SEC Form DEF 14A filed by First National Corporation

 

 

 

 

March 29, 2025

 

 

Dear Fellow Shareholder:

 

You are cordially invited to attend The First National Corporation 2025 Annual Meeting of Shareholders. The meeting will be held on Wednesday, May 14, 2025, at 10:00 a.m., Eastern Time, at the First Bank Operations Center, 406 Borden Mowery Drive, Strasburg, Virginia. The accompanying proxy statement describes the matters to be presented at the meeting.

 

We are furnishing proxy materials to our shareholders primarily over the Internet. You may read, print and download the 2024 Annual Report on Form 10-K and the proxy statement at http://materials.proxyvote.com/32106V. On April 4, 2025 we mailed our shareholders a notice with instructions on how to access these materials and how to vote their shares. The notice also provides instructions on how you can request a paper copy of these materials if you would prefer.

 

Whether or not you plan to attend in person, it is important that your shares be represented, and your vote recorded. You may vote your shares by Internet, by telephone, by regular mail (if you request a paper copy), or in person at the Annual Meeting. Instructions regarding the various methods of voting are contained on the notice separately mailed to you or on the proxy card, as applicable. If you later decide to attend the meeting and vote in person, or if you wish to revoke your proxy for any reason prior to the vote at the meeting, you may do so, and your proxy will have no further effect.

 

The Board of Directors and management of the Company appreciate your continued support and we look forward to seeing you at the meeting.

 

Sincerely,

 

Scott C. Harvard

President and Chief Executive Officer

 

 

FIRST NATIONAL CORPORATION

112 West King Street

Strasburg, Virginia 22657

March 29, 2025

 

 

NOTICE OF 2025 ANNUAL MEETING AND PROXY STATEMENT

 

The 2025 Annual Meeting of Shareholders of First National Corporation will be held at the First Bank Operations Center, 406 Borden Mowery Drive, Strasburg, Virginia, on Wednesday, May 14, 2025, beginning at 10:00 a.m., Eastern Time.

 

Whether or not you plan to attend the Annual Meeting, we urge you to vote and submit your proxy in advance of the meeting by one of the methods described in the proxy materials for the Annual Meeting.

 

The items of business are:

 

1.

To elect thirteen directors, each for a term of one year;

 

2.

To ratify the appointment of Yount, Hyde & Barbour, P.C. as our independent registered public accounting firm for the year ending December 31, 2025;

 

3.

To hold an advisory vote on executive compensation of the Company’s named executive officers as disclosed in the accompanying proxy statement;

 

4.

To consider and approve a non-binding advisory recommendation on the frequency of future votes on the Company’s executive compensation program; and

 

5.

To transact such other business as may properly come before the Annual Meeting. Management is not aware of any other business, other than procedural matters incident to the conduct of the Annual Meeting.

 

Shareholders of record of First National Corporation common stock (FXNC) at the close of business on March 21, 2025, are entitled to notice of and to vote at the Annual Meeting and any postponements or adjournments of the meeting.

 

 

Gerald F. Smith, Jr.

Vice Chairman and Secretary

 

 

 

IMPORTANT NOTICE REGARDING THE AVAILABILITY OF PROXY MATERIALS FOR THE SHAREHOLDER MEETING TO BE HELD ON MAY 14, 2025: A complete set of proxy materials relating to First National Corporation’s Annual Meeting of Shareholders is available on the Internet. These materials, consisting of the notice of Annual Meeting, the proxy statement, the proxy card, and the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024 may be viewed at http://materials.proxyvote.com/32106V.

 

 

GENERAL INFORMATION

 

This proxy statement is furnished to holders of common stock, $1.25 par value per share (the “Common Stock”), of First National Corporation (the “Company”) in connection with the solicitation of proxies on behalf of the Company by the Board of Directors (the “Board”) of the Company to be used at the Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held on May 14, 2025 at 10:00 a.m. at the First Bank Operations Center, 406 Borden Mowery Drive, Strasburg, Virginia, and any adjournment thereof (the “Annual Meeting”).

 

We are furnishing our proxy materials primarily over the Internet rather than mailing paper copies of those materials to each shareholder. On or about April 4, 2025, we first mailed an Important Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials on the Internet (the “Notice”) to shareholders and posted our proxy materials on the Internet site referenced therein. These proxy materials include the accompanying notice of Annual Meeting, this proxy statement, the proxy card, and our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024. The Notice provides information regarding how to access these proxy materials on the Internet, vote your shares or request a paper copy of these materials.

 

Only shareholders of record at the close of business on March 21, 2025 (the “Record Date”) will be entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting. On the Record Date, there were 8,986,696 shares of Common Stock issued and outstanding held by 1,406 shareholders of record and approximately 1,600 additional beneficial owners of shares of Common Stock.

 

The principal executive offices of the Company are located at 112 West King Street, Strasburg, Virginia 22657.

 

Voting

 

Each share of Common Stock is entitled to one vote at the Annual Meeting. A majority of the shares of Common Stock entitled to vote, represented at the Annual Meeting in person or by proxy, constitutes a quorum for the transaction of business at the Annual Meeting.

 

Shareholders are encouraged to vote using any of the methods available to our shareholders. If you are a registered shareholder and attend the meeting, you may deliver your completed proxy card in person. “Street name” shareholders who wish to attend and vote during the meeting will need to contact your broker or agent to obtain a legal proxy from the institution that holds their shares. The Company also is pleased to offer its shareholders the convenience of voting by phone and online via the Internet. Please review the Notice separately mailed to you or the proxy card, as applicable, for instructions. Please be aware that if you vote your shares by phone or over the Internet, you may incur costs or charges from your phone service or Internet access provider for which you are responsible.

 

If you execute a proxy by completing and returning a proxy card or voting by phone or online in time to be voted at the Annual Meeting, the shares represented by it will be voted in accordance with your instructions. Any shareholder giving a proxy has the power to revoke it at any time before it is exercised by (i) filing written notice thereof with the Secretary of the Company (Secretary, First National Corporation, c/o Broadridge Corporate Issuer Solutions, Inc., P.O. Box 1342, Brentwood, New York 11717); (ii) submitting a subsequent vote using any of the methods described above; or (iii) attending the Annual Meeting or at any adjournment thereof and giving the Secretary notice of your intention to vote in person. If your shares are held in “street name,” and you want to change or revoke voting instructions you have given to the record holder of your shares, please follow the directions given by the institution that holds your shares. Proxies solicited hereby may be exercised only at the Annual Meeting and any adjournment thereof and will not be used for any other meeting.

 

 

A shareholder may abstain or (only with respect to the election of directors) withhold his or her vote (collectively, “Abstentions”) with respect to each item submitted for shareholder approval. Abstentions will be counted for purposes of determining the existence of a quorum. Abstentions will not be counted as voting in favor of or against the relevant item.

 

A broker who holds shares in “street name” has the authority to vote on certain items when it has not received instructions from the beneficial owner. Except for certain items for which brokers are prohibited from exercising their discretion, a broker is entitled to vote on matters presented to shareholders without instructions from the beneficial owner. “Broker shares” that are voted on at least one matter will be counted for purposes of determining the existence of a quorum for the transaction of business at the Annual Meeting. Where brokers do not have or do not exercise such discretion, the inability or failure to vote is referred to as a “broker nonvote.” Under the circumstances where the broker is not permitted to, or does not, exercise its discretion, assuming proper disclosure to the Company of such inability to vote, broker nonvotes will not be counted as voting in favor of or against the particular matter. A broker is prohibited from voting on the election of directors, the advisory vote on executive compensation, and the advisory vote on the frequency of future votes on executive compensation without instructions from the beneficial owner; therefore, there may be broker nonvotes on Proposals One, Three and Four. We expect that brokers will be allowed to exercise discretionary authority for beneficial owners who have not provided voting instructions with respect to Proposal Two; therefore, no broker nonvotes are expected to exist in connection with this proposal.

 

If no contrary instructions are given, each proxy executed and returned by a record shareholder will be voted for the election of the nominees described in this proxy statement for Proposals Two and Three and for “Three Years” on Proposal Four. The proxy also confers discretionary authority upon the persons named therein, or their substitutes, with respect to any other matter that may properly come before the Annual Meeting.

 

Solicitation of Proxies

 

Solicitation is being made by the Board of Directors by mail and electronic notice and access to the Internet. If sufficient proxies are not returned in response to this solicitation, supplementary solicitations may also be made by mail, telephone, electronic communication or in person by directors, officers and employees of the Company, its subsidiaries, or affiliates, none of whom will receive additional compensation for these services. The Company may retain an outside proxy solicitation firm to assist in the solicitation of proxies, but at this time does not have plans to do so. Costs of solicitation of proxies will be borne by the Company.

 

Executive Officers Who Are Not Directors

Executive Officer	Age	Position
Brad E. Schwartz	62	Mr. Schwartz has been appointed Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of the Company and the Bank, effective March 31, 2025.  Mr. Schwartz most recently served as President and Chief Operating Officer of TowneBank until his retirement in December 2022.  He had served as President since July 2021 and as Chief Operating Officer since 2016, when Monarch Bank was merged into TowneBank.  Previously, he had served as Chief Executive Officer of Monarch Bank from 2009 until 2016 and as Chief Financial Officer/Chief Operating Officer of Monarch Bank from 2004 until 2009.
Bruce E. Thomas	61	Mr. Thomas served as interim Chief Financial Officer of the Company and First Bank (the “Bank”) from December 2, 2024 to March 31, 2025.  Mr. Thomas previously served as Senior Vice President of Finance at First Bank since 2022. From 1990 to 2021 he served as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer at Essex Bank and Community Bankers Trust Corporation.
Dennis A. Dysart	53	Mr. Dysart has served as Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of the Company since August 2014 and has served as President and Chief Operating Officer of the Bank since June 2015. He previously served as Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of the Bank from August 2014 through May 2015, Executive Vice President and Chief Credit Officer of the Company and the Bank from February 2012 through July 2014, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of the Company and the Bank from May 2011 through January 2012, Interim Chief Executive Officer of the Company and the Bank from January 2011 through April 2011, and various other roles since 1993.

 

 

PROPOSAL ONE:

 

ELECTION OF DIRECTORS

 

There are currently thirteen directors serving on the Board, all of whom are standing for re-election at the Annual Meeting to serve for a one-year term and until the election and qualification of their respective successors.

 

Unless authority is withheld in the proxy, each proxy executed and returned by a record shareholder will be voted for the election of the nominees listed below.

 

Proxies distributed in conjunction herewith may not be voted for persons other than the nominees named thereon. If any person named as nominee should be unable or unwilling to stand for election at the time of the Annual Meeting, the proxy holders will nominate and vote for a replacement nominee or nominees recommended by the Board. At this time, the Board knows no reason why any of the nominees listed below may not be able to serve as a director if elected. In the election of directors, those receiving the greatest number of votes will be elected even if they do not receive a majority.

 

Set forth below is the name of each nominee and, as to each of the nominees, certain information including age and the year in which the director was first elected to the Board. Additional information regarding the specific experience and skills of each nominee that led to the conclusion that the person should serve as director of the Company is also provided below. Unless otherwise indicated, the business experience and principal occupations shown for each nominee has extended five or more years.

 

THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS THAT YOU VOTE “FOR” EACH OF THE FOLLOWING PERSONS NOMINATED BY THE BOARD.

 

 

Nominees

 

Nominee	Age	Director Since
Jason C. Aikens	44	2018
Emily Marlow Beck	47	2014
Boyce Brannock	64	2017
Elizabeth H. Cottrell	74	1992
W. Michael Funk	72	2014
Scott C. Harvard	70	2011
George Edwin Holt, III	72	2021
Toni T. Lee-Andrews	56	2024
Kirtesh Patel	51	2021
Norman D. Wagstaff, Jr.	63	2024
Gerald F. Smith, Jr.	63	2007
James R. Wilkins, III	56	2001
William S. Wilkinson	63	2004

 

Jason C. Aikens is Vice President and Partner of Aikens Group, a real estate firm headquartered in Winchester, Virginia. With over twenty years of experience in the hospitality and real estate industry, Mr. Aikens and his team own and manage a diverse real estate portfolio consisting of hotels, multifamily units, and commercial real estate properties. Mr. Aikens has also served as a director of local non-profit organizations. His business experience and leadership roles in the community qualify him for service on the Board.

 

Emily Marlow Beck is President of Marlow Motor Co., Inc. in Front Royal, Tri-State Nissan in Winchester, and Marlow Ford in Luray, Virginia, all of which are automotive sales and service firms. Prior to joining Marlow Motor Co. in 2010, she was employed for seven years by Hudson Cook, LLP, a law firm specializing in consumer credit compliance and served as Partner and Vice Chair of their Dealership Practice Group. Mrs. Beck is also Past Chairwoman of the Board of Directors of the Virginia Automobile Dealers Association. Her experience managing successful businesses and legal background in consumer credit qualify her for service on the Board.

 

Boyce Brannock is a partner in the law firm of Timberlake Smith in Staunton, Virginia where he concentrates in business law, real estate law, estate planning, and commercial transactions. He is the former President of the Baptist General Association of Virginia, a statewide non-profit organization. Mr. Brannock also serves as a member of the Board of Directors of the Community Foundation of the Central Blue Ridge and serves as Vice-President of the Board of Directors of the Corporation for Jefferson’s Poplar Forest. He is also an adjunct professor at the Washington & Lee School of Law. He has previously served as President of the Augusta Bar Association, as a board member and an officer for a private foundation supporting the Frontier Culture Museum and has served on the board of directors of other non-profit organizations, including Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Central Blue Ridge, the Greater Augusta Regional Chamber of Commerce, and the Staunton Kiwanis Club. His expertise in business law and his leadership roles in the community qualify him for service on the Board.

 

 

Elizabeth H. Cottrell serves as Chair of the Board of the Company and the Bank. Mrs. Cottrell owns Riverwood Writer, LLC, a writing, editing and desktop publishing business in Maurertown, Virginia, and is a published author. She brings experience in networking, marketing, and social media, combined with her knowledge and connections gained as a previous member of the Shenandoah Memorial Hospital Foundation Board and the Shenandoah County School Board. Mrs. Cottrell previously served as founding board member and Treasurer of the Moore Educational Trust. She also served as a board member and chair of the Shenandoah Community Foundation. The insight Mrs. Cottrell provides from her 40 years of institutional knowledge, her experience as a business owner, and her leadership roles in the community qualify her for service on the Board.

 

W. Michael Funk served as President, Chief Executive Officer, and director of Virginia Savings Bank until his retirement in 2012. He is Vice Chairman of the Economic Development Authority for the Town of Woodstock, and a board member of the Shenandoah Community Foundation and Shenandoah County Industrial Development Authority. Mr. Funk is also a past board member of the Virginia Bankers Association and the Lord Fairfax Community College Education Foundation. He is active in supporting the community through leadership roles with local non-profit organizations. His experience as Chief Executive Officer of a financial institution, prior bank board service, and leadership roles in the community qualify him for service on the Board.

 

Scott C. Harvard has served as President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company since May 2011 and has served as Chief Executive Officer of the Bank since June 2015. He had previously served as President and Chief Executive Officer of the Bank from May 2011 through May 2015. Prior to joining the Company, Mr. Harvard owned and operated Harvard Resources from 2009 to 2011, held the position of Executive Vice President of Hampton Roads Bankshares from 2008 to 2009 and held the position of President and Chief Executive Officer of Shore Financial Corporation, and its wholly owned subsidiary, Shore Bank, from 1985 to 2008. Mr. Harvard served as a member of the Virginia Bankers Association board of directors, previously serving as chairman, and serves on the board of the Virginia Bankers Association Education Foundation, where he served as chairman. He also serves as a board member of the Federal Home Loan Bank of Atlanta and CBB Financial Corp., and its subsidiary, Community Bankers Bank. His extensive knowledge of the banking industry and his experience in financial services qualify him for service on the Board.

 

George Edwin Holt, III is the owner and served as president of RailCar Interchange, Inc., a freight car leasing company, which he founded in 2004 until his retirement in 2021. Mr. Holt had previously served The Bank of Fincastle as Chairman of the Board and was a member of the board directors since 2016. Currently, he serves on the board of directors of the Botetourt County Historical Society as President, Godwin Cemetery, and the Botetourt Preservation Partnership. Mr. Holt’s knowledge of markets, banking, and extensive experience in successful businesses qualify him for service on the Board.

 

Toni T. Lee-Andrews had served on the Board of Directors of Touchstone Bankshares, Inc. (Touchstone) since 2022. She is the President of Andrews CPA Associates, P.C. located in Colonial Heights, Virginia, and was added to Company’s Board of Directors in connection with the Company’s acquisition of Touchstone in October 2024. With over 22 years of experience in accounting, she has been a certified public accountant (“CPA”) since 1996, working with a diverse group of clients in several industries in the Tri-Cities region. The firm’s services include business, personal, estate and trust tax planning and preparation, bookkeeping and payroll services. She is also Director of the Professional Ethics Division of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA). Her leadership role in his business, industry, and community, along with her finance and accounting knowledge, qualify her for service on the Board.

 

 

Kirtesh Patel is President and Chief Executive Officer of OMMA Management, LLC in Salem, Virginia, a management company specializing in property, vendor, contract, operations, inventory, franchise, healthcare, long-term care nursing home and pharmacy management, consultation, and support. Mr. Patel had previously served on the board of The Bank of Fincastle since 2019. He was previously Chief Executive Officer of ApexCare Pharmacy Solutions, and Director of Operations for OmiCare, Roanoke, a publicly traded long-term care pharmacy company acquired by CVS Pharmacy. Mr. Patel also serves as Chairman of the Board of Directors of Richfield Recovery and serves as a member of the board of directors of Virginia Blue Ridge and Roanoke County Economic Development, and the United Way of Roanoke Valley. He is a graduate of Northeastern University in Boston and received a master’s in business administration degree from Averett University. Mr. Patel brings a wealth of knowledge in business management and strategic planning for businesses, which qualifies him for service on the Board.

 

Gerald F. Smith, Jr. served as Chairman, Chief Executive Officer, and President of Valley Proteins, Inc., a rendering business headquartered in Winchester, Virginia until his retirement following the sale of his business. Mr. Smith served as Chairman of the North American Renderers Association and has served as a director of other associations in his industry. He is a Certified Public Accountant and has been licensed since 1986. The Board has designated him as the Company’s audit committee financial expert. Mr. Smith also serves on the board of trustees of Shenandoah University and Glass Glen Burnie Foundation. His leadership role in his business, industry, and community, along with his finance and accounting knowledge, qualifies him for service on the Board.

 

Norman D. Wagstaff, Jr. had served on the Touchstone Board of Directors and its predecessor companies since 2007. He is the Owner of Trottinridge Commercial Properties LLC, a real estate management, investment, and rental property company. He was appointed to the Board of Directors of the Company in October 2024. Mr. Wagstaff’s knowledge of business management and commercial real estate qualify him for service on the Board.

 

James R. Wilkins, III is President of Silver Lake Properties, Inc. and General Partner of Wilkins Investments, L.P. and Wilkins Enterprises, L.P., all of which are real estate investment, development or management companies in Winchester, Virginia. Mr. Wilkins also serves on the board of trustees of Shenandoah University and the board of directors of Winchester Equipment Company. Mr. Wilkins previously served on the Board of Trustees of the Winchester Medical Center Foundation, is a past member of the Finance Committee of Frederick County, Virginia, and a former director of a local banking company. His business experience, knowledge of real estate markets, and leadership roles in the community qualify him for service on the Board.

 

William S. Wilkinson had served on the Touchstone Board of Directors and its predecessor companies since 2010 and is President of Circle W Farms, Inc., a multi-farm operating company, Wilkinson Enterprises International, Inc., a tobacco receiving station, Gold Leaf Tobacco Warehouse, a tobacco warehouse facility, HGM & S and HGM & S 2 LLC apartment complexes in Harrisburg and South Hill, Virginia. He was appointed to the Board of Directors of the Company in October 2024. He serves on various Boards including Mecklenburg County Farm Bureau and Mecklenburg County Industrial Development Authority all located in Virginia. His business acumen, diverse business background and knowledge of banking qualify him for service on the Board.

 

 

PROPOSAL TWO:

 

RATIFICATION OF APPOINTMENT OF

INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

 

Yount, Hyde & Barbour, P.C. served as the independent registered public accounting firm for the year ended December 31, 2024, and has been appointed by the Audit Committee to serve as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the year ending December 31, 2025. Information concerning the fees paid to Yount, Hyde & Barbour, P.C. is included in this proxy statement under the heading “Audit-Related Matters.” Representatives from Yount, Hyde & Barbour, P.C. are expected to be present at the Annual Meeting, will have the opportunity to make a statement if they desire to do so, and are expected to be available to respond to appropriate questions from shareholders.

 

Although our Bylaws do not require shareholder ratification or other approval of the retention of our independent registered public accounting firm, as a matter of good corporate governance, the Board of Directors is requesting that the shareholders ratify the appointment of Yount, Hyde & Barbour, P.C. as the independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2025.

 

Ratification of the appointment of Yount, Hyde & Barbour, P.C. as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm requires that a majority of the votes cast at the Annual Meeting vote be in favor of the proposal. Abstentions and broker non-votes will not be counted as votes cast and therefore will not affect the determination as to whether the ratification of the appointment of Company’s independent registered public accounting firm is approved.

 

THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS THAT YOU VOTE “FOR” PROPOSAL TWO – RATIFICATION OF THE APPOINTMENT OF YOUNT, HYDE & BARBOUR, P.C.

 

PROPOSAL THREE:

 

APPROVING OUR NAMED EXECUTIVE OFFICER’S COMPENSATION (AN ADVISORY, NON-BINDING SAY ON PAY)

 

Section 14A of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”) requires a separate and advisory (non-binding) shareholder vote to approve the compensation of our named executive officers disclosed in this proxy statement. This proposal, commonly known as a “Say on Pay” proposal, gives shareholders the opportunity to endorse or not endorse a company’s executive pay program. At our 2019 annual meeting of shareholders, our shareholders voted to conduct a Say on Pay vote every three years, as recommended by our Board. Every three years, we provide our shareholders with the opportunity to cast an advisory (non-binding) vote on the compensation of our named executive officers. Accordingly, the Company is asking shareholders to approve the compensation of our named executive officers through the following resolution:

 

“RESOLVED, that the shareholders approve the compensation of the named executive officers of the Company as set forth under the heading “Executive Compensation” in the Company’s 2025 Proxy Statement, including the compensation tables, narrative discussion, and related material.”

 

 

We believe our compensation policies and procedures are strongly aligned with the long-term interests of our shareholders. Because your vote is advisory, it will not be binding on our Board. However, our Compensation and Governance Committee will take into account the outcome of the vote when considering future executive compensation decisions.

 

Non-binding approval of the Company’s executive compensation program requires that a majority of the votes cast at the Annual Meeting vote be in favor of the proposal. Abstentions and broker non-votes will not be counted as votes cast and therefore will not affect the determination as to whether the Company’s executive compensation program as disclosed in this proxy statement is approved.

 

 

THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS THAT YOU VOTE “FOR” PROPOSAL THREE – SAY ON PAY APPROVING COMPENSATION FOR OUR NAMED EXECUTIVE OFFICERS

 

PROPOSAL FOUR:

 

ADVISORY VOTE ON FREQUENCY OF

FUTURE ADVISORY VOTES ON EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

 

In addition to the non-binding advisory vote regarding executive compensation, our shareholders also have the opportunity to vote, on an advisory basis, for their preference as to whether this advisory vote should be conducted every one, two, or three years in the future. This non-binding vote on “frequency” will be provided at least once every six years and was last considered by the Company’s shareholders at the Company’s 2019 Annual Meeting.

 

After careful consideration, our Board and Compensation and Governance Committee continues to believe that conducting the Say on Pay advisory votes every three years is appropriate for the Company for the following reasons:

 

	●	a three-year voting cycle allows shareholders to review compensation, not just over current year information but over several years of compensation information that we report in our proxy statements, which also allows shareholders sufficient time to evaluate the impact of changes made in one year where outcomes may not be immediately known;
	●	a three-year voting cycle is more closely aligned with a longer-term view of compensation; and
	●	a three-year voting cycle allows sufficient time for the Compensation and Governance Committee to more fully evaluate philosophy and long-term compensation strategy, conduct more meaningful dialogue with shareholders, and implement and evaluate the impact of changes deemed appropriate.

 

The Company recognizes that shareholders may have different views as to the best approach for the Company, and we look forward to hearing from our shareholders as to the frequency of an advisory vote on executive compensation. As with the advisory nature of the Say on Pay vote on executive compensation, the advisory vote on frequency of such voting is also non-binding on the Board and Compensation and Governance Committee. However, the Compensation and Governance Committee will give careful consideration to guidance expressed by the voting results of our shareholders.

 

The proxy card provides shareholders with the opportunity to choose among four options (rotating the vote every one, two or three years, or abstaining). The alternative receiving the greatest number of votes will be the frequency that shareholders approve.

 

THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS A VOTE FOR A THREE YEAR CYCLE OF VOTING ON FUTURE ADVISORY VOTES ON EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION.

 

 

STOCK OWNERSHIP

 

Stock Ownership of Directors and Executive Officers

 

The following table sets forth information as of March 19, 2025, regarding the number of shares of Common Stock beneficially owned by all directors, by the executive officers named in the Summary Compensation Table and by all directors and executive officers as a group. Beneficial ownership includes shares, if any, held in the name of the spouse, minor children or other relatives of the director or executive officer living in such person’s home, as well as shares, if any, held in the name of another person under an arrangement whereby the director or executive officer can vest title in himself at once or at some future time, plus shares held in certain trust relationships that may be deemed to be beneficially owned by the nominees under the rules and regulations of the Securities Exchange Commission (“SEC”); however, the inclusion of such shares does not constitute an admission of beneficial ownership.

 

The address for each of the following individuals is First National Corporation, 112 West King Street, Strasburg, Virginia 22657.

 

Stock Ownership Table

Name of Beneficial Owner		Amount and Nature of Beneficial Ownership (1)				Percent of Class (%)
Jason C. Aikens			24,234	(2)			*
Emily Marlow Beck			28,740	(2)			*
M. Shane Bell			28,826				*
Boyce Brannock			7,208	(2)			*
Elizabeth H. Cottrell			17,242				*
Dennis A. Dysart			38,740				*
W. Michael Funk			17,170				*
Scott C. Harvard			72,743				*
George Edwin Holt, III			48,248	(2)			*
Toni T. Lee-Andrews			4,103				*
Kirtesh Patel			31,111	(2)(3)			*
Gerald F. Smith, Jr.			402,791				4.48	%
Norman D. Wagstaff, Jr			97,839				*
James R. Wilkins, III			446,990	(2)			4.97	%
William S. Wilkinson			21,123	(2)			*
All executive officers and directors as a group (14 persons)			1,287,108				14.32	%

 

* Indicates that holdings amount to less than 1% of the issued and outstanding Common Stock.

(1)

For purposes of this table, beneficial ownership has been determined in accordance with the provisions of Rule 13d-3 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), under which, in general, a person is deemed to be the beneficial owner of a security if he has or shares the power to vote or direct the voting of the security or the power to dispose of or direct the disposition of the security, or if he has the right to acquire beneficial ownership of the security within 60 days. There were no shares for which any executive officer or director had the right to acquire beneficial ownership within 60 days.

 

(2)

Amounts presented include shares of Common Stock that the individuals beneficially own indirectly through family members and affiliated companies and other entities, as follows: Mr. Aikens 15,468; Ms. Beck 20,870; Mr. Brannock, 110; Mr. Holt, 6,596; Mr. Smith, 900; Mr. Wilkins, 137,820; and Mr. Wilkinson, 812 shares.

 

(3)	Mr. Smith has disclaimed Beneficial Ownership of 900 shares held in a trust account for the benefit of his child.

 

 

Stock Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners

 

The following table sets forth, as of March 19, 2025, unless otherwise noted, certain information with respect to the beneficial ownership of shares of Common Stock by each person who owns, to the Company’s knowledge, more than 5% of the outstanding shares of Common Stock.

 

Name and Address of Beneficial Owner		Amount and Nature of Beneficial Ownership				Percent of Class (%)
Fourthstone LLC 575 Maryville Center Drive, Suite 110 St. Louis, Missouri 63141			896,951	(1)			9.98	%

 

(1)

According to Form 13-F filed with the SEC on February 13, 2025, Fourthstone LLC reported that, as of December 31, 2024, it had shared voting power and shared dispositive power over 896,591 shares.

 

Delinquent Section 16(a) Reports

 

Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act requires the Company’s directors and executive officers, and any persons who own more than 10% of the outstanding shares of Common Stock, to file with the SEC reports of ownership and changes in ownership of Common Stock. Officers and directors are required by SEC regulations to furnish the Company with copies of all Section 16(a) forms that they file. Based solely on review of the copies of such reports furnished to the Company or written representation that no other reports were required, the Company believes that, during fiscal year 2024 its officers and directors complied with all such reporting requirements with the exception of one late Form 4 filing for Mr. Smith and Mr. Wilkins.

 

 

CORPORATE GOVERNANCE AND OTHER MATTERS

 

General

 

The business and affairs of the Company are managed under the direction of the Board in accordance with the Virginia Stock Corporation Act and the Company’s Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws. Members of the Board are kept informed of the Company’s business through discussions with the Chair of the Board, the President and Chief Executive Officer, and other officers, by reviewing materials provided to them and by participating in meetings of the Board and its committees.

 

Code of Conduct and Ethics

 

The Audit Committee of the Board has approved a Code of Conduct and Ethics for the Company’s directors and employees, including the principal executive officer and principal financial and accounting officer. The Code addresses such topics as protection and proper use of the Company’s assets, compliance with applicable laws and regulations, accuracy and preservation of records, accounting and financial reporting, and conflicts of interest. It is available on the Company’s website at www.fbvirginia.com under “Investor Relations/Corporate Governance/Documents.”

 

Board and Committee Meeting Attendance

 

Meetings of the Board are regularly held, at least once per quarter, including an organizational meeting following the conclusion of each Annual Meeting of Shareholders. There were eleven meetings of the Board in 2024. Each incumbent director attended greater than 75% of the aggregate number of meetings of the Board and meetings of committees of which the director was a member in 2024.

 

Director Independence

 

The Board has determined that the following directors are independent as that term is defined in the listing standards of the Nasdaq Stock Market, Inc. (“Nasdaq”):

 

Jason C. Aikens	W. Michael Funk	Gerald F. Smith, Jr.
Emily Marlow Beck	George Edwin Holt, III	Norman D. Wagstaff, Jr
Boyce E. Brannock	Toni T. Lee-Andrews	James R. Wilkins, III
Elizabeth H. Cottrell	Kirtesh Patel	William S. Wilkinson

 

The Board considered all relationships that directors had with the Company in determining independence. Most directors of the Company are directors, or hold similar positions, at multiple nonprofit and charitable organizations for which the Company made payments to sponsor events or in the form of charitable contributions. The Board determined that these transactions did not impair the independence of any director under Nasdaq listing standards.

 

There are no other transactions, relationships, or arrangements between the Company and any of the other independent directors except as set forth in “Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions” in this proxy statement.

 

 

Committees

 

The Company has two standing committees, the Audit Committee and the Compensation and Governance Committee. Information regarding these committees is provided below.

 

The members of the Audit Committee are:

 

Emily Marlow Beck (Chair)

W. Michael Funk

Toni T. Lee-Andrews

George Edwin Holt, III

Gerald F. Smith, Jr.

 

The Audit Committee assists the Board in fulfilling the Board’s risk oversight responsibilities. These responsibilities include ensuring the integrity of the Company’s consolidated financial statements, the Company’s compliance with legal and regulatory requirements, the qualifications, independence, and performance of the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm, and the performance of the internal audit function. The Audit Committee is directly responsible for the appointment, compensation, retention, and oversight of the work of the independent registered public accounting firm engaged for the purpose of preparing and issuing an audit report or performing other audit, review, or attestation services for the Company. The Board has adopted a written charter for the Audit Committee. The Audit Committee Charter is available on the Company’s website at www.fbvirginia.com under “Investor Relations/Corporate Governance/Documents.”

 

The Board has determined in its business judgment that all members of the Audit Committee satisfy the independence and financial literacy requirements for audit committee members under Nasdaq listing standards and applicable SEC regulations. In addition, the Board has determined that Mr. Gerald F. Smith, Jr. qualifies as an audit committee financial expert as defined by SEC regulations and has designated him as the Company’s audit committee financial expert.

 

The Audit Committee met five times during the year ended December 31, 2024. For additional information regarding the Audit Committee, see “Audit Committee Report” in the Audit-Related Matters section of this proxy statement.

 

The members of the Compensation and Governance Committee are:

 

Gerald F. Smith, Jr. (Chair)                  

Jason C. Aikens

Emily Marlow Beck

W. Michael Funk

Kirtesh Patel

Norman D. Wagstaff, Jr.

 

 

The Compensation and Governance Committee’s risk oversight duties include reviewing and recommending the levels and types of compensation of officers and employees, including salaries, equity awards, bonuses, and benefits to the Board. The Committee also reviews and recommends employment agreements for the Chief Executive Officer and other compensation-related matters, including fees paid to directors of the Company. The Committee is responsible for assisting the Board in developing a compensation philosophy for attracting, motivating, and retaining high-quality executives that will advance the interests of shareholders and delivering total compensation that is commensurate with performance. The Compensation and Governance Committee assists the Board of Directors in fulfilling its fiduciary responsibilities as to their oversight of management compensation and the organizational structure of the Company.

 

 

Management provides compensation recommendations for the Committee’s consideration and administers the Company’s executive compensation programs. Direct responsibilities of management include, but are not limited to:

 

●

Providing an ongoing review of the effectiveness of the compensation programs, including competitiveness, and alignment with the Company’s objectives;

●

Recommending changes, if necessary, to ensure achievement of all program objectives; and

●

Recommending pay levels and bonus payouts for executive officers other than the Chief Executive Officer.

 

The Compensation and Governance Committee is also responsible for identifying, evaluating, and recommending candidates and nominees for Board membership. As part of that responsibility, the Committee conducts skills assessments of the directors, evaluates the adequacy of the current Board membership, and recommends changes where warranted. The Committee assists the Board in fulfilling its fiduciary responsibilities as to their risk oversight of the Company, including overseeing a Board education plan, and corporate governance matters, such as the determination of Board and Committee independence.

 

The Board has adopted a written charter for the Compensation and Governance Committee. The Compensation and Governance Committee Charter is available on the Company’s website at www.fbvirginia.com under “Investor Relations/Corporate Governance/Documents.”

 

The Board has determined in its business judgment that all members of the Compensation and Governance Committee are independent as that term is defined in the listing standards of the Nasdaq. The Compensation and Governance Committee met four times during the year ended December 31, 2024.

 

Director Selection Process

 

The Company does not have a separate nominating committee. The Compensation and Governance Committee performs the functions of a nominating committee in considering and recommending director nominees to the full Board. The Committee has established procedures that provide guidance for evaluating the composition of the Board, current directors, and director nominees. Procedures include, but are not limited to the following processes and evaluation criteria:

 

The Process

 

●

Evaluating the strengths and weaknesses of the existing Board and the need for additional Board positions;

●

Considering candidates for Board membership suggested by its members and other Board members, as well as management and shareholders;

●

Consulting about potential candidates with the Chair of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, and other directors as appropriate;

●

Evaluating the prospective nominee against the specific criteria established for the position, including, but not limited to the criteria below;

●

Interviewing the nominee if the Committee decides to proceed with further consideration;

●

Recommending an action to the Board that makes the final determination whether to nominate or appoint the new director after considering the Committee’s report; and

●

Generally maintaining criteria for Board positions which are utilized to evaluate directors and director nominees.

 

 

The Evaluation Criteria

 

●

The ability to represent the interests of the shareholders of the Company;

●

Standards of integrity, commitment, and independence of thought and judgment;

●

The ability to dedicate sufficient time, energy, and attention to the diligent performance of his or her duties, including the prospective nominee’s service on other public company boards;

●

The extent to which the prospective nominee assists in achieving a mix of Board members that achieves the proper balance of skills, expertise, experience, independence, diversity of thought and perspective, and community representation;

●

The extent of contribution to the range of talent, skill, and expertise appropriate for the Board;

●

The willingness to meet at least the minimum equity interest holding required by law; and

●

The willingness to serve on the Board for an appropriate period of time to develop comprehensive knowledge about the Company’s principal operations.

 

In the consideration of director nominees, including any nominee that a shareholder may submit (as described below), the Board considers, at a minimum, the above evaluation criteria factors for new directors, or the continued service of existing directors.

 

Shareholders entitled to vote for the election of directors may submit candidates for formal consideration by the Compensation and Governance Committee in connection with an Annual Meeting if the Company receives timely written notice, in proper form, for each such recommended director nominee. If the notice is not timely and in proper form, the nominee will not be considered by the Company. To be timely for the 2025 Annual Meeting, the notice must be received within the time frame set forth in “Shareholder Communications” in the Other Information section of this proxy statement. To be in proper form, the notice must include each nominee’s written consent to be named as a nominee and to serve, if elected, and information about the shareholder making the nomination and the person nominated for election. These requirements are more fully described in Article II, Section F, of the Company’s Bylaws, a copy of which will be provided, without charge, to any shareholder upon written request to the Secretary of First National Corporation, whose address is First National Corporation, 112 West King Street, Strasburg, Virginia 22657.

 

In addition to fulfilling the evaluation criteria, each director brings a strong and unique background and set of skills to the Board, providing the Board as a whole competence and experience in a wide variety of areas.

 

Leadership Structure of the Board

 

The positions of Chair of the Board and President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company have traditionally been held by separate persons. The principal role of the President and Chief Executive Officer is to execute on Board developed strategies and to manage the business of the Company in a safe, sound, and profitable manner. The role of the Board is to provide independent oversight of the President and Chief Executive Officer, formulate strategy and policy, and to monitor and measure risks within the Company.

 

 

Board’s Role in Risk Oversight

 

The Board oversees the Company’s enterprise risk management program to be reasonably certain that the Company’s risk management systems, policies, procedures, and practices are consistent with corporate strategy and functioning appropriately.

 

The Board performs its risk oversight in several ways. The Board’s role in enterprise risk management includes determining the Company’s risk tolerances in key risk categories and monitoring the level of risk within each category on a regular basis. The Board establishes standards for risk management across the enterprise by approving policies that address and mitigate the Company’s most material risks and are aligned with the Company’s risk tolerances. These include policies addressing credit risk, interest rate risk, capital risk, liquidity risk, operational risk, and regulatory risk. The Board monitors, reviews, and reacts to risk through various reports presented by management, internal and external auditors, and regulatory examiners.

 

The Board conducts certain risk oversight activities through its committees with direct oversight over specific functional areas. The risk oversight activities of the Audit and Compensation and Governance Committees are described in the “Committees” and “Audit-Related Matters” sections of this proxy statement. These committees are all comprised exclusively of independent directors.

 

The Board is empowered to create additional standing and ad hoc committees to facilitate regular monitoring and deeper analysis of matters that may arise from time to time. The Board also meets regularly in executive session to discuss a variety of topics, including risk, without members of management present.

 

In the foregoing ways, the Board is able to monitor the Company’s risk profile and risk management activities on an ongoing basis.

 

Attendance at the Annual Meeting of Shareholders

 

The Company encourages members of the Board to attend the Annual Meeting of Shareholders. All but one director attended the 2024 Annual Meeting.

 

Communications with Directors

 

Any director may be contacted by writing to him or her c/o First National Corporation, 112 West King Street, Strasburg, Virginia 22657. Communications to the non-management directors as a group may be sent to the same address, c/o the Secretary of First National Corporation. The Company promptly forwards, without screening, all such correspondence to the indicated directors.

 

Anti-Hedging Policy

 

The Company currently does not have any policies with respect to financial instruments or transactions in derivative securities or otherwise that hedge or offset any decrease in the market value of the Company’s common stock.

 

 

EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

 

The Company strives to attract, motivate, and retain high-quality executives by providing total compensation that is performance-based and competitive with the various labor markets and industries in which the Company competes for talent. The Company provides incentives to advance the interests of shareholders and deliver levels of compensation that are commensurate with performance. Overall, compensation plans are designed to support the Company’s corporate business strategy and business plan. Expectations are clearly communicated to executives with respect to goals and results and by rewarding achievement. The Company focuses on retaining and recruiting talented executives that can create strong financial performance aligned with shareholders’ interests. The Company attempts to achieve these objectives through three key compensation elements: base salary, performance-based cash compensation, and equity compensation, along with retirement and health benefits.

 

Summary Compensation Table

 

The following table provides information concerning total compensation earned or paid to the Chief Executive Officer, Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, and the former Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer for services rendered to the Company. These executive officers are referred to as the named executive officers in this proxy statement. The named executive officers received compensation from First Bank, a wholly-owned subsidiary of First National Corporation. The named executive officers did not receive any compensation from the Company. Employment agreements for named executive officers are described in more detail below under the headings “Employment Agreements” and “Potential Payments Upon Termination or Change of Control.”

 

Summary Compensation Table

 

Name and Principal Position	Year		Salary				Stock Awards (1)				Non-Equity Incentive Plan Compensation (2)				All Other Compensation (3)				Total
Scott C. Harvard	2024		$	459,185			$	558,746			$	252,552			$	20,894			$	1,291,377
President	2023		$	435,865			$	128,042				-			$	29,561			$	593,468
Chief Executive Officer
Dennis A. Dysart	2024		$	294,081			$	364,653			$	109,397			$	13,380			$	781,511
Sr. Executive Vice President	2023		$	289,871			$	64,407				-			$	38,255			$	392,533
Chief Operating Officer
M. Shane Bell	2024		$	239,891			$	43,018				-			$	14,094			$	297,003
Executive Vice President	2023		$	262,698			$	63,039			$	37,769			$	43,015			$	406,521
Chief Financial Officer

 

(1)

The amounts reported reflect the aggregate grant date fair value of the awards for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2024, computed in accordance with the Financial Accounting Standards Board’s Accounting Standards Codification 718 – Compensation – Stock Compensation (formerly FASB 123R Share-Based Payment). Equity awards consisted of grants of restricted stock units. For valuation and discussion of assumptions related to stock awards, please refer to Note 23 to the Company’s audited financial statements for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2024, included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on March 27, 2025.

 

(2)

This column includes payments earned during 2024 and 2023 under the Executive Incentive Plan for achievements relating to Company and individual performance for the 2024 and 2023 fiscal years, respectively.

 

(3)

“All Other Compensation” represents matching contributions by the Company to the named executive officer’s account in the Company’s 401(k) plan, life insurance premiums, personal use of Company vehicles, and club dues paid on their behalf.

 

 

Compensation Philosophy

 

In September 2021, the Compensation and Governance Committee engaged Pearl Meyer, a compensation consulting firm, to review the Bank’s executive compensation, identify strengths, weaknesses, and voids, and make directional recommendations based on the Bank’s philosophy and strategy. Their work included a review of both corporate strategy and compensation strategy and examined external competitiveness of compensation and internal equity among the executive team on all components of compensation. As a result of their evaluation, the Company maintains its executive compensation program that serves to attract and retain the management talent needed to successfully lead the Company and increase shareholder value. It rewards executives for their knowledge and skill used in fulfilling their responsibilities and motivates their behavior by rewarding desired performance and meeting established corporate objectives.

 

The Company’s executive compensation program primarily consists of base salaries, annual incentive bonuses, long-term incentives in the form of equity-based compensation, retirement compensation, and health benefits.

 

Base salary represents the fixed component of the Company's executive compensation program and is designed to provide compensation to executives based upon their experience, duties, and scope of responsibilities.

 

Annual incentive bonuses may be provided through the Company’s Executive Incentive Plan and represent a variable component of compensation intended to compensate executives for specific achievements or improvements in the Company's performance and individual accomplishments toward specific objectives.

 

Long-term equity-based incentive compensation may be provided through the 2023 Stock Incentive Plan and represents a variable component which seeks to reward executives for performance that maximizes long-term shareholder value, while further aligning the executives’ financial interests with those of our shareholders and serves as a retention tool.

 

Retirement compensation is provided through supplemental executive retirement plans intended to provide additional incentives and supplemental retirement income and a 401(k) plan that is a variable component of compensation designed to allow the participants to accumulate assets which will assist in meeting post-retirement needs.

 

The Chief Executive Officer recommends the compensation of other named executive officers to the Compensation and Governance Committee, which may include base salary, performance goals for annual incentive plans, bonuses, and equity compensation. The Chief Executive Officer makes no recommendations concerning his own compensation and is not present when his compensation is being discussed or approved. The Compensation and Governance Committee reviews and recommends the compensation of the Chief Executive Officer to the Board of Directors, which also includes base salary, performance goals for annual incentive plans, bonuses, and equity compensation.

 

 

Clawback Policy

 

During 2023, the Company adopted a clawback policy that requires mandatory reimbursement of excess incentive compensation from any current or former executive officer if the Company’s financial statements are restated due to material noncompliance with financial reporting requirements under the securities laws. The amount to be recovered will be the excess of incentive compensation paid to the executive based on the erroneous data over the incentive compensation that would have been paid to the executive had it been based on the restated results. Recoupment would cover any excess compensation received during the three completed fiscal years immediately preceding the date of which the Company is required to prepare the accounting restatement.

 

Executive Incentive Plan

 

In November 2012, the Board of Directors adopted a cash Executive Incentive Plan (the "EIP") to reward certain executive officers for achieving performance goals. A revised EIP was adopted by the Board in March 2013. The duration of the EIP is indefinite, and the EIP may be amended or terminated by the Board at any time. Participation is limited to those employees selected by the Chief Executive Officer and approved by the Compensation and Governance Committee of the Board each EIP year. Scott C. Harvard, Dennis A. Dysart, and M. Shane Bell were selected to participate in the EIP along with certain other employees, effective January 1, 2024.

 

Under the EIP, the Board is responsible for establishing and approving annual performance objectives for the Company and EIP participants, based upon such criteria as may be recommended by the Chief Executive Officer (or, in the case of the Chief Executive Officer, by the Compensation and Governance Committee), and the award formula by which all incentive awards under the EIP are calculated. Participants are entitled to a cash distribution under this Plan if, upon the approval of the Board, the award is earned as a result of the attainment of EIP performance objectives, and the participant is employed on the payment date. Awards shall be paid on or after January 1 of the year following the performance period, and no later than March 15 of the year following the performance period.

 

In the event of a participant’s termination of employment for any reason, including due to death, permanent disability, or retirement, any unpaid awards (including any earned but unpaid awards) shall be forfeited by such participant. The Company has the right to recover compensation that the Company determines, in its sole discretion, was unjustly paid to an employee under the EIP. Under the EIP, the Board reserves the right to withhold or adjust individual awards.

 

In March, 2025, the Company paid awards under the EIP to Mr. Harvard and Mr. Dysart based on 2024 performance. The awards were based on achievement of the Company’s financial performance goals that included targeted earnings per share, efficiency ratio, new deposit sales and net deposit balances change. Mr. Bell was not eligible due to his departure in December 2024. The Board determined that the blended performance, adjusted for non-recurring merger expenses equaled 110% of targeted performance. Therefore, Mr. Harvard received a cash award of $252,552 and Mr. Dysart received a cash award of $109,397. These amounts are disclosed as Non-Equity Incentive Plan Compensation for 2024 in the Summary Compensation Table above.

 

 

2023 Stock Incentive Plan

 

The Company’s 2023 Stock Incentive Plan was adopted by the Board of Directors on February 8, 2023 and approved at the Annual Meeting of Shareholders on May 10, 2023. The Plan makes available up to 325,000 shares of common stock for the granting of stock options, restricted stock awards, stock appreciation rights, and other stock-based awards. The Board believes the Plan is an important factor in attracting, retaining, and rewarding the high caliber individuals essential to the Company’s long-term success. The Board further believes that ownership of the Company’s common stock will stimulate the efforts of those individuals upon whose judgment, interest, and efforts the Company is and will be largely dependent for the successful conduct of its business and will further align the interests of those individuals with the interests of the Company’s shareholders.

 

On February 14, 2024, the Company granted 4,633 restricted stock units (“RSUs”) under the Stock Incentive Plan to Scott C. Harvard, 2,494 RSUs to Dennis A. Dysart, and 2,257 RSUs to M. Shane Bell. The grants represented long-term compensation and enhanced retention of the named executive officers. Each restricted stock unit represented a contingent right to receive one share of Common Stock. One-third of the RSUs granted vested on February 15, 2024, with the remainder vesting in two equal annual installments beginning February 15, 2025. Additionally, on November 20, 2024 the Company granted 19,725 RSUs under the Stock Incentive Plan to Scott C. Harvard and 13,296 shares of RSUs to Dennis A. Dysart vesting in equal one-third annual installments beginning December 31, 2025.

 

Employment Agreements

 

On May 20, 2014, the Company entered into an employment agreement with Scott C. Harvard. The term of the agreement began on May 22, 2014, and continued until May 21, 2016. On May 21, 2015, the agreement was extended for one year and automatically extends for one year each May 21 thereafter, until Mr. Harvard or the Company provides notice to the other party prior to the end of the applicable term.

 

On June 1, 2007, the Company entered into amended and restated employment agreements with Dennis A. Dysart and M. Shane Bell, which agreements were amended December 1, 2008. The term of each of these agreements is at all times two years, which means that at the end of every day, the term is extended for one day. Mr. Bell’s agreement terminated with his resignation in December, 2024.

 

The employment agreements with each of Mr. Harvard, Mr. Dysart and Mr. Bell provide for certain severance payments to the employee if the employee is terminated without “cause” or resigns for “good reason” or in the event of a “change of control” (as those terms are defined in the respective employment agreement). These provisions are summarized below under the heading “Potential Payments Upon Termination or Change of Control.”

 

Each of these employment agreements also contains restrictive covenants relating to the protection of confidential information, non-disclosure, non-competition, and non-solicitation. The non-competition and non-solicitation covenants continue generally for a period of 12 months following the last day of employment.

 

The employee will not be entitled to any termination compensation and benefits if he breaches any of the covenants in the agreement relating to the protection of confidential information, non-disclosure, non-competition, and non-solicitation. He will also not be entitled to any compensation or other benefits, other than payment for all time worked, if his employment is terminated for “cause” or if the employee terminates his employment for other than “good reason.”

 

Retirement Benefits

 

The Company maintains a 401(k) plan for all eligible employees. Participating employees may elect to contribute up to the maximum percentage allowed by the Internal Revenue Service, as defined in the 401(k) plan. The Company makes matching contributions, on a dollar-for dollar basis, for the first one percent of an employee’s compensation contributed to the 401(k) plan and fifty cents for each dollar of the employee’s contribution between two percent and six percent. The Company also makes an additional contribution based on years of service to participants who have completed at least one thousand hours of service during the year and who are employed on the last day of the 401(k) plan year. All employees who are age nineteen or older are eligible. Employee contributions vest immediately. Employer matching contributions vest after two 401(k) plan service years with the Company. The Company has the discretion to make a profit-sharing contribution to the 401(k) plan each year based on overall performance, profitability, and other economic factors.

 

The Bank also has entered into supplemental executive retirement plans (the “SERPs”) with each of Mr. Harvard and Mr. Dysart. The SERP agreements provide for a normal retirement benefit (equal to $66,667 per year for Mr. Harvard and $70,103 per year for Mr. Dysart, payable in 180 monthly installments, beginning upon the officer’s separation from service at or after retirement age (68 for Mr. Harvard, and 65 for Mr. Dysart). In the event of an officer’s early retirement or voluntary or involuntary separation from service prior to normal retirement age, he will be entitled to receive the portion of such benefit that has been accrued at that time subject to restrictions.

 

In addition, the SERP agreements provide that the officer will be entitled to the present value of his normal retirement benefit upon his separation from service within two years of a “Change in Control” (as defined in the SERP).

 

 

Holdings of Stock Awards

 

The following table contains information concerning unvested stock awards as of December 31, 2024 for each of the named executive officers.

 

Outstanding Equity Awards

Fiscal Year End 2024

 

	Stock Awards
	Grant Date		Number of Shares or Units of Stock That Have Not Vested (1)				Market Value of Shares or Units of Stock That Have Not Vested ($) (2)
Scott C. Harvard	2/12/2024			3,088				71,055
	11/20/2024			19,725				453,872
	2/9/2022			1,098				23,882
	2/8/2023			3,196				69,513
Dennis A. Dysart	2/12/2024			1,662				38,243
	11/20/2024			13,296				305,941
	2/9/2022			612				13,311
	2/8/2023			1,642				35,713

 

(1)

Amounts are comprised of unvested restricted stock units as of December 31, 2024. All of these units vest over a two-year period from the grant date whereby the executive receives one-half of the shares on each anniversary of the grant date if that executive is employed on such anniversary date with the exception of the November 20, 2024 award, which vests over three years in equal one-third installments beginning on December 31, 2025.

 

(2)

Amounts represent the fair market value of the restricted stock units on December 31, 2024. The closing price of the Company’s common stock was $23.01 on that date.

 

 

Equity Compensation Plan Information

 

The following table sets forth the information as of December 31, 2024, with respect to compensation plans under which shares of Common Stock are authorized for issuance:

 

		Number of Securities to Be Issued upon Exercise of Outstanding Options, Warrants and Rights (1)				Weighted Average Exercise Price of Outstanding Options, Warrants and Rights (1)				Number of Securities Remaining Available for Future Issuance under Equity Compensation Plans
Equity Compensation Plans Approved by Shareholders:
2014 Stock Incentive Plan			26,521				-				-
2023 Stock Incentive Plan			58,991				-				248,380
Equity Compensation Plans Not Approved by Shareholders (2)			-				-				-
Totals			85,512				-				248,380

 

(1)

Includes restricted stock units that are not included in the calculation of weighted average exercise price.

 

(2)

The Company does not have any equity compensation plans that have not been approved by shareholders.

 

Potential Payments Upon Termination or Change of Control

 

Each employment agreement with Mr. Harvard, Mr. Dysart, and Mr. Bell provides that the officer’s employment may be terminated by the Company with or without cause. If he resigns for “good reason” or is terminated without “cause” (as those terms are defined in the respective employment agreement), however, he is entitled to his salary and benefits for the remainder of his contract. If his employment terminates for good reason or without cause within one year of a change in control of the Company, he will be entitled to severance payments approximately equal to 299% of his annual cash compensation for a period that precedes the change in control as determined under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. Mr. Bell’s agreement terminated with his resignation in December 2024. The following table provides payments that could be due to Mr. Harvard and Mr. Dysart under different scenarios:

 

 

Potential Payments Under Employment Agreements Upon Termination or Change of Control

 

Name		Terminate Employment for Good Reason or Without Cause (1)				Terminate Employment for Good Reason or Without Cause Within 12 months Post Change of Control (2)
Scott C. Harvard		$	932,644			$	1,892,345
Dennis A. Dysart		$	637,414			$	1,162,148

 

(1)

Mr. Harvard and Mr. Dysart would have received the payments from the Company shown in the above table for termination of employment as of December 31, 2024, for good reason or without cause. Payments would have been made to these executives in the form of a lump sum payment six months after the date of termination or resignation.

 

(2)

Mr. Harvard and Mr. Dysart would have received the payments from the Company shown above for termination of employment as of December 31, 2024, for good reason or without cause within 12 months post Change of Control. Payments would have been made to these executives in the form of a lump sum payment six months after the date of termination or resignation.

 

Each contract also contains a covenant not to compete that is in effect while the officer is an officer and employee of the Company and for a 12-month period after termination of his employment.

 

In addition, the SERP agreements with Mr. Harvard and Mr. Dysart provide that the officer will be entitled to the present value of his normal retirement benefit upon his separation from service within two years of a “Change in Control” (as defined in the SERP). The SERP agreements also contain restrictive covenants relating to non-competition and non-solicitation that continue generally for a period of 24 months following his separation from service.

 

The Company has granted RSUs under the Stock Incentive Plan to Scott C. Harvard and Dennis A. Dysart, that represent a contingent right to receive one share of First National Corporation common stock upon vesting. The Compensation Committee may provide for the acceleration of the vesting schedule relating to the exercise of these awards in the event of a change in control.

 

 

PAY VERSUS PERFORMANCE

 

The following table provides information on total compensation and compensation actually paid to our principal executive officer (“PEO”) and to our remaining named executive officers (“NEOs”) for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2024 , 2023 and 2022 and the cumulative shareholder return on our common stock and our net income over the same time period.

 

Pay versus Performance Table

 

Year		Summary Compensation Table Total for PEO(1)				Compensation Actually Paid to PEO(1)(2)				Average Summary Compensation Table Total for Non-PEO NEOs(3)				Average Compensation Actually Paid to Non-PEO NEOs(3)(4)				Value of Initial Fixed $100 Investment Based on Total Shareholder Return				Net Income (in thousands)
2024		$	1,291,377			$	1,281,970			$	539,257			$	494,786			$	110.24			$	6,966
2023		$	593,468			$	669,071			$	399,527			$	436,767			$	131.26			$	9,624
2022		$	773,917			$	807,184			$	447,615			$	465,254			$	107.54			$	16,797

 

(1)	During 2024, 2023 and 2022, Scott C. Harvard was our PEO.

 

(2)	The following table sets forth the adjustments made to arrive at compensation “actually paid” to our PEO during 2024:

 

Adjustments to determine compensation “actually paid” for PEO		2024
Deduction for amounts reported under the “Stock Awards” column in the Summary Compensation Table		$	(558,746	)
Increase for fair value of awards granted during year that remained unvested at year-end			524,978
Increase for fair value of awards granted during year that vested during year			29,220
Change in fair value from prior year-end to year-end of awards granted in a prior year that were outstanding and unvested at year-end			2,013
Change in fair value from prior year-end to vesting date of awards granted in a prior year that vested during year			(6,873	)
Deduction for fair value of awards granted in a prior year that were forfeited during year			-
Increase based upon incremental fair value of awards modified during year			-
Increase based on dividends or other earnings paid during year prior to vesting			-
Total Adjustments		$	(9,407	)

 

(3)	During 2024, 2023, and 2022, our remaining NEOs consisted of Dennis A. Dysart and M. Shane Bell.

 

(4)	The following table sets forth the adjustments made to arrive at average compensation “actually paid” to our remaining NEOs during 2024:

 

23

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Adjustments to determine compensation “actually paid” for non-PEO NEOs		2024
Deduction for amounts reported under the “Stock Awards” column in the Summary Compensation Table		$	(203,836	)
Increase for fair value of awards granted during year that remained unvested at year-end			172,109
Increase for fair value of awards granted during year that vested during year			15,010
Change in fair value from prior year-end to year-end of awards granted in a prior year that were outstanding and unvested at year-end			517
Change in fair value from prior year-end to vesting date of awards granted in a prior year that vested during year			(3,836	)
Deduction for fair value of awards granted in a prior year that were forfeited during year			(24,435	)
Increase based upon incremental fair value of awards modified during year			-
Increase based on dividends or other earnings paid during year prior to vesting			-
Total Adjustments		$	(44,471	)

 

Relationship between Pay and Performance

 

The relationship between compensation actually paid to our PEO and the average of the compensation actually paid to our other non-PEO NEOs and the performance measures shown in the table above is described in further detail below. As illustrated below, the compensation actually paid to our PEO and the other non-PEO NEOs, as calculated in accordance with the SEC requirements, increased from 2023 to 2024 and the Company’s net income also decreased when comparing the periods. The Company completed a significant acquisition in 2024, and net income for 2024 was impacted by merger related costs. It also should be noted that the two year TSR increased during the period. In addition to our financial performance, we also evaluate all elements of our NEO compensation based on qualitative factors and an evaluation of competitive compensation levels with other comparable institutions.

 

The following charts provide information to compare the relationship over each of the years in the Pay versus Performance Table between the compensation “actually paid” to the PEO and remaining NEOs to the Company’s total shareholder return and net income.

 

 

Relationship Between Compensation Actually Paid and Our Net Income

 

The graph below shows the relationship between the compensation actually paid to our PEO and the average compensation actually paid to our non-PEO NEOs and our net income.

 

 

Relationship Between Compensation Actually Paid and Our TSR

 

The graph below shows the relationship between the compensation actually paid to our PEO and the average compensation actually paid to our non-PEO NEOs and our TSR.

 

 

25

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Director Compensation

 

The following table provides information about director compensation for the year ended December 31, 2024.

 

Director Compensation

 

Name		Fees Earned or Paid in Cash (1)				Stock Awards (2)(3)				Total
Jason C. Aikens		$	28,898			$	25,200			$	54,098
Emily Marlow Beck		$	28,898			$	25,200			$	54,098
Boyce Brannock		$	28,898			$	25,200			$	54,098
Elizabeth H. Cottrell		$	39,601			$	25,200			$	64,801
W. Michael Funk		$	28,898			$	25,200			$	54,098
Scott C. Harvard		$	—			$	—			$	—
George Edwin Holt, III		$	28,898			$	25,200			$	54,098
Toni T. Lee-Andrews		$	7,499			$	8,603			$	16,102
Kirtesh Patel		$	28,898			$	25,200			$	54,098
Gerald F. Smith, Jr.		$	30,182			$	25,200			$	55,382
Norman D. Wagstaff, Jr.		$	7,499			$	8,603			$	16,102
James R. Wilkins, III		$	28,898			$	25,200			$	54,098
William S. Wilkinson		$	7,499			$	8,603			$	16,102

 

(1)

Amounts represent retainer fees paid by the Company to directors on a monthly basis for board meetings.

 

(2)

The amounts in this column reflect the aggregate grant date fair value of the awards computed in accordance with the Financial Accounting Standards Boards Accounting Standards Codification Topic 718, Compensation – Stock Compensation (formerly FASB 123R, Share-Based Payment). The grant date fair value for these stock awards of $16.80 per share was based on the closing sales price of the Company’s common stock on the grant date (August 14, 2024).

 

(3)

The amounts in this column reflect the aggregate grant date fair value of the awards computed in accordance with the Financial Accounting Standards Boards Accounting Standards Codification Topic 718, Compensation – Stock Compensation (formerly FASB 123R, Share-Based Payment). The grant date fair value for these stock awards to Ms. Lee-Andrews, Mr. Wagstaff, Jr., and Mr. Wilkinson of $22.94 per share was based on the closing sales price of the Company’s common stock on the grant date (November 20, 2024).

 

Non-employee directors receive a retainer fee of $2,362.50 per month. They do not receive additional fees for attending meetings. The Chair of the Board receives an additional retainer fee of $875 per month, and the Vice Chairman of the Board receives an additional retainer fee of $105 per month. Scott C. Harvard, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company, did not receive fees for his service on the Board.

 

Whenever the Company deems it appropriate to grant a stock award, the recipient receives a specified number of unrestricted shares of Common Stock. During 2024, the Company granted 14,625 unrestricted shares of Common Stock under the SIP to members of the Board of Directors for their dedicated service and support. There were no unvested stock awards outstanding for directors as of December 31, 2024.

 

 

Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions

 

Some of the directors and officers of the Company are customers of the Bank. No loans to directors or officers involve more than the normal risks of collectability or present other unfavorable features, or are non-accrual, past due, restricted, or considered potential problem loans. All such loans were made in the ordinary course of business and were originated on substantially the same terms, including interest rates and collateral, as those prevailing at the time for comparable transactions with persons not related to the Company or the Bank. The balances of loans to directors, executive officers, and their related interests totaled $3.6 million as of December 31, 2024, or 2% of the Company’s equity at that date.

 

The Company has adopted a formal written policy that covers the review and approval of related party transactions by the Board. The Board reviews all such transactions that are proposed to it for approval. During such a review, the Board will consider, among other things, the related party’s relationship to the Company, the facts and circumstances of the proposed transaction, the aggregate dollar amount of the transaction, the related person’s relationship to the transaction, and any other material information. Based on the Company’s Conflict of Interest Policy, the Board also has the responsibility to review conflicts of interest involving directors or executive officers.

 

 

AUDIT-RELATED MATTERS

 

Audit Committee Report

 

The Audit Committee is comprised of five directors, each of whom is independent within the meaning of the listing standards of Nasdaq. The Audit Committee operates under a written charter adopted by the Board of Directors. The Audit Committee reviews its charter at least annually and revises it as necessary to ensure compliance with current regulatory requirements.

 

Management is responsible for:

 

●

Establishing and maintaining the Company’s internal controls over financial reporting;

●

Assessing the effectiveness of the Company's internal controls over financial reporting;

●

The preparation, presentation, and integrity of the Company’s consolidated financial statements; and

●

Compliance with laws, rules and regulations, and ethical business standards.

 

The Company’s independent registered public accounting firm is responsible for:

 

●

Performing an independent audit of the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

 

The Audit Committee is responsible for the oversight of the Company’s:

 

●

Accounting and financial reporting processes;

●

Internal controls over financial reporting; and

●

The appointment, compensation, retention, and oversight of the work of the independent registered public accounting firm engaged for the purpose of preparing and issuing an audit report or performing other services for the Company.

 

 

In this context, the Audit Committee has met and had discussions with management and Yount, Hyde & Barbour, P.C., the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm.

 

Management represented to the Audit Committee that the Company’s consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2024 were prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles. The Audit Committee has reviewed and discussed these consolidated financial statements with management and Yount, Hyde & Barbour, P.C., including the scope of the independent registered public accounting firm’s responsibilities, critical accounting policies and practices used, and significant financial reporting issues and judgments made by management in connection with the preparation of such financial statements.

 

The Audit Committee discussed and reviewed with the independent auditors all communications required by accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America, and standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB), including those described in Auditing Standard No. 1301, “Communication with Audit Committees,” and Rule 2-07 of Regulation S-X promulgated by the SEC, as modified or supplemented, and, with and without management present, discussed and reviewed the results of the independent auditors’ examinations of the financial statements. The Audit Committee has received the written disclosures and the letter from Yount, Hyde & Barbour, P.C. required by applicable requirements of the PCAOB regarding Yount, Hyde & Barbour, P.C.’s communications with the Audit Committee and discussed with Yount, Hyde & Barbour, P.C. the firm’s independence from the Company. Moreover, the Audit Committee has considered whether the provision of the audit services described above is compatible with maintaining the independence of the independent registered public accounting firm.

 

Based upon its discussions with management and Yount, Hyde & Barbour, P.C., and its review of the representations of management and the report of Yount, Hyde & Barbour, P.C. to the Audit Committee, the Audit Committee recommended to the Board that the audited consolidated financial statements be included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024 filing with the SEC. By recommending that the audited consolidated financial statements be so included, the Audit Committee is not providing an opinion on the accuracy, completeness or presentation of the information contained in the audited financial statements.

 

Members of the Audit Committee:

 

Emily Marlow Beck (Chair)

W. Michael Funk

George Edwin Holt, III

Gerald F. Smith, Jr.

Toni T. Lee-Andrews

 

Policy for Approval of Audit and Permitted Non-Audit Services

 

All audit-related services, tax services, and other services, as described above, were pre-approved by the Audit Committee, which concluded that the provision of such services by Yount, Hyde & Barbour, P.C. was compatible with the maintenance of that firm’s independence in the conduct of its auditing functions. The Audit Committee Charter provides for pre-approval of the auditor’s fees and is available on the Company’s website at www.fbvirginia.com under “Investor Relations/Corporate Governance/Documents.” As provided for in the Charter, the Committee reviews, prior to the annual external audit, the scope and general extent of the auditor’s audit procedures, including their engagement letter. The Committee also reviews the extent of non-audit services provided by the external auditors in relation to the objectivity needed in their audit. It was determined the external auditors maintained objectivity considering the non-audit services provided.

 

 

Auditor Fees and Services

 

Audit Fees

 

The aggregate fees billed by Yount, Hyde & Barbour, P.C. for professional services rendered for the audit of the Company’s annual financial statements for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, and for the review of the financial statements included in the Company's Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and services that are normally provided in connection with statutory and regulatory filings and engagements for those fiscal years were $422,500 for 2024 and $94,000 for 2023.

 

Audit-Related Fees

 

The aggregate fees billed by Yount, Hyde & Barbour, P.C. for professional services for assurance and related services that are reasonably related to the performance of the audit or review of the Company’s consolidated financial statements and not reported under the heading “Audit Fees” above for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023 were $10,400 and $10,000, respectively. These services included employee benefit plan audits.

 

Tax Fees

 

The aggregate fees billed by Yount, Hyde & Barbour, P.C. for professional services for tax compliance, tax advice and tax planning for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023 were $15,800 and $14,000, respectively. During 2024 and 2023, these services included preparation of federal and state income tax returns, fiduciary trust returns, and consultation regarding tax compliance issues.

 

All Other Fees

 

There were no other fees billed by Yount, Hyde & Barbour, P.C. during the fiscal years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023.

 

 

OTHER INFORMATION

 

Shareholder Communications

 

Under the regulations of the SEC, any shareholder desiring to make a proposal to be acted upon at the 2026 Annual Meeting of Shareholders must cause such proposal to be received, in proper form, at the Company’s principal executive offices at 112 West King Street, Strasburg, Virginia 22657, no later than November 29, 2025, in order for the proposal to be considered for inclusion in the Company’s proxy statement for that meeting. The Company presently anticipates holding the 2026 Annual Meeting of Shareholders on May 14, 2026.

 

The Company’s Bylaws also prescribe the procedure that a shareholder must follow to nominate directors or to bring other business before shareholders’ meetings outside of the proxy statement process. For a shareholder to nominate a candidate for director or to bring other business before a meeting, notice must be received by the Secretary of First National Corporation not less than 60 days and not more than 90 days prior to the date of the meeting. Based upon an anticipated date of May 14, 2026 for the 2026 Annual Meeting of Shareholders, the Company must receive such notice no later than March 15, 2026 and no earlier than February 13, 2026. Notice of a nomination for director must describe various matters regarding the nominee and the shareholder giving the notice. Notice of other business to be brought before the meeting must include a description of the proposed business, the reasons therefore, and other specified matters regarding the shareholder giving the notice. Any shareholder may obtain a copy of the Company’s Bylaws, without charge, upon written request to the Secretary of First National Corporation.

 

 

In addition to satisfying the requirements under the Company’s Bylaws with respect to advance notice of any nomination, to comply with universal proxy rules any shareholder that intends to solicit proxies in support of director nominees other than the Company’s director nominees in accordance with SEC Rule 14a-19 must provide notice so that the Secretary of the Company receives it no later than 60 days prior to the one-year anniversary of the Annual Meeting, or March 15, 2026.

 

Annual Report to Shareholders

 

A copy of the Company’s Annual Report to Shareholders for the year ended December 31, 2024 accompanies this proxy statement. Additional copies may be obtained by written request to the Secretary of First National Corporation at the address indicated below. The Annual Report is not part of the proxy solicitation materials.

 

Upon receipt of a written request of any person who, on the record date, was record owner of shares of common stock or who represents in good faith that he or she was on such date the beneficial owner of shares of common stock entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting of Shareholders, the Company will furnish to such person, without charge, a copy of its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024 and its quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and the exhibits thereto, required to be filed with the SEC under the Exchange Act. Any such request should be made in writing to Brad E. Schwartz,, Chief Financial Officer, First National Corporation, 112 West King Street, Strasburg, Virginia 22657.

 

Other Matters

 

The Board of First National Corporation is not aware of any other matters that may come before the Annual Meeting. However, the proxies may be voted with discretionary authority with respect to any other matters that may properly come before the Annual Meeting.