Mansfield-based First Citizens Community Bank has hired a veteran business lender to lead its expansion into the capital region.
- Dragan Dodik, who has worked for several other banks in the Harrisburg area, has joined First Citizens as a senior lender and market leader.
- He recently played a similar role for Mifflintown-based Pennian Bank, which went on to open offices in Camp Hill and Lemoyne.
- Dodik also has worked for Centric Bank, Mid Penn Bank and the former Integrity Bank.
- “Entering a new market requires a strong leader with proven success,” First Citizens president and CEO Randall E. Black said in a statement. “We believe the combination of Dragan’s drive and experience is the right formula for entering the Capital Region market and are fortunate to have him as a member of our team.”
The background: First Citizens has assets of about $2.2 billion and 31 branches. It has been active in Central Pennsylvania since its 2015 purchase of First National Bank of Fredericksburg in Lebanon County.
- Since then, it has added branches in Lancaster and Chester counties and bought Delaware-based Midcoast Community Bancorp.
- The bank currently is planning new branches in the Ephrata area and in Delaware.
- The bank’s parent company, Citizens Financial Services, also has applied for its stock to trade on the Nasdaq exchange.
- The move would make the bank’s stock more attractive for use in acquisitions.
