Terry Christian, Paris-based Peoples Bank’s president, retired at the end of 2020 and the bank’s board voted unanimously to promote T. Bradley Perry to fill the position, according to a report in The Paris News. Christian served as president of the bank for 31 years.
“In 1989, (Chairman and CEO) Ronnie Abbott and the existing board of directors at Peoples National Bank presented me with the greatest opportunity and challenge of my professional career,” Christian told the News. “They offered me the presidency of the newly formed [bank].”
After graduating from college in 1975, Christian launched his banking career at Paris Bank of Texas and Thomas Perry, father of Christian’s successor at Peoples Bank, trained Christian to become a loan officer. “I remember many fun-filled and stressful events with Thomas,” Christian recalled to the News. “He taught me not only how to make loans, but how to collect them, including sometimes late-night repossessions. In 1990, we were able to coax Brad Perry, Thomas’ son, away from Paris Independent School District, serving there as director of finance. It now pleases me to complete the circle with Brad Perry replacing me as president of Peoples Bank. This…represents the type of family that all the officers, directors and employees of Peoples Bank comprise.”
“I am looking forward to my next phase of life, but it is with hesitation,” Christian told the News. “I know how much I am going to miss all my customers and friends, as well as interaction with all members of the Peoples Bank family. The comfort that I have in leaving is knowing that all my customers and friends are in great hands with Brad Perry as he takes the reins and moves our bank forward.
“I am very appreciative, excited and humbled with this new opportunity, and I want to thank the board for their confidence and support,” says T. Bradley Perry. “I want to thank Terry for his 31 years of leadership and service at Peoples Bank and especially his support and mentorship to me.”
As Perry takes over as president of Peoples Bank, Abbott continues as chairman and CEO. “It has been very rewarding to be able to work with my life-long friend, Terry Christian,” Abbott told the News. “This bank would not have made it without Terry Christian and Brad Perry and their focus to create a strong and successful community bank that would benefit Lamar County. Between the two, they have worked countless hours to ensure the community would receive the best in quality of service and everlasting business relationships. Our local economy and bank family has prospered during their time.”
Established in 1988 as Peoples National Bank, Peoples Bank operates two branches in Paris.
