F&M Bank Promotes Faust to COO, Appoints Chief Legal and Compliance Officer
FMAO•F&M Bank promoted Eric Faust to Executive Vice President and COO and appointed Melody Charlton as Chief Legal and Compliance Officer to strengthen operations, risk, legal and compliance functions. Since 2018, the bank’s assets rose from $1.1 billion to $3.55 billion, workforce from 282 to 499 employees, and branch network from 24 to 38 offices.
1. Executive Leadership Appointments
F&M Bank has promoted Eric Faust to Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, appointed Melody Charlton as Chief Legal and Compliance Officer, confirmed Benét Rupp as Chief People Officer, and expanded Dave Gerken’s role as Executive Vice President and Chief Lending Officer. These appointments bolster senior leadership across operations, legal, compliance, risk management, human resources and lending.
2. Operational Oversight and Compliance
As COO, Faust will oversee Bank Operations, Compliance, Legal, Enterprise Risk Management, Information Technology and Information Security, translating strategic priorities into operational excellence. Charlton will build the in-house legal function and lead compliance efforts to enhance regulatory oversight and manage legal expenses as the bank scales.
3. Growth Drivers and Scale
Since 2018, F&M Bank’s assets have climbed from $1.1 billion to $3.55 billion, its workforce has nearly doubled from 282 to 499 employees, and its branch network has grown from 24 to 38 offices. This rapid expansion underscores the need for a more robust leadership structure to sustain future growth.
4. Strategic Positioning
These leadership enhancements align with F&M Bank’s long-term strategic plan to deliver a relationship-focused banking experience, support timely decision-making, drive disciplined growth and create long-term shareholder value through strengthened governance and operational capacity.
