CARRIE McCONNELL

What does it take to start a new community bank from scratch?As with any new business, there are plenty of decisions to make, not to mention obtaining regulatory approvals. It’s no surprise then that the past few years have been very busy for Carrie McConnell of Ridge View Bank.

But the journey also has been gratifying for McConnell, who’s spent her entire career working for small, regional banks. In addition to providing the financing for some “pretty big” projects in the region, she’s on a mission to make banking fun again. “There are so many opportunities to make a difference and that’s been really cool.”

McConnell spent 13 years at HomeTown Bank before it was acquired by American National in 2018. That merger created a void for a “true, regional community bank,” she says.

Ridge View Bank, a division of Pennsylvania-based CNB Bank, opened for business in October 2021, with McConnell as president. “A satisfying day for me is knowing we’ve contributed to the community, our employees and our clients,” says McConnell.

Overseeing a growing team of employees has been an opportunity for McConnell to incorporate lessons she learned in prior roles, including from captaining her women’s basketball team at Roanoke College. “You may want to bounce pass versus lob,” she says. “You have to know what people are comfortable with, and I try to manage to their strengths.”

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