Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

~~(Name~~ (Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant)

You are cordially invited to attend the ~~2016~~2020 Annual Meeting of Shareholders of Community Bankers Trust Corporation to be held on Friday, May ~~20, 2016,~~15, 2020, at ~~10:~~11:00 a.m. local time at the Deep Run 3 Building, 9954 Mayland Drive, Richmond, Virginia 23233.

At the Annual Meeting, you will be asked to elect three directors for a term of three years. You will also be asked to approve an advisory resolution to endorse the Company’s executive compensation program and to ratify the appointment of ~~BDO USA, LLP~~Yount, Hyde & Barbour, P.C. as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for ~~2016.~~2020. Enclosed with this letter are a formal notice of the Annual Meeting, a proxy statement and a form of proxy.

Whether or not you plan to attend the Annual Meeting, it is important that your shares be represented and voted. Please complete, sign, date and return the enclosed proxy promptly using the enclosed postage-paid envelope. The enclosed proxy, when returned properly executed, will be voted in the manner directed in the proxy. You can also vote your shares by voting through the ~~Internet~~internet or by telephone by following the instructions on your proxy card.

We are monitoring the public health impact of the coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19). The health and well-being of our shareholders, directors and employees are paramount. If public health developments warrant, we may need to change the location, date and/or time of the Annual Meeting or switch to a virtual meeting format. We will announce any such change on or about May 1, 2020 through a press release and the filing of additional proxy materials with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

We hope that you will participate in the Annual Meeting, either in person or by proxy.

The Annual Meeting of Shareholders of Community Bankers Trust Corporation will be held on Friday, May ~~20, 2016,~~15, 2020, at ~~10:~~11:00 a.m. local time, at the Deep Run 3 Building, 9954 Mayland Drive, Richmond, Virginia 23233, for the following purposes:

~~(1) The election of three directors to a three-year term on the Board of Directors;~~

RESOLVED, that the shareholders approve the compensation of executive officers as disclosed in the proxy statement for the ~~2016~~2020 Annual Meeting of Community Bankers Trust Corporation pursuant to the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission.

~~(3) The ratification of the appointment of BDO USA, LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for 2016; and~~

~~(4) The transaction of any other business that may properly come before the meeting and any adjournments or postponements of the meeting.~~

If you were a shareholder of record at the close of business on March ~~23, 2016,~~24, 2020, then you are entitled to vote at the Company’s Annual Meeting and any adjournments or postponements of the meeting. You are also cordially invited to attend the meeting.

In the event that the Company needs to change the location, date and/or time of the Annual Meeting or switch to a virtual meeting format due to the public health impact of the coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19), the Company will announce any such change on or about May 1, 2020 through a press release and the filing of additional proxy materials with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Your vote is important. Whether or not you plan to attend the meeting, please vote as soon as possible. You can vote your shares by completing and returning your proxy card or by voting through the ~~Internet~~internet or by telephone by following the instructions on your proxy card. For additional details, please see the information under the heading “How do I vote?”.

This proxy statement is being furnished to the holders of common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of Community Bankers Trust Corporation, a Virginia corporation. Proxies are being solicited on behalf of the Board of Directors of the Company to be used at the ~~2016~~2020 Annual Meeting of Shareholders. The Annual Meeting will be held at the Deep Run 3 Building, 9954 Mayland Drive, Richmond, Virginia 23233, on Friday, May ~~20, 2016,~~15, 2020, beginning at ~~10:~~11:00 a.m. local time, for the purposes set forth in the Notice of Annual Meeting of Shareholders.

The Company is monitoring the public health impact of the coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19). The health and well-being of our shareholders, directors and employees are paramount. If public health developments warrant, the Company may need to change the location, date and/or time of the Annual Meeting or switch to a virtual meeting format. The Company will announce any such change on or about May 1, 2020 through a press release and the filing of additional proxy materials with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Your vote is important. Whether or not you plan to attend the meeting, please vote as soon as possible.

This proxy statement will be mailed to holders of the Company’s common stock on or about April ~~22, 2016.~~17, 2020. The Company’s Board of Directors is asking for your proxy. By giving the Company your proxy, you authorize the proxy holders (Rex L. Smith, III, Bruce E. Thomas and John M. Oakey, III) to vote your shares at the Annual Meeting according to the instructions that you provide. If the Annual Meeting adjourns or is postponed, your proxy will be used to vote your shares when the meeting reconvenes.

All shareholders are invited to attend the meeting. It will be held on Friday, May ~~20, 2016,~~15, 2020, beginning at ~~10:~~11:00 a.m. local time, at the Deep Run 3 Building, 9954 Mayland Drive, Richmond, Virginia 23233. As noted in the Notice of Annual Meeting of Shareholders and above, the Company may need to change the location, date and/or time of the Annual Meeting or switch to a virtual meeting format.

Even if you plan to attend the Annual Meeting, please vote your proxy in advance through the ~~Internet,~~internet, by telephone or by mail.

If you are a shareholder of the Company’s common stock at the close of business on the Record Date of March ~~23, 2016,~~24, 2020, you can vote. There were ~~21,887,150~~22,433,220 shares of common stock outstanding and entitled to vote on that date. For each matter properly brought before the Annual Meeting, you have one vote for each share that you own.

What is the difference between holding shares as a shareholder of record and as a beneficial owner?

If your shares are registered directly in your name with the Company’s transfer agent, Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, you are considered, with respect to those shares, the “shareholder of record.” The Notice of Annual Meeting of Shareholders, this proxy statement and the ~~2015~~2019 Annual Report to Shareholders have been sent directly to you by the Company.

If your shares are held in a stock brokerage account or by a bank or other nominee, you are considered the “beneficial owner” of shares held in “street name.” The Notice of Annual Meeting of Shareholders, this proxy statement and the ~~2015~~2019 Annual Report to Shareholders have been forwarded to you by your broker, bank or other nominee who is considered, with respect to those shares, the “shareholder of record.” As the beneficial owner, you have the right to direct your broker, bank or other nominee on how to vote your shares using the voting instruction card included in the mailing or by following the instructions on that card for voting by telephone or through the ~~Internet.~~internet.

A valid proxy, if not revoked or voted otherwise, will be votedFOR the election of the nominees for director named in this proxy statement,FOR the approval of a non-binding resolution to endorse the Company’s executive compensation program andFOR the ratification of the appointment of ~~BDO USA, LLP~~Yount, Hyde & Barbour, P.C. as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for ~~2016.~~2020.

If your shares are held in “street name,” do not follow the above instructions. Instead, follow the separate instructions provided by your broker, bank or other nominee.

If you are a shareholder of record, you may revoke your proxy or change your vote at any time before it is voted at the Annual Meeting by

If your shares are held in “street name” by your bank, broker or other nominee, you may revoke your proxy or change your vote only by following the separate instructions provided by your bank, broker or nominee.

To vote in person at the Annual Meeting, you must attend the meeting and cast your vote in accordance with the voting provisions established for the Annual Meeting. Attendance at the Annual Meeting without voting in accordance with the voting procedures will not in and of itself revoke a proxy. If your bank, broker or other nominee holds your shares and you want to attend and vote your shares at the Annual Meeting, you must bring a legal proxy signed by your bank, broker or nominee to the Annual Meeting.

A quorum consists of a majority of the outstanding shares of the Company’s common stock, as of the Record Date, present, or represented by proxy, at the meeting. A quorum is necessary to conduct business at the Annual Meeting. Inspectors of election will determine the presence of a quorum at the Annual Meeting. You are part of the quorum if you have voted by proxy. Shares for which the holder has abstained, or withheld the proxies’ authority to vote, on a matter count as shares present at the meeting for purposes of determining a quorum. Shares held by brokers that are not voted on any matter at the Annual Meeting will not be included in determining whether a quorum is present at the meeting.

The election of each nominee for director requires the affirmative vote of the holders of a plurality of the shares of common stock voted in the election of directors. Thus, those nominees receiving the greatest number of votes cast will be elected. You may vote “for” or “withhold” for the election of directors. Shares held by brokers that are not voted in the election of directors will have no effect on the election of directors.

The advisory (non-binding) resolution to endorse the Company’s executive compensation program will be approved if holders of a majority of the shares of common stock present in person or represented by proxy at the Annual Meeting vote in favor of the action.

The ratification of the appointment of ~~BDO USA, LLP~~Yount, Hyde & Barbour, P.C. as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm will be approved if holders of a majority of the shares of common stock present in person or represented by proxy at the Annual Meeting vote in favor of the action.

Abstentions and broker non-votes will not be considered cast either for or against a matter. A broker non-vote occurs when a broker or other nominee who holds shares for another does not vote on a particular item because the nominee does not have discretionary voting authority for that item and has not received instructions from the owner of the shares.

If you are the beneficial owner of shares held in “street name” by a broker, the broker, as the record holder of the shares, is required to vote those shares in accordance with your instructions. If you do not give instructions to the broker, the broker will be entitled to vote the shares with respect to “discretionary” items, but will not be permitted to vote the shares with respect to “non-discretionary” items (those shares are treated as “broker non-votes”).

The election of directors and the approval of an advisory resolution to endorse the Company’s executive compensation program are “non-discretionary” items. The ratification of the appointment of ~~BDO USA, LLP~~Yount, Hyde & Barbour, P.C. as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for ~~2016~~2020 is a “discretionary” item.

Your vote is important. Whether or not you plan to attend the meeting, please vote as soon as possible.

The Company has engaged Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company to serve as the inspector of elections for the Annual Meeting.

If your shares are registered in more than one name or in more than one account, you will receive more than one card. Please complete and return all of the proxy or voting instruction cards that you receive (or vote by telephone or through the ~~Internet~~internet all of the shares on all of the proxy or voting instruction cards received) to ensure that all of your shares are voted.

The Company is soliciting the proxies associated with this proxy statement and will bear all costs of the solicitation. The Company may solicit proxies by mail, telephone, email, ~~Internet,~~internet, facsimile, press releases and in person. Solicitations may be made by directors, officers and employees of the Company, none of whom will receive additional compensation for such solicitations. The Company will request banks, brokerage houses and other custodians, nominees and fiduciaries to forward all of its solicitation materials to the beneficial owners of the shares that they hold of record. The Company will reimburse these record holders for customary clerical and mailing expenses incurred by them in forwarding these materials to customers.

The following table sets forth information regarding beneficial ownership of the Company’s common stock, as of March ~~23, 2016 (the~~24, 2020 (which is the Record Date for the Annual Meeting), for each director, each of the individuals named in the Summary Compensation Table in the “Executive Compensation” section on page 28 below (who are referred to as the ~~named~~“named executive ~~officers)~~officers”) and the Company’s current directors and executive officers as a group.

The following table contains information regarding the persons or groups that the Company knows to beneficially own more than five percent of the Company’s common stock as of March ~~23, 2016.~~24, 2020.

The Company has adopted stock ownership guidelines for its executive officers. The ownership levels under these guidelines are 50,000 shares for the Chief Executive Officer and 25,000 shares for each of the Company’s other executive officers. The guidelines provide that each of the officers should achieve his or her designated level within five years from the adoption of the guidelines, which occurred in December 2016. They further provide that, if the officer’s ownership is not at the designated level, the officer is required to retain all shares of common stock owned, including shares that are received as the result of the exercise of stock options or vesting of restricted stock. The guidelines permit the officer, however, to sell a portion of such shares to cover, as the case may be, the exercise price and income tax liability upon the exercise of stock options or the income tax liability upon the vesting of restricted stock.

Shares of common stock to be included in determining compliance with the designated level include shares held individually and held jointly with spouse, but do not include shares that are held in any other form of beneficial ownership, such as in the capacity as a trustee or custodian.

The Nominating and Governance Committee of the Company’s Board of Directors oversees, and thus monitors and enforces compliance with, the stock ownership guidelines. The Company has not adopted formal guidelines with respect to stock ownership by its directors and executive officers. In 2016, the Company intends to adopt guidelines that set forth the appropriate levels of stock ownership for these positions and the timeframe over which compliance with these levels should be achieved.directors.

Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), requires the Company’s executive officers, directors and persons who own more than 10% of its common stock to file reports of ownership and changes in ownership on Forms 3, 4 and 5 with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Executive officers, directors and greater-than-10% shareholders are required by regulation to furnish the Company with copies of all Forms 3, 4 and 5 that they file.

Based on the Company’s review of the copies of those forms, and any amendments that it has received, and written representations from its executive officers and directors, the Company believes that all executive officers, directors and beneficial owners of more than 10% of its common stock complied with all of the filing requirements applicable to them with respect to transactions during the year ended December 31, ~~2015,~~2019 except as set forth as follows. A Form 4 for ~~Richard F. Bozard~~each of the Company’s non-employee directors was ~~inadvertently~~filed late with respect to the Company’s quarterly stock award to them (618 shares of common stock for all such directors other than Mr. Watkins and 1,113 shares of common stock for Mr. Watkins). A Form 4 for Ms. Williams was filed late with respect to the purchase of ~~961~~47 shares of the Company’s common stock in July 2015, and a Form 4 for Mr. Bozard was inadvertently not filed for the purchase of 1,050 shares of common stock in October 2015. Both purchases were made by means of funds transfers, as directed by a prior automatic election request, in Mr. Bozard’s account with the Company’s non-qualified deferred compensation plan administered by the Virginia Bankers Association.August 2019.

The business and affairs of the Company and its subsidiary Essex Bank (the “Bank”) are managed under the direction of the Board of Directors in accordance with the Virginia Stock Corporation Act and the Company’s Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws, as amended to date. Members of the Board are kept informed of the Company’s business through discussions with the President and Chief Executive Officer and other officers, by reviewing materials provided to them and by participating in meetings of the Board of Directors and its committees.

The Company’s Board of Directors has determined that the following ~~nine~~10 of its 1011 members are independent as defined by the listing standards of the ~~NASDAQ~~Nasdaq Stock Market: Gerald F. Barber, Richard F. Bozard, ~~Glenn J. Dozier, P. Emerson Hughes, Jr., Troy A. Peery, Jr.,~~Hugh M. Fain, III, William E. Hardy, Gail L. Letts, Eugene S. Putnam, Jr., S. Waite Rawls III, John C. Watkins, Oliver L. Way and Robin Traywick Williams. In reaching this conclusion, the Board of Directors considered whether the Company and its subsidiaries conduct business with companies of which certain members of the Board of Directors or members of their immediate families are or were directors or officers. The Board specifically considered the relationship between the Bank and the law firm with which Mr. Fain is affiliated to determine he was independent under the listing standards of the Nasdaq Stock Market. The aggregate amount that Mr. Fain’s firm received from the Bank for legal services in 2019 was $79,678, most of which were real-estate related closing fees paid by the Bank’s customers. The Board did not identify any ~~such~~other relationships, other than banking relationships.

See the “Certain Relationships and Related Transactions” section on page 3536 for additional information on certain banking transactions with members of the Company’s Board of Directors.

The Company’s Corporate Governance Guidelines supplement the Company’s Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws, the charters of the Board’s committees and the laws and regulations to which the Company is subject to provide the foundation for the Company’s governance. The guidelines cover, among other matters, the roles of the Board and management, the Board’s critical functions, director responsibilities and qualification and non-delegable actions of the Board. The Company’s Board of Directors reviews these guidelines on an annual basis. A copy of the Corporate Governance Guidelines is available on the “Corporate Overview – Corporate Governance” page of the Company’s internet website atwww.cbtrustcorp.com.

To date, the Company has chosen not to combine the positions of the Chairman of the Board of Directors and the Chief Executive Officer. The Company believes that its leadership structure is appropriate because, by having an outside independent Chairman, there exists an improved degree of independence and balanced oversight of the management of the Board’s functions and its decision-making processes, including those processes relating to the maintenance of effective risk management programs. The Chief Executive Officer makes monthly reports to the Board, often at the suggestion of the Chairman of the Board or other directors, and he explains in detail to the Board the reasons for certain recommendations of the Company’s management.

The Board of Directors is responsible for setting an appropriate culture of compliance within the organization, for establishing clear policies regarding the management of key risks and for ensuring that these policies are adhered to in practice. The risks that are an inherent part of the Company’s business and operations include, but are not limited to, credit risk, market risk, operational risk, liquidity risk, fiduciary risk, regulatory risk, information security risk (including cyber risk), legal risk and reputational risk. The Board must have an appropriate understanding of the types of risks to which the organization is exposed, and the Board must ensure that the organization’s management is fully capable, qualified and properly motivated to manage the risks arising ~~for~~from the organization’s business activities in a manner that is consistent with the Board’s expectations. Likewise, management is responsible for communicating and

reinforcing the compliance culture that the Board has established and for implementing measures to promote the culture throughout the organization.

The Audit Committee of the Board of Directors is responsible for overseeing the Company’s risk management function on behalf of the Board. In carrying out this responsibility, the Audit Committee works closely with the Company’s Chief Risk Officer and Chief Internal Auditor and other members of the Company’s risk management and internal audit teams. The Audit Committee meets regularly with these individuals and receives an overview of findings from various risk management initiatives, including the Company’s enterprise risk management program, internal audits, Sarbanes-Oxley reports regarding internal controls over financial reporting and other regulatory compliance reports. The Company’s Chief Risk Officer, in particular, provides a comprehensive report to the Audit Committee regarding the Company’s key risks. While the Audit Committee has primary responsibility for overseeing risk management, the entire Board of Directors is actively involved in overseeing this function for the Company as, on at least a ~~monthly~~quarterly basis, the Board receives a report from the Audit Committee’s chairman and discusses the risks that the Company is facing. These risks are also discussed with members of management.

Other committees of the Board of Directors consider the risks within their areas of responsibility. For example, the Compensation Committee considers the risks that may be inherent in the Company’s compensation programs for both executive officers and other employees. For additional information regarding the Compensation Committee, see the “Executive Compensation” section beginning on page 1920 of this proxy statement.

The Board of Directors maintains an effective risk management program to address oversight, control and supervision of the Bank’s management, major operations and activities. With a focus on implementing cost-effective improvements to its risk management systems and to the other areas where improvements are needed, the Board of Directors and the management team are committed to continuous improvement and strengthening of the Company’s governance, risk management and control practices. As noted above, the Board of Directors and its committees regularly review and discuss risk management issues with management at each of their meetings.

The ~~Company’s Board of Directors~~Company has ~~approved~~ a Code of Business Conduct and Ethics for directors, officers and all employees of the Company and its subsidiaries, including the Company’s principal executive officer, principal financial officer and principal accounting officer. The Company’s Board of Directors reviews the Code on an annual basis. A copy of the Code of Business Conduct and Ethics is available on the “Corporate Overview – Corporate Governance” page of the Company’s ~~Internet web site~~internet website atwww.cbtrustcorp.com.

There were 13 meetings of the Board of Directors in ~~2015.~~2019. Each director attended at least 75% of the aggregate number of meetings of the Board of Directors and meetings of committees of which the director was a member in ~~2015.~~2019.

Non-employee directors meet periodically ~~outside of~~in executive sessions before and after regularly scheduled Board meetings.

The Board of Directors has standing audit, ~~nominating~~compensation and ~~compensation~~nominating committees.

The Audit Committee assists the Board in the fulfillment of its oversight responsibilities with respect to the completeness and accuracy of the Company’s financial reporting and the adequacy and effectiveness of its financial and operating controls. The primary purpose of the Audit Committee is to provide independent and objective oversight with respect to the integrity of the Company’s financial statements, the independent auditor’s qualifications and independence, the performance of the Company’s internal audit function and independent auditors, the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting and compliance by the Company with legal and regulatory requirements. The Audit Committee also provides oversight of the Company’s risk management programs and activities and reviews the effectiveness of the Company’s process for managing and assessing risk. A copy of the Audit Committee’s charter is available on the “Corporate Overview – Corporate Governance” page of the Company’s ~~Internet web site~~internet website atwww.cbtrustcorp.com.

The current members of the Audit Committee are ~~Glenn J. Dozier~~Mr. Barber (Chair), ~~Gerald F. Barber, Troy A. Peery, Jr., S. Waite~~Messrs. Hardy and Rawls ~~III~~ and ~~Robin Traywick~~Ms. Williams. The Company’s Board of Directors has determined that each of Messrs. ~~Dozier,~~ Barber and ~~Peery~~Hardy qualifies as an audit committee financial expert, as defined by the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission, and that each member of the Audit Committee is independent, as independence for audit committee members is defined by the ~~NASDAQ~~Nasdaq Stock Market’s listing standards.

The Audit Committee met 11eight times in ~~2015.~~2019. For additional information regarding the Audit Committee, see the “Report of the Audit Committee” section beginning on page 3940 of this proxy statement.

The Compensation Committee assists the Board in the fulfillment of its oversight responsibilities with respect to the Company’s executive compensation. The primary purpose of the Compensation Committee is to ensure that the compensation and benefits for senior management and the Board of Directors are fair and appropriate, are aligned with the interests of the Company’s shareholders and do not pose a risk to the financial health of the Company or its affiliates. A copy of the Compensation Committee’s charter is available on the “Corporate Overview – Corporate Governance” page of the Company’s ~~Internet web site~~internet website atwww.cbtrustcorp.com.

The current members of the Compensation Committee are ~~Eugene S.~~Mr. Putnam ~~Jr.~~ (Chair), ~~Troy A. Peery, Jr.~~Mr. Fain, Ms. Letts and ~~John C.~~Mr. Watkins. The Company’s Board of Directors has determined that each member of the Compensation Committee is independent, as defined by the ~~NASDAQ~~Nasdaq Stock Market’s listing standards. The Compensation Committee met ~~five~~three times in ~~2015.~~2019.

The Company’s compensation program consists generally of salary, annual cash bonus and incentives, equity-based long-term compensation and pre- and post-retirement benefits. The Compensation Committee is responsible for the review and approval of the Company’s compensation plans, compensation for senior management, salary and bonus ranges for other employees and ~~all~~any employment, severance, ~~and~~ change in control and retirement agreements. The Compensation Committee also reviews and approves compensation for the directors of the Company and its banking subsidiary. The Compensation Committee recommends that its determinations be ratified by the independent

members of the Company’s Board of Directors. The Compensation Committee has not delegated any of its authority to other persons.

In making its determinations with respect to compensation, the Compensation Committee has relied on recommendations from the Company’s President and Chief Executive Officer with respect to the salaries of the Company’s senior management and bonus levels for all employees. The Compensation Committee and the President and Chief Executive Officer work together to finalize these salary and bonus decisions. ~~The~~In addition, the Compensation Committee ~~determines~~reviews, discusses and recommends to the full Board of Directors for approval the compensation of the President and Chief Executive ~~Officer, and the~~Officer. The Board of Directors, after similar review and discussion, either accepts and approves ~~this determination.~~the Compensation Committee’s recommendation or approves the President and Chief Executive Officer’s compensation after making adjustments to it.

During the fiscal year ended December 31, ~~2015,~~2019, the Committee engaged Matthews Young – Management Consulting to provide compensation consulting services to the Committee. (Matthews Young merged with Pearl Meyer & Partners, LLC during 2019.) The consultant assisted the Committee in reviewing the competitive marketplace compensation levels for the Company’s executive officers. ~~The consultant worked directly for the Committee and met with Committee members without management present.~~

In retaining the consultant as the Committee’s advisor, the Committee reviewed the factors necessary for evaluating the consultant’s independence status. These factors were as follows:

For additional information regarding the Compensation Committee, see the “Executive Compensation” section beginning on page 1920 of this proxy statement.

The Nominating and Governance Committee (the “Nominating Committee”) assists the Board in the fulfillment of its oversight responsibilities with respect to the Company’s corporate governance. At each meeting, the Nominating Committee reviews and discusses corporate governance benchmarks, including benchmarks relating to board composition and diversity, elections and board refreshment, board committees, board meetings and performance and governance policies. The Nominating Committee recognizes that governance standards are ever-evolving, and it analyses these standards with an appropriate balance of an emphasis on long-term shareholder value, overall governance principles and standards comparative with the Company’s peers in the community banking industry.

The Nominating Committee is also responsible primarily for making recommendations to the Board of Directors regarding the membership of the Board, including recommending to the Board the slate of director nominees for election at each annual meeting of shareholders, considering, recommending and recruiting candidates to fill any vacancies or new positions on the Board, including candidates that may be recommended by shareholders, establishing criteria for selecting new directors and

reviewing the backgrounds and qualifications of possible candidates for director positions. A copy of the Nominating Committee’s charter is available on the “Corporate Overview – Corporate Governance” page of the Company’s ~~Internet web site~~internet website atwww.cbtrustcorp.com.

The current members of the Nominating Committee are ~~P. Emerson Hughes, Jr.~~Mr. Hardy (Chair), ~~Richard F.~~Messrs. Bozard ~~Eugene S. Putnam, Jr.~~ and ~~Robin Traywick~~Fain and Mses. Letts and Williams. The Company’s Board of Directors has determined that each member of the Nominating Committee is independent, as defined by the ~~NASDAQ~~Nasdaq Stock Market’s listing standards. The Nominating Committee met four times in ~~2015.~~2019.

In identifying potential nominees for service as a director, the Nominating Committee takes into account such factors as it deems appropriate, including the current composition of the Board, to ensure diversity among its members. Diversity includes the range of talents, experiences and skills that would best complement those that are already represented on the Board, the balance of management and independent directors and the need for specialized expertise. Diversity also includes education, race, gender and the geographic areas where the individual has resided, worked or served. The Nominating Committee considers candidates for Board membership suggested by Board members and by management, and it will also consider candidates suggested informally by a shareholder of the Company.

Ms. Letts, who was appointed to the Board since the 2019 annual meeting of shareholders and is being presented for election as a director for the first time at the Annual Meeting, was presented to the Nominating Committee by management.

The Nominating Committee considers, at a minimum, the following factors in recommending to the Board of Directors potential new directors, or the continued service of existing directors:

The Nominating Committee may weight the foregoing criteria differently in different situations, depending on the composition of the Board of Directors at the time. In addition, prior to nominating an existing director for re-election to the Board of Directors, the Nominating Committee will consider and review an existing director’s Board and committee attendance and performance, independence, length of board service, and experience, skills and contributions that the existing director brings to the Board.

Shareholders entitled to vote for the election of directors may submit candidates for formal consideration by the Nominating Committee in connection with an annual meeting if the Company receives timely written notice, in proper form, for each such recommended director nominee. If the notice is not timely and in proper form, the nominee will not be considered by the Company. To be timely for the ~~2017~~2021 annual meeting, the notice must be received within the time frame set forth in the “Shareholder Proposals” section on page 4041 of this proxy statement. To be in proper form, the notice must include each nominee’s written consent to be named as a nominee and to serve, if elected, and information about the shareholder making the nomination and the person nominated for election. These requirements are more fully described in Section 3.4 of the Company’s Bylaws, a copy of which will be provided, without charge, to any shareholder upon written request to the Secretary of the Company,

whose address is Community Bankers Trust Corporation, 9954 Mayland Drive, Suite 2100, Richmond, Virginia 23233.

No member of the Compensation Committee is a current or former officer or employee of the Company or any of its subsidiaries. In addition, there are no compensation committee interlocks with other entities with respect to any such member.

Meetings of the Board of Directors and its committees are held in conjunction with the annual meeting of shareholders, and the Company expects all directors and nominees to attend ~~the~~each annual meeting of shareholders. ~~Nine~~All of the 10Board’s then current directors attended the ~~2015~~2019 annual meeting.

Any director may be contacted by writing to him or her in care of Community Bankers Trust Corporation, 9954 Mayland Drive, Suite 2100, Richmond, Virginia 23233. Communications to the non-management directors as a group may be sent to the same address, c/o the Secretary of the Company. The Company promptly forwards, without screening, all such correspondence to the indicated directors.

The Board of Directors approves director compensation on an annual basis following a review of the recommendation of the Compensation Committee. The independent consultant that the Compensation Committee retains reviews the Company’s director compensation and benchmarks it against the director compensation of the Company’s peer banks.

For the period from June 2019 to May 2020, the Company ~~currently~~ compensates its non-employee directors as follows:

The total compensation of the Company’s non-employee directors for the year ended December 31, ~~2015~~2019 is shown in the following table.

~~(4)~~

Amount relates to participation of the director that served as a director of BOE Financial Services of Virginia, Inc., which the Company acquired on May 31, 2008 (“BOE Financial”), prior to its merger with the Company, in the Directors’ Supplemental Retirement Plan and reflects changes in the value of his interest in the plan during 2015. BOE Financial established the Directors’ Supplemental Retirement Plan for its non-employee directors in 2006. The Directors’ Supplemental Retirement Plan is designed to retain the future services of directors. This plan provides for a benefit upon the later of October 1, 2010 or retirement from service on the Board at the normal retirement age of 75. Benefits under this plan are payable at retirement for a period of 10 years. The Directors’ Supplemental Retirement Plan also contains provisions for change of control, as defined in the plan, which allow the directors to retain benefits under the plan in the event of a termination of service subsequent to a change of control, other than for cause. The Company assumed this plan in connection with its merger with BOE Financial.

PROPOSAL ONE

ELECTION OF DIRECTORS

General

The Company’s Board of Directors currently consists of 1011 directors and is divided into three classes with staggered terms. The directors in Class I serve for a term that expires at the 2021 annual meeting of shareholders, the directors in Class II serve for a term that expires at the ~~Annual Meeting,~~2022 annual meeting of shareholders and the directors in Class III serve for a term that expires at the ~~2017 annual meeting of shareholders and the directors in Class I serve for a term that expires at the 2018 annual meeting of shareholders.~~Annual Meeting.

The Board, upon the recommendation of the Nominating Committee, has nominated ~~Gerald F. Barber, Troy A. Peery, Jr.~~William E. Hardy, Gail L. Letts and ~~Eugene~~ S. ~~Putnam, Jr.~~Waite Rawls III for election to the Board at the Annual Meeting. All of the nominees presently serve as directors – the terms of Messrs. Hardy and ~~their terms~~Rawls will expire at the Annual ~~Meeting.~~Meeting, and Ms. Letts, as a director appointed since the 2019 annual meeting of shareholders, is being presented to the shareholders for the first time. The Company is asking shareholders to elect ~~the three nominees~~Mr. Hardy, Ms. Letts and Mr. Rawls for a three-year term that expires at the ~~2019~~2023 annual meeting of shareholders.

The Board of Directors recommends that the shareholders voteFOR the election of ~~Messrs. Barber, Peery~~Mr. Hardy, Ms. Letts and ~~Putnam.~~Mr. Rawls. If you sign and return your proxy card in the enclosed envelope or execute a proxy by telephone or through the ~~Internet,~~internet, the persons named in the enclosed proxy card will vote to elect these three nominees unless you indicate otherwise. Your proxy for the Annual Meeting cannot be voted for more than three nominees.

Each of the Company’s nominees has indicated the willingness to serve if elected. If any nominee of the Company is unable or unwilling to serve as a director at the time of the Annual Meeting, then shares represented by properly executed proxies will be voted at the discretion of the persons named in those proxies for such other person as the Board may designate. The Company does not presently expect that any of the nominees will be unavailable.

The Company has adopted a “resignation for majority withhold vote” standard for the election of directors, as set forth in its Corporate Governance Guidelines. Any director that receives more “withhold” votes than “for” votes in an election will tender his or her resignation for consideration by the Board’s Nominating and Governance Committee and then the Board of Directors. The Company will publicly disclose the decision with respect to the tendered resignation and the reasons for the decision. A copy of the Corporate Governance Guidelines is available on the “Corporate Overview – Corporate Governance” page of the Company’s internet website atwww.cbtrustcorp.com.

The term of Richard F. Bozard as a Class III director expires at the Annual Meeting, and Mr. Bozard cannot stand for re-election under the age restrictions set forth in the Company’s Corporate Governance Guidelines. The Guidelines provide that a director not stand for re-election if the director is 73 or older at the end of his or her expiring term. The Company expresses its sincere gratitude to Mr. Bozard for his service as a director of TransCommunity Financial Corporation, which the Company acquired in 2008 (“TransCommunity Financial”), and its successors since 2006.

The following information sets forth the business experience for at least the past five years and other information for all nominees and all other directors whose terms will continue after the Annual

Meeting. Such information includes each director’s service on the ~~boards~~board of TransCommunity Financial, ~~Corporation,~~ which the Company acquired on May 31, 2008 (“TransCommunity Financial”), and BOE Financial, as the case may be. References to a director’s service on the board of BOE Financial include service on the board of its predecessor, Essex Bank (which became a wholly owned subsidiary of the BOE Financial in ~~2000) (the “Bank”).~~2008.

Nominees for Election to a Three-Year Term (Class IIIII Directors)

~~Gerald F. Barber~~William E. Hardy, 64, has been a director of the Company since ~~March 2014.~~2017. Mr. ~~Barber~~Hardy is a ~~finance professional~~certified public accountant with over 4035 years of accounting and auditing experience in the central Virginia market. He is a partner and the Chief Executive Officer of Harris, Hardy & Johnstone, P.C., an accounting ~~auditing and consulting. He has worked with organizations of all sizes from start-up businesses to multi-national corporations and has delivered services to organizations~~firm in Richmond, Virginia, that he founded in 1987. Mr. Hardy’s expertise covers numerous industries, including ~~banking, financial services, consumer/industrial products,~~hotels, real estate, manufacturing, construction contractors and wholesale and retail and technology. He was a Transaction Services Partner with PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (“PwC”) from 2001 to 2012 and led the U.S. Latin America Transaction Services Practice in Washington, D.C. and Miami, Florida from 2004 to 2012. Since his retirement from PwC in 2012, Mr. Barber has continued advising both middle market and multi-national corporations. He served as an adjunct professor at the University of Virginia’s McIntire School of Commerce during 2012 and 2013.operations. He has been in the audit and accounting field since ~~1975.~~1983.

~~Mr. Barber brings extensive experience in the areas of~~In addition to his accounting and auditing ~~mergers and acquisitions, financial services and management. He is a Certified Public Accountant.~~

~~Troy A. Peery, Jr.~~~~, 69, has been a director of the Company since 2008 and served as Vice Chairman of~~background, Mr. Hardy provides the Board from 2008 to 2011. He had previously served as a director of TransCommunity Financial since 2002. Mr. Peery has been President of Peery Enterprises, a real estate development company based in Manakin-Sabot, Virginia, since 1998.

~~Mr. Peery brings significant operational,~~with financial management and governance experience, including his prior service in executive management and as a director for Heilig-Meyers Company, Open Plan Systems, Inc. and S & K Famous Brands, Inc., all of which were public companies.insight into many diverse industries. He also has significant community ties to the Bank’s central Virginia market areas.

~~Eugene S. Putnam, Jr.~~Gail L. Letts, ~~56,~~67, has been a director of the Company since ~~2005 and served as its Chairman of the Board from 2005 to 2008. Mr. Putnam~~June 2019. Ms. Letts has been President of Letts Consult, LLC, a business consulting firm in Richmond, Virginia, since June 2019. She also has over 35 years of experience as an executive in the banking industry, with a focus on strategic planning, financial and ~~Chief Financial Officer~~sales management, organizational transformation and revenue growth. Ms. Letts was Virginia Market President of Capital Bank, a Division of First Tennessee Bank, in Richmond, Virginia from 2015 to 2019. She was Richmond Region President and Head of Commercial Lending/Business Banking for ~~Universal Technical Institute, Inc., a post-secondary education provider based in Scottsdale, Arizona, since 2011. He served as Executive Vice~~C&F Bank from 2013 to 2015. From 2007 to 2013, Ms. Letts was President and Chief ~~Financial Officer for Universal Technical Institute, Inc. from 2008 to 2011, and he served as its interim Chief Financial Officer from January 2008 to July 2008. From 2005 to May 2007, Mr. Putnam was~~ Executive ~~Vice President and Chief Financial~~ Officer of ~~Aegis Mortgage Corporation, a mortgage origination~~the Central Virginia Region of SunTrust Bank, and ~~servicing company that filed for bankruptcy protection in August 2007.~~she has 30 years of experience with SunTrust Bank and its predecessors.

~~Mr. Putnam brings high level financial expertise as chief financial officer of publicly traded companies~~Ms. Letts has extensive executive experience overseeing teams providing retail banking, commercial banking, business banking and ~~experience in risk management~~wealth solutions to customers. She also led these teams, and ~~strategic planning. He also~~assisted the banks for which she worked, through organizational change, cultural transformation and acquisition/growth expansion. Ms. Letts has ~~banking expertise in corporate finance, capital planning~~significant professional and ~~balance sheet management. His background helps him play critical roles on the Board’s committees.~~

~~Directors Whose Terms Do Not Expire This Year (Class I and Class III Directors)~~

~~Richard F. Bozard~~~~, 69, has been a director~~community ties throughout all of the Company since 2008. He had previously served as a director of TransCommunity Financial since 2006. Mr. Bozard was Vice President and Treasurer of Owens & Minor, Inc., a medical and surgical supplies distributor based in Mechanicsville, Virginia, from 1991 until his retirement in 2009. He had also been Senior Vice President and Treasurer of Owens & Minor Medical, Inc., a subsidiary of Owens & Minor, Inc., from 2004 until his retirement.

Mr. Bozard brings broad experience in the areas of management and oversight of public companies. He also has significant experience in asset and liability management, finance, strategic planning and mergers and acquisitions, which provides both the Board and management with a substantial resource, and thus he serves as Chair of the Board’s Asset and Liability Committee.

~~Glenn J. Dozier~~, 66, has been a director of the Company since 2011. Mr. Dozier was Chief Financial Officer for MolecularMD Corp., a molecular diagnostic and cancer drug clinical trial testing company based in Portland, Oregon, from 2009 until his retirement in 2015. He continues to serves as an executive consultant to MolecularMD Corp.

Mr. Dozier has more than 40 years of accomplishments in delivering strong management results in a wide variety of industries and environments. He also has provided successful leadership in general management, finance, strategic planning, human resources, property management and information systems. Mr. Dozier has served as the chief financial officer of several companies, including NYSE and NASDAQ traded companies, venture capital-backed firms and a Fortune 500 company, during his career. He has proven abilities in tactical and strategic financial functions.

~~P. Emerson Hughes, Jr.~~, 72, has been a director of the Company since 2008. He had previously served as a director of BOE Financial since 2004. Mr. Hughes is Chairman of Holiday Barn, Ltd., a pet resorts and day care facility based in Richmond, Virginia, where he has been employed since 1972.

Mr. Hughes brings long-term corporate management experience as a small business owner. His experience also provides the Board and management a significant resource with respect to human resources, marketing and sales management. Mr. Hughes has knowledge of commercial business needs in the Bank’s ~~central Virginia market areas, and he has significant community ties to those areas.~~markets.

S. Waite Rawls III, ~~67,~~71, has been a director of the Company since 2011. Mr. Rawls ~~has been~~was President of the American Civil War Museum Foundation in Richmond, Virginia, from 2016 until his retirement in December 2019. He was Co-Chief Executive Officer of the American Civil War Museum in Richmond, Virginia, ~~since 2013.~~from 2013 to 2016. He was President of the Museum of the Confederacy in Richmond, Virginia, from 2004 to 2013.

Mr. Rawls has numerous years of leadership positions in, among others, the technology, financial management and capital market fields, all of which underscore the insight that he has as a director. Mr. Rawls also has 18 years of working experience in the banking industry, serving as Vice Chairman of Continental Bank in Chicago, Illinois for four years and as Managing Director of Chemical Bank in New York, New York for 14 years. While the banking industry has changed, Mr. Rawls remains very familiar with the issues facing banks and the regulatory environment in which they operate.

Directors Whose Terms Do Not Expire This Year (Class I and Class II Directors)

Gerald F. Barber, 68, has been a director of the Company since 2014. Mr. Barber is a finance professional with over 40 years of experience in accounting, auditing and consulting. He has worked with organizations of all sizes from start-up businesses to multi-national corporations and has delivered services to organizations in numerous industries, including banking, financial services,

consumer/industrial products, retail and technology. He was a Transaction Services Partner with PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (“PwC”) from 2001 to 2012 and led the U.S. Latin America Transaction Services Practice in Washington, D.C. and Miami, Florida from 2004 to 2012. Since his retirement from PwC in 2012, Mr. Barber has continued advising both middle market and multi-national corporations. He served as an adjunct professor at the University of Virginia’s McIntire School of Commerce during 2012 and 2013. He has been in the audit and accounting field since 1975.

Mr. Barber brings extensive experience in the areas of accounting and auditing, merger and acquisition transactions, financial services and management. He is a Certified Public Accountant.

Hugh M. Fain, III, 62, has been a director of the Company since 2018. Mr. Fain is President and a director of Spotts Fain PC, a law firm in Richmond, Virginia, where he has been a lawyer since 1992. He has over 35 years of experience as a civil trial attorney in a broad range of commercial and business matters. Mr. Fain’s representative clients include both public and private companies, as well as individual entrepreneurs, many of whom rely on him for general business counsel.

In addition to his strategic planning and management skills, Mr. Fain has been active with numerous organizations and provides the Board with expertise in corporate governance and fiduciary duties. He also has significant community ties to the Bank’s central Virginia market areas that support its business development initiatives.

Eugene S. Putnam, Jr., 60, has been a director of the Company since 2005 and served as its Chairman of the Board from 2005 to 2008. Mr. Putnam has been Chief Financial Officer for EVO Transportation & Energy Services, Inc., a nationwide transportation operator for the United States Postal Service and various freight shippers, since July 2019. He was President and Chief Financial Officer for Universal Technical Institute, Inc., a post-secondary education provider based in Scottsdale, Arizona, from 2011 to 2016. Mr. Putnam served as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer for Universal Technical Institute, Inc. from 2008 to 2011.

Mr. Putnam brings high level financial expertise as chief financial officer of publicly traded companies and experience in risk management and strategic planning. He also has banking expertise in corporate finance, capital planning and balance sheet management. His background helps him play critical roles on the Board’s committees.

Rex L. Smith, III, ~~58,~~62, has been a director of the Company since 2011. Mr. Smith has been President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company and the Bank since 2011. He served as the Bank’s Executive Vice President and Chief Banking Officer from 2010 to 2011, and he held the responsibilities of President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company and the Bank, including serving as Executive Vice President of the Company, for eight months in 2010 and 2011. From 2009 to 2010, he was the Bank’s Executive Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer. From 2007 to 2009, he was the Central Virginia President for Gateway Bank ~~and~~& Trust and, from 2000 to 2007, he was President and Chief Executive Officer of The Bank of Richmond.

Mr. Smith has 35approximately 40 years of experience in the banking industry and a unique perspective from the management experiences that he has had with different banks. He is also intimately aware of the particular opportunities and challenges facing the Company and the Bank, as he has been a member of executive management for ~~seven~~10 years.

John C. Watkins, ~~69,~~73, has been a director of the Company since 2008 and has served as Chairman of the Board since 2011. He had previously served as a director of TransCommunity Financial and its predecessor, Bank of Powhatan, N.A., since 1998. Senator Watkins was President of Watkins

Nurseries, Inc., a landscape design firm and wholesale plant material grower based in Midlothian, Virginia, from 1998 to ~~2008, and he currently serves as the Chairman of its board of directors.~~2008. He has also been Manager and Development Director for Watkins Land, LLC, a real estate company based in Midlothian, Virginia, since 1999. He was a member of the Virginia House of Delegates from 1982 to 1998, ~~and~~ a member of the Senate of Virginia from 1998 to 2016 and a member of the Powhatan County Economic Development Authority since 2016.

Senator Watkins brings long-term corporate management experience as a small business owner and entrepreneur, through his ownership and operation of successful businesses in the Company’s market areas. He also brings substantial government and public policy expertise and leadership knowledge to the Company due to his long service in the Virginia state government. He has significant community ties to the Bank’s central Virginia market areas.

Oliver L. Way, 67, has been a director of the Company since 2018. From 2005 until his retirement in 2018, Mr. Way was Executive Vice President and Virginia Markets Regional President of Fulton Bank, N.A., the banking subsidiary of Fulton Financial Corporation based in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. At Fulton Bank, he oversaw banking operations, planning and strategic initiatives in its Virginia markets. Mr. Way has over 40 years’ experience in the financial services industry, including 23 years with Wachovia Bank and its predecessor, Central Fidelity Bank.

Mr. Way brings many years of experience and expertise in leadership, business development, risk management and credit analysis. He also has significant community and financial industry ties to the Bank’s central Virginia market areas.

Robin Traywick Williams, ~~65,~~69, has been a director of the Company since 2008. She had previously served as a director of TransCommunity Financial since 2002. Mrs. Williams is a writer and, from 2009 to 2011, she served as president of the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation. From 1998 to 2003, she served as Chairman of the Virginia Racing Commission in Richmond, Virginia.

Mrs. Williams brings regulatory and governance leadership to the Board through her experience with Virginia government and regulatory agencies and community organizations. She also has significant community ties to the Bank’s central Virginia market areas.

EXECUTIVE OFFICERS

The Company’s executive officers ~~as of March 23, 2016~~ and their respective ages and positions are set forth in the following table.

Name	Age	Position
Rex L. Smith, III	62	President and Chief Executive Officer Community Bankers Trust Corporation and Essex Bank

Bruce E. Thomas	56	Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Community Bankers Trust Corporation and Essex Bank

Jeff R. Cantrell	57	Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Essex Bank

Name	Age	Position
~~Rex L. Smith, III~~	58	~~President and Chief Executive Officer Community Bankers Trust Corporation and Essex Bank~~

~~Bruce E. Thomas~~Patricia M. Davis	52 54	Executive Vice President and Chief ~~Financial Officer Community Bankers Trust Corporation and Essex Bank~~

~~Jeff R. Cantrell~~	53	~~Executive Vice President and Chief Operating~~Credit Officer Essex Bank

John M. Oakey, III	4852	Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary Community Bankers Trust Corporation and Essex Bank

William E. Saunders, Jr.	5357	Executive Vice President and Chief Risk Officer Essex Bank

~~Patricia M. Vogel~~	50	~~Executive Vice President and Chief Credit Officer Essex Bank~~

The following information sets forth the business experience for at least the past five years and other information for the executive officers. Such information with respect to Mr. Smith is set forth above in the “Proposal One – Election of Directors” section.

Mr. Thomas has been Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of the Company since 2010, and he was Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of the Company from 2008 to 2010. From 2000 to 2008, he was Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of BOE ~~Financial.~~Financial Services of Virginia. Inc., which the Company acquired in 2008 (“BOE Financial”). He has been employed in various positions with the Bank since 1990.

Mr. Cantrell has been the Bank’s Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer since 2012, and he was the Bank’s Senior Vice President and Senior Financial Officer from 2009 to 2012. From 2008 to 2009, he was Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operating Officer for North Metro Financial LLC, the organizational entity for a bank in organization in Georgia. From 1984 to 2008, he was employed with Regions Bank, where he most recently served in the position of Senior Vice President and East Region Financial Manager.

Ms. Davis has been the Bank’s Executive Vice President and Chief Credit Officer since 2014. From 2011 to 2014, she served as the Bank’s Senior Vice President and Senior Credit Officer. From 2009 to 2011, she served as the Bank’s Loan Review Officer. Ms. Davis has over 30 years of experience in the banking industry, over 18 of which have been in credit risk management, including executive management roles at First Charter Bank in Charlotte, North Carolina, which was acquired by Fifth Third Bank in 2008.

Mr. Oakey has been General Counsel and Secretary of the Company and the Bank since 2009, with the titles of General Counsel since 2010 and Senior Legal Counsel from 2009 to 2010. He was named Executive Vice President in 2011. From 2007 to 2009, he was Director and Assistant General Counsel for Circuit City Stores, Inc. Until 2007, he was a partner at the law firm of Williams Mullen, where he began practicing in 1995.

Mr. Saunders has been the Bank’s Executive Vice President and Chief Risk Officer since 2011. From 2010 to 2011, he served as the Bank’s Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer. From 2008 to 2010, he served as the Bank’s Senior Vice President – Chief Risk Officer. From 2004 to 2008, he was the Bank’s Vice President – Risk Management. Mr. Saunders has 3033 years of experience in the banking industry, including experience with regulatory work, audit and operations.

Ms. Vogel has been the Bank’s Executive Vice President and Chief Credit Officer since 2014. From 2011 to 2014, she served as the Bank’s Senior Vice President and Senior Credit Officer. From 2009 to 2011, she served as the Bank’s Loan Review Officer. Ms. Vogel has over 27 years of experience in the banking industry, the last 15 of which have been in credit risk management, including executive management roles at First Charter Bank in Charlotte, North Carolina, which was acquired by Fifth Third Bank in 2008.

Executive Compensation

Compensation Committee Report

The Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors reviews and establishes the compensation program for the Company’s senior management, including the named executive officers in the Summary Compensation Table below, and provides oversight of the Company’s compensation program. A discussion of the principles, objectives, components, analyses and determinations of the Committee with respect to executive compensation is included in the Compensation Discussion and Analysis that follows this Committee report. The Compensation Discussion and Analysis also includes discussion with respect to the Committee’s review of officer and employee compensation plans and specifically any features that may encourage employees to take unnecessary and excessive risks. The specific decisions of the Committee regarding the compensation of the named executive officers are reflected in the compensation tables and narrative that follow the Compensation Discussion and Analysis.

The Compensation Committee certifies that:

(1) it reviewed with the ~~senior risk officer~~Chief Risk Officer the senior executive officer compensation plans and made all reasonable efforts to ensure that these plans do not encourage the senior executive officers to take unnecessary and excessive risks that threaten the value of the Company;

(2) it reviewed with the ~~senior risk officer~~Chief Risk Officer the employee compensation plans and made all reasonable efforts to limit any unnecessary risks these plans pose to the Company; and

(3) it reviewed the employee compensation plans to eliminate any features of these plans that would encourage the manipulation of reported earnings of the Company and the Bank to enhance the compensation of any employee.

The Committee has reviewed the Compensation Discussion and Analysis and discussed it with the Company’s management. Based on this review and discussion, the Compensation Committee recommended to the Board of Directors that the Compensation Discussion and Analysis be included in the Company’s annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, ~~2015~~2019 and the Company’s ~~2016~~2020 proxy statement.

Compensation Committee

Eugene S. Putnam, Jr., Chair

~~Troy A. Peery, Jr.~~Hugh M. Fain, III

Gail L. Letts

John C. Watkins

Date: April ~~11, 2016~~

3, 2020

Compensation Discussion and Analysis

General

The Compensation Committee of the Company’s Board of Directors reviews and establishes the compensation program for the Company’s senior management, including the named executive officers in the Summary Compensation Table below, and provides oversight of the Company’s compensation program. The Committee consists entirely of non-employee, independent members of the Board and operates under a written charter approved by the Board.

The Committee specifically discharges Board oversight responsibilities with respect to

·●

the compensation of the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and other executive officers and ~~other~~ key employees;

·●

the administration of incentive compensation plans, including stock plans and short- and long-term incentive compensation plans; and

·●

the approval, review and oversight of certain retirement and other benefit plans of the Company.

The Company’s compensation program generally consists of salary, annual cash bonus and incentives, equity-based long-term compensation and pre-and post-retirement benefits. Benefits include participation in the Company’s 401(k) plan and health insurance benefits. The Company also has a defined benefit pension plan, which has been frozen, and a supplemental retirement plan, which has been frozen to new entrants. ~~The~~In 2016, the Company ~~intends to implement in 2016, as discussed below,~~established a non-qualified defined contribution retirement plan for and executed change in control agreements with the named executive officers. In addition, the Company offers perquisites to certain executive officers such as use of Company-owned vehicles.

The Company recognizes that competitive compensation is critical for attracting, motivating, rewarding and retaining qualified executives. One of the fundamental objectives of the Company’s compensation program is to offer competitive compensation and benefits for all employees, including executive officers, in order to compete for and retain talented personnel who will lead the Company in achieving levels of financial performance that enhance shareholder value. The Company also recognizes the importance of setting compensation levels in line with the Company’s overall performance.

The Company’s overall operating strategy is to be recognized as the premier provider of financial services by exceeding the service expectations of its customers and shareholders while creating a rewarding environment for its employees. The Company has adopted and implemented a formal strategic plan that centers on ensuring profitable controlled growth in earnings, improving the overall risk profile of the Company through enterprise risk management and solidifying strong management practices with a focus on value added. These efforts require a strong and dedicated management team focused on strategic growth for the franchise, through both internal loan growth and appropriate branch and market development. This growth likewise requires a management team with relevant experience. As a result, a primary focus of the Company’s compensation program has been, and continues to be, to attract and retain a team of experienced bankers.

~~As discussed below, the~~ Committee has engaged Matthews Young – Management Consulting as the independent consultant to assist it in carrying out certain responsibilities with respect to executive compensation. Matthews Young satisfies the standards that the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010 (the “Dodd-Frank Act”) established, and that the Nasdaq Stock Market adopted, with respect to the independence of compensation consultants.

The following discussion explains the material elements of compensation paid to the Company’s named executive officers and provides the material factors underlying its compensation policies and practices. The information in this discussion specifically provides context for the compensation disclosures in the tables that follow it and should be read along with those disclosures.

Compensation Program

The current components of the Company’s compensation program represent the elements that the Company has offered in the past in order to attract, motivate, reward and retain highly qualified executive officers. The Company believes that these elements are also standard compensation components of its peer companies and allow the Company to present an attractive compensation package to each of its named executive officers in comparison with these companies.

The Committee approves the compensation of all members of senior management, including the named executive officers. In making its determinations, the Committee has detailed discussions with

both its compensation consultant and the Chief Executive Officer on appropriate levels of compensation, primarily in the context of ~~the~~relevant peer group data, for the Company and the specific positions of its senior officers. In addition, the Committee evaluates not only each component of compensation, as discussed further below, but also the overall total package of compensation for each senior officer.

In connection with its annual approvals, the Committee reviews, with the Company’s Chief Risk Officer, all components of the Company’s compensation program. ~~Following the review in January 2016, the~~The Committee has determined that none of these components contain any feature that would encourage the senior officers to take unnecessary and excessive risks that would threaten the value of the Company. In addition, the Committee has determined that there is no element in any senior management or other employee compensation plan that would encourage the senior officers or employees to manipulate reported earnings in order to enhance compensation.

Bruce E. Thomas, the Company’s Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, had an employment agreement with the Company during 2015. A summary of the agreement is set forth below following the Summary Compensation Table. No other executive officers had an employment agreement with the Company during 2015.

The following information discusses the compensation decisions for the named executive officers for the ~~2015~~2019 year ~~supplemented by the same decisions for the 2016 year.~~and in early 2020.

Salary

The base salary of the named executive officers is designed to be competitive with that of the Company’s peer banks, as described further below. In establishing the base salary for the named executive officers, the Committee relies on an evaluation of the officers’ level of responsibility and performance and on comparative information. In establishing the base salary, other than for the Chief Executive Officer, the Committee also receives and takes into account the individual compensation recommendations from the Chief Executive Officer. The salary of the Chief Executive Officer is also approved by the independent members of the Board of Directors, upon recommendation of the Committee.

In January ~~2015,~~2019, the Committee reviewed and determined salaries for the ~~2015~~2019 year. The Committee received and reviewed recommendations from Mr. Smith for increases in salaries for the other named executive officers. The Committee considered the reasons for the proposed increases, including the value that each officer has contributed to the Company and Mr. Smith’s desire to keep salaries in line with the mid-range of the Company’s peer group, based on updated peer group information prepared by the Committee’s compensation consultant. The peer group data that the Committee reviewed for 2015 salaries was derived from a peer group of 26 comparably-sized, publicly reporting financial institutions in Virginia, Kentucky, Maryland, North Carolina and Tennessee. Members of the peer group included:

~~Bank of Kentucky Financial Corporation~~	KY	~~First Farmers and Merchants Corporation~~	TN
~~Farmers Capital Bank Corporation~~	KY	~~First Security Group, Inc.~~	TN
~~First Financial Service Corporation~~	KY	~~Access National Corporation~~	VA
~~Porter Bancorp, Inc.~~	KY	~~American National Bankshares Inc.~~	VA
~~S.Y. Bancorp, Inc.~~	KY	~~C&F Financial Corporation~~	VA
~~First United Corporation~~	MD	~~Eagle Financial Services, Inc.~~	VA
~~Shore Bancshares, Inc.~~	MD	~~Eastern Virginia Bankshares, Inc.~~	VA
~~Community Financial Corporation~~	MD	~~Fauquier Bankshares, Inc.~~	VA
~~CommunityOne Bancorp~~	NC	~~Middleburg Financial Corporation~~	VA
~~First South Bancorp, Inc.~~	NC	~~Monarch Financial Holdings, Inc.~~	VA
~~NewBridge Bancorp~~	NC	~~National Bankshares, Inc.~~	VA
~~Peoples Bancorp of North Carolina, Inc.~~	NC	~~Old Point Financial Corporation~~	VA
~~Yadkin Valley Financial Corporation~~	NC	~~Valley Financial Corporation~~	VA

~~As a result, the Committee determined to make, at Mr. Smith’s recommendation, the salary increases for the named executive officers as set forth below effective as of January 1, 2015.~~

Name 2014 Salary 2015 Salary
Bruce E. Thomas $ 191,000 $ 198,000
Jeff R. Cantrell $ 191,000 $ 198,000
John M. Oakey, III $ 191,000 $ 198,000
Patricia M. Vogel $ 175,000 $ 182,000

Also in January 2015, the Committee reviewed and determined a salary for Mr. Smith for the 2015 year. The Committee considered the financial performance of the Company during 2014 from the standpoint of both earnings and credit quality. The Committee also considered reasons for an increase, including the value that Mr. Smith’s performance and service contributed to the Company in 2014 and expectations for 2015. The Committee acknowledged its desire to continue to keep his salary in line with the Company’s peer group, consistent with the other executive officers of the Company. As a result, the Committee approved a salary increase for Mr. Smith from $375,000 to $390,000, effective January 1, 2015, and this increase was subsequently approved by the Board of Directors.

~~In January 2016, the Committee reviewed and determined salaries for the 2016 year.~~ As it did ~~the~~in previous ~~year,~~years, the Committee received and reviewed recommendations from Mr. Smith for increases in salaries for the other named executive officers. The Committee considered the reasons for the proposed increases, including the value that each officer has contributedcontinued to ~~the Company and~~consider Mr. Smith’s desire to keep salaries in line with the mid-range level of the Company’s peer group, ~~based~~with an added emphasis for 2019 on ~~updated~~cost of living adjustments, and supplemented more by the performance-based annual incentives. The peer group ~~information prepared by the Committee’s compensation consultant. This information included only current salary range averages and did not include the names of any banks included in the~~data was derived from a peer group ~~which was comprised~~ of ~~banks~~publicly reporting financial institutions of similar asset size to the Company and in or close to the Company’s market area. The information that the Committee reviewed for the 2019 year included only salary range averages from that data and did not include the names of any banks included in the peer group. Mr. Smith ~~also~~ recommended that each of Mr. Cantrell and Ms. ~~Vogel~~Davis receive a slightly higher percentage increase in salary in order to be closer in line with the peer group data ~~for her position, due to her service time as Chief Credit Officer.~~and with internal salary levels. As a result, the Committee determined to make, at Mr. Smith’s recommendation and supported by the peer group data, the salary increases for the named executive officers as set forth below effective as of January 1, ~~2016.~~2019.

Name	2018 Salary		2019 Salary		Percentage Increase
Thomas	$	215,000	$	219,000		1.86	%
Cantrell	$	215,000	$	220,000		2.33	%
Davis	$	203,000	$	210,000		3.45	%
Oakey	$	215,000	$	219,000		1.86	%

Name 2015 Salary 2016 Salary
Bruce E. Thomas $ 198,000 $ 204,000
Jeff R. Cantrell $ 198,000 $ 204,000
John M. Oakey, III $ 198,000 $ 204,000
Patricia M. Vogel $ 182,000 $ 190,000

Also in January ~~2016,~~2019, the Committee reviewed and determined a salary for Mr. Smith for the ~~2016~~2019 year. The Committee considered the financial performance of the Company during ~~2015~~2018 from the standpoint of ~~both~~ earnings, credit quality and ~~credit quality.~~overall operational performance. The Committee also considered reasons for an increase, including the value that Mr. Smith’s performance and service contributed to the Company in ~~2015~~2018 and expectations for ~~2016.~~2019. The Committee acknowledged its desire to continue to keep his salary in line with the Company’s peer group, consistent with the other executive officers of the Company, with an added emphasis on cost of living adjustments, and supplemented more by the performance-based annual incentives. As a result, the Committee approved a salary increase for Mr. Smith from $420,000 to $427,500 (a 1.79% increase), effective January 1, 2019, and this increase was subsequently approved by the Board of Directors.

In January 2020, the Committee reviewed and determined salaries for the 2020 year. As it did the previous year, the Committee received and reviewed recommendations from Mr. Smith for increases in salaries for the other named executive officers. The Committee continued to consider Mr. Smith’s desire to keep salaries in line with the mid-range level of the Company’s peer group, and with the Company’s budget in light of lower general economic and financial expectations for the year. The peer group data was updated for the 2020 salary determinations, but it again included only salary range averages from that data and did not include the names of any banks included in the peer group. Mr. Smith recommended that Ms. Davis receive a slightly higher percentage increase in salary in order to be in line with the peer group data and with internal salary levels, and due to additional departmental oversight responsibilities. As a result, the Committee determined to make, at Mr. Smith’s recommendation and supported by the peer group data, the salary increases for the named executive officers as set forth below effective as of January 1, 2020.

Name	2019 Salary		2020 Salary		Percentage Increase
Thomas	$	219,000	$	222,500		1.60	%
Cantrell	$	220,000	$	223,500		1.59	%
Davis	$	210,000	$	220,000		4.76	%
Oakey	$	219,000	$	222,500		1.60	%

Also in January 2020, the Committee reviewed and determined a salary for Mr. Smith for the 2020 year. The Committee considered the financial performance of the Company during 2019 from the standpoint of earnings, credit quality and overall operational performance. The Committee also considered reasons for an increase, including the value that Mr. Smith’s performance and service contributed to the Company in 2019 and expectations for 2020. The Committee acknowledged its desire to continue to keep his salary in line with the Company’s peer group and recognized expectations for the year consistent with the other executive officers of the Company. As a result, the Committee approved a salary increase for Mr. Smith from ~~$390,000~~$427,500 to ~~$402,000,~~$434,000 (a 1.52% increase), effective January 1, ~~2016,~~2020, and this increase was subsequently approved by the Board of Directors.

Annual Incentives

The Committee believes that executive compensation should be meaningfully linked to the Company’s performance. Accordingly, the Company annually adopts an objectives-based incentive plan for the Company’s named executive officers that ties incentive payments to specific operating metrics of the Company. The Committee carefully reviews operating metrics that Mr. Smith has recommended in order to select those metrics that drive growth and earnings and thus overall shareholder value.

For the ~~2015~~2019 year, ~~these~~the metrics in the incentive plan were net income, the amount of non-performing assets as a percentage of total assets at ~~2015~~2019 year end and a job-related discretionary component; the three metrics were assigned weights of ~~70%~~80%, ~~20%~~10% and 10%, respectfully. The plan included threshold, target, stretch and maximum levels of performance for each metric and a corresponding payout, weighted as a percentage of salary, to each of the named executive officers based on the achievement of ~~such levels. The range of~~a specific level, as set forth in the payout on each metric for the named executive officers other than Mr. Smith, weighted as noted above, would be generally from 5.0% (threshold) to 25.0% (maximum) of salary, and the range of the payout for Mr. Smith would be from 7.5% (threshold) to 37.5% (maximum) of salary (that is, 50% higher in percentage). following table.

Level		Operating Metric Achievement	Proportionate Percentage Payout
Threshold	Annual budgeted amount		Smith	7.5% of salary
Threshold	Annual budgeted amount		Other NEOs	5.0% of salary
Target	Annual budgeted amount plus 5.0%		Smith	15.0% of salary
Target	Annual budgeted amount plus 5.0%		Other NEOs	10.0% of salary
Stretch	Annual budgeted amount plus 10.0%		Smith	22.5% of salary
Stretch	Annual budgeted amount plus 10.0%		Other NEOs	15.0% of salary
Maximum	Annual budgeted amount plus 15.0%		Smith	37.5% of salary
Maximum	Annual budgeted amount plus 15.0%		Other NEOs	25.0% of salary

The ~~net income metric was the performance measure that drove the plan, and thus the~~ proportionate percentage payouts for each of the ~~other two measures could not exceed~~three operating metrics was determined by the ~~proportionate percentage payout for~~level that the ~~net income metric. Accordingly, if the performance~~Company achieved with respect to the ~~net income~~ metric ~~had not met~~in 2019. In addition, the ~~threshold level, there would have been no payout at all under the incentive plan.~~proportionate percentage payouts were prorated between metric achievement levels.

For ~~2015,~~2019, each of the Company’s net income ~~following certain adjustments, exceeded the target amount (but did not meet the stretch or maximum amounts) under the plan, which corresponded to a 70% weighted payout of 10% of salary,~~ and the amount of non-performing assets as a percentage of total assets ~~likewise exceeded~~were between the target amount ~~(but did not meet~~and the stretch ~~or maximum amounts), which corresponded to a 20% weighted payout of 10% of salary.~~amount. Mr. Smith recommended an additional ~~one~~one-and-a-half percent of salary for the named executive officers with respect to the job-related discretionary component under the plan. As a result, on January ~~21, 2016,~~16, 2020, the Committee approved incentive awards to the Company’s executive officers (other than Mr. Smith) under the ~~2015~~2019 annual incentive plan, in the aggregate amount of ~~10%~~13.50% of salary, as ~~follows.~~set forth in the following table.

Name 2015 Incentive Award
Bruce E. Thomas $ 19,800
Jeff R. Cantrell $ 19,800
John M. Oakey, III $ 19,800
Patricia M. Vogel $ 18,200

Name	2019 Incentive Award
Thomas	$	29,565
Cantrell	$	29,700
Davis	$	28,350
Oakey	$	29,565

On January ~~22, 2016,~~17, 2020, the Board of Directors, upon the recommendation of the Committee, approved an incentive award to Mr. Smith in the amount of ~~$58,500 (15%~~$86,569 (20.25% of salary) under the ~~2015~~2019 annual incentive plan, due to the achievement of the performance metrics set forth in ~~the 2015 annual incentive~~that plan, as discussed above.

For the ~~2016~~2020 year, the Company has adopted an incentive plan for the named executive officers that is similar in structure to the plan for the ~~2015~~2019 year. The ~~2016~~2020 plan retains the ~~same~~ three metrics asfrom the ~~2015~~2019 plan (net income, asset quality and the job-related discretionary component), ~~which~~and adds a transaction deposit growth metric). The four metrics have been assigned weights of ~~75%~~70%, 10% and ~~10%~~5%, respectively, for the repeating metrics and ~~adds a fourth metric – non-interest-bearing~~15% for the new deposit ~~growth, which has been assigned a weight of 5%.~~metric. The range of the payout for Mr. Smith and

the other named executive officers remains the same as the ~~2015 plan. The range for the named executive officers other than Mr. Smith, weighted~~2019 plan, as noted ~~above, will be generally from 5.0% (threshold) to 25.0% (maximum) of salary, and~~in the range for Mr. Smith will be from 7.5% (threshold) to 37.5% (maximum) of salary. As with the 2015 plan, the net income metric will be the performance measure that drives the 2016 plan, and thus the proportionate percentage payouts for each of the other three measures cannot exceed the proportionate percentage payout for the net income metric. Accordingly, if performance with respect to the net income metric does not meet the threshold level, there will be no payout at all under the incentive plan.table above. The Board of Directors of the Company approved this plan on January ~~22, 2016.~~17, 2020.

The Committee ~~has discussed the implementation of a clawback policy that provides for~~considers, as appropriate, the recovery of incentive-based compensation that should not have been awarded in the event of a future restatement of financial results or similar event. The ~~Committee intends to adopt~~Company’s 2019 Stock Incentive Plan expressly includes such a policy that is consistent with the requirements that the Securities and Exchange Commission is currently in the process of mandating for stock exchange listing standards under the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010.clawback policy.

Long-Term Incentives

~~In 2009, the~~The Company ~~adopted and its shareholders approved~~maintains the Community Bankers Trust Corporation 2009 Stock Incentive ~~Plan.~~Plan, which terminated on June 17, 2019, and the Community Bankers Trust Corporation 2019 Stock Incentive Plan, which was approved by shareholders on May 17, 2019. The purpose of the 2019 plan is the same as the purpose of the 2009 plan and is to further the long-term stability and financial success of the Company by attracting and retaining employees and directors through the use of stock incentives and other rights that promote and recognize the financial success and growth of the Company. The Company believes that ownership of Company stock will stimulate the efforts of such employees and directors by further aligning their interests with the interests of the Company’s shareholders. The 2019 plan ~~is to~~can be used (and before its termination the 2009 plan was used) to grant restricted stock awards, stock options in the form of incentive stock options and non-statutory stock options ~~stock appreciation rights~~ and other stock-based awards to employees and directors of the Company. ~~As adopted,~~The 2009 plan made available up to 2,650,000 shares of common stock for issuance to participants under the plan, and the 2019 plan makes available up to ~~2,650,000~~2,500,000 shares of common stock for issuance to participants under the plan.

The Committee ~~has considered~~considers specifically awards of restricted stock and stock options to the named executive officers and the benefits and disadvantages of each type of award to both the Company and the officer. The Committee believes that stock options have been the most effective type of award for the purposes of its compensation program in recent years ~~as the Company’s~~in order to align management interests with shareholder interests by rewarding long-term stock price ~~has been considered to be undervalued.~~appreciation.

In January ~~2015,~~2019, the Committee approved stock option awards to the named executive officers. In taking these actions, the Committee considered recommendations from both the Chief Executive Officer (except with respect to his award) and the Committee’s compensation consultant with respect to the form of the award and the amounts. In determining the specific amounts for the stock option awards, the Committee considered that such awards would motivate individual long-term performance. In addition, the exercise price for each stock option award was set at a price equal to the common stock’s closing sales price on the date of the award. The specific amounts of the awards for the named executive officers are set forth in the “Grants of Plan-Based Awards” table on page 2930 below. The Committee granted stock option awards to 2238 employees, including the named executive officers, in January ~~2015.~~2019.

In January ~~2016,~~2020, the Committee approved stock option awards to the named executive officers. In taking these actions, the Committee considered recommendations from ~~both~~ the Chief Executive Officer (except with respect to his award) ~~and the Committee’s compensation consultant~~ with respect to the form of the award and the amounts. The award granted to each of Messrs. Thomas, Cantrell and Oakey and Ms. ~~Vogel~~Davis was an option to acquire 20,000 shares of common stock. In addition, the Committee reviewed a proposed award for Mr. Smith and considered a level that would be consistent with peer group data from the standpoint of a total compensation package in line with Mr. Smith’s years of service to the Company. As a result, at the recommendation of the Committee, the Board approved for Mr. Smith a stock option award to acquire 40,000 shares of common stock. In determining the specific amounts for the stock option awards, the Committee considered that such awards would motivate individual long-term performance. The Committee granted stock option awards to 2243 employees, including the named executive officers, in January ~~2016.~~2020.

In the future, the Company expects that any stock option grants and restricted stock awards to executive officers and other key employees will be approved at regularly scheduled Committee meetings, and subsequently approved by the Board of Directors. The Company’s Chief Executive Officer will provide the Committee with a recommendation concerning the recipients (other than himself), the reason for the award and the number of shares to be awarded. The grant date will generally be the date of the meeting at which the Board approves awards presented by the Committee. The Company will not tie the timing of the issuance of stock options or restricted stock awards to the release or withholding of material non-public information.

Retirement Program

The ~~Company’s predecessors maintained~~Company believes that a meaningful retirement ~~programs~~program, one that ~~had been~~is designed to provide executive officers with an appropriate level of financial security and income, following retirement, relative to their pre-retirement earnings. The Company continued to maintain a retirement program that it inherited, and the program historically had been reflective of common practices among companies of similar size and structure. The Company believes that a meaningful retirement programearnings, is a valuable tool in attracting and retaining highly qualified employees. ~~To date, however, the Company does not believe that its program has adequately served that purpose.~~

~~During 2015, the components of the~~The Company’s retirement program ~~included~~includes four components, including the ~~following:~~following three components that have been in place since its acquisition of BOE Financial and TransCommunity Financial:

·●

a 401(k) employee savings plan for which all full-time employees who are 21 years of age or older are eligible to participate (all of the named executive officers are participants)

·●

a non-tax qualified Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan, inherited from BOE Financial, for certain executives to supplement the benefits that such executives can receive under other retirement program components and social security (of the named executive officers, only Mr. Thomas is a participant)

·●

a noncontributory defined benefit pension plan, inherited from BOE Financial and frozen to new entrants, for all full-time employees who were 21 years of age or older and who had completed one year of eligibility service (of the named executive officers, only Mr. Thomas is a participant)

~~Additional information with respect~~In establishing a full compensation program for executive officers, the Committee recognized that the retirement program prior to ~~these three~~2016 did not adequately serve the purpose of attracting and retaining highly qualified employees. In particular, the Committee acknowledged that four of the Company’s six executive officers were only participants in one of the retirement program’s components, ~~is set forth in~~ the ~~“Post-Employment Compensation” section below.~~401(k) employee savings plan.

In ~~2016,~~response to the limitations of the retirement program, the Company ~~intends to implement~~implemented in 2016 a non-qualified defined contribution retirement plan for its named executive officers. The purpose of the plan ~~will be~~is to enhance the retirement benefits that the Company provides to each named executive officer and to recognize each officer for overall performance through additional incentive-based compensation. ~~The~~As noted earlier, the Committee believes that executive compensation should be meaningfully linked to the Company’s performance. Accordingly, the plan ~~will be~~is a performance driven plan, and the Company ~~will make~~makes contributions to the plan on a discretionary basis based on payouts under the Company’s annual incentive plan, which in turn is based on the achievement of various performance metrics that the Company establishes through the ~~Committee. For 2016, those metrics will be~~Committee, as discussed above. The plan is unfunded and unsecured.

Additional information with respect to the ~~same metrics~~components of the Company’s retirement program, including the value of participant’s accounts, is set forth in the ~~2016 annual incentive plan for the named executive officers, as noted above. The plan will be unfunded and unsecured.~~“Post-Employment Compensation” section on page 32 below.

Perquisites and Fringe Benefits

Perquisites and fringe benefits are designed to provide certain personal benefits and to fund certain expenditures that are common among executive officers in many companies. The Committee believes that this component of compensation is a valuable tool in attracting, motivating, rewarding and recruiting highly qualified employees. The Committee reviews the level of these benefits on an annual basis.

The Company provides each of Mr. Smith and Mr. Thomas with the use of a company automobile. The employment agreement with Mr. Thomas provides for an automobile or automobile allowance, with appropriate insurance coverage and maintenance expenses, and for the payment or reimbursement for country club dues that may be incurred. The Company provides Mr. Cantrell with an automobile allowance.

Post-Termination Compensation

~~Under his employment agreement, Mr. Thomas may be entitled to post-termination compensation in certain cases.~~ The ~~provisions~~Company is aware of ~~this agreement are detailed further~~constant opportunities for mergers and ~~quantified~~other consolidations in the ~~section below titled “Post-Employment Compensation.”~~banking industry, and the Board of Directors encourages management to seek out such opportunities that are in the best interest of shareholders. The Committee is also mindful of the inherent difficulty that management may have in pursuing opportunities that could result in the loss of their jobs.

~~The Company does not currently have any other agreements that provide for post-termination compensation.~~ In order to support management in such strategic endeavors, in 2016, the Company ~~intends to provide~~provided each of the named executive officers with a ~~change-in-control~~change in control agreement with terms and pay-outs consistent with both the officer’s position and responsibilities and similar arrangements in place at the Company’s peer banks. Any pay-outs from such an agreement, and other compensation that the officer may receive under other Company plans, will be subject to the limitations of Section 280G of the Internal Revenue Code ~~Section 280G.~~of 1986, as amended (the “IRC”). The Company’s ~~current~~historical compensation arrangements dohave not ~~provide~~provided for the Company to make “gross-up” payments that would cover the reimbursement of excise taxes that may arise under Section ~~280G. The Company intends that~~280G, and accordingly each ~~change-in-control~~change in control agreement similarly ~~will~~does not contain such a “gross-up” provision.

Additional information with respect to the Company’s change in control agreements is set forth beginning on page 34 below.

Summary Compensation Table

The table below sets forth, for the years ended December 31, ~~2015,~~2019, December 31, ~~2014~~2018 and December 31, ~~2013,~~2017, the compensation earned by the following named executive officers:

·●

the individuals who served as the Company’s principal executive officer and the principal financial officer during ~~2015~~2019

·●

the three other most highly compensated executive officers who were executive officers at December 31, ~~2015~~2019

Name and
Principal Position Year Salary
($) Bonus
($) (2) Stock
Awards
($) (3) Option
Awards
($) (3) Non-
Equity
Incentive
Plan
Compen-
sation
($) (4) Non-
Qualified
Deferred
Compen-
sation
Earnings
($) (5) All Other
Compen-
sation
($) (6) Total
($)
Rex L. Smith, III 2015 390,000 — — 147,510 58,500 — 26,984 622,994
President and Chief Executive Officer 2014 375,000 100,000 — — — — 22,329 497,329
2013 325,000 — 71,500 — — — 18,338 414,838

Bruce E. Thomas 2015 198,000 — — 39,336 19,800 11,127 16,339 284,602
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer 2014 191,000 — — 25,945 13,500 140,726 14,968 386,139
2013 185,000 — — 17,331 13,875 9,165 13,998 239,369

Jeff R. Cantrell 2015 198,000 — — 39,336 19,800 — 16,830 273,966
Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, Essex Bank 2014 191,000 — — 25,945 13,500 — 18,691 249,136
2013 180,000 — — 17,331 14,400 — 15,542 227,273

John M. Oakey, III 2015 198,000 — — 39,336 19,800 — 9,084 266,220
Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary 2014 191,000 — — 25,945 13,500 — 8,178 238,623
2013 185,000 — — 17,331 13,875 — 8,391 224,597

Patricia M. Vogel (1) 2015 182,000 — — 39,336 18,200 — 14,740 254,276
Executive Vice President and Chief Credit Officer, Essex Bank 2014 165,477 — — 17,297 12,500 — 13,519 208,793

Name and

Principal Position

~~(1)~~

Year

~~Ms. Vogel became an executive officer~~

Salary

($)

Bonus

($)

Stock Awards

($)

Option

Awards

($) (1)

Non-Equity Incentive Plan Compen-

sation

($) (2)

Change in ~~July 2014.~~Pension Value and Non-

Qualified Deferred Compen-sation Earnings

($) (3)

All Other Compen-sation

($) (4)

Total

($)

Rex L. Smith, III

President and Chief Executive Officer

2019

2018

2017

427,500

420,000

410,000

167,000

146,000

234,000

86,569

99,225

47,638

269,288

277,449

214,973

950,357

942,674

906,611

Bruce E. Thomas

Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

2019

2018

2017

219,000

215,000

210,000

83,500

73,000

62,400

29,565

33,863

16,267

134,450

13,907

76,199

45,749

48,637

32,723

512,264

384,407

397,589

Jeff R. Cantrell

Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, Essex Bank

2019

2018

2017

220,000

215,000

210,000

83,500

73,000

62,400

29,700

33,863

16,267

60,215

59,461

43,946

393,415

381,324

332,613

Patricia M. Davis

Executive Vice President and Chief Credit Officer, Essex Bank

2019

2018

2017

210,000

203,000

197,000

83,500

73,000

62,400

28,350

31,973

15,260

47,874

49,344

33,972

369,724

357,317

308,632

John M. Oakey, III

Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary

2019

2018

2017

219,000

215,000

210,000

83,500

73,000

62,400

29,565

33,863

16,267

51,254

52,875

36,610

383,319

374,738

325,277

~~(2)~~

~~For Mr. Smith, the amount represents a discretionary bonus in the amount of $100,000 for his performance and service to the Company in 2014.~~

~~(3)~~(1)

These amounts reflect the aggregate grant date fair values of each award as computed in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718. The fair value of each option award is estimated on the date of grant using the “Black Scholes Option Pricing” method. Additional information, including a discussion of the assumptions used for the estimates, is in Note 1413 of the notes to the consolidated financial statements in the Company’s ~~2015~~2019 Annual Report on Form 10-K, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March ~~11, 2016.~~13, 2020.

~~(4)~~(2)

These amounts reflect pay-outs under the Company’s objectives-based incentive plan. Additional information on this plan is included in the “Compensation Program – Annual Incentives” section above.

~~(5)~~(3)

The amount for ~~2015~~2019 represents, ~~the~~for Mr. Thomas, a $14,619 change in value of ~~Mr. Thomas’s~~his accumulated benefit in the supplemental executive retirement ~~plan. The~~plan and a $119,831 change in value of his accumulated benefit in the pension ~~plan was negative (in the amount of $8,706) due to a decrease in the discount rate for the plan and thus is not included in the table.~~plan. Additional information on these plans is included in the “Post-Employment Compensation” section below.

~~(6)~~(4)

Amounts for ~~2015~~2019 represent, for Mr. Smith, ~~$15,950~~$17,100 in 401(k) plan matching contributions, $243,675 in Company contributions to the non-qualified defined contribution retirement plan, $6,960 in employer-paid healthcare, ~~and $4,074~~$1,453 for an automobile allowance and $100 for wellness-related incentives, for Mr. Thomas, ~~$8,460~~$8,760 in 401(k) plan matching contributions, $29,565 in Company contributions to the non-qualified defined contribution retirement plan, $6,960 in employer-paid healthcare, ~~$573~~$147 for an automobile allowance, ~~$266~~$297 for the economic value of his assigned portion of split-dollar life insurance in connection with the Bank’s supplemental executive retirement plan and ~~$80~~$20 for wellness-related incentives, for Mr. Cantrell, ~~$7,470~~$10,155 in 401(k) plan matching contributions, $40,700 in Company contributions to the non-qualified defined contribution retirement plan, $6,960 in employer-paid healthcare and $2,400 for an automobile allowance, for ~~Mr. Oakey, $8,484~~Ms. Davis, $8,424 in 401(k) plan matching contributions, $38,850 in Company contributions to the non-qualified defined contribution retirement plan and $600 in employer-paid healthcare and, for ~~Ms. Vogel, $7,780~~Mr. Oakey, $10,139 in 401(k) plan matching contributions, $40,515 in Company contributions to the non-qualified defined contribution retirement plan and ~~$6,960~~$600 in employer-paid healthcare. For each of the five named executive officers, the above market or preferential portion of interest credited to his or her account in the Company’s non-qualified defined contribution retirement plan was zero.

Employment Agreements

~~The Company has an employment agreement with Bruce E. Thomas.~~ The Company does not currently have employment agreements with any of its ~~other~~ executive officers.

~~The agreement~~ Information with ~~Bruce E. Thomas became effective as of May 31, 2008, which was~~respect to the ~~effective date of the merger of the Company and BOE Financial. Effective as of that date and pursuant to his employment agreement, Mr. Thomas serves as the~~ Company’s Chief Financial Officer, at a salary determined by the Company’s Board of Directors. The initial term of the employment agreement was for three years after the merger date. On each anniversary of the merger date, upon the review and approval of the Board of Directors, the term of the agreement is extended by an additional year unless the Company or Mr. Thomas gives written notice at least 30 days prior to an anniversary date that no further extensions should occur.

The employment agreement with Mr. Thomas imposes certain limitations on him, precluding him from soliciting the Company’s or the Bank’s employees and customers and, without the Company’s prior written consent, competing with the Company or the Bank by forming, serving as an organizer, director, officer or consultant to, or maintaining a more than one percent passive investment in a depository financial institution or holding company if such entity has one or more offices or branches located within a 10-mile radius of the headquarters or any branch banking office of the Company or the Bank. These limitations will be for a period of two years from the date on which Mr. Thomas ceases to be an employee of the Company except that, in the case of a termination without cause or for good reason following a change in control ~~the non-compete and customer solicitation restrictions will be in force for only one year.~~

~~Mr. Thomas’s employment agreement addresses termination of his employment under various termination scenarios. Information on these terms~~agreements is ~~provided~~set forth in the “Post-Employment Compensation” section below.

Pay Ratio Disclosure

For the year ended December 31, 2019, the total compensation for Rex L. Smith, III, the Company’s President and Chief Executive Officer, was $950,357, as presented in the “Summary Compensation Table” above. For the same period, the median of the total compensation of all employees of the Company was $50,197. Accordingly, the ratio of the total compensation of Mr. Smith to the median employee for the 2019 year was 18.93 to 1.

The Company identified the median employee based on a review of the total compensation, as calculated in the same manner for the President and Chief Executive Officer, for the year ended December 31, 2019 of each of the 254 employees who were employed in a full-time or part-time capacity by the Company as of December 31, 2019.

The rules for identifying the median employee and calculating the pay ratio based on that employee’s annual total compensation allow companies to adopt a variety of methodologies, to apply certain exclusions and to make reasonable estimates and assumptions that reflect their compensation practices. As such, the pay ratio reported by other companies may not be comparable to the pay ratio reported above, as other companies may have different employment and compensation practices and may utilize different methodologies, exclusions, estimates and assumptions in calculating their own pay ratios.

Grants of Plan-Based Awards

The following table shows potential annual performance-based cash bonuses ~~and awards of restricted stock~~ and non-statutory stock options under the Company’s 2009 Stock Incentive Plan during the year ended December 31, ~~2015.~~2019. The Company did not grant any stock awards under either its 2009 Stock Incentive Plan or its 2019 Stock Incentive Plan during the year.

Estimated Possible Payouts Under
Non-Equity Incentive Plan Awards (1) All Other
Stock
Awards: All Other
Option
Awards: Exercise Grant
Date Fair
Name Grant
Date Threshold
($) Target
($) Maximum
($) Number of
Shares of
Stock or
Units
(#) Number of
Securities
Underlying
Options
(#) (2) or Base
Price of
Option
Awards
($/Sh) Value of
Stock and
Option
Awards
($) (3)
Smith 1/16/2015 — — — — 75,000 4.37 147,510
— 29,250 58,500 146,250 — — — —
Thomas 1/16/2015 — — — — 20,000 4.37 39,336
— 9,900 19,800 49,500 — — — —
Cantrell 1/16/2015 — — — — 20,000 4.37 39,336
— 9,900 19,800 49,500 — — — —
Oakey 1/16/2015 — — — — 20,000 4.37 39,336
— 9,000 19,800 49,500 — — — —
Vogel 1/16/2015 — — — — 20,000 4.37 39,336
— 9,100 18,200 45,500 — — — —

					All Other
					Option		Grant
					Awards:	Exercise	Date Fair
					Number of	or Base	Value of
		Estimated Possible Payouts Under			Securities	Price of	Stock and
		Non-Equity Incentive Plan Awards (1)			Underlying	Option	Option
	Grant	Threshold	Target	Maximum	Options	Awards	Awards
Name	Date	($)	($)	($)	(#) (2)	($/Sh)	($) (3)
Smith	1/18/2019	--	--	--	50,000	7.70	167,000
	--	32,063	64,125	160,313	--	--	--
Thomas	1/18/2019	--	--	--	25,000	7.70	83,500
	--	10,950	21,900	54,750	--	--	--
Cantrell	1/18/2019	--	--	--	25,000	7.70	83,500
	--	11,000	22,000	55,000	--	--	--
Davis	1/18/2019	--	--	--	25,000	7.70	83,500
	--	10,500	21,000	52,500	--	--	--
Oakey	1/18/2019	--	--	--	25,000	7.70	83,500
	--	10,950	21,900	54,750	--	--	--

(1)

For the ~~2015~~2019 year, the Committee adopted an objectives-based cash incentive plan for the named executive officers that tied incentive payments to specific operating metrics of the Company. These metrics were net income, the ~~percentage~~amount of non-performing assets toas a percentage of total assets at 2019 year end and a job-related discretionary ~~component, which~~component; the three metrics were assigned weights of ~~70%~~80%, ~~20%~~10% and 10%, respectfully. The plan included threshold, target, stretch and maximum levels of performance for each metric and a corresponding payout, weighted as a percentage of salary, to each of the named executive officers based on the achievement of such levels. The range of the payout on each metric for the named executive officers other than Mr. Smith, weighted as noted above, would be generally from 5.0% (threshold) to 25.0% (maximum) of salary, ~~for each of the named executive officers except for Mr. Smith,~~ and the range of the ~~payment~~payout for Mr. Smith would be from 7.5% (threshold) to 37.5% (maximum) of salary.

(2)

All option awards presented vest in four equal annual installments beginning on the first anniversary of the grant date.

(3)

Outstanding Equity Awards

~~In 2009, the~~The Company ~~adopted~~maintains the Community Bankers Trust Corporation 2009 Stock Incentive ~~Plan.~~Plan, which terminated on June 17, 2019, and the Community Bankers Trust Corporation 2019 Stock Incentive Plan, which was approved by shareholders on May 17, 2019. The 2019 plan ~~is to~~can be used (and before its termination the 2009 plan was used) to grant restricted stock awards, stock options in the form of incentive stock options and non-statutory stock options ~~stock appreciation rights~~ and other stock-based awards to employees and

directors of the Company. ~~As adopted,~~The 2009 plan made available up to 2,650,000 shares of common stock for issuance to participants under the plan, and the 2019 plan makes available up to ~~2,650,000~~2,500,000 shares of common stock for issuance to participants under the plan.

The following table shows outstanding stock awards and option awards held by the named executive officers as of December 31, ~~2015.~~2019. The Company has not adopted an objectives-based equity incentive plan under which it makes option awards or stock awards.

	Options Awards									Stock Awards					Options Awards					Stock Awards
	Number of		Number of							Number of			Market Value		Number of	Number of					Number of	Market Value
	Securities		Securities							Shares or			of Shares or		Securities	Securities					Shares or	of Shares or
	Underlying		Underlying							Units			Units of		Underlying	Underlying					Units of	Units of
	Unexercised		Unexercised							of Stock That			Stock That		Unexercised	Unexercised					Stock That	Stock That
	Options		Options			Option		Option		Have Not			Have Not		Options	Options		Option	Option		Have Not	Have Not
	(#)		(#)			Exercise Price		Expiration		Vested			Vested		(#)	(#)		Exercise Price	Expiration		Vested	Vested
Name	Exercisable		Unexercisable			($)		Date		(#)			($)		Exercisable	Unexercisable		($)	Date		(#)	($)
Smith		—		—			—		—		12,500	(7)		67,125	50,000	--		1.25	10/20/2021		--	--
		15,000		5,000	(1)		2.78		5/20/2020		—			—	75,000	--		4.37	1/16/2025		--	--
		50,000		—			1.25		10/20/2021		—			—	30,000	10,000	(1)	5.07	1/22/2026		--	--
		—		75,000	(2)		4.37		1/16/2025						37,500	37,500	(2)	7.40	1/20/2027		--	--
															10,000	30,000	(3)	8.45	1/19/2028		--	--
															--	50,000	(4)	7.70	1/18/2029		--	--
Thomas		20,000		—			2.78		5/20/2020		—			—	3,750	--		3.80	1/17/2024		--	--
		12,500		6,250	(3)		1.25		1/19/2022		—			—	10,000	--		4.37	1/16/2025		--	--
		7,500		7,500	(4)		2.86		1/17/2023		—			—	10,000	5,000	(1)	5.07	1/22/2026		--	--
		3,750		11,250	(5)		3.80		1/17/2024		—			—	10,000	10,000	(2)	7.40	1/20/2027		--	--
		—		20,000	(2)		4.37		1/16/2025						5,000	15,000	(3)	8.45	1/19/2028		--	--
															--	25,000	(4)	7.70	1/18/2029		--	--
Cantrell		6,000		—			2.78		5/20/2020		—			—	15,000	5,000	(1)	5.07	1/22/2026		--	--
															10,000	10,000	(2)	7.40	1/20/2027		--	--
															5,000	15,000	(3)	8.45	1/19/2028		--	--
															--	25,000	(4)	7.70	1/18/2029		--	--
Davis															10,000	--		1.25	1/19/2022		--	--
															10,000	--		2.86	1/17/2023		--	--
															10,000	--		3.80	1/17/2024		--	--
		6,750		2,250	(3)		1.25		1/19/2022		—			—	20,000	--		4.37	1/16/2025		--	--
		8,250		2,750	(6)		1.97		7/30/2022		—			—	15,000	5,000	(1)	5.07	1/22/2026		--	--
		7,500		7,500	(4)		2.86		1/17/2023		—			—	10,000	10,000	(2)	7.40	1/20/2027		--	--
		3,750		11,250	(5)		3.80		1/17/2024		—			—	5,000	15,000	(3)	8.45	1/19/2028		--	--
		—		20,000	(2)		4.37		1/16/2025						--	25,000	(4)	7.70	1/18/2029		--	--
Oakey		20,000		—			2.78		5/20/2020		—			—	25,000	--		1.25	1/19/2022		--	--
		18,750		6,250	(3)		1.25		1/19/2022		—			—	15,000	--		2.86	1/17/2023		--	--
		7,500		7,500	(4)		2.86		1/17/2023		—			—	15,000	--		3.80	1/17/2024		--	--
		3,750		11,250	(5)		3.80		1/17/2024		—			—	20,000	--		4.37	1/16/2025		--	--
		—		20,000	(2)		4.37		1/16/2025						15,000	5,000	(1)	5.07	1/22/2026		--	--
Vogel		7,500		2,500	(3)		1.25		1/19/2022		—			—
		5,000		5,000	(4)		2.86		1/17/2023		—			—	10,000	10,000	(2)	7.40	1/20/2027		--	--
		2,500		7,500	(5)		3.80		1/17/2024		—			—	5,000	15,000	(3)	8.45	1/19/2028		--	--
		—		20,000	(2)		4.37		1/16/2025						--	25,000	(4)	7.70	1/18/2029		--	--

(1)

The options ~~were scheduled to vest initially~~vested in four equal annual installments beginning on ~~May 20, 2011. Mr. Smith was the “most highly compensated employee” from~~ January ~~1, 2012 to April 23, 2014 under the Interim Final Rule on TARP Standards for Compensation~~22, 2017 and ~~Corporate Governance that the United States Department~~were fully exercisable as of the Treasury (the “Treasury”) issued in June 2009 under the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 and the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (the “TARP Interim Final Rule”), and thus the vesting of the options was suspended during that period, as contemplated by such rules and regulations. Vesting of the options recommenced on April 24, 2014, and the vesting dates of the remaining three installments are September 10, 2014, September 10, 2015 and September 10, 2016.January 22, 2020.

(2)

The options vest in four equal annual installments beginning on January ~~16, 2016.~~20, 2018.

(3)

The options vest in four equal annual installments beginning on January 19, ~~2013.~~2019.

(4)

The options vest in four equal annual installments beginning on January ~~17, 2014.~~

~~(5)~~

~~The options vest in four equal annual installments beginning on January 17, 2015.~~

~~(6)~~

~~The options vest in four equal annual installments beginning on July 30, 2013.~~

~~(7)~~

On January 17, 2013, the Company granted to Mr. Smith a “long-term restricted stock” award consistent with the provisions of the TARP Interim Final Rule. The shares of restricted stock vest according to the following schedule: 25% on January 17, 2014, 25% on January 17, 2015, 25% on January 17, 2016 and 25% on January 17, 2017. Prior to April 23, 2014, the resulting shares of common stock received upon vesting were subject to the restrictions on transfer included in the TARP Interim Final Rule’s definition of “long-term restricted stock” until the Company repaid all or a portion of the Treasury’s Capital Purchase Program investment made under TARP. On April 23, 2014, the Company completed its repayment of the entire TARP investment. The closing sales price of the Company’s common stock was $5.37 on December 31, 2015.18, 2020.

Option Exercises and Stock Vested

The following table shows the exercise of stock options ~~and the vesting of restricted stock awards~~ by the named executive officers during the year ended December 31, ~~2015.~~2019. No restricted stock awards held by any such officers vested during the year ended December 31, 2019, and there are no such outstanding awards.

Option Awards Stock Awards
Number of Shares Value Realized on Number of Shares Value Realized on
Acquired on Exercise Exercise Acquired on Vesting Vesting
Name (#) ($) (#) (1) ($)
Smith — — 6,250 27,313
Thomas — — — —
Cantrell — — — —
Oakey — — — —
Vogel — — — —

	Option Awards

	Number of Shares	Value Realized on
	Acquired on Exercise	Exercise
Name	(#)	($)

Smith	20,000	118,200
Thomas	--	--
Cantrell	50,000	208,221
Davis	--	--
Oakey	20,000	95,806

~~(1)~~

On January 17, 2013, the Company granted to Mr. Smith a “long-term restricted stock” award consistent with the provisions of the TARP Interim Final Rule. The shares of restricted stock vest according to the following schedule: 25% on January 17, 2014, 25% on January 17, 2015, 25% on January 17, 2016 and 25% on January 17, 2017. Prior to April 23, 2014, the resulting shares of common stock received upon vesting were subject to the restrictions on transfer included in the TARP Interim Final Rule’s definition of “long-term restricted stock” until the Company repaid all or a portion of the Treasury’s Capital Purchase Program investment made under TARP. On April 23, 2014, the Company completed its repayment of the entire TARP investment. The sales price of the Company’s common stock was $4.37 on January 17, 2015.

Post-Employment Compensation

401(k) Employee Savings Plan

The Company sponsors a 401(k) plan for all of its eligible employees. The executive officers of the Company participate in the 401(k) plan on the same basis as all other eligible employees of the Company.

Pension Plan and Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan

The Bank maintains a non-contributory defined benefit pension plan for all full-time employees who are 21 years of age or older and who have completed one year of eligibility service. The plan, which was a benefit available only to employees of the Bank prior to the merger of BOE Financial with and into the Company, was frozen to new entrants prior to the merger. Effective December 31, 2010, the Company froze the plan benefits for all participants in the pension plan.

Mr. Thomas is a participant in this plan. Benefits payable under the plan are based on years of credited service, average compensation over the highest consecutive five years, and the plan’s benefit formula (1.60% of average compensation times years of credited service up to 20 years, plus 0.75% of average compensation times years of credited service in excess of 20 years, plus 0.65% of average compensation in excess of Social Security Covered Compensation times years of credited service up to a maximum of 35 years). For ~~2015,~~2019, the maximum allowable annual benefit payable by the plan at age 65 (the plan’s normal retirement age) was ~~$210,000~~$225,000 and the maximum compensation covered by the plan was ~~$265,000.~~$280,000. Reduced early retirement benefits are payable on or after age 55 upon completion of 10 years of credited service. Amounts payable under the plan are not subject to reduction for Social Security benefits.

~~The following table provides the actuarial present value of each named executive officer’s total accumulated benefit under the pension plan as of December 31, 2015:~~

Present Value of Payments
Number of Years Accumulated During Last
Credited Service Benefit Fiscal Year
Name Plan Name (#) ($) ($)
Smith — — — —
Thomas Pension Plan 20 406,171 —
Cantrell — — — —
Oakey — — — —
Vogel — — — —

~~Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan~~

In 2006, the Bank adopted a ~~non-tax qualified~~non-qualified supplemental executive retirement plan (“SERP”) for certain executives to supplement the benefits that such executives can receive under the Bank’s other retirement programs and social security. Mr. Thomas is a participant in the SERP. Retirement benefits under the SERP vary by individual and are payable at age 65 for 15 years or life, whichever is longer. In the event of termination prior to age 65, ~~(for reasons other than death, subsequent to a change of control or for cause),~~annual benefits ~~still~~ commence ~~at age 65, but are substantially reduced. Benefits payable in the event of termination following a change of control or death commence upon termination or death,~~immediately and are payable for 15 years only, and are equal to the ~~approximate actuarial equivalent of the value of normal~~full retirement ~~benefits.~~benefit discounted by 5.0% annually for each year that such benefits commence prior to age 65. No benefits are payable in the event that termination is for cause.

The following table provides the present value of each named executive officer’s total accumulated benefit under the pension plan and the SERP as of December 31, 2019.

			Present Value of	Payments
		Number of Years	Accumulated	During Last
		Credited Service	Benefit	Fiscal Year
Name	Plan Name	(#)	($)	($)
Smith	--	--	--	--
Thomas	Pension Plan	20	564,466	--
	SERP	--	297,736	--
Cantrell	--	--	--	--
Davis	--	--	--	--
Oakey	--	--	--	--

Non-Qualified Defined Contribution Retirement Plan

In 2016, the Company commenced a non-qualified defined contribution retirement plan for each of the named executive officers. The purpose of the plan is to enhance the retirement benefits that the Company provides to each officer and to recognize each officer for overall performance through additional incentive-based compensation. The terms of the plan are set forth in a Performance Driven Retirement Agreement (the “Retirement Agreement”) between the Company and each officer.

Under each Retirement Agreement, the Company will determine annual contributions to an individual deferred account for the officer on a discretionary basis. For all contributions made to the plan to date, the Company has based the amount of the contributions on the payouts made under its annual incentive plan. The range of the Company’s contributions to the deferred accounts for the named executive officers have been as follows:

Level	32Percentage Contribution
Threshold	Smith	40.0% of salary
	Thomas	5.0% of salary
	Other NEOs	10.0% of salary
Target	Smith	50.0% of salary
	Thomas	10.0% of salary
	Other NEOs	15.0% of salary
Maximum	Smith	60.0% of salary
	Thomas	15.0% of salary
	Other NEOs	20.0% of salary

All contributions are fully vested when credited.

The Retirement Agreement provides that all benefits will be forfeited by an officer in the event that the officer separates from the Company and joins a competing entity within two years from the separation date. Early termination benefits are payable commencing at age 65, and normal retirement benefits are payable at the later of age 65 and separation of service. Change in control benefits are payable upon a separation of service following a change in control, and such benefits will be reduced as necessary in order to comply with the limitations of IRC Section 280G. The Retirement Agreement also provides for the payment of benefits in the event of the officer’s death during employment.

The following table provides specific information for each named executive officer for the ~~non-tax qualified supplemental executive~~non-qualified defined contribution retirement plan as of December 31, ~~2015:~~2019.

	Executive		Registrant		Aggregate				Aggregate
	Contributions		Contributions		Earnings in		Aggregate		Balance at
	in Last Fiscal		in Last Fiscal		Last Fiscal		Withdrawals/		Fiscal Year
	Year		Year		Year		Distributions		End
Name	($)		($)		($) (1)		($)		($)(2)		Executive Contributions in Last Fiscal Year ($)	Registrant Contributions in Last Fiscal Year ($) (1)	Aggregate Earnings in Last Fiscal Year ($) (2)	Aggregate Withdrawals/ Distributions ($)	Aggregate Balance at Fiscal Year End ($) (3)
Smith		—		—		—		—		—	--	243,675	35,921	--	1,073,479
Thomas		—		—		11,127		—		228,474	--	29,565	3,225	--	104,034
Cantrell		—		—		—		—		—	--	40,700	5,203	--	160,890
Davis											--	38,850	4,868	--	151,284
Oakey		—		—		—		—		—	--	40,515	5,203	--	160,705
Vogel		—		—		—		—		—

(1)

~~This amount is not~~These amounts are included in the ~~amounts reported in the “Salary”~~“All Other Compensation” column of the Summary Compensation ~~Table for Mr. Thomas in the current or prior years.~~Table.

(2)

~~Amount includes $127,652 related~~For each of the named executive officers, the above market or preferential portion of interest credited to his or her account in the Company’s non-qualified defined contribution retirement plan was zero. Accordingly, no earnings amounts are included in the Summary Compensation Table.

(3)

The amount for each named executive officer as of December 31, 2019 is 100% vested. In addition to the ~~acceleration of change~~Company’s contributions in ~~control provisions~~2019, the amounts include the following Company contributions that have been reported as compensation in ~~Mr. Thomas’s retirement plan in connection with~~ the ~~Company’s merger with BOE Financial that was not recorded until 2010.~~Summary Compensation Table for 2018 and 2017, respectively: Smith, $252,000 and $186,550; Thomas, $32,250 and $16,275; Cantrell, $43,000 and $26,775; Davis, $40,600 and $25,118; and Oakey, $43,000 and $26,775.

~~Employment Agreement~~Change in Control Agreements

~~The Company has an employment agreement with Bruce E. Thomas, and the agreement provides for the payment of severance and other benefits in the event of certain termination scenarios.~~

~~The employment agreement with Mr. Thomas provides for the payment of two months’ salary upon his death.~~ In ~~the case of termination by~~2016, the Company without cause or by Mr. Thomas for good reason, the employment agreement requires that he receive his base salary and certain health benefits for 24 months following the date of termination. For the purposes of the employment agreement, good reason means the continued assignment to Mr. Thomas of duties inconsistent with his position as contemplated in the agreement, any action taken by the Company that results in a substantial reduction in his status, the relocation of him to any other primary place of employment that might require him to move his residence, which includes any reassignment to a place of employment located more than 35 miles from his initially assigned place of employment (which includes both Tappahannock and Richmond, Virginia) without his written consent, and any failure by the Company, or any successor followingentered into a change in control arrangement with each of the named executive officers. The terms of each arrangement are set forth in a Change in Control Employment Agreement (the “CIC Agreement”) that is substantially identical for the five individual officers.

The CIC Agreement is for a term that expires on December 31, 2025, with automatic renewals on that date and every 10^th anniversary of that date. The CIC Agreement provides for the employment of the officer following a “change in control”, as defined in the CIC Agreement, for a period of two years. During such period, the officer will receive a base salary that is equal to at least the same base salary that the officer received for the 12 months before the change in control. In addition, the officer will be entitled to participate in incentive, savings, retirement and benefit plans at the same level as other similarly situated officers, and at least at the level of the officer’s participation in such plans during the six months prior to the change in control.

The CIC Agreement provides for specified payments to the officer under certain termination scenarios during the two-year employment period. If the officer is terminated “without cause” or terminates for “good reason”, each as defined in the CIC Agreement, the officer will receive salary, bonuses, incentives and benefits that would be owed through the date of termination, a salary continuation benefit that equals a multiple times the officer’s highest salary during the 12 months prior to termination plus the officer’s highest annual bonus during the two years prior to termination, continuation of benefits for 12 months and outplacement services in the amount of up to $25,000. For Messrs. Smith, Thomas, Cantrell and Oakey, the salary continuation benefit is 3.00 times such salary and bonus minus $1.00 and, for Ms. Davis, the salary continuation benefit is 2.00 times such salary and bonus minus $1.00. (William E. Saunders, Jr., the Company’s other executive officer, also has a CIC Agreement with a salary continuation benefit that is 2.00 times salary and bonus minus $1.00.) If the officer’s termination is due to “death” or “disability”, each as defined in the CIC Agreement, the officer will receive salary, bonuses, incentives and benefits that would be owed through the date of termination, three months of base salary and continuation of benefits (for dependents only in the case of death) for 12 months.

The CIC Agreement provides that the amounts and benefits payable to the officer will be reduced as necessary, and as may be directed by the officer, in order to comply with the limitations of IRC Section 280G. The Company’s current compensation ~~and benefit~~arrangements do not provide for the Company to make “gross-up” payments that would cover the reimbursement of excise taxes that may arise under Section 280G. The CIC Agreement similarly does not contain such a “gross-up” provision. The CIC Agreement also contains a “clawback” provision consistent with the requirements of the employment agreement. The agreement also provides that within two years following a change in control, if employment is terminated by the surviving corporation without cause or by Mr. Thomas for good reason within 120 days after the occurrence of good reason, he will be entitled to accrued obligations, a salary continuance benefit equal to 2.99 times his final compensation (consisting of his base salary then in effectfederal law and the ~~average~~listing standards of ~~his bonus for~~ the ~~two most recently completed years) and the continuance of health care for two years.~~Nasdaq Stock Market.

Potential Payments Upon Termination

The ~~following~~ table below quantifies the expected payments to the named executive officers in different, specified employment termination ~~circumstances under employment agreements. Benefits~~circumstances. The table does not include benefits payable to Mr. Thomas under the ~~non-tax qualified~~pension plan and the supplemental executive retirement ~~plan,~~plan. Information with respect to the ~~tax-qualified retirement plan and the 401(k) plan are not included.~~post-employment benefits under those plans is presented above.

The information below assumes that termination of employment occurred on December 31, ~~2015.~~2019. The Company does not have any arrangements with any of the named executive officers that provide for payment in employment termination circumstances other than those events presented in the table.

Termination
Without
Termination Cause or for
Without Good Reason
Death or Cause or for After Change
Disability Good Reason in Control
Name Benefit ($) ($) ($)
Rex L. Smith, III Post-termination compensation — — —
Health care benefits continuation — — —
Total Value — — —
Bruce E. Thomas Post-termination compensation 33,000 396,000 641,804
Health care benefits continuation — 13,920 13,920
Total Value 33,000 409,920 655,724
Jeff R. Cantrell Post-termination compensation — — —
Health care benefits continuation — — —
Total Value — — —
John M. Oakey, III Post-termination compensation — — —
Health care benefits continuation — — —
Total Value — — —
Patricia M. Vogel Post-termination compensation — — —
Health care benefits continuation — — —
Total Value — — —

			Within 24 Months Following a Change in Control
Name	Benefit	Termination Due to Death ($)	Termination Without Cause or for Good Reason ($)	Termination Due to Death ($)	Termination Due to Disability ($)
Smith	Payment under CIC Agreement (1)	--	1,328,643	106,875	106,875
	Payment under Retirement Agreement (2)	1,623,983	1,073,479	1,623,983	1,073,479
	Health care benefits continuation (3)	--	0	6,960	6,960
	Total Value	1,623,983	2,402,122	1,737,818	1,187,314
Thomas	Payment under CIC Agreement (1)	--	758,588	54,750	54,750
	Payment under Retirement Agreement (2)	389,344	149,322	389,344	104,034
	Health care benefits continuation (3)	--	0	6,960	6,960
	Total Value	389,344	907,910	451,054	165,744

			Within 24 Months Following a Change in Control
Name	Benefit	Termination Due to Death ($)	Termination Without Cause or for Good Reason ($)	Termination Due to Death ($)	Termination Due to Disability ($)
Cantrell	Payment under CIC Agreement (1)	--	672,099	55,000	55,000
	Payment under Retirement Agreement (2)	519,820	160,890	519,820	160,890
	Health care benefits continuation (3)	--	0	6,960	6,960
	Total Value	519,820	832,989	581,780	222,850
Davis	Payment under CIC Agreement (1)	--	483,945	52,500	52,500
	Payment under Retirement Agreement (2)	705,216	214,908	646,353	151,284
	Health care benefits continuation (3)	--	0	0	600
	Total Value	705,216	698,853	698,853	204,384
Oakey	Payment under CIC Agreement (1)	--	614,053	54,750	54,750
	Payment under Retirement Agreement (2)	957,923	160,705	720,008	160,705
	Health care benefits continuation (3)	--	0	0	600
	Total Value	957,923	774,758	774,758	216,055

34(1)

The salary continuation benefit for termination without cause or for good reason within 24 months following a change in control under each CIC Agreement as of December 31, 2019 is as follows: Smith, $1,580,174; Thomas, $758,588; Cantrell, $761,588; Davis, $483,945; and Oakey, $758,588. Each CIC Agreement, however, provides that the amounts and benefits under the CIC Agreement will be reduced as necessary, and as may be directed by the officer, in order to comply with the limitations of IRC Section 280G. The amounts shown in the table reflect any expected reduction.

(2)

The pre-retirement death benefit under the non-qualified defined contribution retirement plan, whether or not there is a change in control, is the projected account balance at age 65 for each named executive officer. The benefit for termination without cause or for good reason within 24 months following a change in control is the discounted present value of the projected account balance as of December 31, 2019, as follows: Smith, $1,486,354; Thomas, $264,488; Cantrell, $374,385; Davis, $434,778; and Oakey, $536,496. Each Retirement Agreement, however, provides that change in control benefits will be reduced as necessary in order to comply with the limitations of IRC Section 280G. The amounts shown in the table reflect any expected reduction. The benefit for termination for other reasons (other than death) after a change in control is the account balance in the retirement plan.

(3)

The benefit is provided under each CIC Agreement. Each CIC Agreement, however, provides that the amounts and benefits under the CIC Agreement will be reduced as necessary, and as may be directed by the officer, in order to comply with the limitations of IRC Section 280G. The amounts shown in the table reflect any expected reduction (including a reduction to zero).

CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS

Some of the Company’s directors and executive officers are at present, as in the past, its banking customers. As such, the Company, through its banking subsidiary, has had, and expects to have in the future, banking transactions with directors, officers, principal shareholders and their ~~associates.~~employees. All loans and commitments to lend to such parties have been made in the ordinary course of business and on substantially the same terms, including interest rates and collateral on loans, as those prevailing at the time with other persons not related to the Company or the Bank. These transactions do not involve more than the normal risk of collectability or present other unfavorable features. ~~The aggregate outstanding balance of loans to such parties at December 31, 2015 was $6.7 million.~~

The Company has not adopted a formal policy that covers the review and approval of related person transactions by its Board of Directors that is separate from the Code of Business Conduct and Ethics, which applies to directors, officers and all employees of the Company and its subsidiaries. The Board reviews all proposed related party transactions for approval. During such a review, the Board will

consider, among other things, the related person’s relationship to the Company, the facts and circumstances of the proposed transaction, the aggregate dollar amount of the transaction, the related person’s relationship to the transaction and any other material information. Those directors that are involved in a proposed related party transaction are excused from the Board and/or committee meeting during the discussion and vote with respect to the proposal.

~~EQUITY COMPENSATION PLAN INFORMATION~~

The following table provides information about common stock that may be issued upon the exercise of options, warrants and rights under the Community Bankers Trust Corporation 2009 Stock Incentive Plan as of December 31, 2015. There are no outstanding warrants or rights under that plan, and the Company does not have any other plans that provide for the issuance of any options, warrants or rights.

Plan Category Number of Securities
to be Issued
Upon Exercise of
Outstanding Options,
Warrants and Rights Weighted-Average
Exercise Price of
Outstanding Options,
Warrants and Rights Number of Securities
Remaining Available
for Future Issuance
Under Equity
Compensation Plans
(Excluding Securities
Reflected in
First Column)

Equity Compensation Plans Approved by Security Holders
2009 Stock Incentive Plan 952,500 $ 3.11 1,286,511
Equity Compensation Plans Not Approved by Security Holders — — —
Total 952,500 $ 3.11 1,286,511

PROPOSAL TWO

ADVISORY VOTE ON EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

This proposal is commonly known as the “say on pay” proposal. The Dodd-Frank ~~Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection~~ Act, enacted in 2010, requires that each public company provide its shareholders with the opportunity to vote to approve, on a non-binding, advisory basis, such company’s executive compensation program, as disclosed pursuant to the compensation disclosure rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission.

At the Company’s 2015 annual meeting, the shareholders voted in favor of having the advisory vote on the endorsement of the Company’s executive compensation program every year. Accordingly, the Company is asking you to approve at the Annual Meeting its executive pay programs and policies through the following resolution:

“RESOLVED, that the shareholders approve the compensation of executive officers as disclosed in the proxy statement for the ~~2016~~2020 Annual Meeting of Community Bankers Trust Corporation pursuant to the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission.”

Non-binding approval of the Company’s executive compensation program would require that a majority of the shares present or represented at the Annual Meeting vote in favor of the proposal. Abstentions and broker non-votes will not be counted as votes cast and therefore will not affect the determination as to whether the Company’s executive compensation program as disclosed in this proxy statement is approved.

At the Company’s 2019 annual meeting, the shareholders approved this proposal with 90.8% of the votes cast in favor of it.

Because your vote is advisory, it will not be binding upon the Board of Directors, overrule any decision made by the Board of Directors or create or imply any additional fiduciary duty by the Board of Directors. The Compensation Committee, however, may take into account the outcome of the vote when considering future executive compensation arrangements.

The Board of Directors recommends that the shareholders voteFOR Proposal Two.

PROPOSAL THREE

APPOINTMENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED

PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

General

~~BDO USA, LLP~~Yount, Hyde & Barbour, P.C. (“~~BDO”~~YHB”), an independent registered public accounting firm, served as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm during the year ended December 31, ~~2015,~~2019, and has been selected by the Audit Committee of the Company’s Board of Directors to serve as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the current fiscal year. Representatives of ~~BDO~~YHB will be present at the Annual Meeting, will have the opportunity to make a statement if they so desire and will be available to respond to appropriate questions.

Although shareholder ratification is not required by the Company’s Bylaws or otherwise, the Board, as a matter of good corporate governance, is requesting that shareholders ratify the selection of ~~BDO~~YHB as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for ~~2016.~~2020. If shareholders do not ratify the selection of ~~BDO,~~YHB, the Audit Committee will reconsider its appointment.

The Board of Directors recommends that shareholders voteFOR ratification of the appointment of ~~BDO~~YHB as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for ~~2016.~~2020.

Change in Firms

On March ~~20, 2015,~~13, 2018, the Audit Committee appointed ~~BDO~~YHB as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the year ended December 31, ~~2015.~~2018. YHB replaced BDO ~~replaced Elliott Davis Decosimo,~~USA, LLC (“~~EDD”~~BDO”), which the Company dismissed oneffective March 16, 2018, following the ~~same date.~~Company’s filing of its audited financial statements with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

~~EDD~~BDO served as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm during the years ended December 31, ~~2014~~2017 and ~~2013.~~2016. The reports of ~~EDD~~BDO on the consolidated financial statements of the Company for each of the years ended December 31, ~~2014~~2017 and December 31, ~~2013~~2016 did not contain an adverse opinion or a disclaimer of opinion and were not qualified or modified as to uncertainty, audit scope or accounting principles.

During the years ended December 31, ~~2014~~2017 and ~~December 31, 2013~~2016 and during the subsequent interim period from January 1, ~~2015~~2018 through March ~~20, 2015,~~16, 2018, (i) there were no disagreements with ~~EDD~~BDO on any matter of accounting principles or practices, financial statement disclosure or auditing scope or procedures that, if not resolved to ~~EDD’s~~BDO’s satisfaction, would have caused ~~EDD~~BDO to make reference to the subject matter of the disagreement in connection with its reports and (ii) there were no “reportable events” as defined in Item 304(a)(1)(v) of Regulation S-K under the federal securities laws.

During the years ended December 31, ~~2014~~2017 and ~~December 31, 2013~~2016 and during the subsequent interim period from January 1, ~~2015~~2018 through March ~~20, 2015,~~16, 2018, neither the Company nor anyone on its behalf consulted ~~BDO~~YHB regarding the application of accounting principles to a specified transaction, either completed or proposed, or the type of audit opinion that might be rendered on the Company’s financial statements, and no written report or oral advice was provided to the Company that ~~BDO~~YHB concluded was an important factor considered by the Company in reaching a decision as to any accounting, auditing or financial reporting issue. In addition, during the years ended December 31, ~~2014~~2017 and ~~December 31, 2013~~2016 and from January 1, ~~2015~~2018 through March ~~20, 2015,~~16, 2018, neither the Company nor anyone on its behalf consulted ~~BDO~~YHB regarding

any matter that was the subject of a “disagreement” or a “reportable event”, each as defined in Regulation S-K Item 304(a)(1)(iv) and Item 304(a)(1)(v), respectively.

Fees

The following table presents fees billed to the Company by ~~BDO~~YHB and ~~EDD~~BDO with respect to the years ended December 31, ~~2015~~2019 and December 31, ~~2014:~~2018.

		2015		2014			2019	2018
Audit Fees	BDO	$	187,000		—	YHB	$ 145,750	$ 134,500
	EDD	$	12,720	$	281,425
Audit Fees						BDO	$ 10,000	$ 35,000
Audit Fees	BDO	$	10,000		—	YHB	$ 10,500	$ 10,000
	EDD	$	250	$	12,500
Audit-Related Fees						BDO	--
Audit-Related Fees	BDO	$	500		—	YHB	$ 15,750	$ 15,000
	EDD	$	22,465	$	24,066
Tax Fees						BDO	--
Tax Fees	BDO		—		—	YHB	--
	EDD		—		—
All Other Fees						BDO	--	$ 2,466

Audit Fees are fees billed for the audit of the Company’s annual consolidated financial statements and management’s assessment of internal control over financial reporting and for reviews of the consolidated financial statements included in the Company’s quarterly reports on Form 10-Q for each year presented. ~~EDD’s~~For 2019, YHB’s fees included, and BDO’s fees reflected, review and consent of the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-8 with respect to the 2019 Stock Incentive Plan. The Company paid YHB an additional $3,232 and $1,376 for travel and related expenses for the 2019 audit work and the 2018 audit work, respectively.

BDO’s fees for ~~2015~~2018 reflected the issuance of the firm’s consent and review of reclassifications of prior financial information in connection with the ~~2015~~2018 audited financial statements. The Company paid BDO an additional $5,000 for expenses incurred for investment valuations for the 2015 audit work, and the Company paid EDD an additional $4,131 for travel and related expenses for the 2014 audit work.

Audit-Related Fees are fees billed for services rendered in connection with the audit of the Bank’s 401(k) employee savings plan. ~~The Company paid BDO an additional $545 for expenses in 2015.~~

Tax Fees are fees billed for the preparation of federal tax forms, tax planning and various other tax-related items. ~~EDD’s~~

All Other Fees are fees ~~for 2015 reflected primarily work~~billed by BDO relating to services in connection with ~~respect to the 2014 tax year and included $2,000 for income tax estimates for the first two quarters of 2015.~~new revenue recognition standards.

Pre-Approval Policies and Procedures

The Audit Committee of the Board of Directors has adopted policies and procedures for the pre-approval of services provided by the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm. These services may include audit services, audit-related services, tax services and other services. Such policies and procedures provide that the Audit Committee shall pre-approve all auditing and permitted non-audit services (including the fees and terms thereof).

For the ~~2015~~2019 year, the Audit Committee pre-approved the following services provided by ~~BDO:~~YHB:

·●

$~~145,000~~125,000 for the audit of the Company’s ~~2015~~2019 consolidated financial statements and related work, ~~$14,000~~$15,750 for the review of the consolidated financial statements included in each of the Company’s quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and ~~out-of-pocket costs~~related research and consultation services up to ~~$5,000;~~$10,000;

·●

$~~10,000~~10,500 for the audit of the Bank’s 401(k) employee savings plan; and

·●

$~~12,000~~15,750 for the preparation of federal and state income tax returns for ~~2015 and estimated income taxes for the second, third and fourth quarters of 2015.~~2019.

As permitted under the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and its pre-approval policies and procedures, the Audit Committee may delegate pre-approval authority to its Chair. The Chair must then report any pre-approval decisions to the Audit Committee at the next scheduled meeting.

REPORT OF THE AUDIT COMMITTEE

The Audit Committee acts under a written charter adopted by the Board of Directors. The Committee assists the Board of Directors in the fulfillment of its oversight responsibilities with respect to the completeness and accuracy of the Company’s financial reporting and the adequacy of its financial and operating controls. Management is responsible for the preparation, presentation and integrity of the Company’s financial statements; accounting and financial reporting principles; internal controls over financial reporting; and procedures designed to assure compliance with accounting standards and applicable laws and regulations. The independent registered public accounting firm is responsible for performing an independent audit of the consolidated financial statements and of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board.

The Audit Committee has reviewed and discussedthe Company’s audited financial statements for the year ended December 31, ~~2015~~2019 with each of management and the independent registered public accounting firm. The Committee has also discussed with each partythe Company’s compliance with Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act relative to testing of internal control over financial reporting. The Committee has further discussed withthe independent registered public accounting firmthe matters required to be discussed ~~with it under PCAOB Auditing Standard AS 16, Communication with Audit Committees,~~by the applicable requirements of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (“PCAOB”) and ~~Rule 2-07 of Regulation S-X promulgated by~~ the Securities and Exchange ~~Commission, as modified or supplemented.~~Commission.

The Audit Committee has received the written disclosures and the letter from the independent registered public accounting firm required by applicable requirements of the PCAOB ~~Rule 3526, Communication~~regarding the independent registered public accounting firm’s communications with the Audit ~~Committees Regarding Independence.~~Committee concerning independence. The Committee has also discussed with the independent registered public accounting firm its independence and has considered whether the provision of specific non-audit services by the independent registered public accounting firm is compatible with maintaining its independence.

The Audit Committee has discussed with management its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting and has also discussed withthe independent registered public accounting firm its opinion as to the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

Based on the review and discussions described in this report, and subject to the limitations on its role and responsibilities described in this report and in its charter, the Audit Committee recommended to the Board of Directors that the audited financial statements be included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, ~~2015.~~2019.

In performing all of these functions, the Audit Committee acts only in an oversight capacity. In its oversight role, the Committee relies on the work andassurances of theCompany’smanagement, which has the primary responsibility for financial statements andreports and the Company’s internal control over financial reporting, and of the independent registered public accounting firmwho, in its reports, expresses opinions on the conformity of the Company’sannual consolidated financial statements with generally accepted accounting principles and on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

Audit Committee

~~Glenn J. Dozier, Chair~~

Gerald F. Barber, Chair

~~Troy A. Peery, Jr.~~William E. Hardy

S. Waite Rawls III

Robin Traywick Williams

Date: March ~~10, 2016~~11, 2020

SHAREHOLDER PROPOSALS

All proposals, including nominations for directors, submitted by shareholders for presentation in the proxy statement for the ~~2017~~2021 annual meeting of shareholders must comply with the Securities and Exchange Commission’s rules regarding shareholder proposals. In addition, the Company’s Bylaws require that for any business to be properly brought before an annual meeting by a shareholder, the Company’s Secretary must have received written notice thereof not less than 60 nor more than 90 days prior to the meeting (or not later than 10 days after a notice or public disclosure of such meeting date if such disclosure occurs less than 70 days prior to the date of the meeting). The notice must set forth

·●

for nominations for directors, as to each person whom the shareholder proposes to nominate for election as a director

o○

the name, age, business address and residence address of the person;

o○

the principal occupation or employment of the person;

o○

the class and number of shares of capital stock of the Company that are beneficially owned by the person; and

o○

any other information relating to the person that is required to be disclosed in solicitations for proxies for election of directors pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission; and

·●

for other business, as to each matter the shareholder proposes to bring before the annual meeting

o○

a brief description of the business desired to be brought before the annual meeting and the reasons for conducting such business at the annual meeting; and

o○

any material interest of the shareholder in such business; and

·●

as to the shareholder giving the notice

o○

the name and record address of the shareholder; and

o○

the class, series and number of shares of capital stock of the Company that are beneficially owned by the shareholder.

The proxies will have discretionary authority to vote on any matter that properly comes before the meeting if the shareholder has not provided timely written notice as required by the Bylaws.

Any proposal of a shareholder intended to be presented at the Company’s ~~2017~~2021 annual meeting of shareholders and included in the proxy statement and form of proxy for that meeting must be received by the Company no later than December ~~19, 2016.~~9, 2020.

ANNUAL REPORTS

The Company’s ~~2015~~2019 Annual Report to Shareholders, which includes a copy of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, ~~2015,~~2019, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, is being mailed to shareholders with this proxy statement. Shareholders may also request, without charge, an additional copy of the Company’s ~~2015~~2019 Annual Report to Shareholders, by writing to the Corporate Secretary, 9954 Mayland Drive, Suite 2100, Richmond, Virginia 23233. The ~~2015~~2019 Annual Report to Shareholders is not part of the proxy solicitation materials.

April ~~18, 2016~~8, 2020

15999 Community Bankers Proxy Card - FrontYOUR VOTE IS IMPORTANT. PLEASE VOTE TODAY. E A SY IMMEDIATE - 24 Hours a Day, 7 Days a Week or by Mail Vote by Internet or Telephone - Q U I CK Your phone or internet vote authorizes the named COMMUNITY BANKERS proxies to vote your shares in the same manner as if you marked, signed and returned your proxy TRUST CORPORATION card. Votes submitted electronically over the internet or by telephone must be received by 11:59 p.m., Eastern Time, on May 14, 2020. INTERNET/MOBILE–www.cstproxyvote.comUse the internet to vote your proxy. Have your proxy card available when you access the above website. Follow the prompts to vote your shares.PHONE – 1 (866) 894-0536Use a touch-tone telephone to vote your proxy. Have your proxy card available when you call. Follow the voting instructions to vote your shares.MAIL –Mark, sign and date your proxyPLEASE DO NOT RETURN THE PROXY CARD IF YOUcard and return it in the postage-paidARE VOTING ELECTRONICALLY OR BY PHONE.envelope provided.FOLD HERE • DO NOT SEPARATE • INSERT IN ENVELOPE PROVIDED PROXYPlease mark your votesX THIS PROXY WHEN PROPERLY EXECUTED WILL BE VOTED AS INDICATED, OR IF NO DIRECTION IS INDICATEDlike thisWILL BE VOTED “FOR” PROPOSALS 1, 2 AND 3, AND IN THE PROXIES’ DISCRETION ON ANY OTHER MATTERS COMING BEFORE THE MEETING. THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS. THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE “FOR” PROPOSALS 1, 2 AND 3. 1. Election of DirectorsFOR allWITHHOLD AUTHORITY2. Approval of an advisory resolutionFOR AGAINST ABSTAINNominees to vote (except as marked to (1) William E. Hardy listed to the the contrary) for all Nominees to endorse the Company’s left listed to the left executive compensation program. (2) Gail L. Letts 3. Ratification of the appointment ofFOR AGAINST ABSTAIN(3) S. Waite Rawls III Yount, Hyde & Barbour, P.C. as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for 2020.(Instruction: To withhold authority to vote for any individual nominee, strike a line through that nominee’s name in the list above) CONTROL NUMBERSignature_____________________________________Signature, if held jointly_____________________________________Date_____________, 2020Note: Please sign exactly as name appears hereon. When shares are held by joint owners, both should sign. When signing as attorney, executor, administrator, trustee, guardian, or corporate officer, please give title as such.

~~[FORM OF PROXY]~~

15999 Community Bankers Proxy Card - BackImportant Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials for the Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held May 15, 2020 The proxy statement and our 2019 Annual Report to Shareholders are available at http://www.cbtrustcorp.com FOLD HERE • DO NOT SEPARATE • INSERT IN ENVELOPE PROVIDED PROXY THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS COMMUNITY BANKERS TRUST CORPORATIONThe undersigned appoints Rex L. Smith, III, Bruce E. Thomas and John M. Oakey, III, and each or any of them, as proxies, each with the power to appoint his substitute, and authorizes each of them to represent and to vote, as designated on the reverse side, all of the shares of common stock of Community Bankers Trust Corporation (the “Company”) held of record by the undersigned at the close of business on March 24, 2020 at the Company’s Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held on Friday, May 15, 2020, at 11:00 a.m. local time, at the Deep Run 3 Building, 9954 Mayland Drive, Richmond, Virginia 23233 and at any adjournment or postponement thereof (the “Annual Meeting”). In the event that any other matter may properly come before the Annual Meeting, or any adjournment or postponement thereof, the proxies are each authorized to vote such matter in his discretion.(Continued, and to be marked, dated and signed, on the other side)

The Annual Meeting		1

Questions and Answers about the Annual Meeting and Voting		1

Solicitation of Proxies		4

Beneficial Ownership of Securities		5

Corporate Governance and the Board of Directors		7

þ☑ Proposal One – Election of Directors		1415
Executive Officers		18
Executive ~~Officers~~Compensation		1720

~~Executive Compensation~~		19

Certain Relationships and Related Transactions		35

~~Equity Compensation Plan Information~~		35
		36
þ☑ Proposal Two – Advisory Vote on Executive Compensation		36
		37
þ☑ Proposal Three – Appointment of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm		3738

Report of the Audit Committee		39

~~Shareholder Proposals~~		40

~~Annual Reports~~Shareholder Proposals		41
Annual Reports	42

Name	Shares of Common Stock (2)		Option Shares (3)		Total Shares of Common Stock Beneficially Owned		Percent of Class		Shares of Common Stock (2)	Option Shares (3)	Total Shares of Common Stock Beneficially Owned	Percent of Class
NAMED EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
Rex L. Smith, III (1)		30,000		83,750		113,750		*	76,250	253,750	330,000	*
Bruce E. Thomas		5,808		61,500		67,308		*	30,337	60,000	90.337	*
Jeff R. Cantrell		1,000		47,000		48,000		*	30,875	51,250	82,125	*
Patricia M. Davis									1,200	101,250	102,450	*
John M. Oakey, III		17,000		68,750		85,750		*	19,225	126,250	145,475	*
Patricia M. Vogel		—		27,500		27,500		*
DIRECTORS
Gerald F. Barber		10,612		—		10,612		*	33,769	--	33,769	*
Richard F. Bozard		148,546		—		148,546		*	150,302	--	150,302	*
Glenn J. Dozier		93,187		—		93,187		*
P. Emerson Hughes, Jr.		87,383		—		87,383		*
Troy A. Peery, Jr.		69,691		—		69,691		*
Hugh M. Fain, III									8,525	--	8,525	*
William E. Hardy									28,367	--	28,367	*
Gail L. Letts									2,834	--	2,834	*
Eugene S. Putnam, Jr.		88,651		—		88,651		*	103,336	--	103,336	*
S. Waite Rawls III		34,727		—		34,727		*	43,745	--	43,745	*
John C. Watkins		98,147		—		98,147		*	118,056	--	118,056	*
Oliver L. Way									19,871	--	19,871	*
Robin Traywick Williams		59,193		—		59,193		*	72,224	--	72,224	*
All current directors and executive officers as a group (15 persons)		759,222		349,250		1,108,472		5.0
All current directors and executive officers as a group (16 persons)									754,643	718,750	1,473,393	6.4

	Shares of Common Stock Beneficially Owned
Name and Address	Number		Percent of Class
Wellington Management Group LLP (1)		1,918,812		8.8
Wellington Group Holdings LLP
Wellington Investment Advisors Holdings LLP
Wellington Management Company LLP
280 Congress Street
Boston, Massachusetts 02210
EJF Capital LLC (2)		1,744,935		8.0
Emanuel J. Friedman
EJF Financial Services Fund, LP
EJF Financial Services GP, LLC
2107 Wilson Boulevard, Suite 410
Arlington, Virginia 22201
Banc Fund VII, L.P. (3)		1,248,327		5.7
Banc Fund VIII, L.P.
Banc Fund IX, L.P.
20 North Wacker Drive, Suite 3300
Chicago, Illinois 60606
Castine Capital Management, LLC (4)		1,200,000		5.5
Paul Magidson
One International Place, Suite 2401
Boston, Massachusetts 02110

Name and Address	Shares of Common Stock Beneficially Owned
Name and Address	Number	Percent of Class
Castine Capital Management, LLC (1) Castine Management GP, LLC Castine Partners II, L.P. Paul Magidson One Financial Center, 24^th Floor Boston, Massachusetts 02111	1,880,615	8.4
Wellington Management Group LLP (2) Wellington Group Holdings LLP Wellington Investment Advisors Holdings LLP Wellington Management Company LLP 280 Congress Street Boston, Massachusetts 02210	1,757,058	7.8
Maltese Capital Management LLC (3) Terry Maltese 150 East 52^nd Street, 30^th Floor New York, New York 10022	1,306,988	5.8

Name	Fees Earned or Paid in Cash ($)(2)		Stock Awards ($)(3)		Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Earnings ($)(4)		Total ($)
Gerald F. Barber		22,250		15,996		—		38,246
Richard F. Bozard		22,750		15,996		—		38,746
Glenn J. Dozier		26,975		15,996		—		42,971
P. Emerson Hughes, Jr.		22,750		15,996		2,437		41,183
Troy A. Peery, Jr.		19,950		15,996		—		35,946
Eugene S. Putnam, Jr.		25,625		15,996		—		41,621
S. Waite Rawls III		25,575		15,996		—		41,571
Rex L. Smith, III (1)		—		—		—		—
John C. Watkins		25,925		27,988		—		53,913
Robin Traywick Williams		30,175		15,996		—		46,171

	(1)	Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies:

	(2)	Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies:

	(3)	Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction computed pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 0-11 (set forth the amount on which the filing fee is calculated and state how it was determined):

	Sincerely,

	/s/ Rex L. Smith, III

	Rex L. Smith, III
	President and Chief Executive Officer

	By Order of the Board of Directors,

	/s/ John M. Oakey, III

	John M. Oakey, III
	Secretary

Name	Fees Earned or Paid in Cash ($)(4)	Stock Awards ($)(5)	Total ($)
Barber	27,475	19,982	47,457
Bozard	23,250	19,982	43,232
Fain	17,725	19,982	37,707
Hardy	30,250	19,982	50,232
Letts (1)	8,500	13,900	22,400
Peery (2)	9,250	4,993	14,243
Putnam	25,475	19,982	45,457
Rawls	26,000	19,982	45,982
Smith (3)	--	--	--
Watkins	26,075	35,972	62,047
Way	22,500	19,982	42,482
Williams	30,250	19,982	50,232

Name	Date of Award	Number of Shares		Grant Date Fair Value Per Share ($)
Each of:
Gerald F. Barber	March 1, 2015		911		4.39
Richard F. Bozard	June 1, 2015		909		4.40
Glenn J. Dozier	September 1, 2015		792		5.05
P. Emerson Hughes, Jr.	December 1, 2015		739		5.41
Troy A. Peery, Jr.
Eugene S. Putnam, Jr.
S. Waite Rawls III
Robin Traywick Williams

John C. Watkins	March 1, 2015		1,594		4.39
	June 1, 2015		1,590		4.40
	September 1, 2015		1,386		5.05
	December 1, 2015		1,293		5.41

Name	2014 Salary		2015 Salary
Bruce E. Thomas	$	191,000	$	198,000
Jeff R. Cantrell	$	191,000	$	198,000
John M. Oakey, III	$	191,000	$	198,000
Patricia M. Vogel	$	175,000	$	182,000

Name	2015 Salary		2016 Salary
Bruce E. Thomas	$	198,000	$	204,000
Jeff R. Cantrell	$	198,000	$	204,000
John M. Oakey, III	$	198,000	$	204,000
Patricia M. Vogel	$	182,000	$	190,000

Name	2015 Incentive Award
Bruce E. Thomas	$	19,800
Jeff R. Cantrell	$	19,800
John M. Oakey, III	$	19,800
Patricia M. Vogel	$	18,200

Name and Principal Position	Year		Salary ($)		Bonus ($) (2)		Stock Awards ($) (3)		Option Awards ($) (3)		Non- Equity Incentive Plan Compen- sation ($) (4)		Non- Qualified Deferred Compen- sation Earnings ($) (5)		All Other Compen- sation ($) (6)		Total ($)
Rex L. Smith, III		2015		390,000		—		—		147,510		58,500		—		26,984		622,994
President and Chief Executive Officer		2014		375,000		100,000		—		—		—		—		22,329		497,329
		2013		325,000		—		71,500		—		—		—		18,338		414,838

Bruce E. Thomas		2015		198,000		—		—		39,336		19,800		11,127		16,339		284,602
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer		2014		191,000		—		—		25,945		13,500		140,726		14,968		386,139
		2013		185,000		—		—		17,331		13,875		9,165		13,998		239,369

Jeff R. Cantrell		2015		198,000		—		—		39,336		19,800		—		16,830		273,966
Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, Essex Bank		2014		191,000		—		—		25,945		13,500		—		18,691		249,136
		2013		180,000		—		—		17,331		14,400		—		15,542		227,273

John M. Oakey, III		2015		198,000		—		—		39,336		19,800		—		9,084		266,220
Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary		2014		191,000		—		—		25,945		13,500		—		8,178		238,623
		2013		185,000		—		—		17,331		13,875		—		8,391		224,597

Patricia M. Vogel (1)		2015		182,000		—		—		39,336		18,200		—		14,740		254,276
Executive Vice President and Chief Credit Officer, Essex Bank		2014		165,477		—		—		17,297		12,500		—		13,519		208,793

			Estimated Possible Payouts Under Non-Equity Incentive Plan Awards (1)						All Other Stock Awards:		All Other Option Awards:		Exercise		Grant Date Fair
Name	Grant Date		Threshold ($)		Target ($)		Maximum ($)		Number of Shares of Stock or Units (#)		Number of Securities Underlying Options (#) (2)		or Base Price of Option Awards ($/Sh)		Value of Stock and Option Awards ($) (3)
Smith		1/16/2015		—		—		—		—		75,000		4.37		147,510
		—		29,250		58,500		146,250		—		—		—		—
Thomas		1/16/2015		—		—		—		—		20,000		4.37		39,336
		—		9,900		19,800		49,500		—		—		—		—
Cantrell		1/16/2015		—		—		—		—		20,000		4.37		39,336
		—		9,900		19,800		49,500		—		—		—		—
Oakey		1/16/2015		—		—		—		—		20,000		4.37		39,336
		—		9,000		19,800		49,500		—		—		—		—
Vogel		1/16/2015		—		—		—		—		20,000		4.37		39,336
		—		9,100		18,200		45,500		—		—		—		—

						Termination
						Without
				Termination		Cause or for
				Without		Good Reason
		Death or		Cause or for		After Change
		Disability		Good Reason		in Control
Name	Benefit	($)		($)		($)
Rex L. Smith, III	Post-termination compensation		—		—		—
	Health care benefits continuation		—		—		—
	Total Value		—		—		—
Bruce E. Thomas	Post-termination compensation		33,000		396,000		641,804
	Health care benefits continuation		—		13,920		13,920
	Total Value		33,000		409,920		655,724
Jeff R. Cantrell	Post-termination compensation		—		—		—
	Health care benefits continuation		—		—		—
	Total Value		—		—		—
John M. Oakey, III	Post-termination compensation		—		—		—
	Health care benefits continuation		—		—		—
	Total Value		—		—		—
Patricia M. Vogel	Post-termination compensation		—		—		—
	Health care benefits continuation		—		—		—
	Total Value		—		—		—

Plan Category	Number of Securities to be Issued Upon Exercise of Outstanding Options, Warrants and Rights		Weighted-Average Exercise Price of Outstanding Options, Warrants and Rights		Number of Securities Remaining Available for Future Issuance Under Equity Compensation Plans (Excluding Securities Reflected in First Column)

Equity Compensation Plans Approved by Security Holders
2009 Stock Incentive Plan		952,500	$	3.11		1,286,511
Equity Compensation Plans Not Approved by Security Holders		—		—		—
Total		952,500	$	3.11		1,286,511