b1BANK Names Ben Marmande Director of Corporate Banking
Rhea-AI Summary
b1BANK (BFST) named Ben Marmande director of corporate banking effective April 2, 2026. Marmande will lead corporate banking for Texas, focusing on client acquisition, relationship growth and expanding commercial capabilities.
He brings 40+ years of banking experience, a 19-year tenure at IBERIABANK and First Horizon, and prior leadership of a $500 million division at Lason Systems, providing operational perspective for serving complex commercial clients.
Positive
- Leadership hire to lead Texas corporate banking efforts
- $500 million division leadership experience at Lason Systems
- 40+ years of banking and financial services experience
Negative
- None.
News Market Reaction – BFST
In the Apr 2 session, BFST gained 0.51%, reflecting a mild positive market reaction.
Data tracked by StockTitan Argus on the day of publication.
Key Figures
Historical Context
| Date | Event | Sentiment | 24h Move | Catalyst |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 17 | Technology partnership | Positive | -2.0% | Announced multi-year Covecta partnership to deploy agentic AI in operations. |
| Jan 22 | Earnings release | Positive | -3.2% | Reported Q4 and FY2025 results with dividends and balance sheet growth. |
| Jan 06 | Earnings date set | Neutral | -1.0% | Scheduled Q4 2025 earnings release and conference call details. |
| Jan 05 | Acquisition close | Positive | +1.3% | Closed Progressive Bank acquisition, expanding Louisiana footprint and assets. |
| Oct 28 | Buyback program | Positive | +1.1% | Announced up to $30M common stock repurchase authorization over 24 months. |
24h Move is the share-price change in the day after each event; other market factors may also have contributed.
Recent positive strategic and financial announcements have produced mixed price reactions, with several favorable updates followed by short-term declines.
Over the past six months, BFST reported key milestones including a Progressive Bank acquisition expanding assets to about $8.7B, a $30M stock repurchase authorization, and solid FY2025 earnings with net income of $82.5M and diluted EPS of $2.79. It also announced an AI partnership with Covecta to automate operational workflows. Despite the generally constructive tone of these events, shares sometimes moved lower afterward, underscoring that good news has not always translated into immediate price gains.
AI-generated analysis. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.
BATON ROUGE, La., April 02, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- b1BANK announced that Ben Marmande has joined the organization as director of corporate banking. Marmande will lead b1BANK’s corporate banking efforts for the state of Texas driving client acquisition, relationship growth and the expansion of the bank’s commercial capabilities.
“Ben brings a combination of credit discipline, operational leadership and market relationships that will be instrumental as we continue to grow our corporate banking capabilities,” said Jude Melville, CEO of b1BANK. “Corporate banking is a deliberate investment in how we serve our most complex commercial clients, and Ben has spent his career developing exactly the kind of deep, consultative relationships this work demands. I am confident he will help us bring meaningful value to businesses across our footprint.”
During his 19-year career at IBERIABANK and First Horizon, Marmande served as the Houston market president and the Baton Rouge market president. There, he directed all banking operations across both markets, leading teams of commercial relationship managers, private bankers, business development officers and retail operations professionals.
Prior to joining IBERIABANK, Marmande served as executive vice president at Lason Systems, Inc., where he led a
“Having worked alongside Ben for years, I know firsthand what he brings to a client relationship,” said Jerry Vascocu, President of b1BANK. “His leadership, commitment and client-focused approach will strengthen what we are building in Texas and across our company. Ben has always exemplified what it means to be a trusted advisor, and we are proud to welcome him to the b1BANK team.”
“The culture here, the leadership and the commitment to the businesses and communities we serve is what drew me to this role,” Marmande said. “I look forward to building a corporate banking practice that deepens those relationships and positions our bankers as strategic advisors to the clients we serve.”
Marmande brings more than 40 years of banking and financial services experience to his new role and is widely connected across the Texas and Louisiana business communities.
About Business First Bancshares, Inc.
As of Dec. 31, 2025, Business First Bancshares, Inc., (Nasdaq: BFST) through its banking subsidiary b1BANK, had
| Media Contact: | Misty Albrecht |
| b1BANK | |
| 225.286.7879 | |
| media@b1BANK.com | |
A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/80a9fde6-6ee1-40d2-96a4-eec582e3b150
