RALEIGH, N.C.,
Jan. 22,
2024 /PRNewswire/ -- First Citizens Bank announced
today the appointment of James
Bennett as executive director of External Affairs.
In this newly created position, Bennett, a seasoned First
Citizens banker, is now responsible for nationwide community
engagement as well as strengthening relationships with state and
federal government officials, members of Congress, trade groups and
other public policy stakeholders. His new position was effective
Jan. 1, 2024. He reports to Chairman
and CEO Frank B. Holding, Jr.
"We are glad to have James' leadership in this significant, new
role at our organization," Holding said. "As First Citizens
continues to grow, it's important that we remain a valuable partner
to policy and regulatory leaders as part of our ongoing work
together to ensure the strength and effectiveness of the U.S.
banking system. James brings a wealth of relevant experience to
this position, as well as a deep knowledge of our company, its
values and people."
From 2015 to 2023, Bennett served as Mid-South area executive at
First Citizens, overseeing commercial, business and retail banking
efforts, and leading market development efforts in the Columbia and Aiken areas of South
Carolina and the Augusta
area of Georgia.
Prior to his duties as Mid-South area executive, from 2002 to
2015, Bennett was executive vice president and director of public
affairs for First Citizens Bank – South
Carolina, before its merger with North Carolina-headquartered First Citizens
Bank.
In 2000, Bennett was named chief executive officer at South
Carolina Community Bank (now Optus Bank), South Carolina's first black-owned financial
institution, and spent two years at the Columbia bank before returning to First
Citizens. Prior to this, he joined First Citizens – South Carolina in December 1994 as director of community banking,
then moving to the professional banking group and then becoming
director of economic development.
In addition to working closely with elected officials and the
South Carolina Bankers Association, he was appointed by the
governor of South Carolina to
serve on multiple committees, including the S.C. State Ports
Authority, the Education Oversight Committee and the accelerateSC
initiative in 2020-21. He served as the first African American
chairman of the South Carolina Bankers Association in 2020 and was
named United Way of the Midlands Humanitarian of the Year in
2022.
Bennett grew up in Cheraw,
S.C., and is a graduate of the University of South Carolina, where he is currently
chair of its Educational Foundation. He will remain based in
Columbia.
Kevin Lindler, a former regional
banking executive for First Citizens in Columbia, has assumed Bennett's prior role as
Mid-South area executive.
About First Citizens Bank
First Citizens Bank
helps personal, business, commercial and wealth clients build
financial strength that lasts. Headquartered in Raleigh, N.C., First
Citizens has built a unique legacy of strength, stability and
long-term thinking that has spanned generations. First Citizens
offers an array of general banking services including a network of
more than 500 branches and offices in 30 states; commercial banking
expertise delivering best-in-class lending, leasing and other
financial services coast to coast; innovation banking serving
businesses at every stage; and a nationwide direct bank. Parent
company First Citizens BancShares, Inc.
(NASDAQ: FCNCA) is a top 20 U.S.
financial institution with more than $200
billion in assets. Discover more at
firstcitizens.com.
Contact:
|
Barbara
Thompson
|
|
First Citizens
Bank
|
|
919-716-2716
|
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SOURCE First Citizens Bank