Community banks make top executive changes in September

Orrstown Financial Services in Pennsylvania, Carver Bancorp in New York, National Bank Holdings in Colorado and Capitol National Bank in Michigan all announced top executive changes last month. In this roundup of C-suite changes, American Banker provides a rundown of the latest moves.

Orrstown Financial loses CEO successor to retirement

Orrstown Financial Services in Shippensburg, Pennsylvania, said the planned successor to its CEO has decided to retire instead.

The $3.2 billion-asset banking company said Chief Operating Officer Craig Kauffman retired on Sept. 30. Orrstown said in a regulatory filing the change was "for personal reasons" and "not a result of any disagreement with the company."

Kauffman was president and CEO of Codorus Valley Bancorp, the parent of PeoplesBank in York. Orrstown acquired Codorus in July. As part of the deal, Thomas Quinn Jr., president and CEO of Orrstown, became president and CEO of the combined company. Kauffman was in line to succeed Quinn upon his planned retirement in mid-2025.

Orrstown said it extended Quinn's retirement date to May 2026.

Billed as a merger of equals, Orrstown valued its acquisition of the $2.2 billion-asset Codorus at $207 million. Orrstown shareholders own about 56% of the combined company's shares.

Carver in New York lines up next chief executive

Carver Bancorp will soon have a new leader.

The New York-based company named Donald Felix as its next president, CEO and director.

Felix, who was head of national banking and expansion at Citizens Financial Group, will join the $749 million-asset parent of Carver Federal Savings Bank on Nov. 1, according to a press release.

He will succeed Craig MacKay, a member of Carver's board who has served as the interim president and CEO for the past year. MacKay took on the interim role after former Carver CEO Michael Pugh left the bank to lead the Local Initiatives Support Corporation, a community development financial institution.

Felix has more than 25 years of experience in banking.

"Don Felix has an outstanding record of executive experience and achievement in the banking industry," Chairman Lewis Jones III said in Carver's release. "His expertise will help Carver achieve its strategic objective to create new revenue streams and further enhance shareholder value."

National Bank Holdings in Colorado names president

National Bank Holdings in Greenwood Village, Colorado, has a new president.

The nearly $10 billion-asset company said in a press release that Aldis Birkans succeeded Tim Laney, who remains chairman and CEO. Birkans, who was chief financial officer, now oversees the company's business lines.

Birkans had been the company's CFO since 2018 and previously served as its treasurer.

"I'm pleased with the key organizational changes we are making to support the continued growth of our company," Laney said in the release. "Aldis has demonstrated excellent leadership in our organization, and I'm looking forward to seeing his contributions to our business as president."

Nicole Van Denabeele, formerly chief accounting officer, was named CFO. Emily Gooden was named chief accounting officer and will also retain her title as investor relations director.

Capitol National promotes from within for next president

Capitol National Bank in Lansing, Michigan, named a new president.

The $192.5 million-asset bank said in a press release that it promoted Joseph Campbell into the role.

Campbell, who joined the bank in 2020 as vice president of commercial lending, succeeded the retiring Ed Harden.

Campbell "is a natural to fill this role," Chairman and CEO Cristin Reid said in Capitol's release. "He understands relationship banking and is a consummate professional."