I am honored to be selected as Community Bank’s President and CEO. Community Bank is uniquely positioned for continued success. The Bank’s strength, legacy and brand make Community Bank an integral part of the communities we serve. I look forward to continuing that legacy, deepening those ties and growing the Bank.
I have been a bank executive with over 30 years of experience, demonstrating excellence in a variety of challenging roles. After graduation from Juniata College in Huntingdon, Pennsylvania, I attended Drexel University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where I received my MBA. My banking career started in Philadelphia, after graduation from Drexel, and I have a wide range of experience with both large and small institutions. In 2005, I joined Susquehanna Bank and held a variety of executive positions for the next nine years, including President of Susquehanna’s Pennsylvania Division and Senior Credit Risk Officer. In 2014, I was recruited by First Bank, a privately held $6 Billion bank located in St. Louis, Missouri. At First Bank, I acted as Chief Credit Officer and led an effort to greatly improve the Bank’s credit posture following the Great Recession. I served on the Bank’s Board of Directors and Executive Committee.
I was born and raised in the suburbs of Philadelphia and lived for over 20 years in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, prior to relocating to Missouri. Both my wife, Cory, and I are excited for the chance to return to Pennsylvania, where our family resides, and two of our three children are attending Juniata College.
I will remain committed to serving all our stakeholders. To our customers I pledge that I will always put your financial interest first and treat you with care and respect; to our communities, I promise to support you and help you to flourish; to our employees, we will provide you with good jobs, career opportunities and a benevolent workplace; and to the shareholders and regulators I will work with the Community Bank Team to maintain a safe and profitable bank.
With Warmest Regards,
John H. Montgomery
President & CEO