On September 16, 2015, Premier Financial Bancorp Inc.'s board of directors appointed J. Mark Bias as a Senior Vice President of Premier. He began his banking career with PNC Financial Corporation in 1983 as an International Banking Officer. He returned to his hometown of Charleston, West Virginia in 1988 and joined One Valley Bank (now BB&T) as a Senior Vice President in Commercial Banking.

Mr. Bias rose to other senior leadership positions in Commercial Banking, serving as Market President, BB&T WV Central Region, from 2004 until his retirement from BB&T last month. He has held various leadership positions in community organizations throughout his career, most recently Director and Executive Committee Member of the Charleston Area Alliance, Director of the Chemical Alliance Zone and Director of the Kanawha Valley Fellowship Home.