John David Barr has been promoted to chief trust and investment officer in Citizens National Bank’s Wealth Management Division. In this position, Barr is responsible for the oversight of the bank’s Trust Department with approximately $930 million in assets under management, which includes trust account administration, daily operations, investment management strategy and estate planning.

With more than 17 years of banking experience, Barr achieved the prestigious designation of a chartered financial analyst in 2012, placing him in the top tier of investment professionals worldwide. By achieving this certification, he has demonstrated an ability to assess global risk, analyze and manage investments and embody ethical practices at an advanced level.

Additional honors include being named by the Mississippi Business Journal as one of their Leaders in Finance in 2017 and by The Meridian Star as a member of their Top 20 Under 40 in 2021.

“It has been my pleasure to work with John David throughout my tenure with the bank. His academic achievements, investment acumen and trust experience make him the right choice to lead the Trust team,” said Teresa Thornhill, chief wealth management officer at the bank. “He has also been a primary driving force in growing Trust assets.”

Barr is a graduate of the University of Mississippi with a bachelor’s degree in Banking and Finance and Managerial Finance and received his Master of Arts from the University of Alabama in Applied Economics. He is also a graduate of the Southern Trust School at the University of South Alabama.

He and his wife, Jenni, have two children; Meryl and Sybil, and the family attends Covenant Church where he serves on the administrative council and as the chairman of finance. He is also the treasurer and a member of the executive committee for the Choctaw Area Council of the Boy Scouts of America.

Founded in 1888, Citizens National Bank is currently celebrating 135 years of service as an independent, Mississippi-owned community bank with locations in the following Mississippi communities: Meridian, Quitman, Philadelphia, Hattiesburg, Laurel, Waynesboro, Olive Branch, Southaven, Columbus, Kosciusko, Carthage, Ridgeland, Madison and Flowood.

The bank has assets in excess of $1.7 billion and manages over $1.9 billion in its Wealth Management Division as a whole.