Jeffrey L. Wilson
About Jeffrey L. Wilson
Jeffrey L. Wilson (age 63) is Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Credit Officer of First Citizens Community Bank as of February 25, 2025; he previously served as Chief Lending Officer for the Bank since 2010, with progressive responsibility through Executive Vice President (2016–2024) and Senior Executive Vice President (Dec 2024–Feb 2025), and began at First Citizens in 1987 as a Vice President, Business Development Officer . Company performance during 2024 included net income of $27.8 million, up 56.2% year over year, with diluted EPS of $5.85 and tax-equivalent net interest income growth of 7.5% versus 2023, supported by strong loan interest income and post-acquisition scale from HVBC .
Past Roles
| Organization | Role | Years | Strategic Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| First Citizens Community Bank | Vice President, Business Development Officer | 1987–2009 | Senior commercial origination responsibilities |
| First Citizens Community Bank | Vice President, Chief Lending Officer | 2010–2010 | Transition to credit leadership |
| First Citizens Community Bank | Senior Vice President, Chief Lending Officer | 2011–2015 | Led lending function through growth cycle |
| First Citizens Community Bank | Executive Vice President, Chief Lending Officer | 2016–2024 | Executive oversight of lending portfolio |
| First Citizens Community Bank | Senior Executive Vice President, Chief Lending Officer | Dec 2024–Feb 2025 | Senior leadership during transition |
| First Citizens Community Bank | Senior Executive Vice President, Chief Credit Officer | Feb 25, 2025–present | Chief Credit oversight |
External Roles
No external directorships or outside roles for Mr. Wilson are disclosed in company filings; executive officer biography enumerates internal roles only .
Fixed Compensation
| Component (2024) | Amount ($) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Base salary | 242,000 | 2024 base; 5.22% merit increase approved for 2024 |
| Bonus (holiday) | 250 | Christmas bonus paid to all eligible employees |
| All other compensation | 34,440 | See breakdown below |
| Change in pension value | 42,284 | Account Balance Pension Plan valuation change |
| Total cash/equivalent fixed items | 318,974 | Sum per original proxy before incentive update |
All other compensation breakdown (2024):
| Item | Amount ($) |
|---|---|
| 401(k) match contribution | 10,255 |
| Life insurance premiums | 2,772 |
| Deferred Compensation Plan award | 20,000 |
| Miscellaneous | 1,413 |
Performance Compensation
| Metric | Weighting | Target | Actual (2024) | Payout ($) | Vesting/Distribution |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Company/Bank metrics: ROE vs regional peer (3-year avg), Efficiency ratio vs peer (3-year avg), Net interest income growth vs peer (3-year avg), Non-performing assets/total assets (3-year avg), Net charge-offs/avg loans (3-year avg); satisfactory regulatory rating required | 60% | Not disclosed | Not disclosed | 64,367 | Paid in cash only; award determined May 21, 2025 |
| Branch/Departmental goals: loan/deposit growth, branch profitability, departmental projects and initiatives | 40% | Not disclosed | Not disclosed | Included above | Paid in cash only; award determined May 21, 2025 |
Incentive opportunity ranges (as % of base salary for 2024):
| Minimum | Target | Maximum |
|---|---|---|
| 17.5% | 26.3% | 35.0% |
Note: For 2024, NEO awards for Mr. Wilson are paid in cash only due to retirement eligibility; equity grants under the plan do not apply to Messrs. Black, Wilson, and Jones .
Updated 2024 compensation totals after Annual Incentive Plan determination:
| Updated Total Compensation (2024) |
|---|
| 383,341 |
Equity Ownership & Alignment
| Ownership Detail | Amount |
|---|---|
| Total beneficial ownership | 7,824 shares (2,672 individually; 5,152 jointly with spouse; includes 111 restricted shares held by spouse) |
| Percent of class | <1% |
| Shares pledged as collateral | 1,039 shares (pledged) |
| Unvested stock awards outstanding | 0 (no unvested RSUs/stock awards at 12/31/24) |
| Options (exercisable/unexercisable) | None outstanding at 12/31/24 |
| Stock ownership guidelines (NEOs) | None maintained; executives generally build ownership via plan participation and personal holdings |
| Hedging policy | Hedging of company stock is prohibited |
| Clawback policy | 3-year recoupment of excess incentive compensation upon accounting restatement |
Employment Terms
Change-in-control agreement terms:
- Multiple and benefits: One times current annual base salary; continuation of health care and long-term disability insurance for 18 months post-termination or until substantially similar benefits are obtained .
- Trigger mechanics: No payment absent termination; payment due if terminated without cause or for Good Reason within one year following a change in control (double trigger) or if terminated after execution but prior to closing (certain pre-close protection) .
- Section 280G: Payments are limited to avoid excess parachute payments and associated excise taxes; capped below 280G thresholds .
Potential post-termination benefits (as of 12/31/24):
| Scenario | Employment Agreement | Change-in-Control Agreement | Executive Deferred Compensation Plan | Equity Awards |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Death | - | - | 158,190 | - |
| Disability | - | - | 158,190 | - |
| Retirement or voluntary termination without Good Reason | - | - | 158,190 | - |
| Termination by Company for cause | - | - | - | - |
| Voluntary termination for Good Reason (not in connection with a change in control) | - | - | 158,190 | - |
| Termination by Company without cause (not in connection with a change in control) | - | - | 158,190 | - |
| Termination in connection with a change in control | - | 308,769 | 158,190 | - |
| Change in control with no termination | - | - | 158,190 | - |
Pension and retirement:
| Plan | Years of Credited Service | Present Value of Accumulated Benefit ($) |
|---|---|---|
| Account Balance Pension Plan | 37 | 466,586 |
| Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan (SERP) | 37 | - (no SERP) |
Other policies and governance:
- Related-person transactions are reviewed under the Company’s policy; loans to executive officers >$100,000 require Board approval, and loans are on market terms; no specific related-party transactions disclosed for Mr. Wilson .
- 2024 say-on-pay approval was ~67%; the Committee maintained program design while committing to consider future investor feedback .
Investment Implications
- Alignment: Wilson has personal exposure via 7,824 shares but no unvested equity or options outstanding; however, the absence of NEO ownership guidelines and pledged 1,039 shares lightly weaken alignment and introduce collateral-related risk .
- Retention risk: Double-trigger CIC protection of 1x salary and 18 months benefits is modest for senior executives, suggesting manageable severance economics; pension accruals and deferred comp provide additional retention anchors .
- Pay-for-performance: Incentives are tied to profitability, efficiency, credit and peer-relative metrics with a 60% company/40% department weighting; Wilson’s 2024 payout ($64,367 cash) aligns with improved 2024 financial results following HVBC integration and earnings recovery .
- Trading signals: No outstanding RSUs reduce vesting-driven selling pressure; hedging is prohibited, but pledged shares present a potential forced-sale overhang if collateral requirements tighten .