First National (FXNC) DEF 14ADefinitive proxy

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

_______________________________________________________

SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION

Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the

Securities Exchange Act of 1934

(Amendment No.    )

_______________________________________________________

Check the appropriate box:

FIRST NATIONAL CORPORATION

(Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)

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

Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):

April 1, 2021

Dear Fellow Shareholder:

You are cordially invited to attend First National Corporation’s 2021 Annual Meeting of Shareholders. Due to the continuing public health impact of the coronavirus outbreak (COVID-19) and to support the health and well-being of our employees and shareholders, the Annual Meeting will be held in a virtual meeting format only at www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/FXNC2021. There will be no physical location for shareholders to attend.

The Annual Meeting will be held on Wednesday, May 12, 2021 at 10:00 a.m., Eastern Time. The accompanying proxy statement describes the matters to be presented at the meeting.

We are furnishing proxy materials to our shareholders primarily over the Internet. You may read, print and download the 2020 Annual Report on Form 10-K and the proxy statement at http://materials.proxyvote.com/32106V. On April 1, 2021, we mailed our shareholders a notice with instructions on how to access these materials and how to vote their shares. The notice also provides instructions on how you can request a paper copy of these materials if you would prefer.

Whether or not you plan to attend the virtual Annual Meeting online, it is important that your shares be represented, and your vote recorded. You may vote your shares by Internet, by telephone, by regular mail (if you request a paper copy), or online during the Annual Meeting. Instructions regarding the various methods of voting are contained on the notice separately mailed to you or on the proxy card, as applicable. If you later decide to attend the meeting online and vote during the Annual Meeting, or if you wish to revoke your proxy for any reason prior to the vote at the meeting, you may do so and your proxy will have no further effect.

The Board of Directors and management of the Company appreciate your continued support.

Sincerely,

Scott C. Harvard

President and Chief Executive Officer

FIRST NATIONAL CORPORATION

112 West King Street

Strasburg, Virginia 22657

April 1, 2021

NOTICE OF 2021 ANNUAL MEETING AND PROXY STATEMENT

The 2021 Annual Meeting of Shareholders of First National Corporation will be held in a virtual meeting format, on Wednesday, May 12, 2021, beginning at 10:00 a.m., Eastern Time. In light of public health concerns regarding the coronavirus outbreak, there will be no physical location for shareholders to attend.

To be admitted to the Annual Meeting at www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/FXNC2021, you must enter the control number found on your proxy card, voting instruction form or notice. You may vote during the Annual Meeting by following the instructions available on the meeting website during the meeting. Whether or not you plan to attend the virtual Annual Meeting, we urge you to vote and submit your proxy in advance of the meeting by one of the methods described in the proxy materials for the Annual Meeting.

The items of business are:

Shareholders of record of First National Corporation common stock (FXNC) at the close of business on March 19, 2021, are entitled to notice of and to vote at the Annual Meeting and any postponements or adjournments of the meeting.

Gerald F. Smith, Jr.

Vice Chairman and Secretary

IMPORTANT NOTICE REGARDING THE AVAILABILITY OF PROXY MATERIALS FOR THE SHAREHOLDER MEETING TO BE HELD ON MAY 12, 2021: A complete set of proxy materials relating to First National Corporation’s Annual Meeting of Shareholders are available on the Internet. These materials, consisting of the notice of Annual Meeting, the proxy statement, the proxy card, and the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020 may be viewed at http://materials.proxyvote.com/32106V.

GENERAL INFORMATION

This Proxy Statement is furnished to holders of common stock, $1.25 par value per share (the “Common Stock”), of First National Corporation (the “Company”) in connection with the solicitation of proxies on behalf of the Company by the Board of Directors (the “Board”) of the Company to be used at the Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held in virtual format on May 12, 2021 at 10:00 a.m. by accessing www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/FXNC2021, and any adjournment thereof (the “Annual Meeting”).

We are furnishing our proxy materials primarily over the Internet rather than mailing paper copies of those materials to each shareholder. On or about April 1, 2021, we first mailed an Important Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials on the Internet (the “Notice”) to shareholders and posted our proxy materials on the Internet site referenced therein. These proxy materials include the accompanying notice of Annual Meeting, this proxy statement, the proxy card and our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020. The Notice provides information regarding how to access these proxy materials on the Internet, vote your shares or request a paper copy of these materials.

Only shareholders of record at the close of business on March 19, 2021 (the “Record Date”) will be entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting.  On the Record Date, there were 4,868,462 shares of Common Stock issued and outstanding held by 521 shareholders of record and approximately 754 additional beneficial owners of shares of Common Stock.

The principal executive offices of the Company are located at 112 West King Street, Strasburg, Virginia 22657.

Voting

Each share of Common Stock is entitled to one vote at the Annual Meeting.  A majority of the shares of Common Stock entitled to vote, represented at the virtual Annual Meeting in person or by proxy, constitutes a quorum for the transaction of business at the Annual Meeting.

Shareholders are encouraged to vote using any of the methods available to our shareholders. If you are a registered shareholder and attend the virtual meeting, you may vote during the Annual Meeting by following the instructions available on the meeting website during the meeting. “Street name” shareholders who wish to attend and vote during the virtual meeting will need to contact your broker or agent to obtain a legal proxy from the institution that holds their shares. The Company also is pleased to offer its shareholders the convenience of voting by phone and online via the Internet. Please review the Notice separately mailed to you or the proxy card, as applicable, for instructions. Please be aware that if you vote your shares by phone or over the Internet, you may incur costs or charges from your phone service or Internet access provider for which you are responsible.

If you execute a proxy by completing and returning a proxy card or voting by phone or online in time to be voted at the Annual Meeting, the shares represented by it will be voted in accordance with your instructions.  Any shareholder giving a proxy has the power to revoke it at any time before it is exercised by (i) filing written notice thereof with the Secretary of the Company (Secretary, First National Corporation, c/o Broadridge Corporate Issuer Solutions, Inc., P.O. Box 1342, Brentwood, NY 11717); (ii) submitting a subsequent vote using any of the methods described above; or (iii) attending the virtual Annual Meeting or at any adjournment thereof and voting online.  If your shares are held in “street name,” and you want to change or revoke voting instructions you have given to the record holder of your shares, please follow the directions given by the institution that holds your shares. Proxies solicited hereby may be exercised only at the Annual Meeting and any adjournment thereof and will not be used for any other meeting.

A shareholder may abstain or (only with respect to the election of directors) withhold his or her vote (collectively, “Abstentions”) with respect to each item submitted for shareholder approval. Abstentions will be counted for purposes of determining the existence of a quorum. Abstentions will not be counted as voting in favor of or against the relevant item.

A broker who holds shares in “street name” has the authority to vote on certain items when it has not received instructions from the beneficial owner. Except for certain items for which brokers are prohibited from exercising their discretion, a broker is entitled to vote on matters presented to shareholders without instructions from the beneficial owner. “Broker shares” that are voted on at least one matter will be counted for purposes of determining the existence of a quorum for the transaction of business at the Annual Meeting. Where brokers do not have or do not exercise such discretion, the inability or failure to vote is referred to as a “broker nonvote.” Under the circumstances where the broker is not permitted to, or does not, exercise its discretion, assuming proper disclosure to the Company of such inability to vote, broker nonvotes will not be counted as voting in favor of or against the particular matter. A broker is prohibited from voting on the election of directors without instructions from the beneficial owner; therefore, there may be broker nonvotes on Proposal One. We expect that brokers will be allowed to exercise discretionary authority for beneficial owners who have not provided voting instructions with respect to Proposal Two; therefore, no broker nonvotes are expected to exist in connection with this proposal.

If no contrary instructions are given, each proxy executed and returned by a record shareholder will be voted for the election of the nominees described in this Proxy Statement and for Proposal Two. The proxy also confers discretionary authority upon the persons named therein, or their substitutes, with respect to any other matter that may properly come before the Annual Meeting.

Solicitation of Proxies

Solicitation is being made by the Board of Directors by mail and electronic notice and access to the Internet. If sufficient proxies are not returned in response to this solicitation, supplementary solicitations may also be made by mail, telephone, electronic communication or in person by directors, officers and employees of the Company, its subsidiaries or affiliates, none of whom will receive additional compensation for these services. The Company may retain an outside proxy solicitation firm to assist in the solicitation of proxies, but at this time does not have plans to do so. Costs of solicitation of proxies will be borne by the Company.

Executive Officers Who Are Not Directors

PROPOSAL ONE:

ELECTION OF DIRECTORS

There are currently eight directors serving on the Board, all of whom are standing for re-election at the Annual Meeting to serve for a one-year term and until the election and qualification of their respective successors.

Unless authority is withheld in the proxy, each proxy executed and returned by a record shareholder will be voted for the election of the nominees listed below.

Proxies distributed in conjunction herewith may not be voted for persons other than the nominees named thereon.  If any person named as nominee should be unable or unwilling to stand for election at the time of the Annual Meeting, the proxy holders will nominate and vote for a replacement nominee or nominees recommended by the Board.  At this time, the Board knows no reason why any of the nominees listed below may not be able to serve as a director if elected. In the election of directors, those receiving the greatest number of votes will be elected even if they do not receive a majority.

Set forth below is the name of each nominee and, as to each of the nominees, certain information including age and the year in which the director was first elected to the Board. Additional information regarding the specific experience and skills of each nominee that led to the conclusion that the person should serve as director of the Company is also provided below. Unless otherwise indicated, the business experience and principal occupations shown for each nominee has extended five or more years.

THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE “FOR” EACH OF THE FOLLOWING PERSONS NOMINATED BY THE BOARD.

Nominees

Jason C. Aikens is Vice President and Partner of Aikens Group, a real estate firm headquartered in Winchester, Virginia. With over twenty years of experience in the hospitality and real estate industry, Mr. Aikens and his team own and manage a diverse real estate portfolio consisting of hotels, multifamily units, and commercial real estate properties. Mr. Aikens also serves as a director of the NW Works Foundation and Valley Health’s Winchester Medical Center Foundation, both non-profit organizations. His business experience and leadership roles in the community qualify him for service on the Board.

Emily Marlow Beck is President of Marlow Motor Co., Inc. in Front Royal, Tri-State Nissan in Winchester, and Marlow Ford in Luray, Virginia, all of which are automotive sales and service firms. Prior to joining Marlow Motor Co. in 2010, she was a Partner and Vice Chair of the Dealership Practice Group at Hudson Cook, LLP, a law firm specializing in consumer credit compliance. Mrs. Beck is also Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Virginia Automobile Dealers Association. Her experience managing successful businesses and legal background in consumer credit qualify her for service on the Board.

Boyce Brannock is a partner in the law firm of TimberlakeSmith in Staunton, Virginia where he concentrates in business law, real estate law, estate planning, and commercial transactions. Mr. Brannock previously served on the Board of Directors and as an officer for a private foundation supporting the Frontier Culture Museum and previously served on the board of directors of other non-profit organizations, including Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Central Blue Ridge, the Greater Augusta Regional Chamber of Commerce, and the Staunton Kiwanis Club. He was President of the Baptist General Association of Virginia, a statewide non-profit, and currently serves on its Executive Board. He is also a previous President of the Augusta Bar Association. Mr. Brannock serves as a member of the Board of Directors of the Corporation for Jefferson’s Poplar Forest and serves as its Secretary. His expertise in business law and his leadership roles in the community qualify him for service on the Board.

Elizabeth H. Cottrell serves as Chairman of the Board of the Company and the Bank. Mrs. Cottrell owns RiverwoodWriter, LLC, a writing, editing and desktop publishing business in Maurertown, Virginia. She brings experience in networking, marketing, and social media, combined with her knowledge and connections gained as a previous member of the Shenandoah Memorial Hospital Foundation Board and the Shenandoah County School Board. Mrs. Cottrell currently serves as Treasurer of the Moore Educational Trust board. The insight Mrs. Cottrell provides from her experience as a business owner and her leadership roles in the community qualify her for service on the Board.

W. Michael Funk served as President, CEO, and director of Virginia Savings Bank until his retirement in 2012. He is a member of the Economic Development Authority for the Town of Woodstock, the Shenandoah County Industrial Development Authority, and President of the Shenandoah Community Foundation. Mr. Funk is also a past board member of the Virginia Bankers Association and the Lord Fairfax Community College Education Foundation. He is active in supporting the community through leadership roles with local non-profit organizations. His experience as CEO of a financial institution, prior bank board service, and leadership roles in the community qualify him for service on the Board.

Scott C. Harvard has served as President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company since May 2011 and has served as Chief Executive Officer of the Bank since June 2015. He had previously served as President and Chief Executive Officer of the Bank from May 2011 through May 2015. Prior to joining the Company, Mr. Harvard owned and operated Harvard Resources from 2009 to 2011, held the position of Executive Vice President of Hampton Roads Bankshares from 2008 to 2009 and held the position of President and Chief Executive Officer of Shore Financial Corporation, and its wholly-owned subsidiary, Shore Bank, from 1985 to 2008. Mr. Harvard is a past Chairman of and currently serves on the Board of the Virginia Bankers Association and also serves on the Boards of the Federal Home Loan Bank of Atlanta, CBB Financial Corp., and its subsidiary, Community Bankers Bank. Mr. Harvard also serves on the boards of several non-profit organizations. His extensive knowledge of the banking industry and his experience in financial services qualify him for service on the Board.

Gerald F. Smith, Jr. is the Chairman, Chief Executive Officer, and President of Valley Proteins, Inc., a rendering business headquartered in Winchester, Virginia. He has been President since 1992 and Chairman and CEO since 2003. Mr. Smith served as Chairman of the North American Renderers Association and has served as a director of other associations in his industry. He is a Certified Public Accountant and has been licensed since 1986. The Board has designated him as the Company’s audit committee financial expert. Mr. Smith’s leadership role in his business and in his industry, along with his finance and accounting knowledge, qualify him for service on the Board.

James R. Wilkins, III is President of Silver Lake Properties, Inc. and General Partner of Wilkins Investments, L.P. and Wilkins Enterprises, L.P., all of which are real estate investment, development or management companies in Winchester, Virginia. Mr. Wilkins previously served on the Board of Trustees of the Winchester Medical Center Foundation. He is also a past member of the Finance Committee of Frederick County, Virginia, and a former director of a local banking company. His business experience and leadership roles in the community qualify him for service on the Board.

STOCK OWNERSHIP

Stock Ownership of Directors and Executive Officers

The following table sets forth information as of March 19, 2021, regarding the number of shares of Common Stock beneficially owned by all directors, by the executive officers named in the Summary Compensation Table and by all directors and executive officers as a group.  Beneficial ownership includes shares, if any, held in the name of the spouse, minor children or other relatives of the director or executive officer living in such person’s home, as well as shares, if any, held in the name of another person under an arrangement whereby the director or executive officer can vest title in himself at once or at some future time, plus shares held in certain trust relationships that may be deemed to be beneficially owned by the nominees under the rules and regulations of the SEC; however, the inclusion of such shares does not constitute an admission of beneficial ownership.

The address for each of the following individuals is First National Corporation, 112 West King Street, Strasburg, Virginia 22657.

Stock Ownership Table

* Indicates that holdings amount to less than 1% of the issued and outstanding Common Stock.

Stock Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners

The following table sets forth, as of March 19, 2021, unless otherwise noted, certain information with respect to the beneficial ownership of shares of Common Stock by each person who owns, to the Company’s knowledge, more than 5% of the outstanding shares of Common Stock.

Delinquent Section 16(a) Reports

Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act requires the Company’s directors and executive officers, and any persons who own more than 10% of the outstanding shares of Common Stock, to file with the SEC reports of ownership and changes in ownership of Common Stock.  Officers and directors are required by SEC regulations to furnish the Company with copies of all Section 16(a) forms that they file.  Based solely on review of the copies of such reports furnished to the Company or written representation that no other reports were required, the Company believes that, during fiscal year 2020, its officers and directors complied with all such reporting requirements.

CORPORATE GOVERNANCE AND OTHER MATTERS

General

The business and affairs of the Company are managed under the direction of the Board in accordance with the Virginia Stock Corporation Act and the Company’s Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws. Members of the Board are kept informed of the Company’s business through discussions with the Chairman of the Board, the President and Chief Executive Officer, and other officers, by reviewing materials provided to them and by participating in meetings of the Board and its committees.

Code of Conduct and Ethics

The Audit Committee of the Board has approved a Code of Conduct and Ethics for the Company’s directors and employees, including the principal executive officer and principal financial and accounting officer.  The Code addresses such topics as protection and proper use of the Company’s assets, compliance with applicable laws and regulations, accuracy and preservation of records, accounting and financial reporting, and conflicts of interest.  It is available on the Company’s website at www.fbvirginia.com under “Investor Relations/Corporate Governance/Documents.”

Board and Committee Meeting Attendance

Meetings of the Board are regularly held, at least once per quarter, including an organizational meeting following the conclusion of each Annual Meeting of Shareholders.  There were twelve meetings of the Board in 2020. Each incumbent director attended greater than 75% of the aggregate number of meetings of the Board and meetings of committees of which the director was a member in 2020.

Director Independence

The Board has determined that the following directors are independent as that term is defined in the listing standards of the Nasdaq Stock Market, Inc. (“Nasdaq”):

The Board considered all relationships that directors had with the Company in determining independence. Most directors of the Company are directors, or hold similar positions, at multiple nonprofit and charitable organizations for which the Company made payments to sponsor events or in the form of charitable contributions. The Board determined that these transactions did not impair the independence of any director under Nasdaq listing standards.

There are no other transactions, relationships or arrangements between the Company and any of the other independent directors except as set forth in “Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions” in the Executive Compensation section of this Proxy Statement.

Committees

The Company has two standing committees, the Audit Committee and the Compensation and Governance Committee. Information regarding these committees is provided below.

The members of the Audit Committee are:

The Audit Committee assists the Board in fulfilling the Board’s risk oversight responsibilities. These responsibilities include ensuring the integrity of the Company’s consolidated financial statements, the Company’s compliance with legal and regulatory requirements, the qualifications, independence, and performance of the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm, and the performance of the internal audit function.  The Audit Committee is directly responsible for the appointment, compensation, retention, and oversight of the work of the independent registered public accounting firm engaged for the purpose of preparing and issuing an audit report or performing other audit, review, or attestation services for the Company.  The Board has adopted a written charter for the Audit Committee.  The Audit Committee Charter is available on the Company’s website at www.fbvirginia.com under “Investor Relations/Corporate Governance/Documents.”

The Board has determined in its business judgment that all members of the Audit Committee satisfy the independence and financial literacy requirements for audit committee members under Nasdaq listing standards and applicable SEC regulations. In addition, the Board has determined that Mr. Gerald F. Smith, Jr. qualifies as an audit committee financial expert as defined by SEC regulations and has designated him as the Company’s audit committee financial expert.

The Audit Committee met five times during the year ended December 31, 2020.  For additional information regarding the Audit Committee, see “Audit Committee Report” in the Audit-Related Matters section of this Proxy Statement.

The members of the Compensation and Governance Committee are:

The Compensation and Governance Committee’s risk oversight duties include reviewing and recommending the levels and types of compensation of officers and employees, including salaries, bonuses, and benefits to the Board. The Committee also reviews and recommends employment agreements for the Chief Executive Officer and other compensation related matters, including fees paid to directors of the Company. The Committee is responsible for assisting the Board in developing a compensation philosophy for attracting, motivating, and retaining high-quality executives that will advance the interests of shareholders and delivering total compensation that is commensurate with performance. The Compensation and Governance Committee assists the Board of Directors in fulfilling its fiduciary responsibilities as to their oversight of management compensation and the organizational structure of the Company.

Management provides compensation recommendations for the Committee’s consideration and administers the Company’s executive compensation programs. Direct responsibilities of management include, but are not limited to:

The Compensation and Governance Committee is also responsible for identifying, evaluating, and recommending candidates and nominees for Board membership.  As part of that responsibility, the Committee conducts skills assessments of the directors, evaluates the adequacy of the current Board membership, and recommends changes where warranted.  The Committee assists the Board in fulfilling its fiduciary responsibilities as to their risk oversight of the Company, including corporate governance matters, such as the determination of Board and Committee independence.

The Board has adopted a written charter for the Compensation and Governance Committee.  The Compensation and Governance Committee Charter is available on the Company’s website at www.fbvirginia.com under “Investor Relations/Corporate Governance/Documents.”

The Board has determined in its business judgment that all members of the Compensation and Governance Committee are independent as that term is defined in the listing standards of the Nasdaq.  The Compensation and Governance Committee met four times during the year ended December 31, 2020.

Director Selection Process

The Company does not have a separate nominating committee. The Compensation and Governance Committee performs the functions of a nominating committee in considering and recommending director nominees to the full Board. The Committee has established procedures that provide guidance for evaluating the composition of the Board, current directors and director nominees. Procedures include, but are not limited to the following processes and evaluation criteria:

The Process

The Evaluation Criteria

In the consideration of director nominees, including any nominee that a shareholder may submit (as described below), the Board considers, at a minimum, the above evaluation criteria factors for new directors, or the continued service of existing directors.

Shareholders entitled to vote for the election of directors may submit candidates for formal consideration by the Compensation and Governance 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 2022 Annual Meeting, the notice must be received within the time frame set forth in “Shareholder Communications” in the Other Information section 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 Article II, Section F, of the Company’s Bylaws, a copy of which will be provided, without charge, to any shareholder upon written request to the Secretary of First National Corporation, whose address is First National Corporation, 112 West King Street, Strasburg, Virginia 22657.

In addition to fulfilling the evaluation criteria, each director brings a strong and unique background and set of skills to the Board, providing the Board as a whole competence and experience in a wide variety of areas.

Leadership Structure of the Board

The positions of Chairman of the Board and President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company have traditionally been held by separate persons. The principal role of the President and Chief Executive Officer is to execute on Board developed strategies and to manage the business of the Company in a safe, sound, and profitable manner. The role of the Board is to provide independent oversight of the President and Chief Executive Officer, formulate strategy and policy, and to monitor and measure risks within the Company.

Board’s Role in Risk Oversight

The Board oversees risk management to be reasonably certain that the Company’s risk management policies, procedures, and practices are consistent with corporate strategy and functioning appropriately.

The Board performs its risk oversight in several ways. The Board establishes standards for risk management by approving policies that address and mitigate the Company’s most material risks. These include policies addressing credit risk, interest rate risk, capital risk, liquidity risk, operational risk, and regulatory risk. The Board also monitors, reviews, and reacts to risk through various reports presented by management, internal and external auditors, and regulatory examiners.

The Board conducts certain risk oversight activities through its committees with direct oversight over specific functional areas. The risk oversight activities of the Audit and Compensation and Governance Committees are described in the “Committees” and “Audit-Related Matters” sections of this proxy statement. These committees are all comprised exclusively of independent directors.

The Board is empowered to create additional standing and ad hoc committees to facilitate regular monitoring and deeper analysis of matters that may arise from time to time. The Board also meets regularly in executive session to discuss a variety of topics, including risk, without members of management present.

In the foregoing ways, the Board is able to monitor the Company’s risk profile and risk management activities on an ongoing basis.

Attendance at the Annual Meeting of Shareholders

The Company encourages members of the Board to attend the Annual Meeting of Shareholders. All of the directors attended the 2020 Annual Meeting.

Communications with Directors

Any director may be contacted by writing to him or her c/o First National Corporation, 112 West King Street, Strasburg, Virginia 22657.  Communications to the non-management directors as a group may be sent to the same address, c/o the Secretary of First National Corporation.  The Company promptly forwards, without screening, all such correspondence to the indicated directors.

Anti-Hedging Policy

The Company currently does not have any policies with respect to financial instruments or transactions in derivative securities or otherwise that hedge or offset any decrease in the market value of the Company’s common stock.

EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

The Company strives to attract, motivate and retain high-quality executives by providing total compensation that is performance-based and competitive with the various labor markets and industries in which the Company competes for talent. The Company provides incentives to advance the interests of shareholders and deliver levels of compensation that are commensurate with performance. Overall, compensation plans are designed to support the Company’s corporate business strategy and business plan. Expectations are clearly communicated to executives with respect to goals and results and by rewarding achievement. The Company focuses on retaining and recruiting talented executives that can create strong financial performance aligned with shareholders’ interest.  The Company attempts to achieve these objectives through three key compensation elements: base salary, performance-based cash compensation, and equity compensation, along with retirement and health benefits.

Summary Compensation Table

The following table provides information concerning total compensation earned or paid to the Chief Executive Officer and the two other most highly compensated executive officers of the Company who served in such capacities as of December 31, 2020 for services rendered to the Company.  These executive officers are referred to as the named executive officers in this proxy statement.  The named executive officers received compensation from First Bank, a wholly-owned subsidiary of First National Corporation.  The named executive officers did not receive any compensation from the Company.  Employment agreements for named executive officers are described in more detail below under the headings “Employment Agreements” and “Potential Payments Upon Termination or Change of Control.”

Summary Compensation Table

Compensation Philosophy

In October 2016, the Board of Directors engaged Matthews, Young & Associates, Inc., a compensation consulting firm, to review the Bank’s executive compensation, identify strengths, weaknesses, and voids, and make directional recommendations based on the Bank’s philosophy and strategy.  Their work included a review of both corporate strategy and compensation strategy and examining external competitiveness of compensation and internal equity among the executive team on all components of compensation. As a result of their evaluation, the Company retained its executive compensation program that serves to attract and retain the management talent needed to successfully lead the Company and increase shareholder value. It rewards executives for their knowledge and skill used in carrying out their responsibilities and motivates their behavior by rewarding desired performance or the meeting of established corporate objectives.

The Company’s executive compensation program primarily consists of base salaries, annual incentive bonuses, long-term incentives in the form of equity-based compensation, retirement compensation, and health benefits.

Base salary represents the fixed component of the Company's executive compensation program and is designed to provide compensation to executives based upon their experience, duties, and scope of responsibilities.

Annual incentive bonuses may be provided through the Company’s Executive Incentive Plan and represents a variable component of compensation, and are intended to compensate executives for specific achievements or improvements in the Company's performance and individual accomplishments toward specific objectives.

Long-term equity-based incentive compensation may be provided through the 2014 Stock Incentive Plan, and represents a variable component which seeks to reward executives for performance that maximizes long-term shareholder value, while further aligning the executives’ financial interests with those of our shareholders, and also serves as a retention tool.

Retirement compensation is provided through supplemental executive retirement plans intended to provide additional incentives and supplemental retirement income and a 401(k) plan that is a variable component of compensation designed to allow the participants to accumulate assets which will assist in meeting post-retirement needs.

The Chief Executive Officer recommends the compensation of other named executive officers to the Compensation and Governance Committee, which may include base salary, performance goals for annual incentive plans, bonuses, and equity compensation. The Compensation and Governance Committee reviews and recommends the compensation of the Chief Executive Officer to the Board of Directors, which also includes base salary, performance goals for annual incentive plans, bonuses, and equity compensation.

Shareholder Advisory Votes

At the Company’s 2019 Annual Meeting, the shareholders voted on the frequency with which the advisory vote on executive compensation should be held in the future – every one, two or three years. Consistent with the shareholders’ selection, the Company will follow a three-year cycle, and shareholders will be asked to vote on a “say on pay” proposal again in 2022.

Executive Incentive Plan

In November 2012, the Board of Directors adopted a cash Executive Incentive Plan (the "EIP") to reward certain executive officers for achieving performance goals.  A revised EIP was adopted by the Board in March 2013.  The duration of the EIP is indefinite, and the EIP may be amended or terminated by the Board at any time.  Participation is limited to those employees selected by the Chief Executive Officer and approved by the Compensation and Governance Committee of the Board each EIP year.  Scott C. Harvard, Dennis A. Dysart, and M. Shane Bell were selected to participate in the EIP along with certain other employees, effective January 1, 2020.

Under the EIP, the Board is responsible for establishing and approving annual performance objectives for the Company and EIP participants, based upon such criteria as may be recommended by the Chief Executive Officer (or, in the case of the Chief Executive Officer, by the Compensation Committee), and the award formula by which all incentive awards under the EIP are calculated.  Participants are entitled to a cash distribution under this Plan if, upon the approval of the Board, the award is earned as a result of the attainment of EIP performance objectives and the participant is employed on the payment date.  Awards shall be paid on or after January 1 of the year following the performance period, and no later than March 15 of the year following the performance period.

In the event of a participant’s termination of employment for any reason, including due to death, permanent disability, or retirement, any unpaid awards (including any earned but unpaid awards) shall be forfeited by such participant.  The Company has the right to recover compensation that the Company determines, in its sole discretion, was unjustly paid to an employee under the EIP.  Under the EIP, the Board reserves the right to withhold or adjust individual awards. The Board has not exercised its discretion to withhold bonus payments in the past.

In February 2021, the Company paid awards under the EIP to Scott C. Harvard, Dennis A. Dysart, and M. Shane Bell.  The awards were based on achievement of the Company’s financial performance goals that included the efficiency ratio and earnings for 2020. These amounts are disclosed as Non-Equity Incentive Plan Compensation for 2020 in the Summary Compensation Table above.

2014 Stock Incentive Plan

The Company’s 2014 Stock Incentive Plan (the “SIP”) was adopted by the Board of Directors on March 12, 2014, and approved at the Annual Meeting of Shareholders on May 13, 2014. The Plan makes available up to 240,000 shares of common stock for the granting of stock options, restricted stock awards, stock appreciation rights, and other stock-based awards. The Board believes the Plan will be an important factor in attracting, retaining, and rewarding the high caliber individuals essential to the Company’s long-term success. The Board further believes that ownership of the Company’s common stock will stimulate the efforts of those individuals upon whose judgment, interest, and efforts the Company is and will be largely dependent for the successful conduct of its business, and will further align the interests of those individuals with the interests of the Company’s shareholders.

On February 12, 2020, the Company granted 4,025 restricted stock units (“RSUs”) under the SIP to Scott C. Harvard, 2,540 RSUs to Dennis A. Dysart, and 2,495 RSUs to M. Shane Bell. The grants represented long-term compensation and enhanced retention of the named executive officers. Each restricted stock unit represented a contingent right to receive one share of First National Corporation common stock. One-third of the RSUs granted vested immediately, with the remainder vesting in two equal annual installments beginning February 12, 2021.

Employment Agreements

Effective as of May 22, 2014, the Company entered into an employment contract with Scott C. Harvard.  The term of the agreement began on May 22, 2014 and continued until May 21, 2015. On May 21, 2015, the agreement was extended for one year and has automatically extended each May 21 thereafter, until Mr. Harvard or the Company provides notice to the other party prior to the end of the applicable term.

The agreement with Mr. Harvard contains restrictive covenants relating to the protection of confidential information, non-disclosure, non-competition, and non-solicitation. The non-competition and non-solicitation covenants continue generally for a period of 12 months following the last day of his employment.

Mr. Harvard will not be entitled to any termination compensation and benefits if he breaches any of the covenants in the agreement relating to the protection of confidential information, non-disclosure, non-competition, and non-solicitation.  He will also not be entitled to any compensation or other benefits, other than payment for all time worked, if his employment is terminated for cause or if Mr. Harvard terminates his employment for other than good reason.

Effective as of October 1, 2002, the Company entered into employment contracts with Dennis A. Dysart and M. Shane Bell.  These contracts were amended December 1, 2008. The term of the agreements for Mr. Dysart and Mr. Bell is at all times two years, which means that at the end of every day, the term of the agreements is extended for one day.

Material terms of these agreements include prohibiting the Company from decreasing the salary of the employee, to provide certain severance payments to the employee if terminated without cause or in the event of a change of control, and covenants related to the protection of confidential

information, non-disclosure, non-competition, and non-solicitation.  The non-competition and non-solicitation covenants continue generally for a period of 12 months following the last day of employment.

Mr. Dysart and Mr. Bell will not be entitled to any termination compensation and benefits if any of the covenants in the agreement relating to the protection of confidential information, non-disclosure, non-competition, and non-solicitation are breached. These employees will also not be entitled to any compensation or other benefits, other than payment for all time worked, if employment is terminated for “cause” or if Mr. Dysart or Mr. Bell terminates his employment for other than “good reason” (as those terms are defined in the agreements).

Retirement Benefits

The Company maintains a 401(k) plan for all eligible employees. Participating employees may elect to contribute up to the maximum percentage allowed by the Internal Revenue Service, as defined in the 401(k) plan. The Company makes matching contributions, on a dollar-for dollar basis, for the first one percent of an employee’s compensation contributed to the 401(k) plan and fifty cents for each dollar of the employee’s contribution between two percent and six percent. The Company also makes an additional contribution based on years of service to participants who have completed at least one thousand hours of service during the year and who are employed on the last day of the 401(k) plan year. All employees who are age nineteen or older are eligible. Employee contributions vest immediately. Employer matching contributions vest after two 401(k) plan service years with the Company. The Company has the discretion to make a profit-sharing contribution to the 401(k) plan each year based on overall performance, profitability, and other economic factors.

The Bank also has entered into supplemental executive retirement plans (the “SERPs”) with each of Mr. Harvard, Mr. Dysart and Mr. Bell. The SERP agreements provide for a normal retirement benefit (equal to $66,667 per year for Mr. Harvard, $70,103 per year for Mr. Dysart and $64,926 per year for Mr. Bell), payable in 180 monthly installments, beginning upon the officer’s separation from service at or after retirement age (68 for Mr. Harvard, and 65 for Mr. Dysart and Mr. Bell). In the event of an officer’s early retirement or voluntary or involuntary separation from service prior to normal retirement age, he will be entitled to receive the portion of such benefit that has been accrued at that time.

In addition, the SERP agreements provides that the officer will be entitled to the present value of his normal retirement benefit upon his separation from service within two years of a “Change in Control” (as defined in the SERP).

Holdings of Stock Awards

The following table contains information concerning unvested stock awards at December 31, 2020 for each of the named executive officers.

Outstanding Equity Awards

Fiscal Year End 2020

Equity Compensation Plan

The following table sets forth the information at December 31, 2020, with respect to compensation plans under which shares of Common Stock are authorized for issuance:

Potential Payments Upon Termination or Change of Control

Each employment contract with Mr. Harvard, Mr. Dysart, and Mr. Bell provides that the officer’s employment may be terminated by the Company with or without cause.  If he resigns for “good reason” or is terminated without “cause” (as those terms are defined in the respective employment agreement), however, he is entitled to his salary and benefits for the remainder of his contract.  If his employment terminates for good reason or without cause within one year of a change in control of the Company, he will be entitled to severance payments approximately equal to 299% of his annual cash compensation for a period that precedes the change in control as determined under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.  The following table provides payments that could be due the named executive officers under different scenarios:

Potential Payments Under Employment Agreements Upon Termination or Change of Control

Each contract also contains a covenant not to compete that is in effect while the officer is an officer and employee of the Company and for a 12-month period after termination of his employment.

In addition, the SERP agreements with Mr. Harvard, Mr. Dysart and Mr. Bell provide that the officer will be entitled to the present value of his normal retirement benefit upon his separation from service within two years of a “Change in Control” (as defined in the SERP). The SERP agreements also contain restrictive covenants relating to non-competition and non-solicitation that continue generally for a period of 24 months following his separation from service.

The Company has granted RSUs under the SIP to Scott C. Harvard, Dennis A. Dysart, and M. Shane Bell that represent a contingent right to receive one share of First National Corporation common stock upon vesting. The Compensation Committee may provide for the acceleration of the vesting schedule relating to the exercise these awards in the event of a change in control.

Director Compensation

The following table provides information about director compensation for the year ended December 31, 2020.

Director Compensation

Non-employee directors receive a retainer fee of $1,800 per month. They do not receive additional fees for attending meetings. The Chairman of the Board receives an additional retainer fee of $650 per month, and the Vice Chairman of the Board receives an additional retainer fee of $85 per month. Scott C. Harvard, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company, did not receive fees for his service on the Board.

Whenever the Company deems it appropriate to grant a stock award, the recipient receives a specified number of unrestricted shares of employer stock. During 2020, the Company granted 3,500 unrestricted shares of common stock under the SIP to members of the Board of Directors for their dedicated service and support. There were no unvested stock awards outstanding for directors at December 31, 2020.

Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions

Some of the directors and officers of the Company are customers of the Bank. No loans to directors or officers involve more than the normal risks of collectability or present other unfavorable features, or are non-accrual, past due, restricted, or considered potential problem loans. All such loans were made in the ordinary course of business and were originated on substantially the same terms, including interest rates and collateral, as those prevailing at the time for comparable transactions with persons not related to the Company or the Bank. The balances of loans to directors, executive officers, and their related interests totaled $1.3 million at December 31, 2020, or 2% of the Company’s equity at that date.

The Company has adopted a formal written policy that covers the review and approval of related party transactions by the Board.  The Board reviews all such transactions that are proposed to it for approval.  During such a review, the Board will consider, among other things, the related party’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. Based on the Company’s Conflict of Interest Policy, the Board also has the responsibility to review conflicts of interest involving directors or executive officers.

AUDIT-RELATED MATTERS

Audit Committee Report

The Audit Committee is comprised of three directors, each of whom is independent within the meaning of the listing standards of Nasdaq. The Audit Committee operates under a written charter adopted by the Board of Directors. The Audit Committee reviews its charter at least annually and revises it as necessary to ensure compliance with current regulatory requirements.

Management is responsible for:

The Company’s independent registered public accounting firm is responsible for:

The Audit Committee is responsible for the oversight of the Company’s:

In this context, the Audit Committee has met and had discussions with management and Yount, Hyde & Barbour, P.C., the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm.

Management represented to the Audit Committee that the Company’s consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2020 were prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles. The Audit Committee has reviewed and discussed these consolidated financial statements with management and Yount, Hyde & Barbour, P.C., including the scope of the independent registered public accounting firm’s responsibilities, critical accounting policies and practices used, and significant financial reporting issues and judgments made by management in connection with the preparation of such financial statements.

The Audit Committee discussed and reviewed with the independent auditors all communications required by accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America, and standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB), including those described in Auditing Standard No. 1301, “Communication with Audit Committees,” and Rule 2-07 of Regulation S-X promulgated by the SEC, as modified or supplemented, and, with and without management present, discussed and reviewed the results of the independent auditors’ examinations of the financial statements. The Audit Committee has received the written disclosures and the letter from Yount, Hyde & Barbour, P.C. required by applicable requirements of the PCAOB regarding Yount, Hyde & Barbour, P.C.’s communications with the Audit Committee and discussed with Yount, Hyde & Barbour, P.C. the firm’s independence from the Company. Moreover, the Audit Committee has considered whether the provision of the audit services described above is compatible with maintaining the independence of the independent registered public accounting firm.

Based upon its discussions with management and Yount, Hyde & Barbour, P.C. and its review of the representations of management and the report of Yount, Hyde & Barbour, P.C. to the Audit Committee, the Audit Committee recommended to the Board that the audited consolidated financial statements be included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020 filing with the SEC.  By recommending that the audited consolidated financial statements be so included, the Audit Committee is not providing an opinion on the accuracy, completeness or presentation of the information contained in the audited financial statements.

Members of the Audit Committee:

Policy for Approval of Audit and Permitted Non-Audit Services

All audit-related services, tax services, and other services, as described above, were pre-approved by the Audit Committee, which concluded that the provision of such services by Yount, Hyde & Barbour, P.C. was compatible with the maintenance of that firm’s independence in the conduct of its auditing functions. The Audit Committee Charter provides for pre-approval of the auditor’s fees and is available on the Company’s website at www.fbvirginia.com under “Investor Relations/Corporate Governance/Documents.” As provided for in the Charter, the Committee reviews, prior to the annual external audit, the scope and general extent of the auditor’s audit procedures, including their engagement letter. The Committee also reviews the extent of non-audit services provided by the external auditors in relation to the objectivity needed in their audit. It was determined the external auditors maintained objectivity considering the non-audit services provided.

Auditor Fees and Services

Audit Fees

The aggregate fees billed by Yount, Hyde & Barbour, P.C. for professional services rendered for the audit of the Company’s annual financial statements for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019, and for the review of the financial statements included in the Company's Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and services that are normally provided in connection with statutory and regulatory filings and engagements for those fiscal years were $80,350 for 2020 and $115,375 for 2019. Fees related to the attestation regarding the adequacy of internal controls over financial reporting were included in the amounts for 2019, which were not incurred for 2020.

Audit-Related Fees

The aggregate fees billed by Yount, Hyde & Barbour, P.C. for professional services for assurance and related services that are reasonably related to the performance of the audit or review of the Company’s consolidated financial statements and not reported under the heading “Audit Fees” above for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019 were $7,250 and $13,250, respectively. These services included employee benefit plan audits and pre-approved consultation concerning financial accounting and reporting standards and other related issues for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019.

Tax Fees

The aggregate fees billed by Yount, Hyde & Barbour, P.C. for professional services for tax compliance, tax advice and tax planning for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019 were $10,100 for both years. During 2020 and 2019, these services included preparation of federal and state income tax returns, fiduciary trust returns, and consultation regarding tax compliance issues.

All Other Fees

There were no other fees billed by Yount, Hyde & Barbour, P.C. during the fiscal years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019.

PROPOSAL TWO:

RATIFICATION OF APPOINTMENT OF

INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

Yount, Hyde & Barbour, P.C. served as the independent registered public accounting firm for the year ended December 31, 2020, and has been appointed by the Audit Committee to serve as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the year ending December 31, 2021. Information concerning the fees paid to Yount, Hyde & Barbour, P.C. is included in this proxy statement under the heading “Audit-Related Matters.” Representatives from Yount, Hyde & Barbour, P.C. are expected to be present at the Annual Meeting, will have the opportunity to make a statement if they desire to do so, and are expected to be available to respond to appropriate questions from shareholders.

Although our Bylaws do not require shareholder ratification or other approval of the retention of our independent registered public accounting firm, as a matter of good corporate governance, the Board of Directors is requesting that the shareholders ratify the appointment of Yount, Hyde & Barbour, P.C. as the independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2021.

Ratification of the appointment of Yount, Hyde & Barbour, P.C. as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm requires that a majority of the votes cast at the Annual Meeting vote be 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 ratification of the appointment of Company’s independent registered public accounting firm is approved.

THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE “FOR” PROPOSAL TWO – RATIFICATION OF THE APPOINTMENT OF YOUNT, HYDE & BARBOUR, P.C.

OTHER INFORMATION

Shareholder Communications

Under the regulations of the SEC, any shareholder desiring to make a proposal to be acted upon at the 2022 Annual Meeting of Shareholders must cause such proposal to be received, in proper form, at the Company’s principal executive offices at 112 West King Street, Strasburg, Virginia 22657, no later than December 2, 2021, in order for the proposal to be considered for inclusion in the Company’s Proxy Statement for that meeting.  The Company presently anticipates holding the 2022 Annual Meeting of Shareholders on May 11, 2022.

The Company’s Bylaws also prescribe the procedure that a shareholder must follow to nominate directors or to bring other business before shareholders’ meetings outside of the proxy statement process.  For a shareholder to nominate a candidate for director or to bring other business before a meeting, notice must be received by the Secretary of First National Corporation not less than 60 days and not more than 90 days prior to the date of the meeting. Based upon an anticipated date of May 11, 2022 for the 2022 Annual Meeting of Shareholders, the Company must receive such notice no later than March 12, 2022 and no earlier than February 10, 2022.  Notice of a nomination for director must describe various matters regarding the nominee and the shareholder giving the notice. Notice of other business to be brought before the meeting must include a description of the proposed business, the reasons therefore, and other specified matters regarding the shareholder giving the notice. Any shareholder may obtain a copy of the Company’s Bylaws, without charge, upon written request to the Secretary of First National Corporation.

Annual Report to Shareholders

A copy of the Company’s Annual Report to Shareholders for the year ended December 31, 2020 accompanies this Proxy Statement.  Additional copies may be obtained by written request to the Secretary of First National Corporation at the address indicated below.  The Annual Report is not part of the proxy solicitation materials.

Upon receipt of a written request of any person who, on the record date, was record owner of shares of common stock or who represents in good faith that he or she was on such date the beneficial owner of shares of common stock entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting of Shareholders, the Company will furnish to such person, without charge, a copy of its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020 and its quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and the exhibits thereto, required to be filed with the SEC under the Exchange Act. Any such request should be made in writing to M. Shane Bell, Chief Financial Officer, First National Corporation, 112 West King Street, Strasburg, Virginia 22657.

Other Matters

The Board of First National Corporation is not aware of any other matters that may come before the Annual Meeting.  However, the proxies may be voted with discretionary authority with respect to any other matters that may properly come before the Annual Meeting.

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