Banking
Business First Bancshares Executive Compensation (FY25)
BFST · Executive and director compensation, fiscal 2023 to 2025
Data as of September 7, 2026Latest filing (8-K): May 27, 2026
190 figures on this page: 184 cited to the filing that reported them, 6 calculated from figures it prints. See the citations
David Melville, III, Chairman, President, and Chief Executive Officer, received $2,582,764 in total compensation for fiscal 2025, and Melville, III's total was 17.1% lower than the $3,116,949 reported for fiscal 2024. Meanwhile, the disclosed chief executive pay ratio for fiscal 2025 is 33:1, against median employee compensation of $77,409. Separately, for fiscal 2025, shareholders backed the say-on-pay proposal with 97.9% of votes cast including abstentions in favor at the meeting held May 21, 2026. The disclosed peer group includes Amerant Bancorp Inc., Equity Bancshares, Inc., First Bancorp, Inc., First Guaranty Bancshares, Inc. and Great Southern Bancorp, Inc., among others.
What changed from fiscal 2024 to fiscal 2025
The figures that moved, and by how much. Analysis of these figures is part of the Velarion platform.
Chief executive total compensation — David Melville, III: $3,116,949 → $2,582,764 (17.1% lower)
Say-on-pay support: 92.7% → 97.9% (5.2 points higher)
CEO pay ratio: 51:1 → 33:1 (35.3% lower)
Frequently asked questions
Answers drawn from the data on this page.
Who is Business First Bancshares' chief executive and what were they paid?
David Melville, III, Chairman, President, and Chief Executive Officer, received $2,582,764 in total compensation for fiscal 2025. Melville, III's total was 17.1% lower than the $3,116,949 reported for fiscal 2024.
What was Business First Bancshares' say-on-pay result?
For fiscal 2025, shareholders backed the say-on-pay proposal with 97.9% of votes cast including abstentions in favor at the meeting held May 21, 2026.
Which companies are in Business First Bancshares' peer group?
The disclosed peer group includes Amerant Bancorp Inc., Equity Bancshares, Inc., First Bancorp, Inc., First Guaranty Bancshares, Inc. and Great Southern Bancorp, Inc., among others.
What is Business First Bancshares' chief executive pay ratio?
The disclosed chief executive pay ratio for fiscal 2025 is 33:1, against median employee compensation of $77,409.
Executive compensation
Every element reported for each named executive officer, by fiscal year.
Fiscal 2023
| Officer | Salary | Bonus | Stock awards | Option awards | Non-equity incentive | Pension and deferred earnings | All other compensation | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
David R. Melville, III President and Chief Executive Officer | ◇ | — | ◇ | — | ◇ | — | ◇ | ◇ |
Jerry Vascocu Executive Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer | ◇ | ◇ | ◇ | — | ◇ | — | ◇ | ◇ |
Philip Jordan Executive Vice President and Chief Banking Officer | ◇ | — | ◇ | — | ◇ | — | ◇ | ◇ |
Gregory Robertson Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer | ◇ | — | ◇ | — | ◇ | — | ◇ | ◇ |
Keith Mansfield Executive Vice President and Chief Operations Officer | ◇ | — | ◇ | — | ◇ | — | ◇ | ◇ |
Fiscal 2024
| Officer | Salary | Bonus | Stock awards | Option awards | Non-equity incentive | Pension and deferred earnings | All other compensation | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
David Melville, III Chairman, President, and Chief Executive Officer | ◇ | — | ◇ | — | ◇ | ◇ | ◇ | ◇ |
Norman Vascocu President of the Bank | ◇ | ◇ | ◇ | — | ◇ | ◇ | ◇ | — not reconciled |
Philip Jordan Executive Vice President and Chief Banking Officer | ◇ | — | ◇ | — | ◇ | ◇ | ◇ | ◇ |
Gregory Robertson Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer | ◇ | — | ◇ | — | ◇ | ◇ | ◇ | ◇ |
Keith Mansfield Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer | ◇ | — | ◇ | — | ◇ | ◇ | ◇ | ◇ |
Fiscal 2025
| Officer | Salary | Bonus | Stock awards | Option awards | Non-equity incentive | Pension and deferred earnings | All other compensation | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
David Melville, III Chairman, President, and Chief Executive Officer | ◇ | — | ◇ | — | ◇ | ◇ | ◇ | ◇ |
Norman Vascocu President of the Bank | ◇ | — | ◇ | — | ◇ | ◇ | ◇ | ◇ |
Gregory Robertson Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer | ◇ | — | ◇ | — | ◇ | ◇ | ◇ | ◇ |
Philip Jordan Executive Vice President and Chief Banking Officer | ◇ | — | ◇ | — | ◇ | ◇ | ◇ | ◇ |
Keith Mansfield Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer | ◇ | — | ◇ | — | ◇ | ◇ | ◇ | ◇ |
A dash means the company reported no figure in that column. $0 is shown only where the filing prints a zero. A negative change in pension value is shown but, as the company reports it, not included in the total.
Equity awards granted
Individual awards as disclosed: type, date, unit counts at each level, and grant date value.
Fiscal 2025
| Officer | Award | Grant date | Threshold units | Target units | Units granted | Maximum units | Exercise price | Grant date fair value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| David R. Melville III | RSU | — | — | — | ◇ | — | — | ◇ |
| David R. Melville, III | RSU | — | — | — | — | — | — | ◇ |
| Gregory Robertson | RSU | ◇ | — | — | ◇ | — | — | ◇ |
| Gregory Robertson | PSU | ◇ | — | ◇ | — | — | — | ◇ |
| Keith Mansfield | RSU | ◇ | — | — | ◇ | — | — | ◇ |
| Keith Mansfield | PSU | ◇ | — | ◇ | — | — | — | ◇ |
| Philip Jordan | PSU | ◇ | — | ◇ | — | — | — | ◇ |
| Philip Jordan | RSU | ◇ | — | — | ◇ | — | — | ◇ |
Fiscal 2023, 2024 are included in the PDF.
A dash means the company reported no figure in that column. $0 is shown only where the filing prints a zero. Threshold, target and maximum apply only to performance awards and are never shown for time-based or option awards.
Outstanding awards
Awards still held at fiscal year end.
As disclosed at fiscal 2025 year end
| Officer | Award | Unvested units | Market value of unvested units | Exercise price | Expires |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Philip Jordan | RSU | ◇ | ◇ | — | — |
| Gregory Robertson | RSU | ◇ | ◇ | — | — |
| Keith Mansfield | RSU | ◇ | ◇ | — | — |
A dash means the company reported no figure in that column. $0 is shown only where the filing prints a zero.
Director compensation
What each non-employee director was paid.
Fiscal 2025
| Director | Fees earned in cash | Stock awards | Option awards | Non-equity incentive | Pension and deferred earnings | All other compensation | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Mark P. Folse Lead independent director | ◇ | ◇ | — | — | — | — | ◇ |
Rolfe H. McCollister, Jr | ◇ | ◇ | — | — | — | — | ◇ |
David A. Montgomery, Jr | ◇ | ◇ | — | — | — | — | ◇ |
Arthur J. Price | ◇ | ◇ | — | — | — | — | ◇ |
Patrick E. Mockler | ◇ | ◇ | — | — | — | — | ◇ |
Steven G. White | ◇ | ◇ | — | — | — | — | ◇ |
John P. Ducrest | ◇ | ◇ | — | — | — | — | ◇ |
J. Vernon Johnson | ◇ | ◇ | — | — | — | — | ◇ |
Ricky D. Day | ◇ | ◇ | — | — | — | — | ◇ |
Carol M. Calkins | ◇ | ◇ | — | — | — | — | ◇ |
Zeenat Sidi | ◇ | ◇ | — | — | — | — | ◇ |
Keith A. Tillage | ◇ | ◇ | — | — | — | — | ◇ |
Aimee Quirk | ◇ | ◇ | — | — | — | — | ◇ |
Alejandro Sanchez | ◇ | ◇ | — | — | — | — | ◇ |
William G. Hall | ◇ | — | — | — | — | — | ◇ |
Kenneth Wm. Smith | ◇ | — | — | — | — | — | ◇ |
James J. Buquet, III | ◇ | — | — | — | — | — | ◇ |
David R. Melville, III and George W. Cummings III served on the board in fiscal 2025 and received no compensation for board service. Executive directors are typically paid through their executive roles, shown above.
Earlier years are included in the PDF.
A dash means the company reported no figure in that column. $0 is shown only where the filing prints a zero.
Director fee schedule
The standing retainers and premiums the board pays, as published.
| Board equity retainer | ◇ |
| Lead independent director premium | ◇ |
Disclosed peer group
The companies this board named as its compensation comparison group. The list is disclosure; the comparison is analysis.
Fiscal 2025
- Amerant Bancorp Inc. AMTB
- Equity Bancshares, Inc. EQBK
- First Bancorp, Inc. FNLC
- First Guaranty Bancshares, Inc. FGBI
- Great Southern Bancorp, Inc. GSBC
- Guaranty Bancshares, Inc. GNTY
- Home Bancorp, Inc. HBCP
- HomeTrust Bancshares, Inc. HTB
- National Bank Holdings Corp. NBHC
- Origin Bancorp, Inc. OBK
- Seacoast Banking Corp. of Florida SBCF
- SmartFinancial, Inc. SMBK
- South Plains Financial, Inc. SPFI
- Southern First Bancshares, Inc. SFST
- Southside Bancshares, Inc. SBSI
- Stellar Bancorp, Inc. STEL
- Stock Yards Bancorp, Inc. SYBT
- The First Bancshares, Inc. FBMS
- Third Coast Bancshares, Inc. TCBX
- Triumph Financial, Inc. TFIN
- Veritex Holdings, Inc VBTX
Say-on-pay history
Shareholder support for the compensation program, by year.
| Year | Meeting | Support | Votes for | Votes against | Abstentions |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | May 21, 2026 | = | ◇ | ◇ | ◇ |
| 2024 | May 22, 2025 | = | ◇ | ◇ | ◇ |
| 2023 | May 23, 2024 | = | ◇ | ◇ | ◇ |
| 2022 | July 27, 2023 | = | ◇ | ◇ | ◇ |
| 2021 | June 23, 2022 | = | ◇ | ◇ | ◇ |
| 2020 | May 27, 2021 | = | ◇ | ◇ | ◇ |
Chief executive pay ratio
As calculated and reported by the company.
Ratio
◇
Median employee compensation
◇
Chief executive total compensation
◇
What this page does not include
Everything above is a fact Business First Bancshares disclosed, and it is free. Everything below is our analysis of those facts, and it is not.
Peer benchmarking
Where Business First Bancshares sits against its disclosed peers — percentile position by role and by pay element, and the ranking behind it. The disclosed peer group is free; comparisons across it are part of the Velarion platform.
Executive Compensation Report — $1,500Written compensation analysis
A read of the pay program as designed and as paid: incentive structure, goal rigor, the alignment between the committee's stated philosophy and what the numbers show.
Executive Compensation Report — $1,500Board and governance analysis
Committee composition, independence, director pay positioning, and the governance provisions read together rather than listed.
Board Governance Report — $1,200Realizable pay
What the awards above are actually worth today against what they were valued at on grant, and what the gap says about the pay-for-performance link.
Velarion IntelligenceAdviser switching and vote outcomes
Two datasets covering compensation-adviser changes and what followed a contested vote. Both are part of the Velarion platform.
Enquire about accessMultiple companies at once
Cross-company views, cohort screens, and data export across the industries we cover. This page is one company; the platform is all of them.
Velarion IntelligenceCitations
Every figure on this page is cited to the document that reported it. Select any figure to see its citation.
190 figures on this page: 184 cited to the filing that reported them, 6 calculated from figures it prints.
184 cited to the filing
6 calculated from the filing
Documents cited
- 0001437749-26-0185405.07 Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders
- 0001437749-26-011695CEO Pay Ratio · Director Compensation · EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION & · Grants of Plan-Based Awards · and 1 more section
- 0001437749-25-018487
- 0001437749-25-011536Summary Compensation Table
- 0001437749-24-018146
- 0001437749-24-011572Summary Compensation Table
- 0001437749-23-021032
- 0001437749-22-015814
- 0001437749-21-013565Item 5.07 Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders
Cite this data
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Velarion, “Business First Bancshares executive compensation, FY2023–FY2025.” https://intel.velarion.ai/comp/BFST (accessed 2026).
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Peers Business First Bancshares discloses
The companies named in BFST's own disclosed peer group.
Amerant Bancorp Inc.Equity Bancshares, Inc.First Bancorp, Inc.Great Southern Bancorp, Inc.Home Bancorp, Inc.HomeTrust Bancshares, Inc.National Bank Holdings Corp.Origin Bancorp, Inc.Seacoast Banking Corp. of FloridaSmartFinancial, Inc.South Plains Financial, Inc.Southern First Bancshares, Inc.Southside Bancshares, Inc.Stellar Bancorp, Inc.Stock Yards Bancorp, Inc.Third Coast Bancshares, Inc.Triumph Financial, Inc.
Terms on this page
Cite this data
APA
Velarion Company Intelligence. (2026). Velarion database: executive and board compensation data (Version 2026Q3) [Data set]. Zenodo. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.22283854
BibTeX
@misc{velarionData2026,
author = {{Velarion Company Intelligence}},
title = {Velarion database: executive and board compensation data},
year = {2026},
version = {2026Q3},
doi = {10.5281/zenodo.22283854},
publisher = {Zenodo},
url = {https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.22283854}
}