Nathaniel S. Bonnell

President & CEO, Citizens Bank of West Virginia

By Samantha Cart

Born and raised in Elkins, WV, Nathaniel Bonnell grew up in a traditional family. Both of his parents and all four of his grandparents, who were lifelong residents of Randolph County, instilled in him an appreciation for faith, family, integrity and hard work. His maternal grandfather, Guy Bedford, was a dedicated farmer whose tenacity inadvertently inspired and helped shape Bonnell’s career with Citizens Bank of West Virginia.

“I spent a good deal of time with my grandfather on his farm,” says Bonnell. “He was a humble man, dedicated to his family, always willing to help a neighbor and very hard working. His influence in my life instilled a sense of dedication, persistence and integrity that I am certain affected my career path.”

Those character traits guide him each day in his role as president and CEO of Citizens Bank, where he began working in 2000 as a part-time bank teller while in college.

In less than two years, Bonnell was moved to the auditing department, where he learned a great deal about the business of banking. A few months before he graduated from Davis & Elkins College with a degree in accounting, he set up out-of-town interviews with plans to move away and become a certified public accountant (CPA), but his employer had other ideas for him.

“The bank president at the time called me into his office to discuss my future,” he says. “He told me that if I gave a banking career at Citizens a chance, I would be sitting in his chair one day. Then, he offered me a full-time job and the opportunity to stay in Elkins.”

Bonnell was hired as the bank’s special projects officer and immediately put his skills to use developing new, more efficient processes. Within a year he met his goal of becoming a CPA and was promoted to the accounting department as the financial reporting manager. In 2007, Bonnell received his MBA from West Virginia University and was appointed CFO at Citizens. He was named president in 2017.

“Leading a community bank is a dream come true for me,” he says. “While earnings, growth and shareholder value are important measures of success, true satisfaction comes from witnessing the impact our bank has on the communities where it operates. Much of what I get to do is about making a difference, whether it is helping a family buy a home, providing a small business with the capital needed to expand or partnering with community organizations through volunteerism and corporate giving.”

Bonnell’s volunteerism is not limited to his office hours, however. He is particularly passionate about the people in his community, especially children who have been victims of abuse. He is an active volunteer with the Randolph-Tucker Children’s Advocacy Center, where he has served in various leadership roles and currently supports the Annual Champions for Children Gala.

He also sits on the board of directors for the Randolph County Development Authority and serves as a member of the Elkins Rotary Club, North Elementary School Parent Teacher Organization and Mercy Chapel United Methodist Church’s administrative council and finance committee. Bonnell is the treasurer for the North Elkins Charge of the United Methodist Church and volunteers with the annual West Virginia State Leadership Conference for Future Business Leaders of America and United Way of Randolph County. He is also a board member for the West Virginia Bankers Association and an advisory board member for the Federal Home Loan Bank of Pittsburgh.

“I believe we each have a moral obligation to help others in our communities,” says Bonnell. “Giving of our time, talent and treasure enriches the community and provides a greater sense of purpose.”

Even after becoming the CEO of a $250 million community bank at the age of 36, Bonnell still considers his greatest achievement in life to be his family—his wife and two daughters. He cannot imagine his life anywhere other than West Virginia, where he is grateful for the opportunity to make a difference for family, friends and neighbors every day.