Celebrating our Black Leaders: James H. Sills III
Celebrating our Black Leaders: President and CEO of M&F Bank, the second oldest African American Bank founded in 1907 and headquartered in Durham, N.C. M&F Bank has total assets of $310 Million and seven branch locations in 5 major markets within North Carolina. He has served in this role since 2014.
Mr. Sills’ background includes a unique combination of executive management experience within large-scale banking operations, community banks, and government organizations. He has over 30 years of banking and technology management experience. Sills served as the Cabinet Secretary and Chief Information Officer (CIO) for the State of Delaware from January 2009 to August 2014. He was responsible for providing strategic direction and management for technology operations supporting over 34,000 end users.
In 2014, Mr. Sills was selected IT Executive of the Year by Government Technology Magazine and State Executive of the year by StateScoop Magazine. In 2014, Sills was awarded the Order of The First State – Delaware’s highest civilian honor by Governor Jack A. Markell. Prior to his Cabinet Secretary appointment, Sills served as Executive Vice President of MBNA America Bank (now Bank of America). In this capacity, he served as the Director of Corporate Technology Solutions for the $80 Billion U.S. Card Division. Prior to relocating to Wilmington, Delaware in June of 2001, Mr. Sills served as the President and CEO of Memphis First Community Bank (now Landmark Community Bank) in Memphis, TN.
Mr. Sills is very active in the community. He currently serves on the following Boards: Executive Committee – North Carolina State Chamber of Commerce, Vice Chairman – North Carolina Bankers Association, Vice Chairman- Independent Community Bankers Association (ICBA) Minority Banking Council, Durham County Chamber of Commerce, North Carolina Health Benefit Trust, Board of Visitors NC A&T State University, FDIC Minority Banking Committee, NC Central University Board of Visitors and Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond. Mr. Sills received a BA from Morehouse College and an MPA from the University of Pittsburgh. He is also a graduate of the University of Wisconsin Banking School.
