Cindy Swann has worked her way from the teller’s window to the boardroom and has been named executive vice president of First National Bank.
Swann has literally worked her way up from the bottom, starting her career at First National in 1972, fresh out of college, as a teller and bookkeeper at the financial institution’s historic Main Street office.
“It is with a great sense of pride and excitement that we are able to announce the promotion of Cindy Swann to executive vice president of First National Bank,” said Levoy Knowles, board of directors chairman. “She has proven her commitment to our bank, customers, shareholders, and our community for many years. The board of directors is proud to promote Cindy to this new position.”
Noting Swann’s 40 years of service and experience in all aspects of the bank except IT and investments, bank president Pieter van Vuuren said, “Cindy is a great example of someone that has put in the time in all areas at the bank and earned this professional recognition. She is extremely valuable to the bank and very well respected by everyone at the bank and in the community. We are very proud to have Cindy in this position.”
The mother of three and grandmother of two, Swann is active in her community of Viola where she attends church and helped start and continues to play a major role in the annual community homecoming event.
She has been heavily involved and committed to the Leukemia Society of America for some three decades, earning the Tennessee Chapter’s Dedication Award for Volunteerism in 1999 for her Costumed for a Cure fundraising effort started at FNB in 1991 to benefit the the Leukemia Society. This program is still being held at the bank today, raising more than $85,000 since 1991.
“It’s been a long journey. I’ve enjoyed most everything I’ve been at the bank,” Swann said.
Pointing out she enjoyed attempting different roles and the challenge of something new, Swann said, “If you want to make banking your career, you need to take advantage of every opportunity you have.”
She can certainly prove her actions back up her words. Consider her First National career:
• 1972-1977 – bookkeeper and teller at main office in McMinnville
• 1978-1987 – teller, customer service, loans at Viola Branch
• 1987-1989 – loan department at FNB McMinnville
• 1989-1996 – assistant vice president, branch manager and loan officer at Viola Branch
• 1996 – assistant trust officer at FNB McMinnville
• 1996-2005 – internal auditor at FNB McMinnville
• 1998-2005 – internal auditor and compliance officer at FNB McMinnville
• 2005-2007 – vice president, human resource manager, corporate secretary
• 2007-2013 – senior vice president, corporate secretary and transfer agent for First National Bank and its holding company, First McMinnville Corporation   
• Current – executive vice president, branch administrator, corporate secretary, and transfer agent
Swann notes when she started at First National, the bank closed by 2:30 p.m. and all account ledgers were done by hand.   
She said she especially likes branch management, adding, “It was nice to work in a small community like Viola and get to know the people so well.”
Internal audit, she explained, allowed her the chance to get to know the different functions and offices of the bank.
A promotion to corporate secretary provided new insight into the bank corporation and a chance to interact with First National shareholders from Dibrell to Irving College and from Oregon to New York City.
A graduate of Warren County High School, Swann studied business management at Tennessee Tech for two years and is a 1996 graduate of the Southeastern School of Banking, Vanderbilt University, and a 1999 graduate of the Southern Audit and Operation School, University of Georgia.
She was honored as Woman of the Year in 1997 by the McMinnville Business and Professional Women’s Club.   
Swann married Monte Swann in 1973 and made her home in Viola where she is a steadfast member of Viola Church of Christ and teaches a children’s class for ages 3-10.
She has been active in the Viola Valley Commission since its formation in 1986 during the Tennessee Homecoming Celebration. The commission’s homecoming event in August has become an annual celebration with proceeds benefiting the community volunteer fire department, sponsorship of the Viola Community Center and help renovating the town park, including construction of a gazebo and tennis court renovation.
A daughter of Charles “Chizo” and Lena Jones of McMinnville, Swann and her husband Monte have three children, Travis, Warren and Mendi, who with husband Tommy has two sons, Will and Eli.