Table of Contents

UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

​

SCHEDULE 14A

​

Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

​

Filed by the Registrant  ☒

Filed by a Party other than the Registrant  ☐

​

Check the appropriate box:

​

VILLAGE BANK AND TRUST FINANCIAL CORP.

(Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)

​

(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant)

​

Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):

​

​

​

Table of Contents

​

Dear Fellow Shareholders,

You are cordially invited to attend the Annual Meeting of Shareholders of Village Bank and Trust Financial Corp. The meeting will be held on Tuesday, May 21, 2024, at 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time. We will be hosting a virtual meeting of shareholders. The meeting will be conducted exclusively via live webcast and there will be no physical location for the meeting. You will be able to attend and participate in the Annual Meeting online, vote your shares electronically and submit your questions prior to and during the meeting. We believe that hosting a virtual meeting enables greater shareholder attendance and participation.

At the meeting, you will be asked to:

​

You will find information regarding these matters in the Proxy Statement. You may vote your shares by internet, telephone, regular mail, or virtually at the Annual Meeting. On or about April 9, 2024, we will mail our shareholders a Notice containing instructions on how to obtain the Proxy Statement and the 2023 Annual Report to Shareholders on the internet and how to vote their shares over the internet. You may read, print, or download the Proxy Statement and 2023 Annual Report to Shareholders at www.envisionreports.com/VBFC. You may request paper copies of these materials as well by following the instructions on the Notice. If you receive a proxy card, it also contains instructions regarding how to vote by internet, telephone, regular mail or virtually at the Annual Meeting.

Your vote is very important. Please take time to vote now so that your shares are represented at the meeting. We appreciate your continued support.

​	​
​	​
​	Sincerely,
​	​
​		​
​		​
​	James E. Hendricks, Jr.
​	President and Chief Executive Officer
Midlothian, Virginia	​
April 3, 2024	​

​

​

​

Table of Contents

NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS

​

YOU ARE HEREBY NOTIFIED of and invited to attend the Annual Meeting of Shareholders of Village Bank and Trust Financial Corp., a Virginia corporation, to be held on May 21, 2024, at 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time. We will be hosting a virtual meeting which will be conducted exclusively by live webcast. As a shareholder of the Company as of the close of business on March 28, 2024, the record date, you will be able to attend the Annual Meeting online, vote your shares electronically and submit your questions during the meeting by visiting https://meetnow.global/MRVJM5X on the meeting date and time described in the Proxy Statement. There is no physical location for the Annual Meeting.

​

The Annual Meeting is being held for the purpose of considering and voting on the following:

The board of directors has fixed March 28, 2024 as the record date for determination of shareholders entitled to notice of and to vote at the meeting and any adjournments thereof.

​

​

YOUR VOTE IS IMPORTANT

Whether or not you plan to attend the Annual Meeting of Shareholders online, we urge you to vote and submit your proxy by telephone, the internet or mail as promptly as possible to ensure the presence of a quorum for the meeting. For additional instructions on voting by telephone or the internet, please refer to your proxy card or the Important Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials. To vote and submit your proxy by mail, please complete, sign and date the proxy card and return it in the postage-paid envelope. If you attend the meeting online, you may, if you desire, revoke the proxy, and vote online during the meeting. If you hold your shares through an account with a brokerage firm, bank, or other nominee, please follow the instructions you receive from them to vote your shares. As beneficial owner, you must register in advance to attend the Annual Meeting virtually on the internet. Additional instructions are included in the Proxy Statement under “General Information” - “Voting and Revocation of Proxies.”

Table of Contents

TABLE OF CONTENTS

​

​

Table of Contents

PROXY STATEMENT

ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS

May 21, 2024

GENERAL INFORMATION

The board of directors of Village Bank and Trust Financial Corp. (the “Company”) is furnishing you with this Proxy Statement to solicit proxies on its behalf to be voted at the Annual Meeting of Shareholders of the Company (the “Annual Meeting”). The Annual Meeting will be held on May 21, 2024, at 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time. The meeting will be conducted exclusively by live webcast and there will be no physical location for the meeting. As a shareholder of the Company as of the close of business on the record date, you will be able to attend and participate in the Annual Meeting online, vote your shares electronically, and submit your questions during the meeting by visiting https://meetnow.global/ MRVJM5X on the meeting date and time described in this Proxy Statement.

The mailing address of the Company’s principal executive office is 13319 Midlothian Turnpike, P.O. Box 330, Midlothian, Virginia 23113.

This Proxy Statement will be furnished to shareholders beginning April 9, 2024. In accordance with U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) rules, the Company is furnishing this Proxy Statement over the internet to its shareholders. Most of the Company’s shareholders will not receive printed copies of the Proxy Statement; instead, most shareholders will receive the Important Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials for the Annual Meeting to be held May 21, 2024 (the “Notice of Internet Availability”), which contains instructions on how to access the proxy materials over the internet and vote shares. The Notice of Internet Availability will be mailed to shareholders on or about April 9, 2024. By furnishing proxy materials over the internet, the Company is able to reduce the printing and mailing costs of this solicitation and help conserve natural resources. If you would like to receive paper copies of the proxy materials, please follow the instructions on the Notice of Internet Availability. Shareholders may vote over the internet, by telephone or by mail.

Important Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials for the

Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held on May 21, 2024

A complete set of proxy materials relating to the Annual Meeting is available on the internet. These materials,
including the Proxy Statement and the 2023 Annual Report on Form 10-K, may be viewed at
www.envisionreports.com/VBFC.

Voting and Revocation of Proxies

All properly executed proxies, and all properly completed proxies submitted by telephone or internet pursuant to this solicitation will be voted in accordance with the directions given in the proxy unless the proxy is revoked prior to the completion of voting at the Annual Meeting. Execution of a proxy will not affect a shareholder’s right to attend the Annual Meeting and to vote at the meeting. Any shareholder who has completed and returned a proxy may revoke it by attending the Annual Meeting and voting, by submitting a new proxy bearing a later date, or by submitting written notice of revocation to the Corporate Secretary addressed to Village Bank and Trust Financial Corp., 13319 Midlothian Turnpike, P.O. Box 330, Midlothian, Virginia, 23113. Proxies will extend to, and will be voted at, any adjournments or postponements of the Annual Meeting.

​

If you are a registered shareholder (i.e., hold your shares in your own name and not through a broker or custodian), you do not need to register to attend the Annual Meeting virtually on the internet. Please follow the instructions on the notice or proxy card that you received to attend the meeting and vote your shares.

​

1

Table of Contents

If you hold your shares through a broker or other custodian, then that organization is considered the shareholder of record and the shares are considered held in “street name.” The Company provided its proxy materials to the shareholder of record for distribution to you along with voting instructions. As the beneficial owner of the shares, you have the right to direct the shareholder of record how to vote your shares. Check the information forwarded to you by the shareholder of record to see which voting methods are available to you. If your shares are held through a broker or other custodian and you wish to revoke your proxy or change your vote, you should contact that organization.

​

If you hold your shares through a broker or other custodian, such as a bank, you must register in advance to attend the Annual Meeting virtually on the internet. To register, you must submit proof of your proxy power (legal proxy) reflecting your Village Bank and Trust Financial Corp. holdings along with your name and email address to the Company’s transfer agent, Computershare. Requests for registration must be labeled as “Legal Proxy” and be received no later than 5:00 p.m., Eastern Time, on May 17, 2024. You will receive a confirmation of your registration by email after Computershare receives your registration materials. Requests for registration should be directed to Computershare at the following:

​

Voting Rights

Only shareholders of record of the Company’s common stock at the close of business on March 28, 2024 are entitled to notice of and to vote at the Annual Meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof. At the close of business on March 28, 2024, there were 1,495,251 shares of the Company’s common stock outstanding and entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting. A majority of the votes entitled to be cast by the holders of the common stock, represented by attendance at the meeting or by proxy, will constitute a quorum for the transaction of business.

Each shareholder of record of the Company’s common stock on the record date will be entitled to one vote for each share registered in his or her name with respect to each matter to be voted upon at the Annual Meeting. Shares for which the shareholder has elected to abstain or to withhold the proxies’ authority to vote on a matter, and “broker non-votes,” will count toward a quorum.

With regard to the election of directors, votes may be cast in favor or withheld. If a quorum is present, the three nominees for Class C who receive the greatest number of affirmative votes cast at the Annual Meeting, during the meeting or by proxy, even if less than a majority, will be elected directors; therefore, votes withheld and broker non-votes will have no effect.

With regard to the frequency of the advisory vote on executive compensation, votes may be cast for one of the alternatives – every one year, every two years, or every three years – or shareholders may abstain from voting. If a quorum is present, the alternative receiving the greatest votes will be the frequency that shareholders approve.

For all other proposals, votes may be cast in favor or against, or shareholders may abstain from voting. Approval of the other proposals requires an affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast on the matter. Although abstentions and broker non-votes are counted for purposes of determining the presence or absence of a quorum, they generally do not count as votes cast, and therefore will have no effect on such proposals.

Routine and Non-Routine Proposals

If you own shares held in street name, meaning through a broker or other similar organization, and you do not provide the organization that holds the shares with specific voting instructions, then under applicable rules the organization that holds the shares may generally vote your shares with respect to routine matters but cannot vote on non-routine matters. If

2

Table of Contents

the organization that holds such shares does not receive instructions from you on how to vote your shares on a non-routine matter, that organization will inform the inspector of election that it does not have the authority to vote on the matter with respect to your shares. This is generally referred to as a “broker non-vote.”

We believe the ratification of the appointment of Yount, Hyde & Barbour, P.C. (Proposal 5) as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the year ending December 31, 2024, is considered a routine matter. A broker or other nominee may generally vote on routine matters, and therefore no broker non-votes are expected to occur in connection with Proposal 5. We believe the election of three Class C directors (Proposal 1), the advisory (non-binding) vote to approve the Company’s named executive officer compensation (Proposal 2), the advisory (non-binding) vote to approve whether an advisory vote on executive compensation should be held every one, two or three years (Proposal 3), and the approval of the Village Bank and Trust Financial Corp. 2024 Stock Incentive Plan (Proposal 4) are considered non-routine matters. A broker or other nominee cannot vote without instructions on non-routine matters, and therefore we believe “broker non-votes” may occur in connection with Proposals 1, 2, 3 and 4.

Costs of Proxy Solicitation

The cost of soliciting proxies will be borne by the Company. Solicitation is being made by the Company’s board of directors by mail and electronic notice and access to the internet. In addition to the solicitation of proxies by mail, the Company may also solicit proxies through its directors, officers, and employees. The Company will also request persons, firms, and corporations holding shares in their names or in the name of nominees that are beneficially owned by others to send proxy materials to and obtain proxies from those beneficial owners and will reimburse the holders for their reasonable expenses in doing so.

PROPOSAL 1

ELECTION OF DIRECTORS

The Company’s board of directors currently consists of nine directors that are divided into three classes (A, B and C). The terms of office for three Class C directors of the Company, Frank E. Jenkins, Jr., Michael A. Katzen and Michael L. Toalson, will expire at the Annual Meeting and they have been nominated for election to continue serving as directors in Class C. The Class C nominees have been nominated for election to serve three-year terms ending at the 2027 Annual Meeting of Shareholders. Six other directors will continue serving terms that end in either 2025 or 2026, as indicated below.

​

The election of each nominee for director requires the affirmative vote of the holders of a plurality of the shares of common stock cast in the election of directors. If the proxy is executed in such manner as not to withhold authority for the election of any or all the nominees for directors, then the persons named in the proxy will vote the shares represented by the proxy for the election of the nominees named below. If the proxy indicates that the shareholder wishes to withhold a vote from one or more nominees for director, such instructions will be followed by the persons named in the proxy.

Each nominee has consented to being named in this Proxy Statement and has agreed to serve, if elected. The board of directors has no reason to believe that any of the nominees will be unable or unwilling to serve. If, at the time of the Annual Meeting, any nominee is unable or unwilling to serve as a director, votes will be cast, pursuant to the accompanying proxy, for such substitute nominee as may be nominated by the board of directors. There are no current arrangements between any nominee and any other person pursuant to which a nominee was selected. No family relationships exist among any of the directors or between any of the directors and executive officers of the Company.

The following information provides certain biographical information with respect to each director and director nominee for election at the Annual Meeting, followed by a statement regarding the specific experience, qualifications, attributes, or skills that led the board to conclude that each director or director nominee should serve as a director of the Company.

3

Table of Contents

Nominees for Election

Class C Directors for Terms to Expire in 2027

Frank E. Jenkins, Jr., 58, has been a director since 2017. He has been Managing Partner of Adams, Jenkins and Cheatham since December 1998, one of the largest accounting firms in Virginia. The firm’s core client base and business strategy align well with the mission of the Bank working closely with individuals and businesses to solve problems and help businesses grow and prosper. Mr. Jenkins brings valuable business and accounting experience to the board of directors as a Certified Public Accountant, business owner and entrepreneur. His substantial network of business and personal relationships helps the Company grow and achieve its strategic goals. Mr. Jenkins is a member of the Virginia Young Presidents’ Organization (YPO), the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA), the Community Associations Institute, and the Virginia Society of Certified Public Accountants (VSCPA). He is a licensed CPA in Virginia and North Carolina and qualifies as an audit committee financial expert under SEC guidelines. Mr. Jenkins serves as Chair of the Audit Committee and is a member of the Executive Committee, Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee and Board Risk Committee.

Michael A. Katzen, 70, has been a director since 2008 when River City Bank merged with the Bank. He formerly served as a director of River City Bank. Mr. Katzen retired as Partner and President of The Law Firm of Michael A. Katzen, P.C. He is a director of Glebe Hill Associates, Inc., a privately held development company. His experience with real estate law provides the board of directors with expertise in evaluating significant loan relationships as well as working out nonperforming loans collateralized by real estate. Mr. Katzen currently serves as Chair of the Compensation Committee, and is a member of the Executive Committee, Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee and Board Risk Committee.

Michael L. Toalson, 71, has been a director since 2004. Mr. Toalson retired as Chief Executive Officer of the Home Builders Association of Virginia (“HBAV”) in June 2017. He led the HBAV lobbying team before state lawmakers and regulators and was the chief administrative officer of the 3,000-member business organization. His familiarity with various home builders and the Virginia real estate market in general are invaluable to the board of directors in evaluating significant loan relationships and marketing the Bank’s services to the home building community. Mr. Toalson currently serves as a member of the Audit Committee, Board Risk Committee and Executive Committee. He also serves as Chair of the board of directors of Village Bank Mortgage Corporation.

THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS THAT YOU VOTE FOR

THE ELECTIONS OF THE NOMINEES SET FORTH ABOVE

Incumbent Directors

Class A Directors Whose Terms Expire in 2025

Craig D. Bell, 66, is a founder of Village Bank (the “Bank”) and has been a director since 1998. Mr. Bell is Chair of the board of directors of the Company and the Bank. He has been a partner with the law firm of McGuireWoods LLP since March 2000, where he is head of the State and Local Tax and Tax Litigation Groups. McGuire Woods is an international law firm having offices in thirteen states and seven countries. Mr. Bell is an Emeritus Director of the Community Tax Law Project, a non-profit provider of pro bono tax assistance to low income families and its former President; a Fellow of the American College of Tax Council; former Chair of both the Virginia State Bar Section of Taxation and the Virginia Bar Association Tax Section; a Master member of the Edgar J. Murdock Inn of Court for Tax; and an adjunct Professor of Law at the College of William and Mary School of Law. The American Bar Association Section of Taxation awarded Mr. Bell its 2023 National Pro Bono Tax Attorney of the Year award for his longtime dedication to providing pro bono tax legal aid to the working poor in over 300 tax disputes and U.S. Court cases. He is also President of the ASAC Foundation, a nonprofit organization that has charitable and educational purposes in the areas of antique arms and armor.

4

Table of Contents

Mr. Bell is also a credentialed Accredited Member appraiser by the International Society of Appraisers where he focuses his appraisal engagements to antique arms and armor of the 15^th-19^th centuries. Mr. Bell retired from the Army Reserves in 2006 as a Lieutenant Colonel after completing 27 years of service. As a result of the foregoing experience, Mr. Bell brings leadership, sound judgment, effective communication, business acumen, and decision-making skills to the board of directors. Mr. Bell currently serves as Chair of the Executive Committee, Chair of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, and is a member of the Compensation Committee and Board Risk Committee. He also serves as an ex officio member of all committees.

Ronald L. Carey, Jr., 56, has been a director since January 2023. Mr. Carey is Founder and CEO of Tilt Creative + Production, a full-service marketing firm located in Richmond, Virginia that was founded in December 2017. With nearly 30 years of corporate experience across sales, human resources, marketing and entrepreneurship, Mr. Carey brings a unique perspective to the board. His background in working in large, complex organizations in Human Resources, as well as his experience in mergers and acquisitions, is of value in supporting Village Bank as it continues to grow and achieve its strategic goals. Mr. Carey serves as a board member for ChildSaver’s, Junior Achievement of Central Virginia, Minority Business League, and HCA Chippenham/Johnston Willis Hospitals. He graduated from the University of Virginia with a bachelor’s degree in Sports Management. Mr. Carey serves as a member of the Audit Committee, Board Risk Committee, and Compensation Committee. He is also a member of the board of directors of Village Bank Mortgage Corporation.

Devon M. Henry, 47, has been a director since March 2018. Mr. Henry has served as Chief Executive Officer and President of Team Henry Enterprises, LLC since August 2006. Team Henry is a multi-discipline contracting and logistics firm headquartered in Richmond, Virginia, with offices in Raleigh, North Carolina and Miami, Florida. In 2014, Team Henry Enterprises was recognized in Fortune Magazine, ranking 12^th on the 100 List of fastest growing inner-city companies in the country. Mr. Henry brings valuable business experience to the board of directors as a business owner and entrepreneur. His substantial network of business and personal relationships helps the Company grow and achieve its strategic goals. Mr. Henry is active in the community and speaks at several local universities about entrepreneurship and S.T.E.M. initiatives. He serves on several boards and committees to include the Board of Visitors for Norfolk State University, Eastern Regional Director for Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Board of Directors for Venture Richmond, Transportation DBE Advisory Committee, Young Presidents Organization (YPO), and Metropolitan Business League. Mr. Henry serves as a member of the Board Risk Committee, Compensation Committee, and Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee. He is also a member of the board of directors of Village Bank Mortgage Corporation.

Class B Directors Whose Terms Will Expire in 2026

James E. Hendricks, Jr., 61, has served as a director and Chief Executive Officer and President of the Company and the Bank since August 2020. He previously served as Executive Vice President, Chief Operating Officer and Chief Risk Officer of the Bank since December 2016, and as Chief Credit Officer since March 2014. Prior thereto, he served as Director of Special Assets of the Bank. From 1990 to 2013, Mr. Hendricks served in several leadership roles at SunTrust Bank (and its predecessor Crestar Bank), including Senior Vice President and Consumer Banking Chief Operational Risk Officer, Senior Vice President and Consumer Lending Credit and Compliance Risk Officer, and Senior Vice President of Credit Process Review. Prior to 1990, he served as Bank Examiner for the Comptroller of the Currency. Mr. Hendricks received his Bachelor of Science degree in Finance from Virginia Tech and Master of Business Administration degree from University of Richmond. Mr. Hendricks has over 35 years of banking industry experience, which has afforded him broad knowledge and a keen understanding of all aspects of banking. In addition to his banking experience, he currently serves on the board of directors of the Virginia Association of Community Banks, Virginia Bankers Association’s Benefits Board, Virginia Commerce Group, and Better Business Bureau Serving Central Virginia. Mr. Hendricks is a member of the Executive Committee and the Board Risk Committee. Mr. Hendricks is also a member of the board of directors of Village Bank Mortgage Corporation.

5

Table of Contents

Mary Margaret Kastelberg, 60, has been a director since October 2020. Ms. Kastelberg has been Director of Investment Research at Alpha Wealth Advisors, LLC, a full service independent financial advisory firm since November 2013. Alpha Wealth partners with individuals, families, and small businesses to help them grow and to articulate and achieve their long-term financial objectives. Ms. Kastelberg has lived in the Richmond community for her entire life. With more than 35 years of small business and financial experience, Ms. Kastelberg brings a unique perspective to the board. Her background in managing small businesses, mortgage securitizations, and mergers and acquisitions is of value in supporting Village Bank. Ms. Kastelberg serves as a board member and former Chair of Commonwealth Catholic Charities and as Secretary of the Board for Benedictine Education Foundation. She is a past board member of Western Wildcats Youth Football Association. She is FINRA registered with Series 7 (General Securities Representative), 63 (Uniform Securities Agent State Law Examinations), and 65 (Uniform Investment Adviser Law Examination) licenses. Ms. Kastelberg graduated from Princeton University with a B.A. degree in Politics and earned a master’s in business administration from the University of Virginia’s Colgate Darden School. Ms. Kastelberg serves as Chair of the Board Risk Committee and a member of the Compensation Committee.

Selena T. Sanderson, 56, has been a director since January 2023. Ms. Sanderson has been Managing Director of Fahrenheit Advisors, LLC, a middle market consulting, advisory, and executive search firm since October 2021. Prior thereto, she was Managing Director at Nulogy Corporation, a Saas-based technology company headquartered in Toronto, Canada. In November 2016, she began working as an independent consultant/advisor with Nulogy and in April 2020 joined their team. Ms. Sanderson’s specific expertise is helping businesses to accelerate growth. Prior to joining Fahrenheit, she served as Director for Nulogy Corporation, Executive Vice President of Strategy of Weston Foods, was General Manager of Interbake Foods/FFV, and served for more than 20+ years in various leadership roles. Ms. Sanderson served as the prior Board Chair for the Greater Richmond Alzheimer’s Association, taught as an adjunct professor at the University of Richmond, and is a board advisor to several start-up companies. Ms. Sanderson graduated Magna Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Arts in Economics, Sociology, and International Studies from the University of Richmond and earned a Master of Business Administration from Darden Graduate Business School at the University of Virginia. Her experience in strategic planning, growing, and leading businesses, and developing relationships is of immense value to Village Bank as it continues to grow and expand its services. Ms. Sanderson serves on the Audit Committee, Board Risk Committee, and Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee. She is also a member of the board of directors of Village Bank Mortgage Corporation.

Executive Officers Who Are Not Directors

Roy I. Barzel, 72, has served as Executive Vice President and Chief Credit Officer of the Bank since August 1, 2020. He joined the Bank on July 5, 2017 as Senior Vice President-Director of Strategic Initiatives. He was Executive Vice President and Chief Credit Officer of Bank of Virginia from April 2011 until it was acquired by First Citizens Bank in September 2016, and Senior Vice President and Regional Credit Manager of First Citizens Bank until he joined the Bank. Mr. Barzel started his banking career in 1983 at United Virginia Bank, predecessor to Crestar Bank and SunTrust Bank, and performed a number of credit roles, culminating in a Senior Regional Credit Officer position in Commercial Real Estate banking. Mr. Barzel is a graduate of the University of Florida with a Bachelor of Science in Zoology and a Master of Business Administration.

Jennifer J. Church, 44, has served as Executive Vice President - Retail Banking of the Bank since March 21, 2022. Ms. Church was a Market Leader, Vice President with BB&T from September 2018 to March 2022, and prior thereto, she served in various positions with Union Bank & Trust from 2007 to 2018, including Retail Support Manager, Senior Retail Operations Consultant and Branch Manager. Ms. Church is a graduate of Longwood University with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and has over 20 years of banking experience.

Donald M. Kaloski, Jr., 42, has served as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of the Company and the Bank since May 31, 2018, and as Chief Risk Officer of the Bank since August 15, 2020. He joined the Company in March 2013 and was promoted to Senior Vice President of Accounting in April 2015. Prior thereto, he had over six years of experience in public accounting, supervising audit teams on financial institution engagements throughout the country. Mr. Kaloski is a 2006 graduate of Troy University with a

6

Table of Contents

Bachelor of Science degree in accounting, holds a Master of Business Administration degree from Troy University, and is a Certified Public Accountant and Chartered Global Management Accountant with 15 years of experience in the banking industry. Mr. Kaloski is Vice-Chair on the Virginia Bankers Association Chief Financial Officer Committee. He also served as past Lt. Governor for Capital District Division 11 of Kiwanis International.

Max C. Morehead, Jr., 60, has served as Executive Vice President - Commercial Banking since March 2014. Prior thereto, Mr. Morehead held various positions at SunTrust Bank for 25 years, including managing commercial and business banking groups. Mr. Morehead also serves as Immediate Past Chair of the Chesterfield County based non-profit, Substance Abuse Free Environment (SAFE). He is a 1986 graduate of the Virginia Military Institute. He has over 36 years of banking experience.

Christy F. Quesenbery, 65, has served as Executive Vice President of Operations since August 24, 2020. Ms. Quesenbery’s expertise includes loan and deposit operations, compliance, human resources, information technology and information security. Ms. Quesenbery was Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer for Touchstone Bankshares, Inc., where she was responsible for deposit and loan operations, compliance, information security and technology, as well as enterprise risk and vendor management. Prior thereto, she held leadership roles at various community banks in Virginia. Ms. Quesenbery holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology and Business Administration from James Madison University and graduated from the Virginia Bankers School of Bank Management. Ms. Quesenbery has over 40 years’ experience in commercial banking. Ms. Quesenbery is currently board chair of Virginia1st, a non-profit organization dedicated to addressing homeland security and emergency management issues affecting financial institutions.

James C. Winn, 50, has served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Village Bank Mortgage Corporation since December 2017. Prior thereto, he served as Senior Vice President and Risk Manager of Village Bank Mortgage Corporation. From 1998 to 2009, he served in several leadership roles with Benchmark Mortgage, including Vice President of Secondary Market. Mr. Winn is a 1997 graduate of Virginia Commonwealth University and has more than 25 years of mortgage banking experience.

Board Diversity Matrix

The table below provides certain diversity information regarding the board of directors as of April 3, 2024. Each of the categories listed in the table below has the meaning used in Nasdaq Listing Rule 5605(f).

Total Number of Directors: 9

​

​

7

Table of Contents

SECURITY OWNERSHIP

Security Ownership of Directors and Executive Officers

The following table sets forth, as of April 3, 2024, unless otherwise noted, certain information with respect to the beneficial ownership of shares of common stock by each of the directors, by the executive officers named in the “Summary Compensation Table” below, and by the directors and executive officers as a group. Beneficial ownership includes shares, if any, held in the name of the spouse, minor children or other relatives of a director or executive officer living in such person’s home, as well as shares, if any, held in the name of another person under an arrangement whereby the director or executive officer can vest title in themselves at once or at some future time.

​

*Indicates holdings amount to less than 1% of the outstanding shares of common stock.

8

Table of Contents

Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners

The following table sets forth, as of April 3, 2024, certain information known to the Company with respect to the beneficial ownership of shares of common stock by owners of 5% or more of the outstanding shares of the Company’s common stock. Beneficial ownership includes shares, if any, held in the name of the spouse, minor children or other relatives of such owner living in such person’s home, as well as shares, if any, held in the name of another person under an arrangement whereby such owner can vest title in himself at once or at some future time.

​

​

No Hedging Policy

The Company’s insider trading policy prohibits directors and executive officers from engaging in transactions designed to hedge or offset any decrease in the market value of the Company’s common stock, such as prepaid variable forward contracts, equity swaps, puts, calls, collars, forwards, exchange funds and other derivative instruments. The policy also prohibits directors and executive officers from engaging in short sale transactions in the Company’s common stock.

Delinquent Section 16(a) Reports

Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), requires the Company’s directors and executive officers, and any persons who own more than 10% of the outstanding shares of common stock, to file reports of ownership and changes in ownership of common stock. Officers and directors are required by regulations to furnish the Company with copies of all Section 16(a) reports that they file. Based solely on review of the copies of such reports furnished to the Company or written representation that no other reports were required, the Company believes that, during fiscal year 2023, all of the Company’s insiders were in compliance with the reporting requirements of Section 16(a).

​

9

Table of Contents

CORPORATE GOVERNANCE AND THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

General

The business and affairs of the Company are managed under the direction of the board of directors in accordance with the Virginia Stock Corporation Act and the Company’s Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws. Members of the board are kept informed of the Company’s business through discussions with the President and Chief Executive Officer and other officers, by reviewing materials provided to them and by participating in meetings of the board of directors and its committees.

Board Leadership

The positions of Chair of the board of directors and President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company are held by separate persons due to the distinct and time-consuming natures of these roles. The principal role of the President and Chief Executive Officer is to manage the business of the Company in a safe, sound, and profitable manner. The role of the board of directors, including its Chair, is to provide independent oversight of the President and Chief Executive Officer, to oversee the business and affairs of the Company for the benefit of its shareholders, to balance the interests of the Company’s diverse constituencies including shareholders, customers, employees, bank regulators, and communities, and to identify business opportunities for the Bank and Village Bank Mortgage Corporation. Each director of the Company also serves as a director of the Bank. All directors are actively involved in our strategic planning process.

Board’s Role in Risk Oversight

The board of directors oversees risk to be reasonably certain that the Company’s risk management policies, procedures, and practices are consistent with corporate strategy and functioning appropriately.

The board of directors performs its risk oversight in several ways, including through the Bank’s Board Risk Committee. The Board Risk Committee is responsible for providing fiduciary oversight to achieve the Company’s enterprise risk management vision and mission. Enterprise risk management helps achieve this vision by creating a comprehensive approach to anticipate, identify, prioritize, and manage material risks to our business strategies. Specific to credit risk, the Committee assists the board of directors in its oversight of the Bank’s asset quality and loan portfolio management by monitoring the credit risk of the Bank, monitoring the quality, trends and management of the Bank’s loan portfolio, monitoring loan growth and concentrations, approving all loan policies, approving loans according to the Bank’s loan policies, and ensuring processes and controls are in place to ensure compliance with policies and all lending laws and regulations. The board of directors establishes standards for risk management by approving policies that address and mitigate the Company’s most material risks. These include policies addressing credit risk, interest rate risk, capital risk, and liquidity risk, as well as Bank Secrecy Act/Anti-Money-Laundering compliance and cybersecurity. The board of directors also monitors, reviews, and reacts to risk through various reports presented by management, internal and external auditors, and regulatory examiners.

The goal of the Board Risk Committee is to open lines of communication among the directors, executives, and employees. The Committee ensures that management has identified, assessed, and established a risk management infrastructure capable of addressing those risks given the scope and complexity of the Company. These risks include credit, liquidity, accounting, legal, compliance, operational, interest rate, cybersecurity, strategic and reputational risks. The Committee also oversees the division of risk-related responsibilities to each board committee as clearly as possible and performs a gap analysis to determine that the oversight of any risks is not missed.

The board of directors conducts certain risk oversight activities through its other committees with direct oversight over specific functional areas. The risk oversight activities of the Audit, Compensation, Executive, and Nominating and Corporate Governance Committees are described in the “Committees of the Board” section of this Proxy Statement below; in the “Executive Compensation” section, beginning on page 15 and in the “Audit Information” section, beginning on page 39. The board of directors is empowered to create additional standing and ad hoc committees to facilitate regular monitoring and deeper analysis of matters that may arise from time to time. The board of directors also

10

Table of Contents

meets regularly in an outside directors’ session to discuss a variety of topics, including risk, without members of management present.

In the foregoing ways, the full board of directors is able to monitor the Company’s risk profile and risk management activities on an ongoing basis.

Independence of the Directors

The board of directors has determined that eight of its nine current directors are independent as defined by applicable SEC rules and the listing standards of the Nasdaq Stock Market (“Nasdaq”): Craig D. Bell, Ronald L. Carey, Jr., Devon M. Henry, Frank E. Jenkins, Jr., Mary Margaret Kastelberg, Michael A. Katzen, Selena T. Sanderson, and Michael L. Toalson. In reaching this conclusion, the board of directors considered that the Company and its subsidiary conduct business with companies of which certain members of the board of directors or members of their immediate families are or were directors or officers.

There were no other relationships between the Company and its directors except as disclosed below under “Certain Relationships and Related Transactions.”

Annual Meeting Attendance

The Company encourages members of the board of directors to attend the Annual Meeting of Shareholders. All directors serving at the time attended the May 23, 2023 Annual Meeting.

Board and Committee Meeting Attendance

Each director is expected to devote sufficient time, energy, and attention to ensure diligent performance of the director’s duties, including attendance at board and committee meetings. There were twelve meetings of the Company’s board of directors and twelve meetings of the Bank’s board of directors in 2023. Each director attended at least 75% of the aggregate number of meetings of the board and meetings of committees of which the director was a member during 2023.

Executive Sessions

The board of directors generally holds executive sessions of non-employee directors at each board meeting. At least one executive session is held for the purpose of formally evaluating the President and Chief Executive Officer. Any independent director can request that an executive session be scheduled.

Committees of the Board

The Company has an Audit Committee, Compensation Committee, Executive Committee, and Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee. The Bank also has a Board Risk Committee.

Audit Committee

The Company’s Audit Committee assists the board of directors in fulfilling its oversight responsibility to the shareholders relating to the integrity of the Company’s financial statements, compliance with legal and regulatory requirements and the qualifications, independence, and the performance of the internal audit function. The Audit Committee is directly responsible for the appointment, compensation, retention, and oversight of the work of the independent registered public accounting firm engaged for the purpose of preparing or issuing an audit report or performing other audit, review, or attestation services for the Company. The board of directors has adopted a written charter for the Audit Committee. A copy of the charter of the Audit Committee is available on the “Investor Relations” page of the Company’s website at www.villagebank.com under the heading “Corporate Information - Governance Documents.”

11

Table of Contents

The Audit Committee is composed of Frank E. Jenkins, Jr. (Chair), Ronald L. Carey, Jr., Selena T. Sanderson, and Michael L. Toalson. The board of directors, in its business judgment, has determined that such directors are independent as defined by Nasdaq’s listing standards and SEC regulations. The board of directors also has determined that all of the members of the Audit Committee have sufficient knowledge in financial and auditing matters to serve on the Audit Committee and that Mr. Jenkins qualifies as audit committee financial experts as defined by SEC regulations.

The Audit Committee met four times in 2023. For additional information regarding the Audit Committee, see “Audit Information – Audit Committee Report” on page 39.

Compensation Committee

The Company’s Compensation Committee assists the board of directors in fulfilling their responsibility to the shareholders to ensure that the Company’s officers, key executives, and board members are compensated in accordance with the Company’s total compensation objectives and executive compensation policy. The Compensation Committee advises and recommends for approval compensation policies, strategies, and pay levels necessary to support organizational objectives. The board of directors has adopted a written charter for the Compensation Committee. A copy of the charter of the Compensation Committee is available on the “Investor Relations” page of the Company’s website at www.villagebank.com under the heading “Corporation Information - Governance Documents.”

The Compensation Committee is composed of Michael A. Katzen (Chair), Craig D. Bell, Ronald L. Carey, Jr., Devon M. Henry, and Mary Margaret Kastelberg, all of whom the board in its business judgment has determined are independent as defined by Nasdaq’s listing standards and SEC regulations.

The Compensation Committee met four times in 2023. For additional information regarding the Compensation Committee, see “Executive Compensation” on page 15.

Executive Committee

When the board of directors is not in session, the Executive Committee is authorized to exercise all the board of director’s power except for certain matters reserved to the board by law, such as approval of an amendment of the articles of incorporation, a plan of merger or consolidation or the issuance of stock.

The Executive Committee is composed of Craig D. Bell (Chair), James E. Hendricks, Jr., Frank E. Jenkins, Jr., Michael A. Katzen, and Michael L. Toalson. The Executive Committee met twelve times in 2023.

Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee

The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee is responsible for selecting and recommending to the board of directors with respect to (i) nominees for election at the Annual Meeting of Shareholders, and (ii) nominees to fill board vacancies. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee is responsible for assisting the board in identifying individuals qualified to become board members and to recommend to the board nominees for directors; to oversee the board’s compliance with its ethics program as set forth in the Company’s Code of Ethics, Conflicts of Interest and Bribery Policy; to review and make recommendations to the board on matters involving the general operation of the board, including the size and composition of the board and the structure and composition of board committees; to oversee an annual assessment of the board’s performance as well as peer evaluation of the board and its committees; to recommend board committee appointments and removals; to recommend to the board a determination of each directors’ independence under applicable rules and guidelines; to recommend to the board candidates for new local board appointments; and to consider corporate governance issues that may arise from time to time and make recommendations to the board with respect thereto. The board of directors has adopted a written charter for the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, a copy of which is available on the “Investor Relations” page of the Company’s website at www.villagebank.com under the heading “Corporate Information - Governance Documents.”

The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee is composed of Craig D. Bell (Chair), Devon M. Henry, Frank E. Jenkins, Jr., Michael A. Katzen, and Selena T. Sanderson, all of whom the board of directors in its business judgment

12

Table of Contents

has determined are independent as defined by Nasdaq’s listing standards and SEC regulations. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee met two times in 2023.

Board Risk Committee

The Bank’s Board Risk Committee is responsible for providing fiduciary oversight to achieve the Company’s and Bank’s enterprise risk management vision and mission, as described in the Board’s Role in Risk Oversight on page 10.

The Board Risk Committee is composed of Mary Margaret Kastelberg (Chair), Craig D. Bell, Ronald L. Carey, Jr., Devon M. Henry, Frank E. Jenkins, Jr., Michael A. Katzen, Michael L. Toalson, Selena T. Sanderson and James E. Hendricks, Jr. This Committee met a total of four times in 2023.

Director Nomination Process

In identifying potential nominees, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee takes into account such factors as it deems appropriate, including the current composition of the board of directors, the range of talents, experiences and skills that would best complement those that are already represented on the board of directors, the balance of management and independent directors and the need for specialized expertise. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee considers candidates for board membership suggested by its members and by management, and the independent directors will also consider candidates suggested informally by a shareholder of the Company. In the consideration of director nominees, including any nominee that a shareholder may submit, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee considers, at a minimum, the following factors for new directors, or the continued service of existing directors:

Shareholders entitled to vote for the election of directors may recommend candidates for the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee to consider formally in connection with an annual meeting as long as the recommendation is made on or before the last date on which a shareholder may nominate an individual for election to the board of directors under the Company’s Bylaws.

Under the process used by the Company for selecting new board candidates, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee identifies the need to add a new board member with specific qualifications or to fill a vacancy on the board. The Committee will initiate a search, working with staff support and seeking input from board members and executive management, hiring a search firm, if necessary, and considering any candidates recommended by shareholders. An initial slate of candidates that will satisfy criteria and otherwise qualify for membership on the board may be presented to the board of directors. A determination is made as to whether board members have relationships with preferred candidates and can initiate contacts. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee interviews prospective candidates. The board of directors meets to conduct further interviews of prospective candidates, if necessary or appropriate, and to consider and recommend final candidates for approval.

13

Table of Contents

Director Compensation

Members of the board of directors of the Company do not receive cash fees for their service as directors. However, all of the directors of the Company also serve as directors of the Bank, and the non-employee directors are compensated for their service on the Bank board. In 2023, the Chair of the board of directors of the Bank received a $26,000 retainer payable semi-annually in increments of $13,000. The Chair of the Compensation Committee received a $24,000 retainer payable semi-annually in increments of $12,000. The Chairs of the Audit Committee and Board Risk Committee each received a $22,000 retainer payable semi-annually in increments of $11,000. Each of the remaining non-employee members of the board of directors of the Bank received a $20,000 retainer payable semi-annually in increments of $10,000. Directors of the Company also received awards of time-based restricted stock in connection with the Company’s long-term incentive plan as described below. Directors do not receive attendance fees for board or committee meetings.

Board members who are also officers of the Company or the Bank receive compensation only for their executive roles. They do not receive additional compensation for board service or attending committee meetings.

In 2005, the Bank adopted the Outside Directors Deferral Plan under which non-employee directors of the Bank have the opportunity to defer receipt of all or a portion of their compensation until retirement or departure from the board of directors. Any amounts deferred under this plan are maintained in an account for the benefit of the director and are credited annually with interest on the cash portion of the deferred amount at a market rate established at the beginning of each plan year (6.54% for 2023).

The following table provides information concerning the compensation of all non-employee directors for the year ended December 31, 2023:

⁽¹⁾ All fees earned by the director were deferred for the year ended December 31, 2023.

⁽²⁾ Represents the grant date fair value of the awards computed in accordance with the Financial Accounting Standards Board’s Accounting Standards Codification Topic 718, Compensation - Stock Compensation. These awards are part of the long-term incentive plan described on page 17 and consist of time-based restricted stock. The time-based awards vest in equal installments over a period of three years. The grant date fair value per share was $38.83 and was based on the Company’s common stock closing price on November 1, 2023.

⁽³⁾ Represents the grant date fair value of the awards computed in accordance with the Financial Accounting Standards Board’s Accounting Standards Codification Topic 718, Compensation - Stock Compensation. These awards are part of the long-term incentive plan described on page 17 and consist of time-based restricted stock awarded on January 3, 2023 and November 1, 2023. The time-based awards vest in equal installments over a period of three years. The grant date fair value per share was $52.00 and $38.83 and was based on the Company’s common stock closing price on January 3, 2023 and November 1, 2023 respectively.

(4) Ronald L. Carey and Selena T. Sanderson joined the Company’s board of directors effective January 1, 2023.

(5) George R. Whittemore retired from the Company’s board of directors effective May 23, 2023.

​

14

Table of Contents

Communications with Directors

Any director may be contacted by writing to the named director, c/o Village Bank and Trust Financial Corp., 13319 Midlothian Turnpike, P.O. Box 330, Midlothian, Virginia 23113. Communications to the non-management directors as a group may be sent to the same address, c/o the Corporate Secretary of the Company. The Company promptly forwards all such correspondence to the indicated directors.

EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

Introduction

This section of the Proxy Statement provides an overview and explanation of the material information relevant to understanding the objectives, policies, and the philosophy underlying the Company’s compensation programs for its executives, focusing on the named executive officers (referred to as “NEOs”). The NEOs for 2023 were as follows:

​

This section of the Proxy Statement is intended to inform shareholders about certain incentive compensation plans as well as components of compensation paid to the NEOs. Following this section, the Company provides additional information relating to executive compensation in a series of tables, including important explanatory footnotes and narrative.

At the May 23, 2023 Annual Meeting of the Company’s shareholders, the shareholders voted to approve, on an advisory basis, the compensation of the Company’s NEOs, as described in the “Executive Compensation” section, the tabular disclosure regarding such compensation, and the accompanying narrative disclosure, set forth in the Company’s Proxy Statement. The vote was 1,058,882 shares “For” (92.09% of the shares voted), 13,336 shares “Against” (1.16% of the shares voted), and 77,658 shares “Abstained” (6.75% of the shares voted).

The Compensation Committee took into account the result of the shareholder vote in determining executive compensation policies and decisions since the 2023 Annual Meeting. The Compensation Committee viewed the vote as an expression of the shareholders’ overall satisfaction with the Company’s current executive compensation programs. While the Compensation Committee considered this shareholder satisfaction in determining to continue the Company’s executive compensation programs, decisions regarding incremental changes in individual compensation were made in consideration of the factors described below.

Compensation Policy and Objectives

The Compensation Committee’s compensation philosophy with respect to its executive officers is one of pay for performance. Accordingly, an executive officer’s annual compensation consists of a base salary, an annual monetary bonus and stock-based compensation. The annual monetary bonus is utilized to reward our executives for achieving short-term financial and productivity goals, and stock-based compensation is utilized for achieving long-term financial and productivity goals. The Compensation Committee evaluates all compensation plans to ensure that they do not encourage unnecessary or excessive risk.

The Compensation Committee’s primary objective is to provide competitive levels of compensation to attract, retain and reward outstanding executive officers. In a highly competitive community banking marketplace, excellent leadership is essential. Our executive officers are expected to manage the business of the Company in a manner that promotes its growth and profitability for the benefit of our shareholders. To that end, we believe that:

15

Table of Contents

Compensation Consultants

The Compensation Committee engaged Gallagher USA in 2023 as its independent executive compensation advisor. The compensation advisor advises the Compensation Committee on matters relating to compensation benchmarking, staying current with regulatory and legal issues related to executive compensation, and designing appropriate compensation programs. As part of its consultation with the Compensation Committee, the compensation advisor provides the Committee with peer group comparisons. The Compensation Committee has direct access to the consultant and control over its engagement. The Compensation Committee has determined that the work of the compensation advisor and its employees as compensation consultants to the Company has not created any conflict of interest.

Base Salary

The Company believes that a competitive salary for executive management is essential. Furthermore, flexibility to adapt to the particular skills of an individual or the specific needs of the Company is required. Proposed salary adjustments for executive management are presented to the Compensation Committee by the Chief Executive Officer, typically during the fourth quarter. The Compensation Committee reviews the recommendations, makes any further adjustments, and generally approves the recommendations with input from the Compensation Committee’s external compensation advisor. Recommendations regarding adjustments to Mr. Hendricks’ salary are reviewed and, if appropriate, approved by the board of directors. There were generally modest salary increases for the NEOs during 2023. The base salaries for 2023 and 2022 were as follows:

​

Short-Term Incentive Compensation

In 2022 and again in 2023, the board of directors approved a short-term incentive plan to reward executives for creating value for the Company by achieving corporate and individual performance goals during 2022 and 2023, respectively. The corporate goals included measures of net income before taxes and incentive accrual, noninterest expense to average assets for the Bank, average relationship deposits, average core loans, and noninterest income to budget for the Bank. The Compensation Committee was given the responsibility to administer and implement the plan. Under the plan, the

16

Table of Contents

following incentive amounts were set for each of the NEOs if certain Company performance goals were attained, adjusted for the NEO’s individual performance results against the plan:

​

Actual awards would be adjusted upward or downward based on actual performance results versus goal and individual performance relative to goal. The Company performance goals were met above target in 2022 and the following awards were paid to NEOs in March 2023:

​

In 2023, the Company performance goals of net income before taxes and incentive accrual as well as average relationship deposits were not met, while the goals for average core loans and noninterest income to budget for the Bank were met above threshold, and noninterest expense to average assets for the Bank was met above target, and the following awards were paid to NEOs in March 2024:

​

​

Long-Term Incentive Plans

2021 Long-Term Incentive Plan

On October 26, 2021, the board approved a Long-Term Incentive Plan under which directors were awarded time-vested restricted stock. Executives were awarded time-vested restricted stock and performance-based restricted stock units. The time-vested restricted stock awards vest annually with 33.333% vesting on each of November 1, 2022, 2023 and 2024. The performance-based restricted stock units can be earned based on performance versus goals for Consolidated Return on Tangible Common Equity for 2022-2023 with shares issued in 2024.

​

​

​

​

17

Table of Contents

The Company’s performance goal for the 2021 Long-Term Incentive Plan of Consolidated Return on Tangible Common Equity was based on a two-year performance period that ended on December 31, 2023. The performance goal was met above the target level, and the restricted stock units vested, and shares of common stock were issued as follows:

Consolidated Return on Tangible Common Equity

​

(1) The amount represents the fair value of the awards on the vesting date calculated in accordance with Financial Accounting Standards Board’s Accounting Standards Codification Topic 718, Compensation - Stock Compensation. The fair value per share was $41.79 and was based on the Company’s common stock closing price on March 22, 2024, the date of vesting.

2022 Long-Term Incentive Plan

On October 25, 2022, the board approved a Long-Term Incentive Plan under which directors were awarded time-vested restricted stock. Executives were awarded time-vested restricted stock and performance-based restricted stock units. The time-vested restricted stock awards vest annually with 33.333% vesting on each of November 1, 2023, 2024 and 2025. The performance-based restricted stock units can be earned based on performance versus goals for Consolidated Return on Tangible Common Equity for 2023-2024 with shares issued in 2025.

The Company’s performance goal of Consolidated Return on Tangible Common Equity is based on a two-year performance period that will end on December 31, 2024 and is currently tracking towards the target threshold. The table below details the awards levels:

Consolidated Return on Tangible Common Equity⁽¹⁾

​

(1) The performance-based restricted stock awards will vest on December 31, 2024, based on the Company’s average consolidated return on tangible common equity for fiscal years 2023 and 2024. The Company is currently tracking towards the target threshold as of December 31, 2023.

​

2023 Long-Term Incentive Plan

On October 24, 2023, the board approved a Long-Term Incentive Plan under which directors were awarded time-vested restricted stock. Executives were awarded time-vested restricted stock and performance-based restricted stock units. The time-vested restricted stock awards vest annually with 33.333% vesting on each of November 1, 2024, 2025 and 2026. The performance-based restricted stock units can be earned based on performance versus goals for Consolidated Return on Tangible Common Equity for 2024-2025 with shares issued in 2026.

In granting the stock awards, the Compensation Committee asked its external compensation advisor to provide a recommendation regarding incentive stock awards for executive management and directors. The Compensation Committee’s advisor recommended stock awards and/or stock units for executives based on the Company’s executive compensation philosophy statement. As a result of this evaluation, the Compensation Committee and board approved a combination of time-vested restricted stock and performance-based restricted stock units in 2023. The number of shares is reported below under Grants of Plan-Based Awards in 2023. The stock-based compensation for the NEOs shown in the Summary Compensation Table for 2023 includes the target value of the performance-based restricted stock units as of the date of grant.

18

Table of Contents

Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan

We believe that retirement compensation plays an important role in retaining key executives, as well as helping them provide for retirement. The Compensation Committee engaged an independent compensation advisor to analyze the total retirement benefits provided by the Company and/or the Bank and Social Security to employees with various levels of compensation and years of service so that the Compensation Committee could determine the projected replacement ratio of income at retirement compared with active employment. Because of limits under our qualified retirement plan on the amount of deferrals that our executives can make, several of our executives can expect to have a lower retirement replacement ratio than we have targeted for all employees. Consequently, as a matter of “pension equity,” we have adopted a supplemental plan, which should provide a benefit for designated executives that will help approach the targeted retirement replacement ratio.

Under the Bank’s Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan, the Bank has agreed to provide a supplemental retirement benefit of $50,000 annually for 20 years to Mr. Hendricks and a benefit of $25,000 annually for 15 years to Mr. Morehead. Other than Mr. Hendricks, the participants are fully vested in their respective benefits. Mr. Hendricks is vested in a benefit equal to $25,000 annually for 15 years. The remainder of Mr. Hendricks’s benefit, which was awarded in connection with his promotion to President and Chief Executive Officer in 2020, is subject to vesting and requires Mr. Hendricks to remain employed by the Company for a term of 90 months beginning December 31, 2020. Under the plan, each participant’s payments will begin on the later of the date of his termination of employment with the Company or the date he would otherwise have completed his service requirement. In the event of a pre-termination death, the executive’s named beneficiary receives the benefit under the applicable payout schedule. In the event of a post-termination death, the executive’s named beneficiary receives any remaining benefit payments under the applicable payout schedule.

Employment and Change of Control Agreements with Named Executive Officers

Securing the continued service of key executives is essential to the successful future of the Company. Employment agreements and change of control agreements assist the Company by providing security to key executives. The Company has employment agreements with Mr. Hendricks, Mr. Morehead and Mr. Kaloski.

Mr. Hendricks’ employment agreement with the Company was entered into on July 28, 2020. The agreement automatically renewed for an additional 12 months on August 14, 2023 so that the current term will expire on August 14, 2025. The agreement will automatically extend for an additional 12-month period on each August 14^th, unless either party gives notice of nonrenewal at least 90 days prior to the renewal date. Pursuant to the agreement, Mr. Hendricks is entitled to receive an annual base salary of not less than $300,000. His current base salary is $364,400. The Company’s board of directors or compensation committee will review his base salary at least annually and may increase his salary in its discretion. Mr. Hendricks is entitled to an annual performance bonus based on a target of 30% of his annual base salary, provided that he meets the performance goals established by the board of directors or compensation committee. He is also entitled to stock-based awards in such amounts as may be determined by the Company’s board of directors or compensation committee in accordance with the terms and conditions of the applicable incentive plans in effect for senior executives of the Company and the Bank. Mr. Hendricks is also entitled to participate in the Village Bank Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan as described above. Pursuant to his agreement, if Mr. Hendricks is terminated without “Cause” (as defined in his agreement) or resigns for “Good Reason” (as defined in his agreement), he will be paid two times the sum of (i) his annual base salary in effect as of the date of termination, plus (ii) an annual bonus amount equal to 30% of such annual base salary. If, within 24 months following a change of control of the Company, he is terminated by the Company without Cause, he terminates his employment for Good Reason or the Company fails to renew his agreement, he will be paid a lump sum cash payment equal to 2.99 times the sum of his annual base salary as of the date of termination and an annual bonus amount equal to 30% of his annual base salary.

​

Mr. Morehead’s employment agreement with the Bank was entered into on September 4, 2020, and amended November 2, 2023 and March 26, 2024. The agreement automatically renewed for an additional 12 months on September 4, 2023 so that the current term will expire on September 4, 2025. The agreement will automatically extend for an additional 12-month period on each September 4^th, unless either party gives notice of nonrenewal at least 90 days prior to the renewal date. Pursuant to the agreement, Mr. Morehead is entitled to receive an annual base salary of not less than $230,000. His

19

Table of Contents

current base salary is $230,000. The Bank’s board of directors or compensation committee will review his base salary at least annually and may increase his salary in its discretion. Mr. Morehead is entitled to an annual performance bonus based on a target of 25% of his annual base salary, provided that he meets the performance goals established by the board of directors or compensation committee. His annual performance bonus for 2023 was based on a target of 25% of his base salary. He is also entitled to stock-based awards in such amounts as may be determined by the Bank’s board of directors or compensation committee in accordance with the terms and conditions of the applicable incentive plans in effect for senior executives of the Bank. Mr. Morehead is also entitled to participate in the Village Bank Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan as described above. Pursuant to his agreement, if Mr. Morehead is terminated without “Cause” (as defined in his agreement) or resigns for “Good Reason” (as defined in his agreement), he will be paid the sum of (i) his annual base salary in effect as of the date of termination, plus (ii) an annual bonus amount equal to 25% of such annual base salary. If, within 24 months following a change of control of the Company, he is terminated by the Company without Cause, he terminates his employment for Good Reason or the Company fails to renew his agreement, he will be paid a lump sum cash payment equal to two times the sum of his annual base salary as of the date of termination and an annual bonus amount equal to 25% of his annual base salary.

​

Mr. Kaloski’s employment agreement with the Bank was entered into on February 22, 2022, and amended November 2, 2023 and March 26, 2024. The agreement automatically renewed for an additional 12 months on February 22, 2024 so that the current term will expire on February 22, 2026. The agreement will automatically extend for an additional 12-month period on each February 22^nd, unless either party gives notice of nonrenewal at least 90 days prior to the renewal date. Pursuant to the agreement, Mr. Kaloski is entitled to receive an annual base salary of not less than $224,000. His current base salary is $224,000. The Bank’s board of directors or compensation committee will review his base salary at least annually and may increase his salary in its discretion. Mr. Kaloski is entitled to an annual performance bonus based on a target of 25% of his annual base salary, provided that he meets the performance goals established by the board of directors or compensation committee. His annual performance bonus for 2023 was based on a target of 20% of his base salary. He is also entitled to stock-based awards in such amounts as may be determined by the Bank’s board of directors or compensation committee in accordance with the terms and conditions of the applicable incentive plans in effect for senior executives of the Bank. Pursuant to his agreement, if Mr. Kaloski is terminated without “Cause” (as defined in his agreement) or resigns for “Good Reason” (as defined in his agreement), he will be paid the sum of (i) his annual base salary in effect as of the date of termination, plus (ii) an annual bonus amount equal to 25% of such annual base salary. If, within 24 months following a change of control of the Company, he is terminated by the Company without Cause, he terminates his employment for Good Reason or the Company fails to renew his agreement, he will be paid a lump sum cash payment equal to two times the sum of his annual base salary as of the date of termination and an annual bonus amount equal to 25% of his annual base salary.

​

Other Benefits and Agreements

All NEOs are eligible to participate in the health and welfare benefit programs available to all of the Company’s employees. These programs include medical, dental, and vision coverages, short and long-term disability plans, and life insurance.

In addition, the Company has a 401(k) profit sharing plan. The NEOs participate in this plan and are fully vested in their own contributions. The Company’s discretionary matching contributions cliff vest 100% at two years.

The Company and certain members of the board of directors and NEOs are parties to split dollar life insurance agreements or bank owned life insurance (“BOLI”) agreements. Generally, under each split dollar or BOLI agreement, the Company has life insurance on the executive’s life. Upon death, a death benefit will be paid to the executive’s designated beneficiary, or to his estate, as may be applicable, under the provisions of the applicable agreement, and a death benefit will also be paid to the Company. Any death benefit paid to the Company will be in excess of any death benefit paid to the insured executive’s designated beneficiary.

All NEOs have access to a Non-Qualified Deferred Compensation plan, which allows a select group of management and highly compensated employees to save additional pre-tax dollars beyond the current retirement plan limits. Participants may elect to defer dollars from base salary, incentive pay, commissions, and/or 401(k) refunds per the terms of this

20

Table of Contents

program. All participants in the plan are fully vested in their own contributions. James E. Hendricks, Jr. elected to defer a portion of his compensation into the plan in 2023. No other NEOs participated in the plan as of December 31, 2023.

Summary Compensation Table

The following table presents information concerning the compensation of the NEOs for services rendered in all capacities to the Company and the Bank.

⁽¹⁾ The amounts represent the grant date fair value of the awards calculated in accordance with Financial Accounting Standards Board’s Accounting Standards Codification Topic 718, Compensation - Stock Compensation. The 2023 and 2022 stock awards consist of time-based and performance-based restricted stock awards. The performance-based awards in the above table assume the probable outcome of performance conditions is equal to the targeted potential value of the awards. The time-based awards vest over a period of three years and the performance-based awards can be earned over a period of two years. The grant date fair value per share was $38.83 and $49.81 and was based on the Company’s common stock closing price on November 1, 2023 and November 1, 2022, respectively. The Assumptions used in the calculation of these amounts are included in Note 14 of the Company’s audited financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2023 included in the Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 22, 2024.

⁽²⁾ The amounts in this column reflect the short-term incentive compensation awards for 2023 and 2022 performance, which are discussed in further detail beginning on page 16.

⁽³⁾ Amounts shown in the "All Other Compensation" column are detailed in the following table:

​

All Other Compensation

​

​

21

Table of Contents

Plan-Based Awards in 2023

​

The following table sets forth certain information with respect to the amount and value of plan-based awards granted to the NEOs during 2023.

​

Grants of Plan-Based Award in 2023

⁽¹⁾ The amounts represent the grant date fair value of the awards calculated in accordance with Financial Accounting Standards Board’s Accounting Standards Codification Topic 718, Compensation - Stock Compensation. The performance-based awards in the above table assume the probable outcome of performance conditions is equal to the targeted potential value of the awards. The time-based awards vest over a period of three years and the performance-based awards can be earned over a period of two years. The grant date fair value per share was $38.83 and was based on the Company’s common stock closing price on November 1, 2023. The Assumptions used in the calculation of these amounts are included in Note 14 of the Company’s audited financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2023 included in the Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 22, 2024.

​

22

Table of Contents

Outstanding Equity Awards

The following table sets forth certain information with respect to the amount and value of outstanding equity awards on an award-by-award basis held by the NEOs at December 31, 2023.

Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year-End

⁽¹⁾ The market value of the stock awards that have not vested was determined based on the per share closing price of the Company’s common stock on December 31, 2023 ($39.86).

⁽²⁾ Time based restricted stock awards and performance based restricted stock unit awards under the 2021 Long Term Incentive Plan described beginning on page 17.

⁽³⁾ Time based restricted stock awards and performance based restricted stock unit awards under the 2022 Long Term Incentive Plan described beginning on page 18.

⁽⁴⁾ Time based restricted stock awards and performance based restricted stock unit awards under the 2023 Long Term Incentive Plan described beginning on page 18.

​

Equity Compensation Plans

The following table summarizes information, as of December 31, 2023, relating to the Company’s stock-based compensation plans, pursuant to which grants of options to acquire shares of common stock may be granted from time to time.

​

​

23

Table of Contents

Pay versus Performance

The following table provides information on total compensation and compensation “actually paid,” as determined based on SEC methodology, to the Company’s principal executive officer (“PEO”) and to the remaining NEOs for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2023, December 31, 2022, and December 31, 2021, and the cumulative total shareholder return (“TSR”) on the Company’s common stock and net income over the same time period.