Nathaniel Bonnell, president and chief executive officer of Citizens Bank of West Virginia and an alumnus of Davis & Elkins College, has been appointed to the Board of Trustees at his alma mater.
“D&E is honored to have Mr. Bonnell joining our Board of Trustees,” said Davis & Elkins College President Chris A. Wood. “Nathaniel knows firsthand the transformative nature of a D&E education, and his career success is a testament both to his alma mater and his personal competence and work ethic. The financial acumen he offers through his Board service, as well as his passion for this institution, makes his addition to our Trustees a blessing.”
Professionally, Bonnell also serves as President and CEO of the bank’s parent company, Citizens Financial Corp., as well as a member of the Board of Directors for both organizations. He began full-time employment at Citizens in 2003, serving in various capacities from special projects officer to executive vice president and chief financial officer. Related to his role in the banking industry, Bonnell serves as a member of the West Virginia Bankers Association Board of Directors, and recently served as an advisory board member for the Federal Home Loan Bank of Pittsburgh.
“Davis & Elkins is unique in so many ways, and our community is very fortunate to have its picturesque campus to add to the vibrancy of Elkins,” said Bonnell. “As a liberal arts college with talented faculty, D&E attracts students from West Virginia and beyond who often volunteer and participate in our community for relevant work/life experiences – with some remaining in our region after graduation. The college has a tremendous impact on education and the vitality of the economy in our region. As a proud D&E graduate and native of Elkins, I am humbled and honored to serve on D&E’s Board of Trustees.”
Since earning his Bachelor of Science degree in accounting and management from D&E in 2003, Bonnell has served the College and the local community.
He is a former member of the College’s National Alumni Council and in 2007 was presented the Outstanding Young Alumnus Award in recognition of his professional achievements and honors, community service and commitment to the College.
Locally, Bonnell is an Assistant Director for the 2021 Mountain State Forest Festival, serves on the Board of Directors of the Randolph County Development Authority, Rotary Club of Elkins, and is past president of the Randolph-Tucker Children’s Advocacy Center’s Board of Directors. He is a member of American Institute of CPAs and West Virginia Society of CPAs, and recently joined the Mountain State Chapter of YPO (Young Presidents’ Organization), an organization made up of CEOs under the age of 45.
In 2013, Bonnell was named Business Man of the Year by the Elkins-Randolph County Chamber of Commerce. He is a 2014 graduate of Leadership West Virginia. In 2018, he was selected to take part in a roundtable discussion on tax reform with President Donald J. Trump in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia. He was also named a 2020 Young Gun by West Virginia Executive Magazine.
In addition to his degree from Davis & Elkins, Bonnell holds a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) designation, having received the WVSCPA Merit Award in 2003 for earning the highest score on the CPA exam in the state of West Virginia. He also earned a Master of Business Administration from West Virginia University in May 2007. In addition, he is a Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA) and Chartered Global Management Accountant (CGMA).
Bonnell and his wife, Christina, a D&E alumna, reside in Elkins with their two children.
Nathaniel Bonnell
