Jonesville, VA—The Virginia Bankers Association (VBA) announced the election of new officers for its 2021-2022 board of directors during their Virtual Annual Meeting today. Powell Valley National Bank (PVB) is honored to announce that Leton L. Harding, Jr., President and CEO, has been elected to serve as Chairman on the Virginia Bankers Association’s board of directors.
Harding will serve as Chairman for the Virginia Bankers Association’s board of directors for 2021-2022 after serving in the role of Chairman-Elect over the last year. “I am excited to have the opportunity work even more closely with Bruce Whitehurst and his team at the Virginia Bankers Association. I am proud of the work that the VBA does to support our banks and the role it plays in our communities,” said Leton Harding.
Harding joined Powell Valley National Bank in 2012 as Executive Vice President and Chief Operations Officer. In 2014 he was promoted to Chief Executive Officer and was appointed to the bank’s board of directors in 2016. He currently serves as chairman, president, and Chief Executive Officer. Prior to joining PVB, Harding worked from 1993-2012 as EVP for The First Bank and Trust Company in Abingdon, VA, where he oversaw daily operations and investment services.
Harding is no stranger to the mission of the Virginia Bankers Association. Today, he was installed as the first VBA Chairman to be a former VBA staff member, serving as vice president and executive director of the Community Bank Council and manager of legislative programs at the VBA from 1986 to 1993 in Richmond, VA, before returning home to Southwest Virginia. In addition to his time on the VBA staff, he has volunteered as a senior teaching fellow for the VBA’s School of Bank Management and has served on the school’s board of trustees. In addition to his appointment to its board of directors and executive committee, Leton also serves on the VBA’s government relations and legislative affairs committee. He is a member of the VBA Education Foundation board, and the VBA Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Council.
Leton Harding began his banking career in 1977 at The Wise County National Bank under the direction of his mentor, Mr. William T. Clements, where he served as the bank’s trust officer and compliance officer. He is a board member at the University of Virginia’s College at Wise and Mountain Empire Community College Foundation and is also the past president and co-founder of the Birthplace of Country Music Alliance. Leton is a graduate of the University of Virginia’s College at Wise, and resides in Wise, Virginia with his wife Tammie, where they are members of Wise Baptist Church.
About the Virginia Bankers Association
The Virginia Bankers Association represents banks of all sizes and charters and has served as the unified voice for Virginia’s $615 billion banking industry and its 42 thousand employees since 1893.
