Welcome Ashley Rea

MERIDIAN, Miss. — Citizens National Bank welcomes Ashley Rea to the team as Senior Vice President and Director of Marketing and Corporate Communication, responsible for leading the bank’s marketing, corporate communication and public relations strategy. During her 12-year career in marketing and communications, Rea has amassed an impressive record of success in the fields of banking and agriculture. She and the teams she has led have garnered over 128 advertising and public relations awards in local, state, regional and international levels of competition.

“We are proud to welcome Ashley Rea to Citizens National Bank,” said Hampton Thames, President and Chief Executive Officer for CNB. “Ashley’s professionalism and award-winning leadership reflect her exceptional ability to drive results in both privately-held and publicly-traded companies here in Mississippi.”

Last year, the Mississippi Business Journal named her a top Business Woman of the Year and, in 2023, she was named among their prestigious Top 40 Under 40 list. Rea has been named one of PRNEWS’ Top Women in PR, Public Relations Practitioner of the Year, Young Public Relations Practitioner of the Year and Copywriter of the Year.

“Her extensive experience in strategic marketing, corporate communication and public relations will elevate our bank to a new level of success,” said J. Scott Sills, Chief Retail Officer for CNB. “We look forward to witnessing the impact she will make in strengthening our brand and deepening our engagement with our customers in the communities we serve.”

A member of the Mississippi Bankers Association’s Communications Council, Rea is also an officer in several local, state and regional organizations for public relations professionals. She has also donated her time and energy to the Jones County Heart Walk for the American Heart Association and the Girl Scouts of Greater Mississippi.

Rea obtained her Bachelor of Science degree in Communication with a concentration in Public Relations from Mississippi College, where she graduated summa cum laude and was later honored as a Young Alumnus of the Year for the university in 2018. She also earned a Master of Science degree in Public Relations from the University of Southern Mississippi and was honored with several mass communication and journalism awards from the university for best research and best public relations campaign.

Citizens National Bank is celebrating 137 years of service as an independent, Mississippi-owned community bank with locations throughout the state in Meridian, Quitman, Philadelphia, Olive Branch, Southaven, Hattiesburg, Laurel, Waynesboro, Columbus, Macon, Kosciusko, Carthage, Ridgeland, Madison, Flowood and, soon, Gluckstadt. The bank has assets in excess of $1.7 billion and manages $2.4 billion in its Wealth Management Division, which is committed to assisting clients with the accumulation, preservation and transfer of wealth. As a certified Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI), CNB is dedicated to promoting economic growth and improving the financial well-being of underserved communities across Mississippi through affordable housing, small business development and consumer financial products and services.