River Bank & Trust Welcomes Kelsey Barnard Clark and Chris Thompson to Wiregrass Advisory Board

Dothan, AL, January 23, 2025: Wiregrass Region President J. Robbin Thompson is pleased to announce the addition of Kelsey Barnard Clark and Chris Thompson to River Bank & Trust’s Wiregrass Region Advisory Board. They join current members E. Carey Slay, Joe Paul Stewart, Terry Duffie, and Brent Beasley.

“Kelsey and Chris each have deep roots in the Wiregrass community, and their unique backgrounds and experiences will be a great asset to our advisory board and to the bank,” said Thompson.

Kelsey Barnard Clark is the owner of KBC, a well-known restaurant and catering business in Dothan, Alabama, her hometown. A graduate of the Culinary Institute of America, she honed her skills working in Michelin-star restaurants. Clark gained national recognition as the winner of Bravo's Top Chef and was nominated for a James Beard Award for Best Chef: South in 2024.

Chris Thompson is the owner and operator of Chris Thompson Farms and Thompson Peanut Co. in Headland, Alabama. A fourth-generation farmer, Thompson was born and raised in the Sylvan Grove community in Dale County. He is also a founding member of Henry County Gin LLC, a cotton ginning and storage facility in Headland.

In 2006, River Bank & Trust opened with two main goals: 1) establish a community-focused financial institution that would support local decision-making and 2) re-circulate money back into the communities it serves. Since then, River Bank & Trust has grown to be one of the largest state-chartered banks in Alabama, with current assets of $3.5 billion and twenty-four locations throughout the state.