River Bank & Trust Plans Destin Office, Hires Brad Hayes as Regional President

Destin, FL, August 28, 2025: Chief Executive Officer Jimmy Stubbs is pleased to announce that River Bank & Trust plans to open an office in Destin, Florida. This will be the Alabama-based community bank’s first venture across state lines. Veteran banker Brad Hayes will serve as Florida Panhandle Region President and join the bank's executive management team.

Hayes brings more than two decades of banking experience in the Birmingham and Tuscaloosa markets, serving in leadership roles as market president, commercial banker, franchise manager, and consumer sales manager. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the University of Alabama and serves on the university’s Culverhouse Board of Visitors. Hayes has taught banking and finance to students at three universities.

Hayes and his wife, Thao, are relocating from Tuscaloosa to Destin and look forward to making the Panhandle their new home. They have two children, Dylan and Kaitlan, and a daughter-in-law, Sarah.

“This move presents a wonderful opportunity to continue my career in a dynamic new market for one of the Southeast’s most successful banks,” says Hayes. “I'm ready and excited to introduce River Bank & Trust to the Florida Panhandle, build lasting relationships, and become a trusted financial partner to this community."

River Bank & Trust is in the process of obtaining regulatory approvals and securing a temporary office location. For more information, contact Brad Hayes at bhayes@river.bank or 205-586-3377.

About River Bank & Trust

In 2006, River Bank & Trust opened with two main goals: to establish a community-focused financial institution that would support local decision-making and to reinvest in the communities it serves. Today, the bank is one of Alabama's largest state-chartered banks, with assets exceeding $3.7 billion and 23 locations across the state.