Skinner Joins Highlands Bankshares, Inc. as Executive Vice President of Consumer Banking and Wealth Management

ABINGDON, Va., Feb. 16, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Highlands Bankshares, Inc. (OTC Pink: HBKA) has named Ray Skinner as Executive Vice President of Consumer Banking and Wealth Management.  Ray's career began at National Commerce Financial (NCF), regarded as one of the nation's most successful retail-oriented banks, where he served eighteen years as a Teller/Personal Banker, Branch Manager, Retail Group Manager, Director of Consumer Lending and Collections, and ultimately Director of Customer Experience for its four hundred plus branches.

Subsequently, Ray served as Executive Vice President of Consumer Banking and Wealth Management for American Savings Bank where he was a key member of its transformation to one of the nation's highest performing banks, Hawaii's "Best Place to Work", and one of American Banker's top fifty banks to work for nationally.  In this role, he led the transformation of the bank's sales culture that significantly deepened the existing customer base and grew new relationships.

"In an effort to better serve our customers, expand relationships, and grow our businesses, we are migrating from a product oriented sales and service model to a customer-centric sales and service model," says Timothy K. Schools, President and Chief Executive Officer. "I have worked with Ray in the past and am excited that he has joined our outstanding team.  At National Commerce, Ray had an opportunity to learn and grow from NCF CEO, Bill Reed who is recognized as one of the leading retail banking minds in our industry.  At American Savings Bank, this valuable experience was instrumental in increasing the bank's competitiveness among some of the nation's best run banks.  We look forward to the knowledge and energy he will bring to our team."

An Olive Branch, Mississippi native, Ray received his bachelor's degree from the University of Mississippi, located in Oxford, Mississippi, and is a graduate of the Barret School of Banking at Christian Brothers University, located in Memphis, Tennessee. Currently, he serves as Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Mid-America Baptist Theological Seminary, located in Cordova, Tennessee, and is a past member of the Board of Regents at the Barret School of Banking.

Ray is based in Abingdon and oversees the company's consumer banking, mortgage, and wealth management strategies, along with the marketing department and customer contact center.  He will be a member of Highlands' Executive Committee and report to Tim Schools.

About Highlands Bankshares, Inc.

Highlands Bankshares, Inc. is a bank holding company and parent company of Highlands Union Bank.  The Company and the Bank are headquartered in Abingdon, Virginia, and offer relationship-based financial services to small businesses, professionals, and consumers through digital channels as well as 14 branches located in Western North Carolina, Eastern Tennessee, and Southwest Virginia.

Cautions Concerning Forward-Looking Statements

This news release may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, including statements relating to financial and operational performance and certain plans, expectations, goals and projections.  Although the Company believes that its expectations with respect to the forward-looking statements are based upon reliable assumptions within the bounds of its knowledge of its business and operations, these statements are inherently subject to numerous assumptions, risks and uncertainties, and there can be no assurances that actual results, performance or achievements will not differ materially from those set forth or implied in the forward-looking statements.  For an explanation of the risks and uncertainties associated with forward-looking statements, see the risk factors and other cautionary language included in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014, and other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.  All forward-looking statements included in this press release are based upon information available at the time of the release, and the Company assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking statement.

SOURCE Highlands Bankshares, Inc.

Related Links

http://www.hubank.com