First Bank & Trust Company hired Austin Phipps as a vice president for both the agriculture and commercial lending divisions of the bank. Phipps’ office will be based in Abingdon, VA, and his service area will expand into North Carolina.

“Our region deserves the very best in financial support and in collaboration with First Bank & Trust, that is exactly what I am going to offer,” Phipps said. “It’s a privilege to work for a bank of this stature and be a part of its vision moving forward. I’m grateful for the opportunity.”

“Our team has long recognized western North Carolina as a part of our region’s agricultural footprint,” Keith Phillips, senior vice president and agriculture lending division supervisor for First Bank & Trust Company, said. “Adding Austin to our team is going to allow us to better serve farmers in Watauga, Ashe and Avery counties.”

Phipps spent the last decade as a commercial lending officer for Skyline National Bank.