Citizens Bank of W.Va. president named Banker Advocate of the Year

Citizens Bank of West Virginia President & CEO Nathaniel S. Bonnell was recently named Banker Advocate of the Year at the 130th West Virginia Bankers Annual Convention held at the Greenbrier.

The award was presented by Mark Mangano, President and CEO, West Virginia Bankers Association, who recognized Bonnell for his thoughtful leadership, direct advocacy, relationship development, research, and industry perspective. Mangano also lauded his engagement with the political action committee, legislative advocacy, and administrative rule development.

In the past year, the West Virginia Bankers Association actively engaged in planning legislative initiatives, navigating legislative priorities put forth by others, working to shape the political environment, and engaging in a significant administrative rule writing effort related to a legislative initiative that will impact nearly every bank in the State.

Most notably in the past year, a group of bank leaders worked tirelessly to assist the West Virginia State Treasurer's Office to develop administrative rules to implement the Security for Public Deposits Program mandated under state law. The Security for Public Deposits Program is intended to provide increased efficiency and decreased collateral requirements for banks providing depository services to the state and its political subdivisions. The Program's value was entirely dependent on developing complex rules that balance the Treasurer's statutory obligations with industry needs.

According to Mangano, "Bonnell played a critical role in building trust between the Treasurer's staff and the banker working group by listening carefully, advancing mutually beneficial solutions, and providing research to inform discussions. His commitment to advancing the greater good was beyond any reasonable expectation and has benefited our industry and the State of West Virginia."