Message from the CEO

M C Bank Names LeBato New Chief Executive Officer

MORGAN CITY – Veteran banker Christopher LeBato has been named Chief Executive Officer at M C Bank & Trust, according to Larry Callais. “With my upcoming retirement, I was happy to step aside from my role as CEO in an effort to allow Chris to step into that position and continue on the focused path that M C Bank is on.” 

Originally from Lake Charles, LA, Chris started his banking career at AmSouth Bank, which eventually merged with Regions Bank in 2007.  In 2011, he joined IBERIABANK where he spent 10 plus years.  During his tenure at IBERIABANK, Chris was promoted to New Orleans Retail Market Manager before becoming the bank’s Retail Banking Executive overseeing Alabama, Louisiana and Texas. In that role, LeBato was responsible for developing and training hundreds of staff and managing billions of dollars in deposits and loans in multi-state market development.

Chris received his BA from Spring Hill College in Mobile, Alabama.  He was designated a Certified Commercial Investment Member (CCIM) through CCIM Institute in Chicago, IL and is a recent graduate of the Pacific Coast Banking School through the Foster School of Business at the University of Washington in Seattle, WA.

LeBato has a deep commitment to community service.  Chris presently serves as President of the Board of Directors of Youth Empowerment Project (YEP) and President of the Urban Land Institute of Louisiana.  Chris also currently sits on the boards of the Wilderness Adventures Foundation, New Orleans Regional Leadership (NORLI) and Friends of WWOZ. 

He also has been actively involved in a number of civic and economic development organizations that include, CCIM, Association for Corporate Growth, Young Leadership Council, Women Unlimited Inc., Campaign for Equity, Feed the Front Line, and Network Volunteers.  Additionally, He is a certifiedEmergenetics® associate as he is passionate about focusing on the development and growth using Emergenetics® to teach communication and emotional intelligence skills to build self-awareness, develop better teams and create communication fluency.

Over the course of his career, LeBato has earned significant professional recognition.  Among these honors, Chris was selected as a fellow for the Bryan Bell Metropolitan Leadership Forum, Racial Equity Institute, and NORLI.  In 2017, LeBato was honored by New Orleans City Business as a Money Maker.

“Mr. LeBato has distinguished himself in the banking community for many years,” Callais said. “He has exhibited enviable leadership qualities not only within the walls of the bank but throughout the community as well. It is this commitment to the spirit of community that helps make him the perfect candidate for his new role as Chief Executive Officer.”

About his appointment as Chief Executive Officer at MC Bank & Trust Company, LeBato stated, “I am honored to assume the role of CEO at MC Bank.  I am truly humbled by this amazing opportunity and excited to build on MC Bank’s strong, 66-year legacy and lead the institution into the future.”