Citizens Bank hires Chris Treat as president of trust division

Batesville-based Citizens Bank hired longtime banking and investment professional J. Chris Treat as president of the trust division. Treat will be responsible for the division’s growth, profitability, business retention and development.

Prior to joining Citizens Bank, Treat served as senior vice president and director of sales for First Community Bank for three years. He led the Trust and Wealth Management Division of First Community Bank as senior vice president and manager for 10 years.

Before joining First Community Bank, he worked as a financial advisor and portfolio manager at Waddell & Reed, Inc. Treat has over 19 years of investment experience and has previously held Series 6, 7, 63 and 65 securities licenses and an Arkansas Life and Health Insurance license.

“We are honored to have such an incredibly talented and well-respected professional join us at Citizens Bank,” said Citizens Bank President and CEO Adam Mitchell. “Chris’s reputation in the industry speaks for itself, and we fully expect him to have great success in this role.”

Treat received a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and Bachelor of Arts from Lyon College. He is a graduate of Cannon Financial Institute’s Corporate Trust School and Arkansas Bankers Association’s Trust School. Treat previously served as an instructor with the Arkansas Bankers Association, educating other financial professionals on the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) and fiduciary asset management.

“This is a tremendous opportunity and I am thrilled to have the privilege of building upon the strong relationships and long-standing legacy of the Citizens Bank,” said Treat. “I am eager to join Citizens’ exceptional team of talented bankers and contribute to the bank’s growth, both in Independence County and beyond.”