Business First Bancshares (NASDAQ:BFST) Appoints N. Jerome Vascocu, Jr. as President of b1BANK

Business First Bancshares, Inc. recently announced a significant change in its leadership structure, with the appointment of Mr. N. Jerome “Jerry” Vascocu, Jr. as the new President of b1BANK, which is Business First’s wholly owned subsidiary. The appointment, effective October 16, 2024, marks a transition for Mr. Vascocu from his previous role as Executive Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer of b1BANK.

In light of Mr. Vascocu’s appointment, David R. “Jude” Melville, III, former President of b1BANK, will continue his role as Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of b1BANK, along with being the Chairman of the Board, President, and Chief Executive Officer of Business First Bancshares.

With over 29 years of experience in the banking sector, Mr. Vascocu has a well-rounded background. Prior to his new role, he served as Executive Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer of b1BANK since November 2022. Earlier in his career, he held the position of director of commercial banking strategy at First Horizon Bank and fulfilled various leadership roles during his 15-year tenure at IberiaBank. Mr. Vascocu has also been actively involved in board leadership roles across Louisiana.

It is noted that the appointment of Mr. Vascocu was made independently, without any specific arrangement or understanding with any other individual. Additionally, there are no familial relationships between Mr. Vascocu and any director or executive officer of Business First or b1BANK, and he has no material interest in any transaction requiring disclosure under Item 404(a) of Regulation S-K.

Regarding compensatory arrangements, there have been no recent changes made by Business First and b1BANK in connection with Mr. Vascocu’s new position. His existing compensatory agreements were previously outlined in Business First’s Definitive Proxy Statement for the Annual Meeting of Shareholders in April 2024.

In a related disclosure, on October 17, 2024, Business First issued a press release regarding Mr. Vascocu’s appointment as President of b1BANK. This information is furnished under Item 7.01 of the SEC filing and is not incorporated by reference into any other filing.

The full text of Mr. Vascocu’s compensatory arrangements with Business First and b1BANK is available in Exhibits 10.3, 10.4, and 10.5 of Business First’s Form 10-Q filed with the SEC on July 31, 2024.

Apart from the above changes, no significant updates or amendments were made to Business First and b1BANK’s financial or operational status.

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.

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This article was generated by an automated content engine and was reviewed by a human editor prior to publication. For additional information, read Business First Bancshares’s 8K filing here.

Business First Bancshares Company Profile

Business First Bancshares, Inc operates as the bank holding company for b1BANK that provides various banking products and services in Louisiana and Texas. It offers various deposit products and services, including checking, demand, money market, time, and savings accounts; and certificates of deposits, remote deposit capture, and direct deposit services.