false 0001657642 0001657642 2022-03-31 2022-03-31
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
 

 
FORM 8-K
 
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
 
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): March 31, 2022
 

 
PARKWAY ACQUISITION CORP.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
 
Virginia
(State or other jurisdiction
of incorporation)
333-209052
(Commission File Number)
47-5486027
(I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.)
 
101 Jacksonville Circle
Floyd, Virginia
(Address of principal executive offices)
24091
(Zip Code)
 
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (540) 745-4191
 
Not Applicable
(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)
 
 
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:
 
☐         Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
☐         Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
☐         Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
☐         Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))
 
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
 
Title of each class
Trading
Symbol(s)
Name of each exchange
on which registered
None
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
 
Emerging growth company  ☐
 
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act.  ☐
 
 

 
Item 5.02         Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.
 
On March 31, 2022, Skyline National Bank (the “Bank”), the wholly-owned subsidiary of Parkway Acquisition Corp. (the “Company”), entered into supplemental executive retirement plans for the benefit of certain of its executive officers, including Blake M. Edwards, Jr., Lori C. Vaught, Beth R. Worrell and Jonathan L. Kruckow, each as summarized below.
 
Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan for Blake Edwards
 
The supplemental executive retirement plan for the benefit of Blake M. Edwards, Jr., the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company and the Bank, provides for a retirement benefit of $88,000 per year, payable monthly and continuing for his lifetime, beginning upon the later of Mr. Edwards’s separation from service from the Bank or reaching age 65, subject to the vesting schedule set forth in the plan. Mr. Edwards will be fully vested in his retirement benefit as of June 11, 2028. In addition, Mr. Edwards’s plan provides that Mr. Edwards’s retirement benefit will be fully vested upon a “Change in Control” (as defined in the plan).
 
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the plan provides that upon Mr. Edwards’s death while in service to the Bank, Mr. Edwards’s beneficiary will be entitled to receive the retirement benefit as if Mr. Edwards had survived to age 65, payable in 180 equal monthly payments. If Mr. Edwards is terminated by the Bank for “Cause,” the plan will terminate and no benefits will be payable under thereunder.
 
The full text of Mr. Edwards’s plan is attached as Exhibit 10.1 to this report and is incorporated by reference into this Item 5.02.
 
Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan for Lori Vaught
 
The supplemental executive retirement for the benefit of Lori C. Vaught, the Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of the Company and the Bank, provides for a normal retirement benefit of $84,000 per year, payable monthly and continuing for her lifetime, upon Ms. Vaught’s separation from service from the Bank after reaching age 65. In addition, Ms. Vaught’s plan provides that Ms. Vaught’s normal retirement benefit will be fully vested upon a “Change in Control” (as defined in the plan).
 
If Ms. Vaught should separate from service from the Bank after reaching age 60 but before reaching age 65, she will be entitled to a prorated early retirement benefit (calculated in accordance with the plan), payable monthly and continuing for her lifetime, beginning after she reaches age 65.
 
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the plan provides that (i) upon Ms. Vaught’s separation from service as a result of a disability (as defined in the plan) while actively employed by the Bank, she will be entitled to a prorated retirement benefit (calculated in accordance with the plan), payable monthly and continuing for her lifetime, beginning after she reaches age 65, and (ii) upon Ms. Vaught’s death while in service to the Bank, Ms. Vaught’s beneficiary will be entitled to receive the normal retirement benefit as if Ms. Vaught had survived to age 65, payable in 180 equal monthly payments. If Ms. Vaught is terminated by the Bank for “Cause,” the plan will terminate and no benefits will be payable under thereunder.
 
The full text of Ms. Vaught’s plan is attached as Exhibit 10.2 to this report and is incorporated by reference into this Item 5.02.
 
Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan for Beth Worrell
 
The supplemental executive retirement for the benefit of Beth R. Worrell, the Executive Vice President and Chief Risk Officer of the Bank, provides for a normal retirement benefit of $60,000 per year, payable monthly and continuing for her lifetime, upon Ms. Worrell’s separation from service from the Bank after reaching age 65. In addition, Ms. Worrell’s plan provides that Ms. Worrell’s normal retirement benefit will be fully vested upon a “Change in Control” (as defined in the plan).
 
 

 
If Ms. Worrell should separate from service from the Bank after reaching age 60 but before reaching age 65, she will be entitled to a prorated early retirement benefit (calculated in accordance with the plan), payable monthly and continuing for her lifetime, beginning after she reaches age 65.
 
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the plan provides that (i) upon Ms. Worrell’s separation from service as a result of a disability (as defined in the plan) while actively employed by the Bank, she will be entitled to a prorated retirement benefit (calculated in accordance with the plan), payable monthly and continuing for her lifetime, beginning after she reaches age 65, and (ii) upon Ms. Worrell’s death while in service to the Bank, Ms. Worrell’s beneficiary will be entitled to receive the normal retirement benefit as if Ms. Worrell had survived to age 65, payable in 180 equal monthly payments. If Ms. Worrell is terminated by the Bank for “Cause,” the plan will terminate and no benefits will be payable under thereunder.
 
The full text of Ms. Worrell’s plan is attached as Exhibit 10.3 to this report and is incorporated by reference into this Item 5.02.
 
Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan for Jonathan Kruckow
 
The supplemental executive retirement for the benefit of Jonathan L. Kruckow, the Executive Vice President and Regional President, Virginia, of the Bank, provides for a normal retirement benefit of $60,000 per year, payable in 180 equal monthly payments, upon Mr. Kruckow’s termination of employment with the Bank after reaching age 60. In the event of a “Change in Control” (as defined in the plan), Mr. Kruckow will be entitled to receive his normal retirement benefit, payable in 180 equal monthly payments, beginning after the later Mr. Kruckow’s termination of employment with the Bank or reaching age 60.
 
Mr. Kruckow’s plan further provides that (i) upon Mr. Kruckow’s termination of employment due to a disability (as defined in the plan), he will be entitled to a prorated retirement benefit (calculated in accordance with the plan), payable in 180 equal monthly payments, beginning after he reaches age 60, and (ii) upon Mr. Kruckow’s death while employed by the Bank, Mr. Kruckow’s beneficiary will be entitled to receive the normal retirement benefit, payable in 180 equal monthly payments. If Mr. Kruckow is terminated by the Bank for “Cause,” the plan will terminate and no benefits will be payable under thereunder.
 
The full text of Mr. Kruckow’s plan is attached as Exhibit 10.4 to this report and is incorporated by reference into this Item 5.02.
 
Item 9.01          Financial Statements and Exhibits.
 
(d) Exhibits.
 
    Exhibit No.                  Description
 
10.1                              Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan, dated March 31, 2022, for the benefit of Blake M. Edwards, Jr.
 
10.2                              Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan, dated March 31, 2022, for the benefit of Lori C. Vaught.
 
10.3                              Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan, dated March 31, 2022, for the benefit of Beth R. Worrell.
 
10.4                              Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan, dated March 31, 2022, for the benefit of Jonathan L. Kruckow.
 
104                               Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document)
 
 

 
SIGNATURES
 
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
 
 
PARKWAY ACQUISITION CORP.
  (Registrant)  
       
Date: April 6, 2022
By:
/s/ Blake M. Edwards
Blake M. Edwards
President and Chief Executive Officer
 
 

Exhibit 10.1

 

 

SKYLINE NATIONAL BANK

SUPPLEMENTAL EXECUTIVE RETIREMENT PLAN

 

This Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan (the “Plan”) is adopted as of this 31st day of March, 2022 with an effective date of January 1, 2022 (the “Effective Date”) by Skyline National Bank, a federally chartered national bank (the “Employer” or the “Bank”) for the benefit of Blake Edwards (the “Executive”).

 

WHEREAS, the purpose of the Plan is to provide certain supplemental nonqualified pension benefits to certain executives who have contributed substantially to the success of the Employer and the Employer desires to incentivize the executives to continue in its employ;

 

WHEREAS, the experience of the Executive, his knowledge of the affairs of the Bank, and his reputation and contacts in the industry are so valuable that assurance of his continued services is essential for the future growth and profits of the Bank and it is in the best interests of the Bank to arrange terms of continued employment for the Executive so as to reasonably assure his remaining in the Bank’s employment during his lifetime or until the age of retirement; and

 

WHEREAS, this Plan is intended to be and shall be administered as an income tax nonqualified, unfunded plan primarily for the purpose of providing deferred compensation for a select group of management or highly compensated employees within the meaning of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (“ERISA”), Sections 201(2), 301(a)(3), and 401(a)(1). This Plan is intended to comply with the requirements of Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”) and, accordingly, the intent of the parties hereto is that the Plan shall be operated and interpreted consistent with the requirements thereof.

 

ARTICLE 1 DEFINITIONS

 

Whenever used in this Plan, the following terms have the meanings specified:

 

1.1.         “Account Balance” means, as of any date, the liability that should be accrued by the Bank under generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) on behalf of the Executive.

 

1.2         “Annuity Contract” means the following annuity contract(s) purchased and solely owned by the Bank: Flexible Premium Indexed Deferred Annuity Contracts issued by national Western Life Insurance Company, contract #01E017216, and any such other annuity contracts or other asset as the Bank may purchase from time to time as a Replacement Annuity under this Plan.

 

1.3           “Beneficiary” means the person or entity designated, or otherwise determined in accordance with Article 4, in writing by the Executive to receive death benefits pursuant to this Plan in the event of his death.

 

1.4         “Beneficiary Designation Form” means the form established from time to time by the Plan Administrator that the Executive completes, signs, and returns to the Plan Administrator to designate one or more Beneficiaries.

 

 

 

1.5         “BHC” means Parkway Acquisition Corp., a Virginia corporation.

 

1.6         “Board” means the Board of Directors of the Bank.

 

1.7         A “Change in Control” shall be deemed to have taken place if any of the following takes place with respect to the Bank or the BHC:

 

(a)         any person or entity, including a “group” as defined in Section 13(d)(3) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, a wholly-owned subsidiary thereof, or any employee benefit plan of the Employer or the BHC or any of its subsidiaries becomes the beneficial owner of Employer or BHC securities having fifty percent (50%) or more of the combined voting power of the then outstanding securities of the Employer or BHC that may be cast for the election of directors of the Employer or the BHC (other than as a result of the issuance of securities initiated by the Employer or the BHC in the ordinary course of business); or

 

(b)         as the result of, or in connection with, any cash tender or exchange offer, merger or other business combination, sale of assets or contested election, or any combination of the foregoing transactions, the holders of all Employer’s or the BHC’s securities entitled to vote generally in the election of directors of the Employer or the BHC immediately prior to such transaction constitute, following such transaction, less than a majority of the combined voting power of the then-outstanding securities of the Employer or the BHC or any of their respective successor corporations or entities entitled to vote generally in the election of the directors of Employer or the BHC or such other corporation or entity after such transactions; or

 

(c)         such other change of ownership or control event as defined in Treasury Regulation §1.409A-3(i)(5) or any subsequent, applicable Treasury Regulation.

 

(d)         An event described in items (a) through (c) above shall constitute a Change in Control only if the event constitutes a change in control event as defined in Treasury Regulations §1.409A-3(i)(5) or any subsequent, applicable Treasury Regulation.

 

1.8            “Normal Retirement Age” means age sixty-five (65).

 

1.9         “Replacement Annuity” means an annuity policy that is comparable to the Annuity Contract, or an asset of comparable value, in either case with a lifetime withdrawal feature and benefit value comparable to the lifetime withdrawal feature and benefit value of the Annuity Contract as in effect immediately prior to a transfer or surrender of the Annuity Contract.

 

1.10         “Rider” means the income rider attached to the Annuity Contract, if any, as an endorsement or other product feature that operates as an income rider with respect to an Annuity Contract, with such feature providing for a withdrawal or payment feature for the life of the annuitant.

 

 

2

 

1.11         “Separation from Service” means separation from service as that term is defined and interpreted in Section 409A of the Code and Treasury Regulation §1.409A-1(h) or in subsequent regulations or other guidance issued by the Internal Revenue Service.

 

ARTICLE 2

DEFERRED COMPENSATION AND VALUATION OF ACCOUNT

 

 

2.1          Annuity Contract and Other Investments. For purposes of satisfying its obligations to provide benefits under this Plan, the Bank has initially invested in the Annuity Contract and may invest in other investments. However, nothing in this Section shall require the Bank to invest in any particular form of investment.

 

2.2         Ownership of the Annuity Contract. The Bank is the sole owner of the Annuity Contract, and other such investments, and shall have the right to exercise all incidents of ownership. The Bank shall be the beneficiary of the death proceeds of the Annuity Contract. The Bank shall at all times be entitled to the Annuity Contract’s cash surrender value, as that term, or a functionally similar term, is defined in the Annuity Contract.

 

2.3         Right to Annuity Contract. Notwithstanding any provision hereof to the contrary, the Bank shall have the right to sell or surrender any Annuity Contract without terminating this Plan, provided the Bank replaces the Annuity Contract with a Replacement Annuity at the time or sale or surrender. Without limitation, the Annuity Contract at all times shall be the exclusive property of the Bank and shall be subject to the claims of the Bank’s creditors

 

2.4          Rabbi Trust. Employer may establish a “rabbi trust” to which contributions may be made to provide the Employer with a source of funds for purposes of satisfying the obligations of the Employer under the Plan. The trust shall constitute an unfunded arrangement and shall not affect the status of the Plan as an unfunded plan. The Executive and his Beneficiary shall have no beneficial ownership interest in any assets held in the trust.

 

ARTICLE 3

RETIREMENT AND OTHER BENEFITS

 

3.1         Retirement Benefit. Upon the Executive’s Separation from Service for any reason other than death or Cause (defined below), the Executive will be entitled to benefit payments under this Agreement. The amount of the benefit will be the vested portion, according to the Vesting Schedule below, of the amount that is payable at Normal Retirement Age from the Annuity Contract designated under this Plan to benefit the Executive through the Rider (the “Retirement Benefit”), whether designated as a single life payment or joint and survivor payment as elected by the Executive, which Annuity Contract shall not be changed in a manner which would adversely affect the interests of the Executive without written approval from the Executive. The Retirement Benefit will commence on the first (1st) day of the month following the date of the later of (a) Executive’s Separation from Service; or (b) Executive attaining the Normal Retirement Age, payable monthly and continuing for his or her lifetime. This shall be the Executive’s benefit in lieu of any other benefit under this Plan.

 

3

 

The following vesting schedule begins as of the Effective Date of the plan:

 

Vesting Schedule

End of

Plan Year

Vested

Percentage

1

14.29%

2

28.57%

3

42.86%

4

57.14%

5

71.43%

6

85.71%

As of 6/11/2028

100.00%

 

3.2         Preretirement Death Benefit. Upon death of the Executive while in service to the Employer, the Employer shall pay to the Executive’s Beneficiary the Retirement Benefit as if the Executive had survived to Normal Retirement Age, payable in one hundred eighty (180) equal monthly payments commencing no later than sixty (60) days from the date of death.

 

3.3         Postretirement Death Benefit.

 

(a)         If a single life benefit payment was elected by the Executive, upon death of the Executive after benefit payments have commenced under the Plan, but before receiving a total of one hundred eighty (180) payments, the Employer shall continue to pay to the Executive’s Beneficiary the Retirement Benefit until one hundred eighty (180) payments have been made. If the Executive dies after receiving one hundred eighty (180) or more payments of benefit payments, this Agreement will terminate and no additional payments will be made to the Executive's Beneficiary under the Plan.

 

(b)         If a joint and survivor benefit payment was elected by the Executive, upon death of the Executive after benefit payments have commenced under the Plan, the benefit payments due to his or her survivor will continue until the death of such survivor and no other death benefit will be payable under this Agreement.

 

3.4         Change in Control Benefit. Upon a Change in Control, the Executive will fully vest in the Retirement Benefit as provided for in paragraph 3.1 with such benefit payable as provided as if Executive Separated from Service at his Normal Retirement Age with payments commencing upon reaching such Normal Retirement Age. The Retirement Benefit will commence on the first (1st) day of the month following the date the Executive attains age sixty five (65), payable monthly and continuing for his or her lifetime. The Employer will establish a “rabbi trust,” if one has not already been established, for the purposes of this Plan, to which assets will be contributed to provide the Employer with a source of funds for purposes of satisfying the obligations of the Employer under the Plan. The amount of the contribution to the “rabbi trust” will be the amount sufficient to satisfy the obligation of the Employer under paragraph 3.1.

 

4

 

3.5         Restriction on Timing of Distributions. Notwithstanding the applicable provisions of this Plan regarding timing of payments, the special rules contained in this Section 3.7 shall apply. If the stock of the Employer is publicly traded at the time of the Executive’s Separation from Service in order for this Plan to comply with Section 409A of the Code: (i) to the extent the Executive is a “specified employee” (as defined under Section 409A of the Code) at the time of a distribution and to the extent such applicable provisions of Section 409A of the Code and the regulations thereunder require a delay of such distributions by a six-month period after the date of such Executive’s Separation from Service with the Employer, no such distribution shall be made prior to the date that is six months after the date of the Executive’s Separation from Service with the Employer, and (ii) any such delayed payments shall be paid to the Executive in a single lump sum within five (5) business days after the end of the six (6) month delay.

 

3.6         Termination for Cause. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, in the event of the Executive's termination for Cause, this Plan shall terminate and no benefits shall be payable under the Plan. For this purpose, “Cause” shall be determined in accordance with the definition of “Cause” and the process for determining such Cause in the Employment Agreement by and between the Bank and the Executive dated November 22, 2017.

 

ARTICLE 4

BENEFICIARIES

 

4.1         Beneficiary Designations. The Executive shall have the right to designate, at any time, a Beneficiary to receive any benefits payable under this Plan upon the death of the Executive. The Beneficiary designated under this Plan may be the same as or different from the Beneficiary designation under any other benefit plan of the Employer in which the Executive participates.

 

 

4.2         Beneficiary Designation; Changes. The Executive shall designate a Beneficiary by completing and signing the Beneficiary Designation Form and delivering it to the Plan Administrator or its designated agent. The Executive’s Beneficiary designation shall be deemed automatically revoked if the Beneficiary predeceases the Executive or if the Executive names a spouse as Beneficiary and the marriage is subsequently dissolved. The Executive shall have the right to change a Beneficiary by completing, signing, and otherwise complying with the terms of the Beneficiary Designation Form and the Plan Administrator’s rules and procedures, as in effect from time to time. Upon the acceptance by the Plan Administrator of a new Beneficiary Designation Form, all Beneficiary designations previously filed shall be cancelled. The Plan Administrator shall be entitled to rely on the last Beneficiary Designation Form filed by the Executive and accepted by the Plan Administrator before the Executive’s death.

 

4.3           Acknowledgment. No designation or change in designation of a Beneficiary shall be effective until received in writing by the Plan Administrator or its designated agent.

 

4.4           No Beneficiary Designation. If the Executive dies without a valid Beneficiary designation, or if all designated Beneficiaries predecease the Executive, then the Executive’s spouse shall be the designated Beneficiary. If the Executive has no surviving spouse, the benefits shall be distributed to the personal representative of the Executive’s estate.

 

5

 

4.5         Facility of Payment. If a benefit is payable to a minor, to a person declared incapacitated, or to a person incapable of handling the disposition of his or her property, the Employer may pay such benefit to the guardian, legal representative, or person having the care or custody of the minor, incapacitated person, or incapable person. The Employer may require proof of incapacity, minority, or guardianship as it may deem appropriate before distribution of the benefit. Distribution shall completely discharge the Employer from all liability for the benefit.

 

ARTICLE 5

GENERAL LIMITATIONS

 

5.1.        Limits on Payments. It is the intention of the parties that none of the payments to which the Executive is entitled under this Plan will constitute a “golden parachute payment” within the meaning of 12 USC Section 1828(k) or implementing regulations of the FDIC, the payment of which is prohibited (collectively, “Section 1828(k)”). Notwithstanding any other provision of this Plan to the contrary, any payments due to be made by Employer for the benefit of the Executive pursuant to this Plan, or otherwise, are subject to and conditioned on compliance with Section 1828(k) and any regulations promulgated thereunder including the receipt of all required approvals thereof by Employer’s primary federal banking regulator and/or the FDIC.

 

In addition, Employer and its successors retain the legal right to demand the return of any payment made hereunder which constitutes a “golden parachute payment” within the meaning of Section 1828(k) or implementing regulations of the FDIC should Employer or its successors later obtain information indicating that the Executive committed, is substantially responsible for, or has violated, the respective acts or omissions, conditions, or offenses outlined under 12 C.F.R. 359.4(a)(4).

 

ARTICLE 6

CLAIMS AND REVIEW PROCEDURES

 

6.1         Claims Procedure. A person or Beneficiary (a “claimant”) who has not received benefits under the Plan that he or she believes should be paid shall make a claim for such benefits as follows:

 

(a)         Initiation - Written Claim. The claimant initiates a claim by submitting to the Plan Administrator a written claim for the benefits. If the claim relates to the contents of a notice received by the claimant, the claim must be made within sixty (60) days after the notice was received by the claimant. All other claims must be made within one hundred eighty (180) days after the date of the event that caused the claim to arise. The claim must state with particularity the determination desired by the claimant.

 

(b)         Timing of Plan Administrator Response. The Plan Administrator shall respond to such claimant within ninety (90) days after receiving the claim. If the Plan Administrator determines that special circumstances require additional time for processing the claim, the Plan Administrator can extend the response period by an additional ninety (90) days by notifying the claimant in writing, prior to the end of the initial ninety (90)-day period, that an additional period is required. The notice of extension must set forth the special circumstances and the date by which the Plan Administrator expects to render its decision.

 

6

 

(c)         Notice of Decision. If the Plan Administrator denies part or all of the claim, the Plan Administrator shall notify the claimant in writing of such denial. The Plan Administrator shall write the notification in a manner calculated to be understood by the claimant. The notification shall set forth:

 

(i)         The specific reasons for the denial,

 

(ii)         A reference to the specific provisions of the Plan on which the denial is based,

 

(iii)        A description of any additional information or material necessary for the claimant to perfect the claim and an explanation of why it is needed,

 

(iv)        An explanation of the Plan’s review procedures and the time limits applicable to such procedures, and

 

(v)         A statement of the claimant’s right to bring a civil action under ERISA Section 502(a) following an adverse benefit determination on review.

 

6.2         Review Procedure. If the Plan Administrator denies part or all of the claim, the claimant shall have the opportunity for a full and fair review by the Plan Administrator of the denial, as follows

 

(a)         Initiation - Written Request. To initiate the review, the claimant, within 60 days after receiving the Plan Administrator’s notice of denial, must file with the Plan Administrator a written request for review.

 

(b)         Additional Submissions - Information Access. The claimant shall then have the opportunity to submit written comments, documents, records and other information relating to the claim. The Plan Administrator shall also provide the claimant, upon request and free of charge, reasonable access to, and copies of, all documents, records and other information relevant (as defined in applicable ERISA regulations) to the claimant’s claim for benefits.

 

(c)         Considerations on Review. In considering the review, the Plan Administrator shall take into account all materials and information the claimant submits relating to the claim, without regard to whether such information was submitted or considered in the initial benefit determination.

 

7

 

(d)         Timing of Plan Administrator Response. The Plan Administrator shall respond in writing to such claimant within sixty (60) days after receiving the request for review. If the Plan Administrator determines that special circumstances require additional time for processing the claim, the Plan Administrator can extend the response period by an additional sixty (60) days by notifying the claimant in writing, prior to the end of the initial sixty (60)-day period, that an additional period is required. The notice of extension must set forth the special circumstances and the date by which the Plan Administrator expects to render its decision.

 

(e)         Notice of Decision. The Plan Administrator shall notify the claimant in writing of its decision on review. The Plan Administrator shall write the notification in a manner calculated to be understood by the claimant. The notification shall set forth:

 

(i)          The specific reasons for the denial,

 

(ii)         A reference to the specific provisions of the Plan on which the denial is based,

 

(iii)       A statement that the claimant is entitled to receive, upon request and free of charge, reasonable access to, and copies of, all documents, records and other information relevant (as defined in applicable ERISA regulations) to the claimant’s claim for benefits, and

 

(iv)         A statement of the claimant’s right to bring a civil action under ERISA Section 502(a).

 

ARTICLE 7

MISCELLANEOUS

 

7.1        Amendments and Termination. Subject to paragraph 7.12 of this Plan, this Agreement may be amended or terminated solely by a written agreement signed by the Bank and by the Executive.

 

7.2         No Guarantee of Employment. This Plan is not an employment policy or contract. It does not give any Executive the right to remain an employee of the Employer, nor does it interfere with the Employer’s right to discharge the Executive. It also does not require any Executive to remain an employee nor interfere with any Executive’s right to terminate employment at any time.

 

7.3         Non-Transferability. Benefits under this Plan cannot be sold, transferred, assigned, pledged, attached, or encumbered in any manner.

 

7.4         Tax Withholding. The Employer shall withhold any taxes that are required to be withheld from the benefits provided under this Plan.

 

7.5         Applicable Law. Except to the extent preempted by the laws of the United States of America, the validity, interpretation, construction and performance of this Plan shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the Commonwealth of Virginia, without giving effect to the principles of conflict of laws of such Commonwealth.

 

8

 

7.6         Unfunded Arrangement. The Executive and his Beneficiary are general unsecured creditors of the Employer for the payment of benefits under this Plan. The benefits represent the mere promise by the Employer to pay such benefits. The rights to benefits are not subject in any manner to anticipation, alienation, sale, transfer, assignment, pledge, encumbrance, attachment, or garnishment by creditors. Any insurance, annuity contract or other asset purchased by Employer to fund its obligations under this Plan shall be a general asset of the Employer to which the Executive and Beneficiary have no preferred or secured claim.

 

7.7.         Benefit Provision. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Plan in the payment of the benefits under Article 3, any benefits payable under this Plan are contingent solely upon the amount that is provided by the Annuity Contract(s), including a Replacement Annuity, as identified in the Plan.

 

7.8         Severability. If any provision of this Plan is held invalid, such invalidity shall not affect any other provision of this Plan, and each such other provision shall continue in full force and effect to the full extent consistent with law. If any provision of this Plan is held invalid in part, such invalidity shall not affect the remainder of the provision, and the remainder of such provision together with all other provisions of this Plan shall continue in full force and effect to the full extent consistent with law.

 

7.9         Headings. The headings of articles herein are included solely for convenience of reference and shall not affect the meaning or interpretation of any provision of this Plan.

 

7.10        Notices. All notices, requests, demands, and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given if delivered by hand or mailed, certified or registered mail, return receipt requested, with postage prepaid. Unless otherwise changed by notice, notice shall be properly addressed to the Executive if addressed to the address of the Executive on the books and records of the Employer at the time of the delivery of such notice, and properly addressed to the Employer if addressed to the Board, at 101 Jacksonville Circle Floyd, VA 24091.

 

7.11         Payment of Legal Fees. In the event litigation ensues between the parties concerning the enforcement of the obligations of the parties under this Plan, the non-prevailing party, in addition to all other remedies the court may award, shall also pay the prevailing party’s costs and reasonable attorney’s fees incurred in such an action.

 

7.12         Termination or Modification of Plan Because of Changes in Law, Rules or Regulations. The Employer is entering into this Plan on the assumption that certain existing tax laws, rules, and regulations will continue in effect in their current form. If that assumption materially changes and the change has a material detrimental effect on this Plan, then the Employer reserves the right to terminate or modify this Plan accordingly.

 

9

 

ARTICLE 8

ADMINISTRATION OF AGREEMENT

 

8.1         Plan Administrator Duties. This Plan shall be administered by a Plan Administrator consisting of the Board or such committee or person(s) as the Board shall appoint. The Plan Administrator shall have the sole and absolute discretion and authority to interpret and enforce all appropriate rules and regulations for the administration of this Plan and the rights of the Executive under this Plan, to decide or resolve any and all questions or disputes arising under this Plan, including benefits payable under this Plan and all other interpretations of this Plan, as may arise in connection with the Plan.

 

8.2         Agents. In the administration of this Plan, the Plan Administrator may employ agents and delegate to them such administrative duties as it sees fit (including acting through a duly appointed representative) and may from time to time consult with counsel, who may be counsel to the Employer.

 

8.3         Binding Effect of Decisions. The decision or action of the Plan Administrator with respect to any question arising out of or in connection with the administration, interpretation, and application of the Plan and the rules and regulations promulgated hereunder shall be final and conclusive and binding upon all persons having any interest in the Plan. Without limiting the foregoing, it is acknowledged that the value of the benefits payable hereunder may be difficult to determine in the event the Employer does not actually purchase and maintain the Annuity Contract as contemplated hereunder; therefore, in such event, the Employer shall have the right to make any reasonable assumptions in determining the benefits payable hereunder and any such determination made in good faith shall be binding on the Executive.

 

8.4         Indemnity of Plan Administrator. The Plan Administrator shall not be liable to any person for any action taken or omitted in connection with the interpretation and administration of this Plan, unless such action or omission is attributable to the willful misconduct of the Plan Administrator or any of its members. The Employer shall indemnify and hold harmless the members of the Plan Administrator against any and all claims, losses, damages, expenses, or liabilities arising from any action or failure to act with respect to this Plan, except in the case of willful misconduct by the Plan Administrator or any of its members.

 

8.5         Employer Information. To enable the Plan Administrator to perform its functions, the Employer shall supply full and timely information to the Plan Administrator on all matters relating to the date and circumstances of the retirement, death, or Separation of Service of the Executive and such other pertinent information as the Plan Administrator may reasonably require.

 

10

 

This Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan Agreement is hereby adopted as of the date written above.

 

  SKYLINE NATIONAL BANK  
     
     
  By:/s/ Thomas M. Jackson, Jr.  
  Name: Thomas M. Jackson, Jr.  
  Title: Chairman  
     
     
  /s/ Blake M. Edwards  
  Blake M. Edwards  

 

11

Exhibit 10.2

 

 

SKYLINE NATIONAL BANK

SUPPLEMENTAL EXECUTIVE RETIREMENT PLAN

 

This Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan (the “Plan”) is adopted as of this 31st day of March, 2022 with an effective date of January 1, 2022 (the “Effective Date”) by Skyline National Bank, a federally chartered national bank (the “Employer” or the “Bank”) for the benefit of Lori Vaught (the “Executive”).

 

WHEREAS, the purpose of the Plan is to provide certain supplemental nonqualified pension benefits to certain executives who have contributed substantially to the success of the Employer and the Employer desires to incentivize the executives to continue in its employ;

 

WHEREAS, the experience of the Executive, her knowledge of the affairs of the Bank, and her reputation and contacts in the industry are so valuable that assurance of her continued services is essential for the future growth and profits of the Bank and it is in the best interests of the Bank to arrange terms of continued employment for the Executive so as to reasonably assure her remaining in the Bank’s employment during her lifetime or until the age of retirement; and

 

WHEREAS, this Plan is intended to be and shall be administered as an income tax nonqualified, unfunded plan primarily for the purpose of providing deferred compensation for a select group of management or highly compensated employees within the meaning of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (“ERISA”), Sections 201(2), 301(a)(3), and 401(a)(1). This Plan is intended to comply with the requirements of Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”) and, accordingly, the intent of the parties hereto is that the Plan shall be operated and interpreted consistent with the requirements thereof.

 

ARTICLE 1 DEFINITIONS

 

Whenever used in this Plan, the following terms have the meanings specified:

 

1.1.         “Account Balance” means, as of any date, the liability that should be accrued by the Bank under generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) on behalf of the Executive.

 

1.2         “Annuity Contract” means the following annuity contract(s) purchased and solely owned by the Bank: Flexible Premium Indexed Deferred Annuity Contracts issued by National Western Life Insurance Company, contract #01E7017227 and any such other annuity contracts or other asset as the Bank may purchase from time to time as a Replacement Annuity under this Plan.

 

1.3           “Beneficiary” means the person or entity designated, or otherwise determined in accordance with Article 4, in writing by the Executive to receive death benefits pursuant to this Plan in the event of her death.

 

1.4         “Beneficiary Designation Form” means the form established from time to time by the Plan Administrator that the Executive completes, signs, and returns to the Plan Administrator to designate one or more Beneficiaries.

 

 

 

1.5         “BHC” means Parkway Acquisition Corp., a Virginia corporation.

 

1.6         “Board” means the Board of Directors of the Bank.

 

1.7         A “Change in Control” shall be deemed to have taken place if any of the following takes place with respect to the Bank or the BHC:

 

(a)         any person or entity, including a “group” as defined in Section 13(d)(3) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, a wholly-owned subsidiary thereof, or any employee benefit plan of the Employer or the BHC or any of its subsidiaries becomes the beneficial owner of Employer or BHC securities having fifty percent (50%) or more of the combined voting power of the then outstanding securities of the Employer or BHC that may be cast for the election of directors of the Employer or the BHC (other than as a result of the issuance of securities initiated by the Employer or the BHC in the ordinary course of business); or

 

(b)         as the result of, or in connection with, any cash tender or exchange offer, merger or other business combination, sale of assets or contested election, or any combination of the foregoing transactions, the holders of all Employer’s or the BHC’s securities entitled to vote generally in the election of directors of the Employer or the BHC immediately prior to such transaction constitute, following such transaction, less than a majority of the combined voting power of the then-outstanding securities of the Employer or the BHC or any of their respective successor corporations or entities entitled to vote generally in the election of the directors of Employer or the BHC or such other corporation or entity after such transactions; or

 

(c)         such other change of ownership or control event as defined in Treasury Regulation §1.409A-3(i)(5) or any subsequent, applicable Treasury Regulation.

 

(d)         An event described in items (a) through (c) above shall constitute a Change in Control only if the event constitutes a change in control event as defined in Treasury Regulations §1.409A-3(i)(5) or any subsequent, applicable Treasury Regulation.

 

1.8         “Disability” shall mean the Executive (i) is unable to engage in any substantial gainful activity by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment that can be expected to result in death or can be expected to last for a continuous period of net less than twelve (12) months or (ii) is, by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment that can be expected to result in death or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than twelve (12) months, receiving income replacement benefits for a period of not less than three (3) months under an accident and health plan covering employees of the Employer.

 

Medical determination of Disability may be made by either the Social Security Administration or by the provider of an accident or health plan covering employees of the Employer, provided that the definition of disability applied under such disability insurance program complies with the requirements of Section 409A. Upon the request of the Plan Administrator, the Executive must submit proof to the Plan Administrator of Social Security Administration’s or the provider’s determination.

 

 

2

 

1.9          “Early Retirement Age” means age sixty (60).

 

1.10         “Early Retirement Date” means the date the Executive Separates from Service after reaching Early Retirement Age but before Normal Retirement Age.

 

1.11        “Replacement Annuity” means an annuity policy that is comparable to the Annuity Contract, or an asset of comparable value, in either case with a lifetime withdrawal feature and benefit value comparable to the lifetime withdrawal feature and benefit value of the Annuity Contract as in effect immediately prior to a transfer or surrender of the Annuity Contract.

 

1.12         “Rider” means the income rider attached to the Annuity Contract, if any, as an endorsement or other product feature that operates as an income rider, with such feature providing for a withdrawal or payment feature for the life of the annuitant.

 

1.13         “Normal Retirement Age” means age sixty-five (65).

 

1.14         “Separation from Service” means separation from service as that term is defined and interpreted in Section 409A of the Code and Treasury Regulation §1.409A-1(h) or in subsequent regulations or other guidance issued by the Internal Revenue Service.

 

ARTICLE 2

DEFERRED COMPENSATION AND VALUATION OF ACCOUNT

 

2.1         Annuity Contract and Other Investments. For purposes of satisfying its obligations to provide benefits under this Plan, the Bank has initially invested in the Annuity Contract and may invest in other investments. However, nothing in this Section shall require the Bank to invest in any particular form of investment.

 

2.2        Ownership of the Annuity Contract. The Bank is the sole owner of the Annuity Contract, and other such investments, and shall have the right to exercise all incidents of ownership. The Bank shall be the beneficiary of the death proceeds of the Annuity Contract. The Bank shall at all times be entitled to the Annuity Contract’s cash surrender value, as that term, or a functionally similar term, is defined in the Annuity Contract.

 

2.3        Right to Annuity Contract. Notwithstanding any provision hereof to the contrary, the Bank shall have the right to sell or surrender any Annuity Contract without terminating this Plan, provided the Bank replaces the Annuity Contract with a comparable annuity policy or asset of comparable value. Without limitation, the Annuity Contract at all times shall be the exclusive property of the Bank and shall be subject to the claims of the Bank’s creditors

 

2.4         Rabbi Trust. Employer may establish a “rabbi trust” to which contributions may be made to provide the Employer with a source of funds for purposes of satisfying the obligations of the Employer under the Plan. The trust shall constitute an unfunded arrangement and shall not affect the status of the Plan as an unfunded plan. The Executive and or her Beneficiary shall have no beneficial ownership interest in any assets held in the trust.

 

3

 

ARTICLE 3

RETIREMENT AND OTHER BENEFITS

 

3.1         Retirement Benefit. Upon the Executive’s Separation from Service after reaching Normal Retirement Age for any reason other than death, Disability, or Cause (defined below), the Executive will be entitled to the monthly benefit payment described in this paragraph 3.1. The amount of the monthly benefit will equal [the amount that is paid from the Annuity Contract designated under this Plan to benefit the Executive through the Rider (the “Normal Retirement Benefit”), whether designated as a single life payment or joint and survivor payment as elected by the Executive], which Annuity Contract shall not be changed in a manner which would adversely affect the interests of the Executive without written approval from the Executive. The Normal Retirement Benefit will commence on the first (1st) day of the second month following the date of the Executive’s Separation from Service, payable monthly and continuing for his or her lifetime. This shall be the Executive’s benefit in lieu of any other benefit under this Plan.

 

3.2         Early Retirement Benefit. In the event the Executive should Separate from Service after reaching Early Retirement Age but Prior to Normal Retirement Age for any reason other than death, Disability, or Cause, the Executive will be entitled to a monthly benefit equal to a percentage of the amount that is paid from the Annuity Contract designated under this Plan to benefit the Executive through the Rider (the “Early Retirement Benefit”). The percentage is the ratio of the Account Balance on the Early Retirement Date to the projected Account Balance at Normal Retirement Age and applied to the amount that is paid from the Annuity Contract through the Rider at Normal Retirement Age. The Early Retirement Benefit will commence on the first day of the second month following the Executive’s Normal Retirement Age and will continue for the Executive's lifetime.

 

3.3         Disability Benefit. In the event the Executive should Separate from Service as a result of becoming Disabled while actively employed by the Employer any time after the effective date of this Plan but prior to the commencement of benefit payments under the Plan, the Executive will be entitled to a monthly benefit equal to a percentage of the amount that is paid from the Annuity Contract designated under this Plan to benefit the Executive through the Rider (the “Disability Benefit”). The percentage is the ratio of the Account Balance on the date of Separation from Service as a result of Disability to the projected Account Balance at Normal Retirement Age and applied to the amount that is paid from the Annuity Contract through the Rider at Normal Retirement Age. The Disability Benefit will commence on the first day of the second month following the Executive’s Normal Retirement Age and will continue for the Executive's lifetime.

 

3.4         Preretirement Death Benefit. Upon death of the Executive while in service to the Employer, the Employer shall pay to the Executive’s Beneficiary the Normal Retirement Benefit as if the Executive had survived to Normal Retirement Age, payable in one hundred eighty (180) equal monthly payments commencing no later than sixty (60) days from the date of death.

 

4

 

3.5         Postretirement Death Benefit.

 

(a)         If a single life benefit payment was elected by the Executive, upon death of the Executive after benefit payments have commenced under the Plan, but before receiving a total of one hundred eighty (180) payments, the Employer shall continue to pay to the Executive’s Beneficiary the Normal Retirement Benefit until one hundred eighty (180) payments have been made. If the Executive dies after receiving one hundred eighty (180) or more payments of benefit payments, this Agreement will terminate and no additional payments will be made to the Executive's Beneficiary under the Plan.

 

(b)         If a joint and survivor benefit payment was elected by the Executive, upon death of the Executive after benefit payments have commenced under the Plan, the benefit payments due to his or her survivor will continue until the death of such survivor and no other death benefit will be payable under this Agreement.

 

3.6        Change in Control Benefit. Upon a Change in Control, the Executive will fully vest in the Normal Retirement Benefit as provided for in paragraph 3.1, with such benefit payable as provided as if Executive Separated from Service at her Normal Retirement Age with payments commencing upon reaching such Normal Retirement Age. The Employer will establish a “rabbi trust,” if one has not already been established, for the purposes of this Plan, to which assets will be contributed to provide the Employer with a source of funds for purposes of satisfying the obligations of the Employer under the Plan. The amount of the contribution to the “rabbi trust” will be the amount sufficient to satisfy the obligation of the Employer under paragraph 3.1.

 

3.7         Restriction on Timing of Distributions. Notwithstanding the applicable provisions of this Plan regarding timing of payments, the special rules contained in this Section 3.7 shall apply. If the stock of the Employer is publicly traded at the time of the Executive’s Separation from Service in order for this Plan to comply with Section 409A of the Code: (i) to the extent the Executive is a “specified employee” (as defined under Section 409A of the Code) at the time of a distribution and to the extent such applicable provisions of Section 409A of the Code and the regulations thereunder require a delay of such distributions by a six-month period after the date of such Executive’s Separation from Service with the Employer, no such distribution shall be made prior to the date that is six months after the date of the Executive’s Separation from Service with the Employer, and (ii) any such delayed payments shall be paid to the Executive in a single lump sum within five (5) business days after the end of the six (6) month delay.

 

3.8         Termination for Cause. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, in the event of the Executive's termination for Cause, this Plan shall terminate and no benefits shall be payable under the Plan. For this purpose, “Cause” shall be determined in accordance with the definition of “Cause” and the process for determining such Cause in the Change in Control Agreement by and between the Bank and the Executive dated October 31, 2017.

 

ARTICLE 4

BENEFICIARIES

 

4.1         Beneficiary Designations. The Executive shall have the right to designate, at any time, a Beneficiary to receive any benefits payable under this Plan upon the death of the Executive. The Beneficiary designated under this Plan may be the same as or different from the Beneficiary designation under any other benefit plan of the Employer in which the Executive participates.

 

5

 

4.2       Beneficiary Designation; Changes. The Executive shall designate a Beneficiary by completing and signing the Beneficiary Designation Form and delivering it to the Plan Administrator or its designated agent. The Executive’s Beneficiary designation shall be deemed automatically revoked if the Beneficiary predeceases the Executive or if the Executive names a spouse as Beneficiary and the marriage is subsequently dissolved. The Executive shall have the right to change a Beneficiary by completing, signing, and otherwise complying with the terms of the Beneficiary Designation Form and the Plan Administrator’s rules and procedures, as in effect from time to time. Upon the acceptance by the Plan Administrator of a new Beneficiary Designation Form, all Beneficiary designations previously filed shall be cancelled. The Plan Administrator shall be entitled to rely on the last Beneficiary Designation Form filed by the Executive and accepted by the Plan Administrator before the Executive’s death.

 

4.3         Acknowledgment. No designation or change in designation of a Beneficiary shall be effective until received in writing by the Plan Administrator or its designated agent.

 

4.4        No Beneficiary Designation. If the Executive dies without a valid Beneficiary designation, or if all designated Beneficiaries predecease the Executive, then the Executive’s spouse shall be the designated Beneficiary. If the Executive has no surviving spouse, the benefits shall be distributed to the personal representative of the Executive’s estate.

 

4.5        Facility of Payment. If a benefit is payable to a minor, to a person declared incapacitated, or to a person incapable of handling the disposition of his or her property, the Employer may pay such benefit to the guardian, legal representative, or person having the care or custody of the minor, incapacitated person, or incapable person. The Employer may require proof of incapacity, minority, or guardianship as it may deem appropriate before distribution of the benefit. Distribution shall completely discharge the Employer from all liability for the benefit.

 

ARTICLE 5

GENERAL LIMITATIONS

 

5.1.          Limits on Payments. It is the intention of the parties that none of the payments to which the Executive is entitled under this Plan will constitute a “golden parachute payment” within the meaning of 12 USC Section 1828(k) or implementing regulations of the FDIC, the payment of which is prohibited (collectively, “Section 1828(k)”). Notwithstanding any other provision of this Plan to the contrary, any payments due to be made by Employer for the benefit of the Executive pursuant to this Plan, or otherwise, are subject to and conditioned on compliance with Section 1828(k) and any regulations promulgated thereunder including the receipt of all required approvals thereof by Employer’s primary federal banking regulator and/or the FDIC.

 

In addition, Employer and its successors retain the legal right to demand the return of any payment made hereunder which constitutes a “golden parachute payment” within the meaning of Section 1828(k) or implementing regulations of the FDIC should Employer or its successors later obtain information indicating that the Executive committed, is substantially responsible for, or has violated, the respective acts or omissions, conditions, or offenses outlined under 12 C.F.R. 359.4(a)(4).

 

6

 

ARTICLE 6

CLAIMS AND REVIEW PROCEDURES

 

6.1         Claims Procedure. A person or Beneficiary (a “claimant”) who has not received benefits under the Plan that he or she believes should be paid shall make a claim for such benefits as follows:

 

(a)         Initiation - Written Claim. The claimant initiates a claim by submitting to the Plan Administrator a written claim for the benefits. If the claim relates to the contents of a notice received by the claimant, the claim must be made within sixty (60) days after the notice was received by the claimant. All other claims must be made within one hundred eighty (180) days after the date of the event that caused the claim to arise. The claim must state with particularity the determination desired by the claimant.

 

(b)         Timing of Plan Administrator Response. The Plan Administrator shall respond to such claimant within ninety (90) days after receiving the claim. If the Plan Administrator determines that special circumstances require additional time for processing the claim, the Plan Administrator can extend the response period by an additional ninety (90) days by notifying the claimant in writing, prior to the end of the initial ninety (90)-day period, that an additional period is required. The notice of extension must set forth the special circumstances and the date by which the Plan Administrator expects to render its decision.

 

(c)          Notice of Decision. If the Plan Administrator denies part or all of the claim, the Plan Administrator shall notify the claimant in writing of such denial. The Plan Administrator shall write the notification in a manner calculated to be understood by the claimant. The notification shall set forth:

 

(i)           The specific reasons for the denial,

 

(ii)          A reference to the specific provisions of the Plan on which the denial is based,

 

(iii)         A description of any additional information or material necessary for the claimant to perfect the claim and an explanation of why it is needed,

 

(iv)         An explanation of the Plan’s review procedures and the time limits applicable to such procedures, and

 

(v)          A statement of the claimant’s right to bring a civil action under ERISA Section 502(a) following an adverse benefit determination on review.

 

7

 

6.2         Review Procedure. If the Plan Administrator denies part or all of the claim, the claimant shall have the opportunity for a full and fair review by the Plan Administrator of the denial, as follows

 

(a)         Initiation - Written Request. To initiate the review, the claimant, within 60 days after receiving the Plan Administrator’s notice of denial, must file with the Plan Administrator a written request for review.

 

(b)         Additional Submissions - Information Access. The claimant shall then have the opportunity to submit written comments, documents, records and other information relating to the claim. The Plan Administrator shall also provide the claimant, upon request and free of charge, reasonable access to, and copies of, all documents, records and other information relevant (as defined in applicable ERISA regulations) to the claimant’s claim for benefits.

 

(c)         Considerations on Review. In considering the review, the Plan Administrator shall take into account all materials and information the claimant submits relating to the claim, without regard to whether such information was submitted or considered in the initial benefit determination.

 

(d)         Timing of Plan Administrator Response. The Plan Administrator shall respond in writing to such claimant within sixty (60) days after receiving the request for review. If the Plan Administrator determines that special circumstances require additional time for processing the claim, the Plan Administrator can extend the response period by an additional sixty (60) days by notifying the claimant in writing, prior to the end of the initial sixty (60)-day period, that an additional period is required. The notice of extension must set forth the special circumstances and the date by which the Plan Administrator expects to render its decision.

 

(e)         Notice of Decision. The Plan Administrator shall notify the claimant in writing of its decision on review. The Plan Administrator shall write the notification in a manner calculated to be understood by the claimant. The notification shall set forth:

 

(i)          The specific reasons for the denial,

 

(ii)         A reference to the specific provisions of the Plan on which the denial is based,

 

(iii)       A statement that the claimant is entitled to receive, upon request and free of charge, reasonable access to, and copies of, all documents, records and other information relevant (as defined in applicable ERISA regulations) to the claimant’s claim for benefits, and

 

(iv)         A statement of the claimant’s right to bring a civil action under ERISA Section 502(a).

 

8

 

ARTICLE 7

MISCELLANEOUS

 

7.1        Amendments and Termination. Subject to paragraph 7.12 of this Plan, this Agreement may be amended or terminated solely by a written agreement signed by the Bank and by the Executive.

 

7.2         No Guarantee of Employment. This Plan is not an employment policy or contract. It does not give any Executive the right to remain an employee of the Employer, nor does it interfere with the Employer’s right to discharge the Executive. It also does not require any Executive to remain an employee nor interfere with any Executive’s right to terminate employment at any time.

 

7.3         Non-Transferability. Benefits under this Plan cannot be sold, transferred, assigned, pledged, attached, or encumbered in any manner.

 

7.4         Tax Withholding. The Employer shall withhold any taxes that are required to be withheld from the benefits provided under this Plan.

 

7.5         Applicable Law. Except to the extent preempted by the laws of the United States of America, the validity, interpretation, construction and performance of this Plan shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the Commonwealth of Virginia, without giving effect to the principles of conflict of laws of such Commonwealth.

 

7.6         Unfunded Arrangement. The Executive and her Beneficiary are general unsecured creditors of the Employer for the payment of benefits under this Plan. The benefits represent the mere promise by the Employer to pay such benefits. The rights to benefits are not subject in any manner to anticipation, alienation, sale, transfer, assignment, pledge, encumbrance, attachment, or garnishment by creditors. Any insurance, annuity contract or other asset purchased by Employer to fund its obligations under this Plan shall be a general asset of the Employer to which the Executive and Beneficiary have no preferred or secured claim.

 

7.7.        Benefit Provision. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Plan in the payment of the benefits under Article 3, any benefits payable under this Plan are contingent solely upon the amount that is provided by the Annuity Contract(s), including a Replacement Annuity, as identified in the Plan.

 

7.8         Severability. If any provision of this Plan is held invalid, such invalidity shall not affect any other provision of this Plan, and each such other provision shall continue in full force and effect to the full extent consistent with law. If any provision of this Plan is held invalid in part, such invalidity shall not affect the remainder of the provision, and the remainder of such provision together with all other provisions of this Plan shall continue in full force and effect to the full extent consistent with law.

 

7.9         Headings. The headings of articles herein are included solely for convenience of reference and shall not affect the meaning or interpretation of any provision of this Plan.

 

9

 

7.10        Notices. All notices, requests, demands, and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given if delivered by hand or mailed, certified or registered mail, return receipt requested, with postage prepaid. Unless otherwise changed by notice, notice shall be properly addressed to the Executive if addressed to the address of the Executive on the books and records of the Employer at the time of the delivery of such notice, and properly addressed to the Employer if addressed to the Board, at 101 Jacksonville Circle Floyd, VA 24091.

 

7.11         Payment of Legal Fees. In the event litigation ensues between the parties concerning the enforcement of the obligations of the parties under this Plan, the non-prevailing party, in addition to all other remedies the court may award, shall also pay the prevailing party’s costs and reasonable attorney’s fees incurred in such an action.

 

7.12         Termination or Modification of Plan Because of Changes in Law, Rules or Regulations. The Employer is entering into this Plan on the assumption that certain existing tax laws, rules, and regulations will continue in effect in their current form. If that assumption materially changes and the change has a material detrimental effect on this Plan, then the Employer reserves the right to terminate or modify this Plan accordingly.

 

ARTICLE 8

ADMINISTRATION OF AGREEMENT

 

8.1          Plan Administrator Duties. This Plan shall be administered by a Plan Administrator consisting of the Board or such committee or person(s) as the Board shall appoint. The Plan Administrator shall have the sole and absolute discretion and authority to interpret and enforce all appropriate rules and regulations for the administration of this Plan and the rights of the Executive under this Plan, to decide or resolve any and all questions or disputes arising under this Plan, including benefits payable under this Plan and all other interpretations of this Plan, as may arise in connection with the Plan.

 

8.2         Agents. In the administration of this Plan, the Plan Administrator may employ agents and delegate to them such administrative duties as it sees fit (including acting through a duly appointed representative) and may from time to time consult with counsel, who may be counsel to the Employer.

 

8.3         Binding Effect of Decisions. The decision or action of the Plan Administrator with respect to any question arising out of or in connection with the administration, interpretation, and application of the Plan and the rules and regulations promulgated hereunder shall be final and conclusive and binding upon all persons having any interest in the Plan. Without limiting the foregoing, it is acknowledged that the value of the benefits payable hereunder may be difficult to determine in the event the Employer does not actually purchase and maintain the Annuity Contract as contemplated hereunder; therefore, in such event, the Employer shall have the right to make any reasonable assumptions in determining the benefits payable hereunder and any such determination made in good faith shall be binding on the Executive.

 

10

 

8.4         Indemnity of Plan Administrator. The Plan Administrator shall not be liable to any person for any action taken or omitted in connection with the interpretation and administration of this Plan, unless such action or omission is attributable to the willful misconduct of the Plan Administrator or any of its members. The Employer shall indemnify and hold harmless the members of the Plan Administrator against any and all claims, losses, damages, expenses, or liabilities arising from any action or failure to act with respect to this Plan, except in the case of willful misconduct by the Plan Administrator or any of its members.

 

8.5         Employer Information. To enable the Plan Administrator to perform its functions, the Employer shall supply full and timely information to the Plan Administrator on all matters relating to the date and circumstances of the retirement, Disability, death, or Separation of Service of the Executive and such other pertinent information as the Plan Administrator may reasonably require.

 

This Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan Agreement is hereby adopted as of the date written above.

 

 

  SKYLINE NATIONAL BANK  
     
     
  By: /s/ Thomas M. Jackson, Jr.  
  Name: Thomas M. Jackson, Jr.  
  Title: Chairman  
     
     
  /s/  Lori Vaught  
  Lori Vaught  

 

11

Exhibit 10.3

 

 

SKYLINE NATIONAL BANK

SUPPLEMENTAL EXECUTIVE RETIREMENT PLAN

 

This Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan (the “Plan”) is adopted as of this 31st day of March, 2022 with an effective date of January 1, 2022 (the “Effective Date”) by Skyline National Bank, a federally chartered national bank (the “Employer” or the “Bank”) for the benefit of Beth Worrell (the “Executive”).

 

WHEREAS, the purpose of the Plan is to provide certain supplemental nonqualified pension benefits to certain executives who have contributed substantially to the success of the Employer and the Employer desires to incentivize the executives to continue in its employ;

 

WHEREAS, the experience of the Executive, her knowledge of the affairs of the Bank, and her reputation and contacts in the industry are so valuable that assurance of her continued services is essential for the future growth and profits of the Bank and it is in the best interests of the Bank to arrange terms of continued employment for the Executive so as to reasonably assure her remaining in the Bank’s employment during her lifetime or until the age of retirement; and

 

WHEREAS, this Plan is intended to be and shall be administered as an income tax nonqualified, unfunded plan primarily for the purpose of providing deferred compensation for a select group of management or highly compensated employees within the meaning of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (“ERISA”), Sections 201(2), 301(a)(3), and 401(a)(1). This Plan is intended to comply with the requirements of Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”) and, accordingly, the intent of the parties hereto is that the Plan shall be operated and interpreted consistent with the requirements thereof.

 

ARTICLE 1 DEFINITIONS

 

Whenever used in this Plan, the following terms have the meanings specified:

 

1.1.         “Account Balance” means, as of any date, the liability that should be accrued by the Bank under generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) on behalf of the Executive.

 

1.2         “Annuity Contract” means the following annuity contract(s) purchased and solely owned by the Bank: Flexible Premium Indexed Deferred Annuity Contracts issued by National Western Life Insurance Company, contract #01E7017226, and any such other annuity contracts or other asset as the Bank may purchase from time to time as a Replacement Annuity under this Plan.

 

1.3          “Beneficiary” means the person or entity designated, or otherwise determined in accordance with Article 4, in writing by the Executive to receive death benefits pursuant to this Plan in the event of her death.

 

1.4         “Beneficiary Designation Form” means the form established from time to time by the Plan Administrator that the Executive completes, signs, and returns to the Plan Administrator to designate one or more Beneficiaries.

 

 

 

1.5         “BHC” means Parkway Acquisition Corp., a Virginia corporation.

 

1.6         “Board” means the Board of Directors of the Bank.

 

1.7         A “Change in Control” shall be deemed to have taken place if any of the following takes place with respect to the Bank or the BHC:

 

(a)         any person or entity, including a “group” as defined in Section 13(d)(3) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, a wholly-owned subsidiary thereof, or any employee benefit plan of the Employer or the BHC or any of its subsidiaries becomes the beneficial owner of Employer or BHC securities having fifty percent (50%) or more of the combined voting power of the then outstanding securities of the Employer or BHC that may be cast for the election of directors of the Employer or the BHC (other than as a result of the issuance of securities initiated by the Employer or the BHC in the ordinary course of business); or

 

(b)         as the result of, or in connection with, any cash tender or exchange offer, merger or other business combination, sale of assets or contested election, or any combination of the foregoing transactions, the holders of all Employer’s or the BHC’s securities entitled to vote generally in the election of directors of the Employer or the BHC immediately prior to such transaction constitute, following such transaction, less than a majority of the combined voting power of the then-outstanding securities of the Employer or the BHC or any of their respective successor corporations or entities entitled to vote generally in the election of the directors of Employer or the BHC or such other corporation or entity after such transactions; or

 

(c)         such other change of ownership or control event as defined in Treasury Regulation §1.409A-3(i)(5) or any subsequent, applicable Treasury Regulation.

 

(d)         An event described in items (a) through (c) above shall constitute a Change in Control only if the event constitutes a change in control event as defined in Treasury Regulations §1.409A-3(i)(5) or any subsequent, applicable Treasury Regulation.

 

1.8         “Disability” shall mean the Executive (i) is unable to engage in any substantial gainful activity by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment that can be expected to result in death or can be expected to last for a continuous period of net less than twelve (12) months or (ii) is, by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment that can be expected to result in death or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than twelve (12) months, receiving income replacement benefits for a period of not less than three (3) months under an accident and health plan covering employees of the Employer.

 

Medical determination of Disability may be made by either the Social Security Administration or by the provider of an accident or health plan covering employees of the Employer, provided that the definition of disability applied under such disability insurance program complies with the requirements of Section 409A. Upon the request of the Plan Administrator, the Executive must submit proof to the Plan Administrator of Social Security Administration’s or the provider’s determination.

 

 

2

 

1.9           “Early Retirement Age” means age sixty (60).

 

1.10         “Early Retirement Date” means the date the Executive Separates from Service after reaching Early Retirement Age but before Normal Retirement Age.

 

1.11        “Replacement Annuity” means an annuity policy that is comparable to the Annuity Contract, or an asset of comparable value, in either case with a lifetime withdrawal feature and benefit value comparable to the lifetime withdrawal feature and benefit value of the Annuity Contract as in effect immediately prior to a transfer or surrender of the Annuity Contract.

 

1.12         “Rider” means the income rider attached to the Annuity Contract, if any, as an endorsement or other product feature that operates as an income rider, with such feature providing for a withdrawal or payment feature for the life of the annuitant.

 

1.13         “Normal Retirement Age” means age sixty-five (65).

 

1.14         “Separation from Service” means separation from service as that term is defined and interpreted in Section 409A of the Code and Treasury Regulation §1.409A-1(h) or in subsequent regulations or other guidance issued by the Internal Revenue Service.

 

ARTICLE 2

DEFERRED COMPENSATION AND VALUATION OF ACCOUNT

 

2.1         Annuity Contract and Other Investments. For purposes of satisfying its obligations to provide benefits under this Plan, the Bank has initially invested in the Annuity Contract and may invest in other investments. However, nothing in this Section shall require the Bank to invest in any particular form of investment.

 

2.2        Ownership of the Annuity Contract. The Bank is the sole owner of the Annuity Contract, and other such investments, and shall have the right to exercise all incidents of ownership. The Bank shall be the beneficiary of the death proceeds of the Annuity Contract. The Bank shall at all times be entitled to the Annuity Contract’s cash surrender value, as that term, or a functionally similar term, is defined in the Annuity Contract.

 

2.3        Right to Annuity Contract. Notwithstanding any provision hereof to the contrary, the Bank shall have the right to sell or surrender any Annuity Contract without terminating this Plan, provided the Bank replaces the Annuity Contract with a comparable annuity policy or asset of comparable value. Without limitation, the Annuity Contract at all times shall be the exclusive property of the Bank and shall be subject to the claims of the Bank’s creditors

 

2.4          Rabbi Trust. Employer may establish a “rabbi trust” to which contributions may be made to provide the Employer with a source of funds for purposes of satisfying the obligations of the Employer under the Plan. The trust shall constitute an unfunded arrangement and shall not affect the status of the Plan as an unfunded plan. The Executive and or her Beneficiary shall have no beneficial ownership interest in any assets held in the trust.

 

3

 

ARTICLE 3

RETIREMENT AND OTHER BENEFITS

 

3.1         Retirement Benefit. Upon the Executive’s Separation from Service after reaching Normal Retirement Age for any reason other than death, Disability, or Cause (defined below), the Executive will be entitled to the monthly benefit payment described in this paragraph 3.1. The amount of the monthly benefit will equal [the amount that is paid from the Annuity Contract designated under this Plan to benefit the Executive through the Rider (the “Normal Retirement Benefit”), whether designated as a single life payment or joint and survivor payment as elected by the Executive], which Annuity Contract shall not be changed in a manner which would adversely affect the interests of the Executive without written approval from the Executive. The Normal Retirement Benefit will commence on the first (1st) day of the second month following the date of the Executive’s Separation from Service, payable monthly and continuing for his or her lifetime. This shall be the Executive’s benefit in lieu of any other benefit under this Plan.

 

3.2         Early Retirement Benefit. In the event the Executive should Separate from Service after reaching Early Retirement Age but Prior to Normal Retirement Age for any reason other than death, Disability, or Cause, the Executive will be entitled to a monthly benefit equal to a percentage of the amount that is paid from the Annuity Contract designated under this Plan to benefit the Executive through the Rider (the “Early Retirement Benefit”). The percentage is the ratio of the Account Balance on the Early Retirement Date to the projected Account Balance at Normal Retirement Age and applied to the amount that is paid from the Annuity Contract through the Rider at Normal Retirement Age. The Early Retirement Benefit will commence on the first day of the second month following the Executive’s Normal Retirement Age and will continue for the Executive's lifetime.

 

3.3         Disability Benefit. In the event the Executive should Separate from Service as a result of becoming Disabled while actively employed by the Employer any time after the effective date of this Plan but prior to the commencement of benefit payments under the Plan, the Executive will be entitled to a monthly benefit equal to a percentage of the amount that is paid from the Annuity Contract designated under this Plan to benefit the Executive through the Rider (the “Disability Benefit”). The percentage is the ratio of the Account Balance on the date of Separation from Service as a result of Disability to the projected Account Balance at Normal Retirement Age and applied to the amount that is paid from the Annuity Contract through the Rider at Normal Retirement Age. The Disability Benefit will commence on the first day of the second month following the Executive’s Normal Retirement Age and will continue for the Executive's lifetime.

 

3.4         Preretirement Death Benefit. Upon death of the Executive while in service to the Employer, the Employer shall pay to the Executive’s Beneficiary the Normal Retirement Benefit as if the Executive had survived to Normal Retirement Age, payable in one hundred eighty (180) equal monthly payments commencing no later than sixty (60) days from the date of death.

 

4

 

3.5         Postretirement Death Benefit.

 

(a)         If a single life benefit payment was elected by the Executive, upon death of the Executive after benefit payments have commenced under the Plan, but before receiving a total of one hundred eighty (180) payments, the Employer shall continue to pay to the Executive’s Beneficiary the Normal Retirement Benefit until one hundred eighty (180) payments have been made. If the Executive dies after receiving one hundred eighty (180) or more payments of benefit payments, this Agreement will terminate and no additional payments will be made to the Executive's Beneficiary under the Plan.

 

(b)         If a joint and survivor benefit payment was elected by the Executive, upon death of the Executive after benefit payments have commenced under the Plan, the benefit payments due to his or her survivor will continue until the death of such survivor and no other death benefit will be payable under this Agreement.

 

3.6         Change in Control Benefit. Upon a Change in Control, the Executive will fully vest in the Normal Retirement Benefit as provided for in paragraph 3.1, with such benefit payable as provided as if Executive Separated from Service at her Normal Retirement Age with payments commencing upon reaching such Normal Retirement Age. The Employer will establish a “rabbi trust,” if one has not already been established, for the purposes of this Plan, to which assets will be contributed to provide the Employer with a source of funds for purposes of satisfying the obligations of the Employer under the Plan. The amount of the contribution to the “rabbi trust” will be the amount sufficient to satisfy the obligation of the Employer under paragraph 3.1.

 

3.7         Restriction on Timing of Distributions. Notwithstanding the applicable provisions of this Plan regarding timing of payments, the special rules contained in this Section 3.7 shall apply. If the stock of the Employer is publicly traded at the time of the Executive’s Separation from Service in order for this Plan to comply with Section 409A of the Code: (i) to the extent the Executive is a “specified employee” (as defined under Section 409A of the Code) at the time of a distribution and to the extent such applicable provisions of Section 409A of the Code and the regulations thereunder require a delay of such distributions by a six-month period after the date of such Executive’s Separation from Service with the Employer, no such distribution shall be made prior to the date that is six months after the date of the Executive’s Separation from Service with the Employer, and (ii) any such delayed payments shall be paid to the Executive in a single lump sum within five (5) business days after the end of the six (6) month delay.

 

3.8         Termination for Cause. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, in the event of the Executive's termination for Cause, this Plan shall terminate and no benefits shall be payable under the Plan. For this purpose, “Cause” shall be determined in accordance with the definition of “Cause” and the process for determining such Cause in the Change in Control Agreement by and between the Bank and the Executive dated October 31, 2017.

 

ARTICLE 4

BENEFICIARIES

 

4.1         Beneficiary Designations. The Executive shall have the right to designate, at any time, a Beneficiary to receive any benefits payable under this Plan upon the death of the Executive. The Beneficiary designated under this Plan may be the same as or different from the Beneficiary designation under any other benefit plan of the Employer in which the Executive participates.

 

5

 

4.2        Beneficiary Designation; Changes. The Executive shall designate a Beneficiary by completing and signing the Beneficiary Designation Form and delivering it to the Plan Administrator or its designated agent. The Executive’s Beneficiary designation shall be deemed automatically revoked if the Beneficiary predeceases the Executive or if the Executive names a spouse as Beneficiary and the marriage is subsequently dissolved. The Executive shall have the right to change a Beneficiary by completing, signing, and otherwise complying with the terms of the Beneficiary Designation Form and the Plan Administrator’s rules and procedures, as in effect from time to time. Upon the acceptance by the Plan Administrator of a new Beneficiary Designation Form, all Beneficiary designations previously filed shall be cancelled. The Plan Administrator shall be entitled to rely on the last Beneficiary Designation Form filed by the Executive and accepted by the Plan Administrator before the Executive’s death.

 

4.3         Acknowledgment. No designation or change in designation of a Beneficiary shall be effective until received in writing by the Plan Administrator or its designated agent.

 

4.4         No Beneficiary Designation. If the Executive dies without a valid Beneficiary designation, or if all designated Beneficiaries predecease the Executive, then the Executive’s spouse shall be the designated Beneficiary. If the Executive has no surviving spouse, the benefits shall be distributed to the personal representative of the Executive’s estate.

 

4.5         Facility of Payment. If a benefit is payable to a minor, to a person declared incapacitated, or to a person incapable of handling the disposition of his or her property, the Employer may pay such benefit to the guardian, legal representative, or person having the care or custody of the minor, incapacitated person, or incapable person. The Employer may require proof of incapacity, minority, or guardianship as it may deem appropriate before distribution of the benefit. Distribution shall completely discharge the Employer from all liability for the benefit.

 

ARTICLE 5

GENERAL LIMITATIONS

 

5.1.        Limits on Payments. It is the intention of the parties that none of the payments to which the Executive is entitled under this Plan will constitute a “golden parachute payment” within the meaning of 12 USC Section 1828(k) or implementing regulations of the FDIC, the payment of which is prohibited (collectively, “Section 1828(k)”). Notwithstanding any other provision of this Plan to the contrary, any payments due to be made by Employer for the benefit of the Executive pursuant to this Plan, or otherwise, are subject to and conditioned on compliance with Section 1828(k) and any regulations promulgated thereunder including the receipt of all required approvals thereof by Employer’s primary federal banking regulator and/or the FDIC.

 

In addition, Employer and its successors retain the legal right to demand the return of any payment made hereunder which constitutes a “golden parachute payment” within the meaning of Section 1828(k) or implementing regulations of the FDIC should Employer or its successors later obtain information indicating that the Executive committed, is substantially responsible for, or has violated, the respective acts or omissions, conditions, or offenses outlined under 12 C.F.R. 359.4(a)(4).

 

6

 

ARTICLE 6

CLAIMS AND REVIEW PROCEDURES

 

6.1         Claims Procedure. A person or Beneficiary (a “claimant”) who has not received benefits under the Plan that he or she believes should be paid shall make a claim for such benefits as follows:

 

(a)        Initiation - Written Claim. The claimant initiates a claim by submitting to the Plan Administrator a written claim for the benefits. If the claim relates to the contents of a notice received by the claimant, the claim must be made within sixty (60) days after the notice was received by the claimant. All other claims must be made within one hundred eighty (180) days after the date of the event that caused the claim to arise. The claim must state with particularity the determination desired by the claimant.

 

(b)        Timing of Plan Administrator Response. The Plan Administrator shall respond to such claimant within ninety (90) days after receiving the claim. If the Plan Administrator determines that special circumstances require additional time for processing the claim, the Plan Administrator can extend the response period by an additional ninety (90) days by notifying the claimant in writing, prior to the end of the initial ninety (90)-day period, that an additional period is required. The notice of extension must set forth the special circumstances and the date by which the Plan Administrator expects to render its decision.

 

(c)         Notice of Decision. If the Plan Administrator denies part or all of the claim, the Plan Administrator shall notify the claimant in writing of such denial. The Plan Administrator shall write the notification in a manner calculated to be understood by the claimant. The notification shall set forth:

 

(i)         The specific reasons for the denial,

 

(ii)         A reference to the specific provisions of the Plan on which the denial is based,

 

(iii)        A description of any additional information or material necessary for the claimant to perfect the claim and an explanation of why it is needed,

 

(iv)         An explanation of the Plan’s review procedures and the time limits applicable to such procedures, and

 

(v)         A statement of the claimant’s right to bring a civil action under ERISA Section 502(a) following an adverse benefit determination on review.

 

7

 

6.2         Review Procedure. If the Plan Administrator denies part or all of the claim, the claimant shall have the opportunity for a full and fair review by the Plan Administrator of the denial, as follows

 

(a)         Initiation - Written Request. To initiate the review, the claimant, within 60 days after receiving the Plan Administrator’s notice of denial, must file with the Plan Administrator a written request for review.

 

(b)         Additional Submissions - Information Access. The claimant shall then have the opportunity to submit written comments, documents, records and other information relating to the claim. The Plan Administrator shall also provide the claimant, upon request and free of charge, reasonable access to, and copies of, all documents, records and other information relevant (as defined in applicable ERISA regulations) to the claimant’s claim for benefits.

 

(c)         Considerations on Review. In considering the review, the Plan Administrator shall take into account all materials and information the claimant submits relating to the claim, without regard to whether such information was submitted or considered in the initial benefit determination.

 

(d)         Timing of Plan Administrator Response. The Plan Administrator shall respond in writing to such claimant within sixty (60) days after receiving the request for review. If the Plan Administrator determines that special circumstances require additional time for processing the claim, the Plan Administrator can extend the response period by an additional sixty (60) days by notifying the claimant in writing, prior to the end of the initial sixty (60)-day period, that an additional period is required. The notice of extension must set forth the special circumstances and the date by which the Plan Administrator expects to render its decision.

 

(e)         Notice of Decision. The Plan Administrator shall notify the claimant in writing of its decision on review. The Plan Administrator shall write the notification in a manner calculated to be understood by the claimant. The notification shall set forth:

 

(i)         The specific reasons for the denial,

 

(ii)         A reference to the specific provisions of the Plan on which the denial is based,

 

(iii)       A statement that the claimant is entitled to receive, upon request and free of charge, reasonable access to, and copies of, all documents, records and other information relevant (as defined in applicable ERISA regulations) to the claimant’s claim for benefits, and

 

(iv)         A statement of the claimant’s right to bring a civil action under ERISA Section 502(a).

 

8

 

ARTICLE 7

MISCELLANEOUS

 

7.1        Amendments and Termination. Subject to paragraph 7.12 of this Plan, this Agreement may be amended or terminated solely by a written agreement signed by the Bank and by the Executive.

 

7.2         No Guarantee of Employment. This Plan is not an employment policy or contract. It does not give any Executive the right to remain an employee of the Employer, nor does it interfere with the Employer’s right to discharge the Executive. It also does not require any Executive to remain an employee nor interfere with any Executive’s right to terminate employment at any time.

 

7.3         Non-Transferability. Benefits under this Plan cannot be sold, transferred, assigned, pledged, attached, or encumbered in any manner.

 

7.4         Tax Withholding. The Employer shall withhold any taxes that are required to be withheld from the benefits provided under this Plan.

 

7.5         Applicable Law. Except to the extent preempted by the laws of the United States of America, the validity, interpretation, construction and performance of this Plan shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the Commonwealth of Virginia, without giving effect to the principles of conflict of laws of such Commonwealth.

 

7.6         Unfunded Arrangement. The Executive and her Beneficiary are general unsecured creditors of the Employer for the payment of benefits under this Plan. The benefits represent the mere promise by the Employer to pay such benefits. The rights to benefits are not subject in any manner to anticipation, alienation, sale, transfer, assignment, pledge, encumbrance, attachment, or garnishment by creditors. Any insurance, annuity contract or other asset purchased by Employer to fund its obligations under this Plan shall be a general asset of the Employer to which the Executive and Beneficiary have no preferred or secured claim.

 

7.7.         Benefit Provision. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Plan in the payment of the benefits under Article 3, any benefits payable under this Plan are contingent solely upon the amount that is provided by the Annuity Contract(s), including a Replacement Annuity, as identified in the Plan.

 

7.8         Severability. If any provision of this Plan is held invalid, such invalidity shall not affect any other provision of this Plan, and each such other provision shall continue in full force and effect to the full extent consistent with law. If any provision of this Plan is held invalid in part, such invalidity shall not affect the remainder of the provision, and the remainder of such provision together with all other provisions of this Plan shall continue in full force and effect to the full extent consistent with law.

 

7.9         Headings. The headings of articles herein are included solely for convenience of reference and shall not affect the meaning or interpretation of any provision of this Plan.

 

9

 

7.10        Notices. All notices, requests, demands, and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given if delivered by hand or mailed, certified or registered mail, return receipt requested, with postage prepaid. Unless otherwise changed by notice, notice shall be properly addressed to the Executive if addressed to the address of the Executive on the books and records of the Employer at the time of the delivery of such notice, and properly addressed to the Employer if addressed to the Board, at 101 Jacksonville Circle Floyd, VA 24091.

 

7.11         Payment of Legal Fees. In the event litigation ensues between the parties concerning the enforcement of the obligations of the parties under this Plan, the non-prevailing party, in addition to all other remedies the court may award, shall also pay the prevailing party’s costs and reasonable attorney’s fees incurred in such an action.

 

7.12         Termination or Modification of Plan Because of Changes in Law, Rules or Regulations. The Employer is entering into this Plan on the assumption that certain existing tax laws, rules, and regulations will continue in effect in their current form. If that assumption materially changes and the change has a material detrimental effect on this Plan, then the Employer reserves the right to terminate or modify this Plan accordingly.

 

ARTICLE 8

ADMINISTRATION OF AGREEMENT

 

8.1         Plan Administrator Duties. This Plan shall be administered by a Plan Administrator consisting of the Board or such committee or person(s) as the Board shall appoint. The Plan Administrator shall have the sole and absolute discretion and authority to interpret and enforce all appropriate rules and regulations for the administration of this Plan and the rights of the Executive under this Plan, to decide or resolve any and all questions or disputes arising under this Plan, including benefits payable under this Plan and all other interpretations of this Plan, as may arise in connection with the Plan.

 

8.2         Agents. In the administration of this Plan, the Plan Administrator may employ agents and delegate to them such administrative duties as it sees fit (including acting through a duly appointed representative) and may from time to time consult with counsel, who may be counsel to the Employer.

 

8.3         Binding Effect of Decisions. The decision or action of the Plan Administrator with respect to any question arising out of or in connection with the administration, interpretation, and application of the Plan and the rules and regulations promulgated hereunder shall be final and conclusive and binding upon all persons having any interest in the Plan. Without limiting the foregoing, it is acknowledged that the value of the benefits payable hereunder may be difficult to determine in the event the Employer does not actually purchase and maintain the Annuity Contract as contemplated hereunder; therefore, in such event, the Employer shall have the right to make any reasonable assumptions in determining the benefits payable hereunder and any such determination made in good faith shall be binding on the Executive.

 

10

 

8.4         Indemnity of Plan Administrator. The Plan Administrator shall not be liable to any person for any action taken or omitted in connection with the interpretation and administration of this Plan, unless such action or omission is attributable to the willful misconduct of the Plan Administrator or any of its members. The Employer shall indemnify and hold harmless the members of the Plan Administrator against any and all claims, losses, damages, expenses, or liabilities arising from any action or failure to act with respect to this Plan, except in the case of willful misconduct by the Plan Administrator or any of its members.

 

8.5         Employer Information. To enable the Plan Administrator to perform its functions, the Employer shall supply full and timely information to the Plan Administrator on all matters relating to the date and circumstances of the retirement, Disability, death, or Separation of Service of the Executive and such other pertinent information as the Plan Administrator may reasonably require.

 

This Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan Agreement is hereby adopted as of the date written above.

 

 

  SKYLINE NATIONAL BANK  
     
     
  By:/s/ Thomas M. Jackson, Jr.  
  Name: Thomas M. Jackson, Jr.  
  Title: Chairman  
     
     
  /s/ Beth Worrell  
  Beth Worrell  

 

11

Exhibit 10.4

 

 

SKYLINE NATIONAL BANK

SUPPLEMENTAL EXECUTIVE RETIREMENT PLAN

 

THIS SUPPLEMENTAL EXECUTIVE RETIREMENT PLAN (the “Plan”) is entered into and made effective as of this 31st day of March, 2022 (the “Effective Date”) by and between Skyline National Bank (the “Employer” or the “Bank” or the “Company”), and Jonathan Kruckow (the "Executive").

 

WHEREAS, the Executive has contributed substantially to the success of the Employer and the Employer desires that the Executive continue in its employ;

 

WHEREAS, to encourage the Executive to remain an employee of the Employer, the Employer is willing to provide supplemental retirement benefits to the Executive, payable out of the Employer’s general assets; and

 

WHEREAS, the parties hereto intend that this Plan shall be considered an unfunded arrangement maintained primarily to provide supplemental retirement benefits for the Executive, and shall be considered a plan described in Section 301(a)(3) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (“ERISA”).

 

WHEREAS this Plan is intended to comply with the requirements of Internal Revenue Code Section 409A. Accordingly, the intent of the parties hereto is that the Plan shall be operated and interpreted consistent with the requirements of Section 409A.

 

NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing premises and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto agree as follows.

 

ARTICLE 1

DEFINITIONS

 

Whenever used in this Plan, the following terms have the meanings specified —

 

1.1    Accrual Balance means the liability that should be accrued by the Employer under accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“GAAP”) for the Employer’s benefit obligation to the Executive under this Plan.

 

1.2    Administrator” means the Employer as defined herein.

 

1.3    Beneficiary means each designated person, or the estate of the deceased Executive, entitled to benefits, if any, upon the death of the Executive, determined according to Article 4.

 

1.4    Beneficiary Designation Form means the form established from time to time by the Plan Administrator that the Executive completes, signs, and returns to the Plan Administrator to designate one or more Beneficiaries.

 

1.5    Board means the Board of Directors of the Employer.

 

1.6    Change in Control” means the occurrence, through sale, exchange, merger, redemption or otherwise of a (i) change in ownership as defined in Treasury Regulation §l.409A-3(i)(5)(v), (ii) change in effective control as defined in Treasury Regulation §l.409A-3(i)(5)(vi), or (iii) change in the ownership of a substantial portion of the assets of the Bank as defined in Treasury Regulation §1.409A-3(i)(5)(vii) as currently in effect and as may hereafter from time to time be amended.

 

 

1

 

1.7    Disability means the Executive is (a) unable to engage in any substantial gainful activity by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment that can be expected to result in death or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than 12 months, (b) by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment that can be expected to result in death or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than 12 months, receiving income replacement benefits for a period of not less than 3 months under an accident and health plan covering employees of the Employer, or (c) is determined to be totally disabled by the Social Security Administration.

 

1.8    Normal Retirement Age means the attainment of age sixty (60).

 

1.9    Plan Administrator means the plan administrator described in Article 8.

 

1.10   Plan Year means a twelve-month period commencing on January 1 and ending on December 31 of each year. The initial Plan Year shall commence on the Effective Date of this Plan and end on December 31 of the year in which occurs the Effective Date.

 

1.11    Specified Employee” means an employee who at the time of Termination of Employment is a key employee of the Company, if any stock of the Company is publicly traded on an established securities market or otherwise. For purposes of this Plan, an employee is a key employee if the employee meets the requirements of Code Section 416(i)(1)(A)(i), (ii), or (iii) (applied in accordance with the regulations thereunder and disregarding section 416(i)(5)) at any time during the 12-month period ending on December 31 (the “identification period”). If the employee is a key employee during an identification period, the employee is treated as a key employee for purposes of this Plan during the twelve (12) month period that begins on the first day of April following the close of the identification period.

 

1.12    Termination for Cause and “Cause shall have the same definition specified in any effective severance or employment agreement or plan existing on the date hereof or hereafter entered into between the Executive and the Bank. If the Executive is not a party to a severance or employment agreement or plan containing a definition of termination for cause, Termination for Cause shall be defined as (i) conviction of a crime involving moral turpitude; (ii) willful misconduct or gross neglect of duties which, in either case, has resulted, or in all probability is likely to result, in material economic damage to the Bank; provided that within 30 days after receiving notice of such misconduct or neglect, on which the board is relying to terminate you for cause, you are provided the opportunity defend yourself before the board; or (iii) a repeated failure by Executive to follow the written directives of the board or any written Bank policy or guidelines expressly approved by the board which has resulted, or in all probability is likely to result, in material economic damage to the Bank; provided, however, that if you initially refuse to obey the written directives of the board, (a) you are furnished a written statement by the board that it believes in good faith that the acts or non-acts in respect of the direction that is given you is in the best interests of the Bank, and (b) you are provided the opportunity to discuss with the board reasons for not complying with the board's directives; provided further that your refusal to follow any written directive of the board that would cause you to commit any illegal act or engage in any illegal course of conduct shall not be grounds for terminating your employment for Cause.

 

2

 

1.13    Termination of Employment with the Employer means that the Executive shall have ceased to be employed by the Employer for reasons other than death, excepting a leave of absence approved by the Employer. Whether a termination of employment has occurred is determined based on whether the facts and circumstances indicate that the Bank and the Executive reasonably anticipated that no further services would be performed after a certain date or that the level of bona fide services the Executive would perform after such date (whether as an employee or as an independent contractor) would permanently decrease to no more than twenty percent (20%) of the average level of bona fide services performed (whether as an employee or an independent contractor) over the immediately preceding thirty-six (36) month period (or the full period of services to the Bank if the Executive has been providing services to the Bank less than thirty-six (36) months). Notwithstanding any other provision hereof, a Termination of Employment shall only be deemed to have occurred if such Termination of Employment would constitute a separation from service as that term is defined and interpreted in Section 409A of the Code and Treasury Regulation §1.409A-1(h) or in subsequent regulations or other guidance issued by the Internal Revenue Service.

 

ARTICLE 2

RETIREMENT BENEFITS

 

2.1     Normal Retirement Benefit. Upon the Executive’s attainment of Normal Retirement Age, the Executive will be eligible to receive his full Normal Retirement Benefit.

 

2.1.1.  Amount of Benefit. The annual Normal Retirement Benefit under this Section 2.1 is an annual amount equal to Sixty Thousand Dollars ($60,000.00).

 

2.1.2.  Payment of Benefit. The Employer shall pay the aggregate annual benefit described in Section 2.1.1 to the Executive in one hundred eighty (180) equal monthly installments beginning on the first day of the second month following the date of Termination of Employment.

 

2.2     Early Termination Benefit. Upon the Executive’s Termination of Employment prior to Normal Retirement Age, this Agreement shall terminate and no benefits shall be payable hereunder.

 

2.3    Disability Benefit. Upon the Executive’s Termination of Employment due to a Disability prior to attaining Normal Retirement Age, the Executive shall be eligible to receive the benefit described in this Section 2.3 in lieu of any other benefit under this Agreement.

 

2.3.1.  Amount of Benefit. The benefit under this Section 2.3 is an amount equal to a percentage of the Normal Retirement Benefit set forth under Section 2.1 above. This percentage is determined by dividing the Accrual Balance on the date of Termination of Employment by the projected Accrual Balance at Normal Retirement Age.

 

2.3.2.  Payment of Benefit. The Employer shall pay the Disability Benefit to the Executive in one hundred eighty (180) equal monthly installments beginning on the first day of the month after the month in which the Executive attains Normal Retirement Age.

 

2.4     Change in Control Benefit. Upon the occurrence of a Change in Control, the Executive shall be eligible to receive the benefit described in this Article 2.4 in lieu of any other benefit under this Plan.

 

2.4.1   Amount of Benefit. The benefit under this Section 2.4 is an amount equal to the Normal Retirement Benefit set forth under Section 2.1 above.

 

2.4.2   Payment of Benefit.  The Employer shall pay the Change in Control Benefit to the Executive in one hundred eighty (180) equal monthly installments beginning on the first day of the second month following the later of the date the Executive attains Normal Retirement Age or the date of Termination of Employment.

 

3

 

2.5     Restriction on Timing of Distributions.  Notwithstanding any provision of this Plan to the contrary, benefit distributions to a Specified Employee that are made upon Termination of Employment may not commence earlier than six (6) months after the date of such Termination of Employment. Therefore, in the event this Section 2.5 is applicable to the Executive, any distribution which would otherwise be paid to the Executive within the first six months following the Termination of Employment shall be accumulated and paid to the Executive in a lump sum on the first day of the seventh month following the Termination of Employment. All subsequent distributions shall be paid in the manner specified.

 

2.6     Distributions Upon Income Inclusion Under Section 409A of the Code. Upon the inclusion of any amount into the Executive’s income as a result of the failure of this non-qualified deferred compensation plan to comply with the requirements of Section 409A of the Code, to the extent such tax liability can be covered by the amount the Bank has accrued with respect to the Bank’s obligations hereunder, a distribution shall be made as soon as is administratively practicable following the discovery of the plan failure.

 

2.7    One Benefit Only. Despite any contrary provision of this Plan, the Executive and Beneficiary are entitled to one benefit only under Article 2 of this Plan, which shall be determined by the first event to occur that is dealt with by Article 2 of this Plan. Subsequent occurrence of events dealt with by this Article 2 shall not entitle the Executive or the Executive’s Beneficiary to other or additional benefits under Article 2.

 

2.8    Section 280G. Notwithstanding anything contained in the Plan, in the event benefit payments under this Plan, or in connection with any other agreements or benefit plans of the Employer to which the Executive is a party or in which he participates, are subject to tax penalties under Section 280G or Section 4999 of the Code, such benefit payments shall be reduced to an amount that is $1.00 less that the amount that causes the benefit payments to be subject to such tax penalties. The Executive shall have the right to determine which benefits to which he would otherwise be entitled under this Plan or any other agreement or plan between Executive and the Employer or the Company shall be reduced.

 

ARTICLE 3

DEATH BENEFITS

 

3.1    Death During Active Service. If the Executive dies while employed by the Employer, the Beneficiary shall receive the Normal Retirement Benefit, payable in one hundred eighty (180) equal monthly installments commencing within sixty (60) days after submission of proof of the Executive’s death.

 

3.2    Death After Active Service. If the Executive dies after benefit payments under Article 2 have commenced but before receiving all such payments, or if the Executive is entitled to benefit payments under Article 2 but dies before payments commence, payments shall be made to the Beneficiary in the same amounts and in the same form that would have been made to the Executive had the Executive survived.

 

ARTICLE 4

BENEFICIARIES

 

4.1    Beneficiary Designations. The Executive shall have the right to designate at any time a Beneficiary to receive any benefits payable under this Plan upon the death of the Executive. The Beneficiary designated under this Plan may be the same as or different from the beneficiary designation under any other benefit plan of the Employer in which the Executive participates.

 

4

 

 

4.2    Beneficiary Designation: Change. The Executive shall designate a Beneficiary by completing and signing the Beneficiary Designation Form and delivering it to the Plan Administrator or its designated agent. The Executive’s Beneficiary designation shall be deemed automatically revoked if the Beneficiary predeceases the Executive or if the Executive names a spouse as Beneficiary and the marriage is subsequently dissolved. The Executive shall have the right to change a Beneficiary by completing, signing, and otherwise complying with the terms of the Beneficiary Designation Form and the Plan Administrator’s rules and procedures, as in effect from time to time. Upon the acceptance by the Plan Administrator of a new Beneficiary Designation Form, all Beneficiary designations previously filed shall be cancelled. The Plan Administrator shall be entitled to rely on the last Beneficiary Designation Form filed by the Executive and accepted by the Plan Administrator before the Executive’s death.

 

 

4.3    Acknowledgment. No designation or change in designation of a Beneficiary shall be effective until received in writing by the Plan Administrator or its designated agent.

 

 

4.4    No Beneficiary Designation. If the Executive dies without a valid beneficiary designation, or if all designated Beneficiaries predecease the Executive, then the Executive’s spouse shall be the designated Beneficiary. If the Executive has no surviving spouse, the benefits shall be distributed to the personal representative of the Executive’s estate.

 

 

4.5    Facility of Payment. If a benefit is payable to a minor, to a person declared incapacitated, or to a person incapable of handling the disposition of his or her property, the Employer may pay such benefit to the guardian, legal representative, or person having the care or custody of the minor, incapacitated person, or incapable person. The Employer may require proof of incapacity, minority, or guardianship as it may deem appropriate before distribution of the benefit. Distribution shall completely discharge the Employer from all liability for the benefit.

 

ARTICLE 5

GENERAL LIMITATIONS

 

5.1    Termination for Cause. If the Executive experiences a Termination of Employment which is a Termination for Cause, notwithstanding any provision of this Plan to the contrary, this Plan and the Employer’s obligations under this Plan shall terminate as of the effective date of the Termination for Cause and no benefit payments will be made.

 

5.2    Removal. Despite any contrary provision of this Plan, if the Executive is removed from office or permanently prohibited from participating in the Bank’s affairs by an order issued under section 8(e) (4) or (g) (1) of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act, 12 U.S.C. 1818(e) (4) or (g) (1), or comparable state statutory or regulatory provision, all obligations of the Bank under this Plan shall terminate as of the effective date of the order.

 

5.3    Default. Despite any contrary provision of this Plan, if the Bank is in “default” or “in danger of default”, as those terms are defined in of section 3(x) of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act, 12 U.S.C. 1813(x), all obligations under this Plan shall terminate.

 

5

 

ARTICLE 6

CLAIMS AND REVIEW PROCEDURES

 

6.1    Claims Procedure. A person or Beneficiary (a “claimant”) who has not received benefits under the Plan that he or she believes should be paid shall make a claim for such benefits as follows:

 

(a)    Initiation - Written Claim. The claimant initiates a claim by submitting to the Plan Administrator a written claim for the benefits. If the claim relates to the contents of a notice received by the claimant, the claim must be made within sixty (60) days after the notice was received by the claimant. All other claims must be made within one hundred eighty (180) days after the date of the event that caused the claim to arise. The claim must state with particularity the determination desired by the claimant.

 

(b)    Timing of Plan Administrator Response. The Plan Administrator shall respond to such claimant within ninety (90) days after receiving the claim, (within forty-five (45) days for Disability benefits). If the Plan Administrator determines that special circumstances require additional time for processing the claim, the Plan Administrator can extend the response period by an additional ninety (90) days, (thirty (30) days for Disability), by notifying the claimant in writing, prior to the end of the initial ninety (90)-day period (or forty-five (45) days, as applicable), that an additional period is required. The notice of extension must set forth the special circumstances and the date by which the Plan Administrator expects to render its decision. If the extension is with respect to Disability benefits, the notice shall specifically explain the standards on which entitlement to a benefit is based, the unresolved issues that prevent a decision on the claim, and the additional information needed to resolve those issues, and the claimant shall be given 45 days to provide the specified information. The time period shall begin at the time a claim is filed, whether or not all information necessary for a determination accompanies the filing. If the time period is extended due to insufficient information needed to decide a Disability claim, the period for making the Disability determination shall be tolled from the date on which the notification of the extension is sent to the claimant until the date on which the claimant responds to the request for additional information.

 

(c)    Notice of Decision. If the Plan Administrator denies part or all of the claim, the Plan Administrator shall notify the claimant in writing of such denial. The Plan Administrator shall write the notification in a manner calculated to be understood by the claimant. The notification shall set forth:

 

(i)    The specific reasons for the denial,

 

(ii)    A reference to the specific provisions of the Plan on which the denial is based,

 

(iii)    A description of any additional information or material necessary for the claimant to perfect the claim and an explanation of why it is needed,

 

(iv)    An explanation of the Plan’s review procedures and the time limits applicable to such procedures, and

 

(v)    in the case involving Disability, a copy of any internal rule, guideline, protocol or other similar criterion that was relied upon in making the decision and, if based on a medical necessity or experimental treatment or similar exclusion or limit, either an explanation of the scientific or clinical judgment for the determination, or a statement that such explanation will be provided free of charge upon request.

 

6

 

6.2    Review Procedure. If the Plan Administrator denies part or all of the claim, the claimant shall have the opportunity for a full and fair review by the Plan Administrator of the denial, as follows:

 

(a)    Initiation - Written Request. To initiate the review, the claimant, within sixty (60) days (180 days for a Disability claim) after receiving the Plan Administrator’s notice of denial, must file with the Plan Administrator a written request for review.

 

(b)    Additional Submissions - Information Access. The claimant shall then have the opportunity to submit written comments, documents, records and other information relating to the claim. The Plan Administrator shall also provide the claimant, upon request and free of charge, reasonable access to, and copies of, all documents, records and other information relevant (as defined in applicable ERISA regulations) to the claimant’s claim for benefits.

 

(c)    Considerations on Review. In considering the review, the Plan Administrator shall take into account all materials and information the claimant submits relating to the claim, without regard to whether such information was submitted or considered in the initial benefit determination.

 

(d)    Additional Information For Disability. In a claim for Disability, the following shall also apply:

 

(i)    the review shall not give any deference to the initial adverse determination;

 

(ii)    if the appeal is based in whole or in part on a medical judgment, the Bank shall consult with a health care professional who has appropriate training and experience in the field of medicine involved in the medical judgment;

 

(iii)    any medical or vocational experts whose advice was obtained in connection with the adverse determination shall be identified, without regard to whether the advice was relied upon in making the benefit determination; and

 

(iv)    the health care professional engaged for purposes of a consultation under (b) above shall not be the individual who was consulted in connection with the adverse determination that is the subject of the appeal, nor the subordinate of any such individual.

 

(e)    Timing of Plan Administrator Response. The Plan Administrator shall respond in writing to such claimant within sixty (60) days after receiving the request for review. If the Plan Administrator determines that special circumstances require additional time for processing the claim, the Plan Administrator can extend the response period by an additional sixty (60) days by notifying the claimant in writing, prior to the end of the initial sixty (60)-day period, that an additional period is required. The notice of extension must set forth the special circumstances and the date by which the Plan Administrator expects to render its decision.

 

(f)    Notice of Decision. The Plan Administrator shall notify the claimant in writing of its decision on review. The Plan Administrator shall write the notification in a manner calculated to be understood by the claimant. The notification shall set forth:

 

(i)    The specific reasons for the denial,

 

(ii)    A reference to the specific provisions of the Plan on which the denial is based,

 

7

 

(iii)    A statement that the claimant is entitled to receive, upon request and free of charge, reasonable access to, and copies of, all documents, records and other information relevant (as defined in applicable ERISA regulations) to the claimant’s claim for benefits, and

 

(iv)    A statement of the claimant’s right to bring a civil action under ERISA Section 502(a), and

 

(v)    in the case involving Disability benefits, a copy of any internal rule, guideline, protocol or other similar criterion that was relied upon in making the decision and, if the adverse determination is based on a medical necessity or experimental treatment or similar exclusion or limit, either an explanation of the scientific or clinical judgment for the determination, or a statement that such explanation will be provided free of charge upon request; and the following statement: “You and your Plan may have other voluntary alternative dispute resolution options, such as mediation. One way to find what may be available is to contact your local U.S. Department of Labor Office or your State insurance regulatory agency.

 

ARTICLE 7

MISCELLANEOUS

 

7.1         Amendments and Termination. Subject to Section 7.13 of this Plan, (a) this Plan may be amended solely by a writing signed by the Employer and by the Executive, and (b) except for termination occurring under Article 5, this Plan may be terminated solely by a writing signed by the Employer and by the Executive.

 

7.2        Binding Effect. This Plan shall bind the Executive and the Employer and their beneficiaries, survivors, executors, successors, administrators, and transferees.

 

7.3         No Guarantee of Employment. This Plan is not an employment policy or contract. It does not give the Executive the right to remain an employee of the Employer, nor does it interfere with the Employer’s right to discharge the Executive. It also does not require the Executive to remain an employee nor interfere with the Executive’s right to terminate employment at any time.

 

7.4         Non-Transferability. Benefits under this Plan cannot be sold, transferred, assigned, pledged, attached, or encumbered in any manner.

 

7.5         Tax Withholding. The Employer shall withhold any taxes that are required to be withheld from the benefits provided under this Plan.

 

7.6         Applicable Law. Except to the extent preempted by the laws of the United States of America, the validity, interpretation, construction, and performance of this Plan shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Virginia, without giving effect to the principles of conflict of laws of such state.

 

7.7        Unfunded Arrangement. The Executive and the Executive’s Beneficiary are general unsecured creditors of the Employer for the payment of benefits under this Plan. The benefits represent the mere promise by the Employer to pay such benefits. The rights to benefits are not subject in any manner to anticipation, alienation, sale, transfer, assignment, pledge, encumbrance, attachment, or garnishment by creditors. Any insurance on the Executive’s life is a general asset of the Employer to which the Executive and Beneficiary have no preferred or secured claim.

 

8

 

7.8         Severability. If any provision of this Plan is held invalid, such invalidity shall not affect any other provision of this Plan, and each such other provision shall continue in full force and effect to the full extent consistent with law. If any provision of this Plan is held invalid in part, such invalidity shall not affect the remainder of the provision, and the remainder of such provision together with all other provisions of this Plan shall continue in full force and effect to the full extent consistent with law.

 

7.9         Headings. The headings of sections herein are included solely for convenience of reference and shall not affect the meaning or interpretation of any provision of this Plan.

 

7.10       Notices. All notices, requests, demands, and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given if delivered by hand or mailed, certified or registered mail, return receipt requested, with postage prepaid. Unless otherwise changed by notice, notice shall be properly addressed to the Executive if addressed to the address of the Executive on the books and records of the Employer at the time of the delivery of such notice, and properly addressed to the Employer if addressed to the Board of Directors, at 101 Jacksonville Circle, Floyd, VA 24091.

 

7.11         Entire Plan. This Plan constitutes the entire agreement between the Employer and the Executive concerning the subject matter hereof. No rights are granted to the Executive under this Plan other than those specifically set forth herein.

 

7.12         Payment of Legal Fees. In the event litigation ensues between the parties concerning the enforcement of the obligations of the parties under this Plan, the Employer shall pay all costs and expenses in connection with such litigation until such time as a final determination (excluding any appeals) is made with respect to the litigation. If the Employer prevails on the substantive merits of the each material claim in dispute in such litigation, the Employer shall be entitled to receive from the Executive all reasonable costs and expenses, including without limitation attorneys’ fees, incurred by the Employer on behalf of the Executive in connection with such litigation, and the Executive shall pay such costs and expenses to the Employer promptly upon demand by the Employer.

 

7.13         Termination or Modification of Plan Because of Changes in Law, Rules or Regulations. The Employer is entering into this Plan on the assumption that certain existing tax laws, rules, and regulations will continue in effect in their current form. If that assumption materially changes and the change has a material detrimental effect on this Plan, then the Employer reserves the right to terminate or modify this Plan accordingly, subject to the written consent of the Executive, which shall not be unreasonably withheld. This Section 7.13 shall become null and void effective immediately if a Change in Control occurs.

 

ARTICLE 8

ADMINISTRATION OF PLAN

 

8.1         Plan Administrator Duties. This Plan shall be administered by a Plan Administrator consisting of the Board of Directors of the Employer or such committee or person(s) as the Board of Directors of the Employer shall appoint. The Plan Administrator shall have the sole and absolute discretion and authority to interpret and enforce all appropriate rules and regulations for the administration of this Plan and the rights of the Executive under this Plan, to decide or resolve any and all questions or disputes arising under this Plan, including benefits payable under this Plan and all other interpretations of this Plan, as may arise in connection with the Plan.

 

8.2         Agents. In the administration of this Plan, the Plan Administrator may employ agents and delegate to them such administrative duties as it sees fit (including acting through a duly appointed representative) and may from time to time consult with counsel, who may be counsel to the Employer.

 

9

 

8.3         Binding Effect of Decisions. The decision or action of the Plan Administrator with respect to any question arising out of or in connection with the administration, interpretation, and application of the Plan and the rules and regulations promulgated hereunder shall be final and conclusive and binding upon all persons having any interest in the Plan. No Executive or Beneficiary shall be deemed to have any right, vested or nonvested, regarding the continued use of any previously adopted assumptions, including but not limited to the discount rate and calculation method described in Section 1.1.

 

8.4         Indemnity of Plan Administrator. The Plan Administrator shall not be liable to any person for any action taken or omitted in connection with the interpretation and administration of this Plan, unless such action or omission is attributable to the willful misconduct of the Plan Administrator or any of its members. The Employer shall indemnify and hold harmless the members of the Plan Administrator against any and all claims, losses, damages, expenses, or liabilities arising from any action or failure to act with respect to this Plan, except in the case of willful misconduct by the Plan Administrator or any of its members.

 

8.5         Employer Information. To enable the Plan Administrator to perform its functions, the Employer shall supply full and timely information to the Plan Administrator on all matters relating to the date and circumstances of the retirement, Disability, death, or Termination of Employment of the Executive and such other pertinent information as the Plan Administrator may reasonably require.

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Executive and a duly authorized Officer of the Bank have signed this Plan as of the date first written above.

 

THE EXECUTIVE:   SKYLINE NATIONAL BANK  

 

/s/ Jonathan Kruckow   By: /s/ Thomas M. Jackson, Jr.  
         
    Its: Chairman                                      

                          

10