BATON ROUGE — Jason D. Smith, president and chief executive officer of Bonvenu Bank in Bossier City, was installed as chairman of the Louisiana Bankers Association Board of Directors for the 2026-2027 term during the organization’s 126th annual convention.
Smith succeeds Michael R. Vizard, chairman and CEO of Cross Keys Bank, a division of Planters Bank in St. Joseph. Vizard will continue serving on the board for one year as immediate past chairman.
The Louisiana Bankers Association also announced its other officers for the 2026-2027 term, including Chairman-Elect H. Brooks Lewis of Citizens Bank and Trust Company in Plaquemine, Treasurer Anthony Kip Bertrand of Washington State Bank and At-Large Member Shannon Scott of Bank of Louisiana in Metairie.
Delegates elected three new board directors during the convention. Charles J. Plaisance of State Bank and Trust in Golden Meadow will represent the South Central Region, while Elizabeth B. Hefler of Hancock Whitney Bank in New Orleans and John P. LeBlanc of Metairie Bank and Trust Company will serve as Southeast Region directors.
Other directors continuing to serve on the board include Joseph Zanco of Catalyst Bank in Opelousas, Benjamin Cavin of Landmark Bank in Clinton, John Ackel of City Bank and Trust in Natchitoches, Howard Dee Smith of WSB in Winnsboro, Kyle D. Kennington of Community Bank of Louisiana in Stonewall and Troy G. Kibodeaux of Farmers State Bank and Trust in Church Point.
The Louisiana Bankers Association, founded in 1900, provides professional development, advocacy and banking industry services across the state.