2
Frank B. Holding Jr.
Executive Leadership
First Citizens BancShares
Financial Services & Commercial BankingFounded 1898- HQ today: Raleigh, North Carolina, USA
Reviewed by Swet Parvadiya
Company data updated: November 2026
Leadership History
First Citizens BancShares: CEO History
2 leaders · Full leadership timeline
Who is the CEO of First Citizens BancShares?
Frank B. Holding Jr. is the CEO of First Citizens BancShares.
- Current CEO
- Frank B. Holding Jr.
- Leaders documented
- 2
- Founded
- 1898
| Name | Role | From | To | Years in role |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Frank B. Holding Jr. | Executive Leadership | — | Present | — |
| Craig L. Nix | Finance & Strategy | — | Present | — |
Company Overview
Established in 1898 as the Bank of Smithfield in rural North Carolina, First Citizens was built on principles of conservative stewardship. Steered by three generations of the Holding family, the bank achieved steady, calculated growth, avoiding speculative lending booms and methodically acquiring dozens of failed or distressed regional lenders during economic downturns.
First Citizens operates a diversified commercial, venture, and retail banking business model. It generates net interest income by gathering low-cost retail deposits across its traditional branch footprint in North Carolina, the Southeast, and California, while deploying these assets into commercial middle-market loans, residential mortgages, and specialized venture capital lines of credit. Through its Silicon Valley Bank division, First Citizens earns lucrative non-interest fees from venture fund capital call lines, corporate treasury management for tech startups, life science specialty lending, foreign exchange, and private wealth advisory for tech founders.
1
Craig L. Nix
Finance & Strategy
Challenges & Strategic Context
First Citizens faces the complex task of integrating Silicon Valley Bank's fast-paced innovation banking culture with its traditionally conservative Southern retail banking operations. Managing interest rate sensitivity across venture-backed technology deposits, navigating the cyclical downturn in venture capital fundraising, and meeting enhanced Federal Reserve regulatory standards for Category IV banking organizations represent significant ongoing managerial priorities.
First Citizens BancShares CEO and Leadership FAQ
Who is the CEO of First Citizens BancShares?
Frank B. Holding Jr. serves as the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of First Citizens BancShares.
Who are the other key executives at First Citizens BancShares?
The senior executive team includes leaders across technology, finance, product engineering, legal compliance, and commercial sales.
What is First Citizens BancShares's corporate governance philosophy?
First Citizens BancShares adheres to high standards of corporate transparency, data privacy, stakeholder alignment, and long-term value creation.
Where are First Citizens BancShares's executive headquarters located?
First Citizens BancShares maintains its principal executive offices in Raleigh, United States.
How does leadership prioritize capital allocation?
Management prioritizes high-ROI software research, infrastructure stability, disciplined hiring, and strategic market expansion.
How is the Board of Directors composed?
The Board includes independent directors with substantial executive experience across global technology, enterprise finance, and corporate law.
Related Leadership Timelines
Compare executive leadership tenures and strategic transitions
Explore First Citizens BancShares
Core profile pages, founders and related research hubs for this company.