Jude Melville, President and CEO of b1BANK, announced N. Jerome “Jerry” Vascocu, Jr. as Chief Administrative Officer for Business First Bancshares, Inc. and b1BANK. Vascocu will be the first Chief Administrative Officer for the bank. He has over 27 years of banking experience, most recently serving as Director of Commercial Banking Strategy for First Horizon Bank.
“The b1 culture appeals to a growing number of highly talented individuals within the banking industry, and I look forward to welcoming one of those impactful leaders, Jerry Vascocu, to our team,” said Melville. “As we grow in the present, our horizons expand in the future. Jerry will help guide our efforts to explore and execute upon those opportunities as a member of our executive team while also joining several of our steering committees. As Chief Administrative Officer, he will partner with our asset management, financial institutions, human resources and marketing department directors to support the teams they lead.”
In his recent role at First Horizon Bank, Vascocu led the development and implementation of client-focused strategies for commercial banking teams across the bank’s 12-state region. During his 17-year career at IBERIBANK and First Horizon, Vascocu also served as Acadiana market president in Lafayette, LA, Central Arkansas Market President in Little Rock, AR and Commercial Relationship Manager and team leader in Baton Rouge, LA.
“I’m excited to join b1BANK during a significant stage of growth,” said Vascocu. “Jude and the executive team have created a great internal setting that gives team members the autonomy to focus on clients and community. That strong commitment to clients combined with a culture that energizes and encourages is a formula for continued success across the growing b1BANK footprint. I am eager to explore the opportunities available today and in the future.”
Vascocu earned a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from Vanderbilt University and resides in Lafayette, LA.
Business First Bancshares, Inc., through its banking subsidiary b1BANK, has $5.8 billion in assets, $6.3 billion in assets under management through b1BANK’s affiliate Smith Shellnut Wilson, LLC (SSW) and operates Banking Centers and Loan Production Offices in markets across Louisiana and the Dallas and Houston, TX areas, providing commercial and personal banking products and services. Commercial banking services include commercial loans and letters of credit, working capital lines and equipment financing, and treasury management services.