Merrill Johnston, Jr., MBA, CEPA

Merrill Johnston, Jr., MBA, CEPA has extensive work experience in the banking industry. Merrill has been Senior Vice President at CommerceOne Bank since 2021. Prior to this, they were a Business Owner at Grove Capital LLC from 2020 to 2021, where they were in the market to purchase and operate a profitable small business in the Central Alabama region. From 2017 to 2020, they were Business Development Consultant at BMSS, LLC, where they championed business development for a top five accounting firm. From 2004 to 2017, they held multiple roles at First Commercial Bank Birmingham a Division of Synovus Financial, including Executive Vice President, Director of Commercial Banking, Executive Vice President, Director of Corporate Banking, and Executive Vice President. Merrill began their career in 1992 as a Commercial Relationship Banker / Branch Market Leader at Synovus.

Merrill Johnston, Jr., MBA, CEPA obtained their Bachelor of Business Administration - BBA from Furman University in Business Administration and Management, General. Merrill then attended Samford University and obtained their Master of Business Administration - MBA in Business Administration and Management, General. In 2014-2015, they attended ABA Stonier Graduate School of Banking and obtained a Graduate School of Banking degree in Banking and Financial Support Services. Additionally, they obtained their Certified Exit Planning Advisor from the Exit Planning Institute and their Certified Family Business Advisor from The Family Firm Institute - FFI.