai-regulation/documents/fed-sr-11-7).
- [CFPB](https://www.bankingnewsai.com/ai-regulation/cfpb) — Park crossed $10 billion in assets with the First Citizens merger, bringing CFPB supervision of consumer products and fair-lending duties for any automated decisioning. See [ECOA / Regulation B adverse action (15 U.S.C. 1691(d); 12 CFR 1002.9)](https://www.bankingnewsai.com/ai-regulation/documents/cfpb-ecoa-regulation-b-adverse-action).

## What the record suggests

### AI is positioned as banker support, not customer automation

The only named tool, Auto-Coach, sits with bankers; the chairman's letter stresses that results come from people, consistent with a relationship-banking strategy.

### Crossing $10 billion raises the compliance bar

Heightened supervision and Durbin interchange limits, which American Banker cites as drivers of the deal, mean any future AI in lending or marketing would face CFPB scrutiny it did not face below $10 billion.

### Conversions come first

With nCino live in 2026 and the First Citizens systems conversion in the third quarter, the near-term technology agenda is integration; the 2026-2030 'Ready to Rise' plan talks of data-enriched outreach rather than AI projects.

## FAQ

### Does Park National Bank use AI?

Yes, to a limited extent: its 2025 annual report says it implemented an AI-powered Auto-Coach that gives bankers answers to help customers faster. Park's 10-K does not mention AI, and it has named no AI vendor, budget or AI executive.

### How big is Park National after the First Citizens merger?

The Park National Bank had about $12.6 billion in assets at June 30, 2026 (Fed rank 125). The all-stock merger with First Citizens Bancshares of Tennessee closed on February 1, 2026 and took Park past $10 billion in assets, with more than 100 branches in five states.

## Sources (9)

1. Park National Corporation 2025 Annual Report to Shareholders (Form ARS) — Park National Corporation (SEC filing, ARS), Mar 9, 2026. https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/805676/000080567626000023/a2025annualreport_finalx.htm
2. Park National Corporation Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2025 — Park National Corporation (SEC filing), Feb 23, 2026. https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/805676/000080567626000017/prk-20251231.htm
3. Park National Corporation Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended June 30, 2026 — Park National Corporation (SEC filing), Aug 7, 2026. https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/805676/000080567626000061/prk-20260630.htm
4. Park National Corporation names Matthew R. Miller Chief Executive Officer; David L. Trautman to continue as Board Chair — Park National Corporation (GlobeNewswire), Jul 29, 2025. https://globenewswire.com/news-release/2025/07/29/3123162/4491/en/Park-National-Corporation-names-Matthew-R-Miller-Chief-Executive-Officer-David-L-Trautman-to-continue-as-Board-Chair.html
5. Ohio community bank makes deal to top $10B, enter Tennessee — American Banker, Oct 28, 2025. https://americanbanker.com/news/ohio-community-bank-makes-deal-to-top-10b-enter-tennessee
6. Park National Bank announces completion of First Citizens National Bank merger — Park National Corporation (GlobeNewswire), Feb 2, 2026. https://globenewswire.com/news-release/2026/02/02/3230229/4491/en/p.html
7. Park National Corporation reports financial results for first quarter 2026 — Park National Corporation (GlobeNewswire), Apr 24, 2026. https://globenewswire.com/news-release/2026/04/24/3281078/0/en/Park-National-Corporation-reports-financial-results-for-first-quarter-2026.html
8. Park National Corporation reports financial results for second quarter and first half of 2026 — Park National Corporation (GlobeNewswire), Jul 27, 2026. https://globenewswire.com/news-release/2026/07/27/3333881/0/en/park-national-corporation-reports-financial-results-for-second-quarter-and-first-half-of-2026.html
9. Large Commercial Banks (data as of June 30, 2026) — Federal Reserve Board, Oct 2, 2026. https://www.federalreserve.gov/releases/lbr/current/

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