First Guaranty in La. recruits former bank CEO to join its board

First Guaranty Bancshares in Hammond, La., which has been dealing with credit issues and capital preservation, recruited a former bank CEO to join its board.

The $4 billion-asset company disclosed in a regulatory filing that Bob Walker had become a director. He has not yet been added to any committees.

Walker was president and CEO of Premier Financial Bancorp when it was sold to Peoples Bancorp in 2021.

First Guaranty last May promoted Michael Mineer, its Midwest area president, to succeed Alton Lewis as president and CEO. , who retired. Two months later, the company cut 15% of its staff and disclosed a big commercial real estate nonaccrual. The company then announced in December that it had slashed its quarterly dividend to a penny.