Justin R. Payne Promoted to Chief Information Officer

Rhea-AI Summary

Commercial Bank (CBK) announced the promotion of Justin R. Payne to Executive Vice President and Chief Information Officer effective January 6, 2026. Payne will lead technology vision, planning, and information management across the bank, with stated priorities including AI adoption and expanding the Digital Banking product suite.

Payne joined the bank via the September 8, 2008 acquisition, brings 27 years in community banking, and served 12 years as Senior Vice President and Operations Officer. His credentials include dual degrees in Business Administration and Computer Information Systems, KBA Kentucky Bank School (2001), Graduate School of Banking LSU (2013), and Accredited ACH Professional certification since 2016.

Positive

• Executive promotion to EVP & CIO formalizes technology leadership
• 27 years of community banking experience
• 12 years in senior operations leadership at the bank
• Mandate to pursue AI adoption and expand Digital Banking

Negative

• None.

Key Figures

Banking experience 27 years Justin Payne’s community banking career length

Service at Commercial Bank Since September 8, 2008 Date Payne joined via Union National Bank acquisition

Operations Officer tenure 12 years Time served as Senior Vice President and Operations Officer

KBA graduation 2001 Completed Kentucky Bank School

Graduate School of Banking 2013 Graduated from Graduate School of Banking at LSU

AAP certification since 2016 Year Payne began maintaining Accredited ACH Professional credential

Market Reality Check

$24.42 Last Close

Volume Volume 37,366 is below the 20-day average of 127,994 ahead of the CIO promotion announcement. low

Technical Shares at $24.49 are trading slightly below the 200-day MA of $24.54 and about 5% under the 52-week high of $25.89.

Peers on Argus

No peers from the State Commercial Banks sector appeared in the momentum scanner, suggesting the 1% move in CBK was more stock-specific based on available data.

Historical Context

Date	Event	Sentiment	Move	Catalyst
Dec 01	Board appointment	Positive	-2.3%	New director added with technology and AI oversight experience.
Nov 19	CFO promotion	Positive	-0.9%	Internal promotion to CFO following transition to public company.
Oct 27	Earnings report	Positive	-1.6%	Q3 2025 results with net income, IPO proceeds, and efficiency gains.
Oct 20	Earnings scheduling	Neutral	+2.5%	Announcement of Q3 earnings release date and conference call details.
Oct 03	IPO closing	Positive	+1.9%	Completion of IPO with over 7.1M shares sold and Nasdaq listing.

Pattern Detected

Recent news, including IPO and earnings, often saw modest single-digit moves, with several positive announcements followed by mild negative price reactions.

Recent Company History

Over the last few months, Commercial Bancgroup moved from IPO to steady communications on earnings and leadership. The IPO closing on Oct 3, 2025 and Q3 2025 results highlighted solid profitability and balance-sheet scale, while later updates set expectations for earnings calls. Governance and management have been a focus, with a new director added on Dec 1, 2025 and a CFO promotion in November. Today’s CIO promotion continues this theme of building out leadership with an emphasis on technology and growth execution.

Market Pulse Summary

This announcement highlights Commercial Bank’s continued build-out of its leadership team, elevating a long-tenured operations executive to CIO with 27 years in community banking and an AAP certification since 2016. It reinforces the bank’s stated focus on AI adoption and digital banking expansion. In context of prior board and CFO changes, it extends a trend of governance and technology-focused moves. Investors may watch future disclosures for concrete technology milestones and cost or efficiency impacts.

Key Terms

chief information officer technical

"promoted to Executive Vice President and Chief Information Officer (CIO). As CIO, Payne will lead"

A chief information officer (CIO) is a senior executive responsible for managing a company's technology and information systems. They ensure that technology supports the organization’s goals, much like a conductor coordinating an orchestra to create harmonious music. Investors care about CIOs because their decisions and strategies can influence a company's efficiency, security, and ability to adapt to new digital opportunities.

ai technologies technical

"including the adoption of AI technologies and expanding the product offering suite within Digital Banking."

AI technologies are computer systems and software that learn from data and carry out tasks such as making decisions, spotting patterns, or automating work—like a smart toolbox that adapts to different jobs. Investors care because AI can raise productivity, lower costs, enable new products and markets, and reshape competitive advantage, while also bringing risks such as high development costs, regulatory scrutiny, and rapid obsolescence.

digital banking financial

"including the adoption of AI technologies and expanding the product offering suite within Digital Banking."

Digital banking is a way of managing financial services and transactions entirely online, often through websites or mobile apps, without visiting a physical bank branch. It allows users to check balances, transfer money, and pay bills conveniently from their devices. For investors, digital banking highlights how financial services are becoming more accessible and efficient, shaping the future landscape of banking and payment systems.

accredited ach professional (aap) financial

"and has maintained his Accredited ACH Professional (AAP) certification since 2016."

An Accredited ACH Professional (AAP) is a credential for people who design, manage or audit electronic bank-to-bank payments processed through the Automated Clearing House network. Think of it like a certified plumber for a company’s digital cash pipes: it signals that someone understands how payments flow, how to avoid errors, and how to follow rules. Investors care because AAPs reduce operational and compliance risk in companies that handle lots of electronic transfers, improving reliability and protecting cash flow.

ach financial

"and has maintained his Accredited ACH Professional (AAP) certification since 2016."

ACH (Automated Clearing House) is an electronic network banks use to move money between accounts, like a digital mail carrier that delivers payroll, dividends, bill payments and other transfers. Investors care because ACH affects how quickly a company can pay shareholders, collect revenue or move cash for operations; slower or disrupted ACH flows can change available cash, timing of dividends and short-term liquidity assumptions.

AI-generated analysis. Not financial advice.

HARROGATE, TENNESSEE / ACCESS Newswire / January 6, 2026 / Commercial Bank is pleased to announce the promotion of Justin R. Payne to Executive Vice President and Chief Information Officer (CIO). As CIO, Payne will lead the overall vision, planning, and management of all technology initiatives and information management-related resources throughout the bank, aligning the technology strategy with the bank's growth driven business goals including the adoption of AI technologies and expanding the product offering suite within Digital Banking.

Payne joined Commercial Bank on September 8, 2008 with the acquisition of the former Union National Bank. He has dedicated 27 years to community banking, holding various roles throughout his career, most recently having served the last 12 years as Senior Vice President and Operations Officer.

Payne holds dual degrees in Business Administration and Computer Information Systems from Union Commonwealth University. Additionally, he graduated from the Kentucky Bankers Association's (KBA) Kentucky Bank School in 2001, the Graduate School of Banking at Louisiana State University in 2013, and has maintained his Accredited ACH Professional (AAP) certification since 2016.

"I am pleased to promote Justin to this critical leadership role," said Terry Lee, CEO and President of Commercial Bank and Commercial Bancgroup, Inc. (CBI). "This position will bring the Information Technology under a strong leadership and prepare the bank for future growth. This promotion continues to demonstrate the quality of talent obtained by CBI as a result of acquisitions."

Payne commented, "I am excited to assume this new leadership opportunity and to continue to enhance the bank's information technology for future growth and customer service."

About Commercial Bancgroup, Inc.

Commercial Bancgroup, Inc. is a bank holding company headquartered in Harrogate, Tennessee. Through our wholly owned subsidiary, Commercial Bank, a Tennessee state-chartered bank, we offer a suite of traditional consumer and commercial banking products and services to businesses and individuals in select markets in Kentucky, North Carolina, and Tennessee. More information about Commercial Bancgroup, Inc. can be found on its website at ir.cbtn.com.

Contacts

Philip J. Metheny
Sr. Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer
Commercial Bancgroup, Inc.
ir@cbtn.com
423-869-5151 Ext. 3307

Roger Mobley
Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer
Commercial Bank
ir@cbtn.com
704-648-0185 Ext. 4118

SOURCE: Commercial Bancgroup, Inc.

View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire

FAQ

Who is Justin R. Payne and what role was he promoted to at Commercial Bank (CBK) on January 6, 2026?

Justin R. Payne was promoted to Executive Vice President and Chief Information Officer at Commercial Bank on January 6, 2026.

What technology priorities did Commercial Bank (CBK) assign to CIO Justin Payne?

Payne will lead technology strategy with priorities including AI adoption and expanding the Digital Banking product suite.

How long has Justin Payne worked in community banking and at Commercial Bank (CBK)?

He has 27 years in community banking and joined Commercial Bank through a September 8, 2008 acquisition.

What prior roles and qualifications does CBK list for new CIO Justin Payne?

He served 12 years as Senior Vice President and Operations Officer and holds dual degrees in Business Administration and Computer Information Systems plus banking school and AAP certification.

What does Justin Payne’s promotion to EVP & CIO mean for Commercial Bank (CBK) shareholders?

The promotion centralizes IT leadership and signals a strategic focus on digital banking and AI, which may affect technology investment and product rollout timelines.