Paris-based Lamar National Bank has appointed Van Pardue to the bank’s board of directors. Pardue, a 45-year community bank veteran, joined Lamar National in August 2019 as president of corporate development. Originally from Monroe, Louisiana, he and his wife Ann moved to Texas to lead the expansion of Origin Bank (then Community Trust Bank) into Dallas. There he served as Texas market president. He has been instrumental in helping guide Lamar National Bank’s aggressive strategic plan as well as shaping the culture and executive management team.

“Van’s experience and expertise have been invaluable to our executive team,” says Greg Wilson, the president and CEO.“Those same contributions to the board room will be impactful as well.” Pardue replaces Dick Severson who has retired from the board after 22 years of service.

Lamar National Bank has also hired Jason Kiemsteadt as chief credit officer. He and his wife Misti relocated to Paris from Liberty, Texas. He has more than 20 years of community banking experience.

“In 2020, Lamar National Bank was in the top 2 percent of our peers in asset growth,” Wilson says. “We have diligently and patiently searched for a chief credit officer of Jason’s caliber to lead us through our commercial banking expansion.”

The board has also promoted Casi Burchinal to vice president of mortgage lending and Lauren Wilson to associate vice president and Paris branch manager. Burchinal joined Lamar National five years ago and for the past two years has been the top loan producer bank-wide. Lauren Wilson has been with Lamar National Bank for 17 years serving in many roles, including executive assistant to the president and branch manager of the Reno branch.

Established in 1981, Lamar National Bank is a $295 million community bank with locations in Reno, Celina, Fort Worth and Northlake. The bank will open a new commercial banking center in Frisco this fall.