def14a.htm


 


CHCO logo

 


March 26, 2008


To Our Shareholders:

On behalf of the Board of Directors, I cordially invite you to attend the Annual Meeting of Shareholders of City Holding Company to be held at The Resort at Glade Springs located at 255 Resort Drive, Daniels, WV 25832, on Wednesday, April 30, 2008 at 2:30 p.m.

The notice of meeting and proxy statement accompanying this letter describes the specific business to be acted upon.

In addition to the specific matters to be acted upon, there will be a report on the progress of the Company and an opportunity for questions of general interest to the shareholders.  We hope that you will join us at this year’s Annual Meeting and look forward to personally greeting those of you who are able to attend.

It is important that your shares be represented at the meeting.  Whether or not you plan to attend the annual meeting, please vote your shares by: (1) accessing the Internet at the website included on the proxy card, (2) calling the toll-free number shown on the proxy card, or (3) completing, signing and returning the enclosed proxy card as soon as possible in the postage-paid envelope provided.

City Holding Company thanks you for your consideration and your continued support.

Sincerely,
McLaughlin signature
Philip L. McLaughlin
Chairman of the Board
 
 
Hageboeck signature
Charles R. Hageboeck
President & CEO

 

 





CITY HOLDING COMPANY
25 Gatewater Road
Post Office Box 7520
Charleston, West Virginia 25356-0520

NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
To Be Held April 30, 2008

Notice is hereby given that the Annual Meeting of Shareholders of City Holding Company will be held at The Resort at Glade Springs located at 255 Resort Drive, Daniels, WV 25832, on Wednesday, April 30, 2008 at 2:30 p.m. (local time) for the following purposes:

 
1.
To elect five Class III directors to serve for a term of three years.  The names of the nominees are set forth in the accompanying proxy statement.

 
2.
To ratify the Board of Directors’ appointment of Ernst & Young LLP as the independent registered public accounting firm for City Holding Company for 2008.

 
3.
To transact such other business as may properly come before the meeting.

Shareholders of record at the close of business on March 20, 2008 are the only shareholders entitled to notice of and to vote at the annual shareholders meeting.
 
 
By Order of the Board of Directors,
V Faw signature
Victoria A. Faw,
Secretary

March 26, 2008

IMPORTANT NOTICE

We urge you to sign and return the enclosed proxy as promptly as possible regardless of your plans to attend the meeting.  If you attend the meeting, you may vote your shares in person, even though you have previously signed and returned your proxy.

 

 

CITY HOLDING COMPANY
25 Gatewater Road
Charleston, West Virginia 25356-0520


PROXY STATEMENT


Information Concerning the Solicitation

This statement is furnished in connection with the solicitation of proxies to be used at the Annual Meeting of Shareholders of City Holding Company (the “Company”) to be held on April 30, 2008.

The solicitation of proxies in the enclosed form is made on behalf of the Board of Directors of the Company.  The cost of preparing, assembling, and mailing the proxy material and of reimbursing brokers, nominees, and fiduciaries for the out-of-pocket and clerical expenses of transmitting copies of the proxy material to the beneficial owners of shares held of record by such persons will be borne by the Company.  The Company does not currently intend to solicit proxies otherwise than by use of the mail, but certain officers and regular employees of the Company or its subsidiaries, without additional compensation, may use their best efforts, by telephone or otherwise, to obtain proxies.  The proxy materials are being mailed, on or about March 26, 2008, to shareholders of record at the close of business on March 20, 2008 (the “Record Date”).

Annual Report

The Company’s Annual Report for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2007, is being furnished with this Proxy Statement to shareholders of record on the Record Date.  The Annual Report to Shareholders does not constitute a part of this Proxy Statement or the proxy solicitation material.

Householding

The Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) has adopted rules that permit companies and intermediaries (e.g., brokers) to satisfy the delivery requirements for proxy statements and annual reports with respect to two or more shareholders sharing the same address by delivering a single proxy statement addressed to those shareholders.  This process is commonly referred to as “householding.”

The Company has implemented “householding” in an effort to reduce the number of duplicate mailings to the same address.  This process benefits both shareholders and the Company, because it eliminates unnecessary mailings delivered to your home and helps to reduce the Company’s expenses.  “Householding” will not be used, however, if the Company has received contrary instructions from one or more of the shareholders sharing an address.  We will continue to “Household” indefinitely until you instruct us otherwise.  You may notify the Company that you would like to receive separate copies of the Company’s annual report and proxy statement in the future by calling Computershare Investor Services, LLC at 1-800-568-3476, or by mail to the attention of City Holding Company, c/o Computershare Investor Services, LLC, P. O. Box 43078, Providence, RI 02940-3078.  Even if your household receives only one annual report and one proxy statement, the Company will continue to send a separate proxy card for each shareholder residing at your address.  Please note, however, that if you also hold shares of the Company in “street name” (e.g., in a brokerage account or retirement plan account) you may continue to receive duplicate mailings.

Voting Methods

The accompanying proxy is for use at the Annual Meeting if a shareholder either will be unable to attend in person or will be able to attend but wishes to vote by proxy.  Shares may be voted by completing the enclosed proxy card and mailing it in the postage-paid envelope provided, voting over the Internet, or using a toll-free telephone number.  Please refer to the proxy card or the information forwarded by your bank, broker or other holder of record to see which options are available.  (If your shares are held in the name of a bank, broker or other holder of record, you must obtain a proxy, executed in your favor, from the holder of record to be able to vote at the meeting.)  Shareholders who vote over the Internet may incur costs, such as telephone and Internet access charges, for which the shareholder is responsible.  The Internet and telephone voting facilities for eligible shareholders of record will close at 6:00 a.m., Eastern Time, on April 30, 2008.  Specific instructions to be followed by any shareholder interested in voting via the Internet or telephone are shown on the enclosed proxy card.  The Internet and telephone voting procedures are designed to authenticate the shareholder’s identity and to allow shareholders to vote their shares and confirm that their instructions have been properly recorded.  In the event that a shareholder’s proxy does not reference Internet or telephone information because the shareholder is not the registered owner of the shares, the shareholder should complete and return the paper proxy card in the self-addressed, postage-paid envelope provided.

 
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The proxy may be revoked at any time before the shares subject to it are voted by (i) notifying, in writing, Victoria A. Faw, Corporate Secretary, City Holding Company, P. O. Box 7520, Charleston, WV 25356-0520, (ii) executing a proxy bearing a later date (including a proxy given over the Internet or by telephone), or (iii) voting in person at the Annual Meeting the shares represented by the proxy.  (Your attendance at the Annual Meeting will not, by itself, revoke your proxy; you must vote in person at the Annual Meeting.)  All shares of the Company’s common stock (the “Common Stock”) represented by valid proxies received pursuant to this solicitation, and not revoked before they are exercised, will be voted in the manner specified therein.  If no specification is made, the proxies will be voted FOR proposals 1, 2, and 3.  If any other matters are properly presented for consideration at the Annual Meeting, the persons named as proxies and acting thereunder will have discretion to vote on those matters according to their best judgment to the same extent as the person delivering the proxy would be entitled to vote.  At this time, the Company is not aware of any other matters that may come before the Annual Meeting.

Outstanding Voting Shares

Only shareholders of record at the close of business on March 20, 2008 are entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting.  On that day, there were issued and outstanding 16,218,225 shares of Common Stock (after deducting an aggregate of 2,298,057shares held in treasury).  Each share has one vote.  Directors are elected by a plurality of the votes cast.  The affirmative vote of a majority of the shares represented and entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting is required to approve the appointment of Ernst & Young LLP.  In elections of directors, each shareholder shall have the right to cast one vote for each share of stock owned by him for as many persons as there are directors to be elected, or, upon notice to the Company at least 48 hours before the meeting and in accordance with West Virginia law, he may cumulate such votes and give one candidate as many votes as the number of directors to be elected multiplied by the number of his shares of stock, or he may distribute them on the same principle among as many candidates and in such manner as he shall desire.  If one shareholder duly gives notice in accordance with West Virginia law that he intends to cumulate votes, all shareholders may do so.  If any shares are voted for the election of directors, the persons named in the accompanying proxy card may, unless otherwise directed, cumulate their votes at their discretion and vote for less than all such nominees.  For all other purposes, each share is entitled to one vote.

The presence, in person, or by properly executed proxy, of the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of the Company’s Common Stock entitled to a vote at the Annual Meeting is necessary to constitute a quorum at the Annual Meeting.  Abstentions will be counted as shares present for purposes of determining the presence of a quorum.  Because director nominees must receive a plurality of the votes cast at the meeting, a vote withheld will not affect the outcome of the election.  Additionally, because a majority of the votes cast will be sufficient for the approval of the ratification of the appointment of Ernst & Young LLP, neither broker non-votes nor abstentions will affect the outcome of the proposals.  Any shares held in street name that are not voted (“broker non-votes”) in the election of directors or the proposal to ratify the Company’s appointment of Ernst & Young LLP will not be included in determining the number of votes cast.


COMMON STOCK OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS
AND MANAGEMENT

The Company’s only authorized voting equity security is its Common Stock, par value $2.50 per share.

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Beneficial Ownership of Directors and Named Executive Officers

The table below presents certain information as of March 1, 2008 regarding beneficial ownership of shares of Common Stock by directors, named executive officers listed under “Executive Officers of City Holding Company” on page 11, and all directors and executive officers as a group.

BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP
 
Name of Beneficial Owner
 
Sole Voting and Investment Power
(#)
   
Other (1)
(#)
   
Common Shares Subject to a Right to Acquire (2)
(#)
   
Aggregate Percentage Owned
(%)
   
CHCO Shares Held as Collateral
for Loans
(#)
 
                                       
Directors
                                     
Hugh R. Clonch (3)
    20,777       91,984       -      
*
      75,812  
Oshel B. Craigo
    11,500       2,912       -       *          
John R. Elliot
    4,400       -       -       *       -  
William H. File III
    14,526       999       -       *       -  
Robert D. Fisher (3)
    13,697       -       -       *       -  
Jay C. Goldman (3)
    13,718       -       -       *       -  
Charles R. Hageboeck (3)
    17,668       9,204       52,000       *       -  
David W. Hambrick
    36,067       3,533       -       *       -  
Tracy W. Hylton II
    19,349       -       -       *       -  
C. Dallas Kayser
    17,229       515       -       *       -  
Philip L. McLaughlin (3)
    31,851       16,269       -       *       1,210  
James L. Rossi
    11,259       -       -       *       -  
Sharon H. Rowe
    31,161       8       -       *       10,000  
James E. Songer II
    8,319       64,129       -       *       -  
Mary H. Williams
    8,501       56,740       -       *       -  
Named Executive Officers
                                    -  
David L. Bumgarner
    2,500       1,483       12,500       *       -  
Craig G. Stilwell
    19,513       1,267       28,000       *       -  
John A. DeRito
    2,700       -       18,000       *       -  
John W. Alderman III
    4,250       2,603       4,500       *       -  
Directors and Executive Officers as
   a group (19 persons)
    288,985       251,646       115,000       4.04 %     87,022  
* Less than 1%.

(1) Includes shares (a) owned by or with certain relatives; (b) held in various fiduciary capacities; (c) held by certain corporations; (d) held in trust under the Company's 401(k) Plan and Trust.
(2) Includes options to acquire shares of the Company's Common Stock that are exerciseable within 60 days of December 31, 2007.
(3) Messrs. Clonch, Fisher, Goldman, Hageboeck and McLaughlin are nominees for re-election to the Board of Directors as Class III directors.


 
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GOVERNANCE AND NOMINATING COMMITTEE REPORT

The Governance and Nominating Committee of the Board of Directors (the “Governance Committee”) is comprised of seven independent directors and operates under a written charter adopted by the Board of Directors.  The Governance Committee is charged with the responsibilities of:  (i) identifying individuals qualified to become Board members; (ii) selecting or recommending that the Board select the director nominees for the next annual meeting of shareholders; and (iii) overseeing corporate governance matters for the Company.

Director candidates are nominated by the Governance Committee.  The Governance Committee will consider director candidates recommended by shareholders (see “Shareholders Proposals and Nominations” on page 25, other members of the Board, officers and employees of the Company and other sources that the committee deems appropriate.  The Governance Committee’s written charter directs the committee to evaluate the candidates based upon the totality of the merits of each candidate and not based upon minimum qualifications or attributes.  In considering individual nominees, the committee takes into account the qualifications of other Board members to ensure that a broad variety of skill sets and experience beneficial to the Company and its business are represented on the Board of Directors.  The Governance Committee evaluates all director candidates in the same manner regardless of the source of the recommendation.  Some of the criteria used by the committee to evaluate the candidates, including those selected for nomination at the 2008 Annual Meeting, include:

§      Personal and professional integrity
§      Prior business experience, including knowledge of the banking business
§      Education
§      Age
§      Skills that may be relevant to the Company’s business
§      Geographic distribution of the candidates
§      Prior Board experience with the Company or other publicly-traded companies
§      Involvement in community, business and civic affairs

The Governance Committee is also empowered to retain and to terminate outside advisors to assist in the performance of its functions with the sole authority to agree to fees and other terms of engagement.  The committee did not hire any outside advisors to assist them with respect to the selection of candidates for director nominations in 2008.

The Governance Committee has nominated for election as Class III directors, all of whom currently serve as Class III directors of the Company:  Hugh R. Clonch, Robert D. Fisher, Jay C. Goldman, Charles R. Hageboeck and Philip L. McLaughlin, to serve three year terms expiring at the 2011 Annual Meeting.  The Governance Committee received one or more recommendations from shareholders in connection with the Annual Meeting and, after due consideration, decided  not to nominate the suggested persons.

Respectfully submitted,

Jay C. Goldman, Chairman
Hugh R. Clonch
Oshel B. Craigo
John R. Elliot
William H. File III
Robert D. Fisher
C. Dallas Kayser
 
February 26, 2008


 
-4-

 


 
ELECTION OF DIRECTORS (Proposal 1)

The Board of Directors of the Company currently consists of sixteen (16) members.  In accordance with the Company’s Bylaws, the Board of Directors is classified into three classes as nearly equal in number as the then total number of Directors constituting the whole Board permits.  Each class is to be elected to separate three-year terms with each term expiring in different years.  At each Annual Meeting, the directors or nominees constituting one class are elected for a three-year term.  The term of Class III directors expires at the 2008 Annual Meeting.  There are five nominees for election as Class III directors to serve for terms of three years expiring at the Annual Meeting in 2011.  Messrs. Clonch, Fisher, Goldman, Hageboeck and McLaughlin currently serve as directors of the Company and will stand for re-election as Class III directors.

Each director elected will continue in office until a successor has been elected.  If any nominee is unable to serve, which the Board of Directors has no reason to expect, the persons named on the accompanying proxy card intend to vote for the balance of those named and, if they deem it advisable, for a substitute nominee.  The names of the nominees for directors of the Company and the names of the directors of the Company whose terms of office will continue after the Annual Meeting are listed in the following table.

Name
Age(1)
Director Since
Principal Occupation During The Past Five Years
Class III Nominees (Terms Expire in 2011):
 
Hugh R. Clonch
 
68
 1995
President, Clonch Industries (lumber manufacturer).
Robert D. Fisher
 
55
 1994
Managing Member, Adams, Fisher & Chappell, PLLC (law firm).
Jay C. Goldman
 
64
 1988
President, Goldman and Associates (real estate).
Charles R. Hageboeck
 
45
 2005
President and Chief Executive Officer, City Holding Company and City National Bank since February 1, 2005.  Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, City Holding Company and City National Bank from June 2001 – January 31, 2005.
Philip L. McLaughlin
 
67
 1993(2)
Chairman of the Board, City Holding Company and City National Bank of West Virginia since April 2007.  Retired from active banking in April 2002.
The Board of Directors recommends that shareholders vote “FOR” all of the Class III nominees listed above.
Continuing Directors
 
Class I Directors (Terms Expire in 2009)
 
John R. Elliot
 
62
2007
Owner and President, AMFM, Inc. (nursing homes).  Owner and President, Capitol Conference Center (high tech conference center).  Owner and President, Continental Health Care, Inc. (construction company).  Owner and President, John Elliot Associates (architectural company).
David W. Hambrick
 
66
1993(2)
Self-employed attorney since 2004.  Attorney, Guills & Via, PLLC  (law firm) 2002 – 2004.
James L. Rossi
 
54
 2001
Owner & President, James Rossi CPA, A.C. (public accounting).  Member, Mason Development Group, LLC (commercial real estate development and leasing).
James E. Songer II
 
52
 2000
President, Songer Insurance Agency (insurance agency).  Owner, Homeseekers LLC (real estate sales and development).
Mary E. Hooten Williams
 
46
 2001
Vice President and Treasurer, Virginia Street Properties Corp. and Hooten Properties (real estate rental companies) since January 2006.  Owner, Bistro Gourmet, LLC (aka Kitchen 1010) (gourmet food market and catering) from December 2004 – September 2006.  Treasurer, Hooten Equipment Company (dealers/distributors of commercial heating and air conditioning and suppliers of food service equipment) until December 15, 2004.
Class II  Directors (Terms Expire in 2010)
 
Oshel B. Craigo
 
70
 2001
Owner and Chief Executive Officer, Better Foods, Inc. (restaurants).
William H. File III
 
60
 2001
Partner, File Payne Scherer & File, PLLC (law firm).
 
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 Name
Age(1) 
Director Since
 Principal Occupation During The Past Five Years
Tracy W. Hylton II
 
59
1993(2)
President, Eller, Inc. (construction and reclamation company).  Member, Harper Hotel LLC (management company).  Member, HMTWH, LLC (real estate investments).  President, Lightning, Inc. (lease holding and coal sales).  Member, M & T, LLC (partner in coal loading dock).  Vice President, Nell Jean Enterprises, Inc. (retail sales of mining, construction, sporting goods).  President, New Land Leasing Company, Inc. (lease holding company).  President, Patience, Inc. (surface coal mining). Member, T & M, LLC (land owner and lessor). Member, Southern WV Industrial Park, LLC (industrial land sales).  Member, South Slope Estates, LLC (residential land sales).
C. Dallas Kayser
 
56
1995
Senior Partner, Kayser, Layne & Clark, PLLC (formerly C. Dallas Kayser, LC) (law firm).
Sharon H. Rowe
 
57
 2001
Senior Consultant, Charles Ryan Associates (formerly Gallagher/Goodwin-Gregg Communications Group) (marketing/public relations) since May 2006.  Retired as Vice President of Communications, The Greenbrier Resort and Club Management Company and Director of Communications, The Greenbrier (resort/hotel) on January 1, 2006.

(1)           Directors’ ages are as of the Annual Meeting Date, April 30, 2008.
(2)
On December 31, 1998, the merger of Horizon Bancorp, Inc. (“Horizon”) into City Holding Company (“City Holding”) was consummated and certain directors of Horizon became directors of City Holding.

Information as to Directors Who Will Not Stand for Re-election

Samuel M. Bowling is retiring from the Board of Directors when his current term expires at this Annual Meeting due to the mandatory age retirement provisions of the Company’s bylaws.  The Company has benefited from and is grateful for Mr. Bowling’s giving of his time, knowledge, experience and wise counsel in many areas integral to furthering the growth and success of the Company.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION CONCERNING THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Board of Directors

The Company is managed under the direction of the Board of Directors, which has adopted a Code of Ethics and charters for the Governance and Nominating Committee, Compensation Committee and the Audit Committee to set forth certain corporate governance practices.  These documents are available on the Company’s Internet website at http://www.cityholding.com under the Corporate Governance tab.

Independence of Directors

The Board of Directors has determined that the following directors are “independent” within the meaning of the general independence standards in the listing standards of The NASDAQ Stock Market, Inc., the market on which shares of the Company’s Common Stock are quoted:  Messrs. Clonch, Craigo, Elliot, File, Fisher, Goldman, Hambrick, Hylton, Kayser, McLaughlin, Rossi, Songer and Mmes. Rowe and Williams.

Meetings of Independent Directors

Independent members of the Board of Directors generally meet in executive sessions without management following every regularly scheduled Board meeting.  (Other sessions may be called by the Chairman in his or her own discretion or at the request of the independent members of the Board.)  The independent directors met twelve times in 2007.  Mr. McLaughlin, the independent Chairman, leads both the regular meetings of the Company’s directors as well as the executive sessions of independent directors.

Shareholders and other interested persons may contact the Chairman of the Board or the independent members of the Board of Directors as a group through the method described in “Communications with the Board of Directors” below.

Attendance at Annual Meeting

Although there is no formal written policy, the Company expects all directors to attend the annual meeting of shareholders each year.  Fifteen directors attended the annual meeting of shareholders held on April 25, 2007.

 
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Communications with the Board of Directors

The Board of Directors has unanimously approved a process for shareholders to send communications to the Board of Directors and individual directors.  Shareholders and other interested persons may communicate with the full Board of Directors, a specified committee of the Board, the independent directors or a specified individual member of the Board in writing by mail c/o City Holding Company, 25 Gatewater Road, P. O. Box 7520, Charleston, WV 25356-0520, Attention: Victoria A. Faw, Corporate Secretary.  All communications will be forwarded to the Board of Directors, the specified committee of the Board or the specified individual director, as appropriate.  The Company screens all regular mail for security purposes.

Availability of Code of Ethics and Committee Charters

The Company’s Code of Ethics and the charters of the Audit Committee, Compensation Committee, and Governance and Nominating Committee are available on the Company’s Internet website at http://www.cityholding.com under the Corporate Governance tab.

Committees of the Board of Directors and Meeting Attendance

The full Board of Directors met twelve times during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2007.  No member of the Board of Directors of the Company, attended less than 75% of the aggregate meetings of the Board of Directors and all committees on which such director served during 2007.

Membership on Certain Board Committees

The Board of Directors of City Holding Company has established an Audit Committee, Executive Committee, Nominating and Governance Committee, Compensation Committee and Trust Committee.  The following table sets forth the membership of such committees and the independence of each director as of the date of this proxy statement.

Director
Executive
Committee
Audit
Committee
Nominating
and
Governance
Committee
Compensation
Committee
Independent*
Hugh R. Clonch
--
--
X
X
X
Oshel B. Craigo
--
--
X
X
X
John R. Elliot
--
--
X
X
X
William H. File III
--
--
X
X
X
Robert D. Fisher
--
--
X
X
X
Jay C. Goldman
X
--
Chairman
X
X
Charles R. Hageboeck
X
--
--
--
--
David W. Hambrick
--
X
--
--
X
Tracy W. Hylton II
--
X
--
--
X
C. Dallas Kayser
X
---
X
Chairman
X
Philip L. McLaughlin
Chairman
--
--
--
X
James L. Rossi
X
Chairman
--
--
X
Sharon H. Rowe
--
X
--
--
X
James E. Songer II
--
X
--
--
X
Mary H. Williams
--
X
--
--
X
           
Number of Meetings Held in 2007
1
6
3
4
 

* Director meets the independence requirements as defined in the listing standards of The NASDAQ Stock Market and SEC Regulations


Executive Committee

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2007, the Executive Committee consisted of Messrs. Goldman, Hageboeck, Kayser, McLaughlin (Chairman) and Rossi.  Subject to limitations imposed by the West Virginia Business Corporation Act, the Executive Committee has the power to act between meetings of the Board on virtually all matters that the Board could act upon, but generally as a matter of practice reserves its function for special or emergency purposes.  The Executive Committee met one time during fiscal year ended December 31, 2007.

 
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Compensation Committee

During 2007, the Compensation Committee consisted of Messrs. Kayser (Chairman), Clonch, Craigo, Elliot, File, Fisher, and Goldman.  The Board of Directors has determined that each of the current members of the Compensation Committee is “independent” within the meaning of the general independence standards of the listing standards of The NASDAQ Stock Market, Inc.  For a description of the function of the Compensation Committee, see “Compensation Committee Report on Executive Compensation” beginning on page 16.  The Compensation Committee met four times during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2007.  No Compensation Committee member attended fewer than 75% of the committee meetings held during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2007.

Audit Committee

In 2007, members of the Audit Committee included Messrs. Rossi (Chairman), Hambrick, Hylton, Songer and Mms. Rowe and Williams, none of whom is employed by the Company.  The Board of Directors has determined that each of the current members of the Audit Committee is “independent” within the meaning of the enhanced independence standards for audit committee members in the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and rules thereunder, as amended, and as incorporated into the listing standards of The Nasdaq Stock Market, Inc.  The Board of Directors has also determined that James L. Rossi, Chairman of the Audit Committee, is an “audit committee financial expert” within the meaning of the rules promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and is “independent” within the meaning of the general independence standards of the listing standards of the listing standards of The NASDAQ Stock Market, Inc.  The Audit Committee held six meetings during fiscal year 2007.  The Audit Committee selects the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm (subject to shareholder ratification), considers the scope of the audit, reviews the activities and recommendations made by the Company’s internal auditors, and considers comments made by the independent registered public accounting firm with respect to the Company’s internal control structure.  No Audit Committee member attended fewer than 75% of the committee meetings held during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2007.

Governance and Nominating Committee

During 2007, the Governance and Nominating Committee (“Governance Committee”) consisted of Messrs. Goldman (Chairman), Craigo, Clonch, Elliot, File, Fisher, and Kayser.  The Board of Directors has determined that each of the current members of the Governance Committee is “independent” within the meaning of the general independence standards of the listing standards of The Nasdaq Stock Market, Inc.  For a description of the function of the Governance Committee, see the “Governance and Nominating Committee Report” on page 4.  The Governance Committee met three times during fiscal year 2007.  No Governance Committee members, except Mr. Elliot, attended fewer than 75% of the committee meetings held during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2007.

Director Candidate Recommendations and Nominations by Shareholders.  The Governance Committee’s Charter provides that the Governance Committee will consider director candidate recommendations by shareholders.  Any shareholder entitled to vote for the election of directors may (1) recommend candidates for election to the Board of Directors or (2) nominate persons for election to the Board or Directors if such shareholder complies with the procedures set forth in the Company’s Amended and Restated Bylaws, which are summarized in “Shareholder Proposals and Nominations” beginning on page 25.

Governance and Nominating Committee Process for Identifying and Evaluating Director Candidates.  For a description of the Governance Committee’s process for identifying and evaluating candidates for election to the Board of Directors, see the “Governance and Nominating Committee Report” on page 4.  The Governance Committee received one or more recommendations from shareholders in connection with the Annual Meeting and, after due consideration, decided not to nominate the suggested persons.

Compensation of Directors

During 2007, non-employee directors of the Company received an annual retainer of $12,500, $500 for each Board meeting attended, $400 for each Audit Committee meeting attended and $250 for each other committee meeting, other than Audit, attended.  In addition, Messrs. File, Goldman, Kayser, McLaughlin and Rossi, received committee chair and Chairman fees of $2,500, $5,000, $5,000, $5,000 and $10,000, respectively.  On February 27, 2008, the Board awarded non-employee directors 400 shares of Common Stock, which closed on that date at a price of $39.22 resulting in market value on that date of $15,688 for each non-employee director.

Bank of Raleigh Directors Deferred Compensation Plan

Between 1987 and 1998, ten directors of the former Bank of Raleigh deferred all or part of their director fees in exchange for compensation that was deferred until their 70th birthdays.  The Bank of Raleigh was part of Horizon Bancorp which merged with the Company on December 31, 1998. The shareholders of both corporations ratified that merger and the benefits due under the Bank of Raleigh Directors Deferred Compensation Plan when they approved the merger in 1998.  Directors File, Songer, and Hylton were directors of the former Bank of Raleigh, and are covered by these plans.  Under the terms of these plans, directors were given the opportunity to defer all or a portion of their directors’ fees for their service to the Bank of Raleigh beginning in 1987 through 1998.  As a result of such deferrals, these directors (or their survivors) are entitled to payments for a period of 15 years upon reaching retirement age, as defined by the plans, or death.  The methodology for calculating future benefits for these directors was established at the time that the deferrals were made, and is unaffected by their current service on the Board of the Company.  The Company accrued the present value of these obligations on its Consolidated Balance Sheet.  Their deferred benefits under the plan are as follows:

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Monthly Pension Benefit
 
Pension Start Date
 
Present Value of Benefit @ 12/31/07
   
Expense Taken in 2007
In regard to benefits
 
William H. File III
  $ 6,631.30  
7/1/2017
  $ 449,502     $ 26,114  
Tracy W. Hylton II
  $ 4,789.77  
9/1/2018
  $ 302,776     $ 17,590  
James E. Songer II
  $ 3,000.00  
5/1/2026
  $ 119,854     $ 6,963  

 

 
2007 DIRECTOR COMPENSATION
 

 

DIRECTOR COMPENSATION
 
Name
 
Fees Earned
or Paid in
Cash
   
Stock Awards
   
Option Awards
   
Non-Equity
Incentive
Plan
Compensation
   
Change in
Pension Value
and
Nonqualified
Deferred
Compensation
Earnings
   
All Other
Compensation
   
Total
 
   
($)
   
($)
   
($)
   
($)
   
($)
   
($)
   
($)
 
                                           
                                           
Hugh R. Clonch
    19,250       15,688       -       -       -       -       34,938  
Oshel B. Craigo
    19,250       15,688       -       -       -       -       34,938  
John R. Elliot
    17,458       15,688                                       33,146  
William H. File III
    20,125       15,688       -       -       26,114       -       61,927  
Robert D. Fisher
    20,250       15,688       -       -       -       -       35,938  
Jay C. Goldman
    25,000       15,688       -       -       -       -       40,688  
Charles R. Hageboeck (1)
    -       -       -       -       -       -       -  
David W. Hambrick
    20,900       15,688       -       -       -       -       36,588  
Tracy W. Hylton II
    20,000       15,688       -       -       17,590       -       53,278  
C. Dallas Kayser
    24,750       15,688       -       -       -       -       40,438  
Philip L. McLaughlin
    27,375       15,688       -       -       -       -       43,063  
James L. Rossi
    30,650       15,688       -       -       -       -       46,338  
Sharon H. Rowe
    19,900       15,688       -       -       -       -       35,588  
James E. Songer II
    21,500       15,688       -       -       6,963       -       44,151  
Mary H. Williams
    20,250       15,688       -       -       -       -       35,938  

 (1) Mr. Hageboeck, President and CEO of the Company, does not receive fees for director or committee service or for meeting attendance.

 
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REPORT OF THE AUDIT COMMITTEE

 
The Audit Committee of the Board of Directors (the “Audit Committee”) is comprised of six independent directors and operates under a written charter adopted by the Board of Directors. The Audit Committee selects the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm, subject to shareholder ratification. Management is responsible for the Company’s internal controls and the financial reporting process. The independent registered public accounting firm is responsible for performing an independent audit of the Company’s consolidated financial statements and management’s assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) and for issuing reports thereon. The Audit Committee’s responsibility is to monitor and oversee these processes. In this context, the Audit Committee has met and held discussions with management and Ernst & Young LLP (“Ernst & Young”), the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm.
 
Management represented to the Audit Committee that the Company’s audited consolidated financial statements were prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles, and the Audit Committee has reviewed and discussed the audited consolidated financial statements with management and Ernst & Young.
 
The Audit Committee has discussed with Ernst & Young the matters required to be discussed by Statement on Auditing Standards No. 61 (Codification of Statements on Accounting Standards), as amended.
 
The Audit Committee has also received the written disclosures and the letter from Ernst & Young relating to the independence of that firm as required by Independence Standards Board Standard No. 1 (Independence Discussions with Audit Committees), and has discussed with Ernst & Young that firm’s independence from the Company. The Audit Committee has also considered whether the provision of non-audit related services by Ernst & Young is compatible with maintaining Ernst & Young’s independence and determined that Ernst & Young’s independence has not been impaired.
 
Based upon the Audit Committee’s discussions with management and Ernst & Young and the Audit Committee’s review of the representations of management and the report of Ernst & Young to the Audit Committee, the Audit Committee recommended that the Board of Directors include the audited consolidated financial statements in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
 
Respectfully submitted,
 
James L. Rossi, Chairman
David W. Hambrick
Tracy W. Hylton II
Sharon H. Rowe
James E. Songer II
Mary H. Williams

February 26, 2008


This report shall not be deemed to be incorporated by reference into any filing under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, unless the Company specifically incorporates this report by reference.  It will not be otherwise filed under such Acts.


 
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EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF CITY HOLDING COMPANY

The following table sets forth the name of each executive officer as of December 31, 2007, and the principal positions and offices held with the Company.  Unless otherwise indicated, each of these officers has served as an executive officer of the Company for at least five years.

Name
Age*
Business Experience
Charles R. Hageboeck
45
President and Chief Executive Officer, City Holding Company and City National Bank since February 1, 2005.  Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, City Holding Company and City National Bank from June 2001 – January 31, 2005.
     
Craig G. Stilwell
52
Executive Vice President of Retail Banking, City Holding Company and City National Bank since February 23, 2005.  Executive Vice President of Marketing & Human Resources, City Holding Company and City National Bank May 2001 – February 22, 2005.
     
John A. DeRito
58
Executive Vice President of Commercial Banking, City Holding Company and City National Bank since June 25, 2004.  Credit Officer, Central West Virginia Region, BB&T from November 2000 – June 2004.
     
John W. Alderman, III
43
Senior Vice President and Chief Legal Counsel, City Holding Company and City National Bank since April 1997.
     
David L. Bumgarner
43
Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, City Holding Company and City National Bank since February 2005.  Audit Senior Manager, Arnett & Foster, PLLC from August 2000 – January 2005.

* Executive Officers’ ages are as of the Annual Meeting Date, April 30, 2008.


COMPENSATION DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS

General Plan Design

The Company’s executive compensation program includes five components: base salary, an incentive program tied directly to the Company’s financial performance metrics, annual bonuses reflecting the Board’s discretion to reward the Company’s executives based upon results achieved that were not contemplated in the incentive program or are otherwise not easily quantified, long-term compensation (stock awards), and other non-cash perquisites. Each element of the Company’s executive compensation program has a somewhat different purpose.  The Compensation Committee believes that its principal responsibility is to ensure that the Company’s compensation practices allow the Company to keep qualified management and to incent and reward executive performance in ways that are aligned with increasing shareholder value.  Further, the Compensation Committee believes that overall compensation should be significantly dependent upon performance as measured by the Company’s profitability, the market price of the Company’s Common Stock, performance relative to peers, and progress made toward achieving the Company’s long-term strategic objectives. As a result, a significant portion of the compensation of executive officers of the Company is tied to incentive compensation, bonuses, and stock awards. The Compensation Committee may meet to consider compensation at any time during the year. Traditionally, the Compensation Committee meets after each fiscal year has ended to review the Company’s performance, consider increases in base salaries, approve incentive compensation based upon previously agreed upon targets, consider bonuses in light of performance, and recommend long-term stock-based grants. The President and CEO may make recommendations to the Committee based on these matters and based upon the performance of the Company, but decisions regarding compensation for the named executive officers rest entirely with the Compensation Committee. The Compensation Committee then recommends actions for approval of the Board of Directors.

Peer Group

The Committee believes that it is important to measure the Company’s performance against peers – companies of similar size, markets, and products. The Company has traditionally looked at two peer groups. The Company looks at the peer group of publicly traded banks with total assets between $2 and $5 billion (95 banks at December 31, 2007). Within this peer group, the Company was the 57th largest based upon total assets at December 31, 2007 but was the 8th largest based upon total net income in 2007. The Company’s return on assets (ROA) in 2007 and 2006 was 2.03% and 2.11%, respectively, ranking it 2nd on ROA in both 2006 and 2007 within this peer group. The Company’s return on tangible equity (ROTE) in 2007 was 20.99% and 22.57% in 2006 ranking it 4th and 9th within this peer group in 2007 and 2006, respectively.  The Company’s tangible equity to tangible assets ratio was 10.06% at December 31, 2006 and 9.72% at December 31, 2007, ranking the Company 6th and 7th in 2006 and 2007 respectively, with respect to this level of capitalization. Within the context of the peer group of 95 banks with total assets of $2 to $5 billion, the Company has been a top performer.

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The Company also compares itself to a “Regional Peer Group.” This peer group was selected from publicly traded banking companies of similar size operating in West Virginia, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Kentucky, Virginia, Maryland and up-state New York. Most operate in similar markets to the Company in terms of urbanization and demographic trends. The banks included in this Regional Peer Group are: Community Bank Systems, Inc. (NY), Community Trust Bancorp Inc. (KY), First Commonwealth Financial Corporation (PA), First Community Bancshares, Inc. (VA), First Financial Bancorp (OH), First Place Financial Corp. (OH), F.N.B. Corporation (PA), Harleysville National Corporation (PA), NBT Bancorp Inc. (NY), National Penn Bancshares Inc. (PA), Park National Corp. (OH), Peoples Bancorp Inc. (OH), S&T Bancorp Inc. (PA), Republic Bancorp Inc. (KY), Sandy Spring Bancorp Inc. (MD), Union Bankshares Corp. (VA), United Bankshares Inc. (WV), Univest Corp of Pennsylvania (PA), Virginia Financial Group Inc. (VA), and WesBanco Inc. (WV). Within this peer group, the Company is the 11th largest based upon the number of branches, 16th largest based upon total assets, 5th largest based upon Net Income in 2007, and 10th largest in terms of market capitalization at December 31, 2007. With respect to ROA, the Company ranked first in both 2007 and 2006. With respect to ROTE, the Company ranked fourth and third in 2007 and 2006 respectively, but only behind peer institutions operating with roughly half the tangible equity as the Company. Thus, within the context of the Regional Peer Group, the Company has also been a top performer.

Peer Group Performance – 2007

 
CHCO
$2 to $5 Billion
Peer Group
Regional Peer Group
Total Assets at 12/31/07 (median for peers)
$2.5 billion
$2.8 billion
$3.4 billion
Net Income (median)
$51.0 million
$24.0 million
$35.7 million
ROA (median)
2.03%
0.91%
1.08%
ROTE (median)
20.99%
14.24%
16.57%
Number of Offices (median)
69
50
72
Number of Companies
 
95
20

Base Salary

The Compensation Committee has established salary ranges for all executive positions (in a manner consistent with how it has evaluated all positions in the Company) reflecting the nature and scope of the executive officer’s responsibilities, the strategic importance of each position within the organization, and comparable compensation levels at peer financial institutions.  Within these ranges, executive officer salaries are determined based upon performance, experience, and credentials. Annual salary adjustments reflect performance as measured against both quantitative and qualitative measures of performance as well as changes in peer compensation levels. The factors used to evaluate each executive officer reflect his ability to contribute to overall Company performance as well as the performance within his own area of responsibility. The CEO is evaluated based entirely upon the success of the entire organization; the EVP-Retail is evaluated based partly upon the overall Company’s performance and partly upon the success of the Company’s retail businesses; the EVP-Commercial is evaluated based partly upon the overall Company’s performance and partly upon success in the Company’s commercial business; the CFO’s performance is evaluated based partly upon the overall Company’s performance and partly upon the performance of the Company’s financial team; and the Chief Counsel is evaluated based partly upon the overall Company’s performance and partly upon his contributions in guiding the Company as it relates to legal matters.

Incentive Compensation Plans

Incentive plans for executive officers are designed at the beginning of the fiscal year to reflect the Company’s performance objectives and to quantitatively tie the executive’s compensation directly to factors that are judged to be important to the success of the Company and within each executive’s own sphere of influence. The CEO’s incentive compensation plan reflects an Employment Agreement signed by the Company and Mr. Hageboeck on July 25, 2007.  Payments under Mr. Hageboeck’s plan are determined by the Company’s total profitability as measured by return on tangible equity. The incentive compensation plan for the EVP-Retail reflects an Employment Agreement also signed by the Company and Mr. Stilwell on July 25, 2007.  Payments under Mr. Stilwell’s plan are determined by the Company’s total profitability as measured by return on tangible equity. The incentive compensation plan for the EVP-Commercial, Mr. DeRito, is based upon growth in commercial loan balances outstanding, interest income achieved on the commercial loan portfolio, credit quality, and achievement of referral goals by the commercial lending staff. The incentive compensation plan for the CFO, Mr. Bumgarner, is tied to the Company’s performance with respect to net income for the current fiscal year, as is the incentive compensation plan for the Company’s chief counsel, Mr. Alderman. Due to the nature of Mr. Alderman’s responsibilities, Mr. Alderman is eligible for relatively less incentive compensation tied to overall Company performance and relatively more bonus based upon subjective evaluation of his individual contributions.

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Bonuses

The Compensation Committee recognizes that the Company’s performance cannot always be fully characterized by a single measure of profitability and that efforts to improve the long-term performance of the Company and to maintain the bank’s conservative balance sheet may in fact be at odds with maximizing current fiscal year profitability. Therefore, the Compensation Committee reviews the Company’s performance in its totality and has the discretion to award bonuses to executive officers in excess of factors specifically identified within the Incentive Compensation plans specified at the beginning of each fiscal year.  Bonus awards allow the Compensation Committee to reflect measures of success that are non-quantitative. Indeed, it is anticipated that executive officers will be compensated upon achievements on behalf of the Company that cannot be specifically tied to quantitative goals as specified in incentive compensation plans. In looking at the totality of the Company’s performance the Compensation Committee looks at factors such as: other measures of profitability such as return on assets (ROA) and return on tangible equity (ROTE), measures of asset quality, internal and external audit results, regulatory ratings, strategic objectives specified by the CEO or the Board of Directors, as well as other strategies employed by management throughout the year to lay the foundation for future growth.  The mix of performance-based compensation between “Incentive Compensation” and “Bonus” differs for each of the named executive officers based upon their individual duties and the ability to adequately measure success in accomplishing these duties with quantitative measures that can be specified in incentive compensation plans.

Long-term Compensation (Stock Awards)

The Compensation Committee believes that long-term compensation is an appropriate element of the total compensation package for Company officers. The committee further emphasizes long-term compensation for those officers it believes are most able to influence the Company’s long-term financial success. As such, the percentage of long-term compensation within the total compensation package will tend to be largest for the Company’s executive officers. The Company believes in achieving the appropriate balance between short-term incentive compensation programs that reward management for maintaining strong current financial performance and long-term compensation that rewards management for increases in the long-term underlying value of the Company.  The Compensation Committee recognizes that the Company’s main business is to provide retail and commercial banking services – a business considered to be relatively mature – and that the Company operates in relatively stable markets with limited growth prospects. Further, the Company performs well in the industry as discussed above. Within the $2 to $5 billion peer group for 2007, for instance, the Company maintains a strong net interest margin placing it 18th of 95 banks, fee income as a percent of total revenue that places it 8th of 95 banks, and relatively low levels of non-interest expense as a percent of total revenues placing it 6th of 95 banks.  Because the Company already performs well in a mature industry and in stable markets, the Compensation Committee has targeted relatively lower amounts of long-term compensation in the form of stock option awards (discussed below) and has targeted relatively larger amounts to short-term cash incentives, bonuses and long-term compensation in the form of restricted stock awards (discussed below) to emphasize maintenance of the Company’s financial performance within the total compensation package. This contrasts with growth-oriented companies in industries such as technology, health-care, etc. that tend to encourage long-term risk-taking focused on building share in fast growing industries over strong current financial performance through a mix emphasizing long-term compensation.

With respect to long-term compensation (stock awards), the Company currently awards both stock options and restricted stock. Stock options provide officers the ability to purchase shares of common stock in the future (generally at any time up to 10 years) from the date of grant at the current market price on the date the grant was awarded. The options may vest, or become exercisable, only after the passage of time or the occurrence of specifically agreed upon objectives.  Stock options have the advantage to the Company of aligning the rewards for officers with those of shareholders. The officer is rewarded only when the stock price increases.  However, stock options have no monetary value to the officer if the price of the stock decreases. Such a decrease may occur as a result of a general decline in the entire market for common stocks. Therefore, the Compensation Committee recognizes that it is possible that the Company might perform well but the stock price could decline due to an overall decline in the stock market, resulting in no benefit for the officer.

Restricted stock awards immediately transfer shares of the Company’s Common Stock to the officer subject to certain restrictions (generally that the shares revert to the Company if employment is not maintained through certain time frames or if the achievement of specific objectives is not met.)  Restricted stock has the advantage to the Company of providing the officer with an immediate benefit that is forfeited if he or she leaves the Company’s employment prior to the vesting of the restrictions. This tends to increase the officer’s incentive to be a long-term part of the Company’s success.  Unlike stock options, while the monetary value of restricted stock declines proportionately with a decline in the Company’s common stock price, the value of restricted stock does not become zero as is true with a stock option when the price of the common stock is trading below the grant price.

The Committee believes that both types of stock awards have a place in executive compensation programs.  Under Financial Accounting Standards Statement No. 123 (FAS 123R), both stock options and restricted stock require the Company to incur expense reflecting the value of the grant. In the case of restricted stock, the Company expenses the value of the stock on the date of grant over the (expected) vesting period. In the case of stock options, the Company expenses an estimate of the value of the award over the expected vesting period.  Because both stock awards result in similar expense, and because each serves slightly different needs, the Compensation Committee utilizes a combination of restricted stock and stock options to balance the incentives for executive officers.
 
 
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Stock awards are granted under the City Holding Company 2003 Incentive Plan (the “Plan”), under which the Compensation Committee is charged with responsibility for administering the Plan. However, under the Compensation Committee charter, the Committee will recommend grants to the Company’s executive officers for full approval by the Board of Directors.  The Compensation Committee may consider recommendations for stock grants to the Company’s executive officers at any time, at its own discretion, and as circumstances necessitate. Traditionally, the Compensation Committee has considered stock awards to executive officers on an annual basis, and generally in conjunction with its annual review of compensation for these officers (which has generally been conducted in February of each fiscal year).  It is the Company’s policy that all option grants and restricted stock grants to these executive officers will be dated on the date that they are approved by the Board of Directors and at an exercise price equal to the closing price of the Company’s common stock on that day.

Because the Compensation Committee believes that stock awards should be a part of the compensation of more than just the five top executive officers, the Compensation Committee has also provided the CEO with the authority to make stock awards under the Plan in any fiscal year totaling no more than 100,000 stock options or 25,000 restricted shares or in some combination of stock options and restricted shares.  The CEO’s authority to make stock awards in any given fiscal year is subject to certain constraints on the total amount that may be awarded to any single officer, and may not include stock awards to the executive officers of the Company. Likewise, stock awards offered to officers other than the executive officers will reflect the closing stock price on the date the stock award is provided to the officer.  With respect to timing, these stock awards are entirely at the discretion of the Company’s CEO in order to reflect the needs of the Company in rewarding and retaining talent within the organization.  The Compensation Committee recognizes that it may be in the Company’s best interests to make stock awards in excess of the amounts described above during certain fiscal years, and reserves for itself the right to make any such awards at its discretion.

Non-Cash Perquisites

With respect to non-cash perquisites, the Compensation Committee believes that executive officers should participate in all employee benefit programs available to the Company’s officers, but has not generally utilized non-cash perquisites not otherwise available to non-executive officers.

It should be noted, that following the adoption of FAS 123R on January 1, 2006, all forms of compensation provided to officers of all corporations including the Company (including base salaries, incentive compensation, bonuses, stock options, restricted stock awards, and non-cash perquisites) result in expense being recorded to the Company’s income statement.  The Company has reflected all compensation earned by its executive officers in the 2007 Summary Compensation Table on page 17.  The Compensation Committee balances the total compensation of each executive officer between base salary, incentive compensation, bonus, stock options, restricted stock, and non-cash perquisites to appropriately reward the executive officers for their achievements and results on behalf of the Company and to balance the incentives provided to each executive officer to encourage, reward, and to maximize the executive’s performance on behalf of the Company.

Chief Executive Officer Compensation

Charles R. Hageboeck has served as CEO since February 1, 2005. Mr. Hageboeck is employed under an Employment Agreement dated July 25, 2007. In negotiating this or prior employment agreements with Mr. Hageboeck, and in setting Mr. Hageboeck’s compensation, the Board utilized the services of Clark Consulting and the Company’s attorneys, Jackson Kelly PLLC.  Mr. Hageboeck’s base compensation was determined by the Compensation Committee and approved by the Board and reflects Mr. Hageboeck’s demonstrated experience and achievements as CEO of the Company since 2005, as CFO of the Company between 2001 and 2005, his previous experience at other institutions within the industry, his academic credentials (Ph.D. in Economics), as well as compensation levels at comparable peer companies.

Mr. Hageboeck’s employment agreement called for incentive compensation of $195,983.35 based upon the Company’s return on equity (ROTE), which was 21.0% during 2007.  The Company’s profitability as measured by its return on assets (ROA) in 2007 was the best in the Regional Peer Group and the second best of the 95 banks in the $2 to $5 billion peer group. Its ROTE is slightly lower in each peer group primarily because it is strongly capitalized. Nevertheless, the Company’s ROTE was the 4th of 95 banks in the $2 to $5 billion peer group and the fourth highest in the regional peer group. The Company’s earnings per share increased in 2007 in what was generally a difficult year for its peer groups.  The Regional Peer Group exhibited a median change in earnings per share of -3.2%.  The Company’s earnings per share growth was in the top quartile of its peer groups in 2007 as well as 2006. Those banks that exhibited stronger earnings in 2006 than the Company generally were as a result of one-time revenue items in 2006 or one-time expenses which held back profitability in 2006.  Importantly, the Company’s stock price performed better during 2007 than any of the other companies in the Regional Peer Group.

 With respect to long-term stock-based compensation, at the recommendation of the Compensation Committee, the Board granted Mr. Hageboeck options to purchase 37,500 shares at an exercise price of $39.34 on February 27, 2007. These shares vest in equal amounts on February 28, 2011, 2012 and 2013 or upon a “Change of Control” as defined in the City Holding Company 2003 Incentive Plan.

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Mr. Hageboeck’s cash compensation for 2007 (base salary and incentive compensation) was $552,316.  The following chart shows comparable information for the Company’s peer groups for 2006 which is the latest data uniformly available. As a result of the Company’s good performance, Mr. Hageboeck’s cash compensation is ahead of both the median and mean average total compensation of the Regional Peer Group and the median and average for the 95 publicly traded banks with total assets between $2 billion and $5 billion:

Cash Compensation
Average
Median
$2 to $5B Peers – 2006
$528,429
$475,294
Regional Peers – 2006
$523,488
$457,271
Source: SNL Datasource

Mr. Hageboeck’s “Total Compensation” for 2007 (including all forms of compensation except stock options), was $560,876. Mr. Hageboeck’s Total Compensation is significantly lower than peer institutions as a result of higher levels of restricted stock awards, perquisites, and various forms of non-qualified retirements plans offered at many of the Company’s competitors. The following chart shows comparable information for the Company’s peer groups (data available from SNL does not include the value of stock options for years up through 2006):

Total Compensation Excluding Options:
 (Average)
 (Median)
$2 to $5B Peers – 2006
$817,307
$702,291
Regional Peers – 2006
$811,450
$660,979
Source: SNL Datasource


Compensation for Other Executive Officers

In February 2007, the Compensation Committee approved the CEO’s recommendations with respect to base salaries in 2007 for the other executive officers based upon their responsibilities, experience, achievements, and compensation levels at similar institutions. The Compensation Committee recommended, and the Board approved, increases ranging from 1.9% to 9%.

With respect to incentive compensation, Mr. Stilwell is employed under an Employment Agreement dated July 25, 2007.  This employment agreement calls for incentive compensation of $115,500.09 based upon the Company’s return on tangible equity (ROTE) of 20.99%.  As described above, the Compensation Committee is of the opinion that ROTE is only one measure of the Company’s overall performance.  In determining that Mr. Stilwell was eligible for an additional bonus, the Compensation Committee recognized that Mr. Stilwell’s incentive compensation under his previous contract which was replaced on July 25, 2007, would have resulted in total incentive compensation approximately $20,000 higher, and determined to pay him a bonus reflecting the amount that would have been due under his old employment contract as a result of his strong contributions growing the Company’s retail business, developing and leading staff, enhancing its retail branch locations, and in implementing new strategies to drive the retail business forward.

Mr. DeRito’s incentive compensation is based upon quantitatively measured goals for commercial loan growth, profitability, asset quality, and referrals (66.7% weight) and the Company’s earnings (33.3% weight). Additionally, Mr. DeRito is eligible for bonus compensation based upon a subjective evaluation of his contributions to developing the commercial division of the Company as well to the overall performance of the Company.  Based upon the bank’s commercial loan growth, asset quality, profitability and referrals, as well as the Company’s overall success in growing earnings during 2006, Mr. DeRito’s incentive compensation for 2007 was determined to be $53,369.  In determining Mr. DeRito’s subjectively assigned bonus, the Compensation Committee considered Mr. DeRito’s contributions to the overall success of the Company, staffing, asset quality, and portfolio growth & diversification by region, as well as his contributions toward meeting strategic objectives as outlined by the Board and the CEO.  Based on Mr. DeRito’s performance in these areas during 2007, the Compensation Committee recommended a bonus for Mr. DeRito of $25,391 for 2007.

Mr. Alderman serves the Company as in-house counsel. Based upon the Company’s earnings in 2007, Mr. Alderman was eligible for incentive compensation of $32,625. Additionally, Mr. Alderman is eligible for a bonus based upon a subjective evaluation of his legal contributions to the Company as well as contributions to the overall management of the Company during the fiscal year. For 2007, the Compensation Committee recommended a bonus of $32,625.

 
-15-

 

Mr. Bumgarner, the Company’s Chief Financial Officer, was eligible for incentive compensation of $38,609 based upon the Company’s earnings in 2007. In addition, Mr. Bumgarner is eligible for a bonus based upon his contributions to the financial functions of the Company and for progress toward meeting strategic objectives as outlined by the Board and the CEO.  For 2007, the Committee approved a bonus of $16,845 based upon the totality of Mr. Bumgarner’s contributions to the Company this year.

On February 27, 2007, the Company granted Mr. Stilwell stock options on 10,000 shares of the Company’s common stock with an exercise price of $39.34 which vest on February 27, 2012 and an expiration date of February 27, 2017. On the same date, the Company granted 2,500 shares of restricted stock to Mr. DeRito and Mr. Bumgarner, and 1,500 shares of restricted stock to Mr. Alderman. These shares will vest on February 27, 2012.  The Company believes that these restricted shares and options align the executives and the Company’s long-term interests.


BOARD COMPENSATION COMMITTEE REPORT ON EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

The Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors (the “Compensation Committee”) is comprised of seven directors, all of whom (i) satisfy the definition of “independent” under the listing standards of The NASDAQ Stock Market, Inc. (ii) are “non-employee directors” as defined by Rule 16b-3 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and (iii) are “outside directors” as defined by Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code.  The Compensation Committee operates under a written charter adopted by the Board of Directors. Committee members are appointed by the Board and may be removed by the Board in its discretion.   The Compensation Committee has the authority to delegate any of its responsibilities to subcommittees, as the committee may deem appropriate, provided the subcommittees are composed entirely of independent directors.

The Compensation Committee also has the authority, to the extent it deems necessary or appropriate, to retain a compensation consultant to assist in the evaluation of directors, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) or senior executive compensation.   The Compensation Committee has sole authority to retain and terminate any such consulting firm, including sole authority to approve the firm’s fees and other retention terms. The Compensation Committee also has the authority, to the extent it deems necessary or appropriate, to retain other advisors. The Company provides for appropriate funding, as determined by the Compensation Committee, for payment of compensation to any consulting firm or other advisors employed by the Compensation Committee.  In addition, the Compensation Committee makes regular reports to the Board and proposes any necessary action to the Board for full Board approval.

The Compensation Committee has reviewed and discussed the Compensation Discussion and Analysis (“CD&A”) with management and based upon such review and discussions with management and the representations of management relating thereto, the Compensation Committee recommended that the Board of Directors include the CD&A in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, and as applicable, in the Company’s proxy statement sent to shareholders in connection with the annual meeting.

Respectfully submitted,

C. Dallas Kayser, Chairman
Hugh R. Clonch
Oshel B. Craigo
John R. Elliot
William H. File III
Robert D. Fisher
Jay C. Goldman
March 20, 2008

This report shall not be deemed to be incorporated by reference into any filing under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, unless the Company specifically incorporates this report by reference.  It will not be otherwise filed under such Acts.


 
-16-

 


2007 SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE

The following table provides information concerning the compensation of the named executive officers for our two most recently completed fiscal years.

SUMMARY COMPENSATION
 
Name and
Principal Position
Year
 
Salary
($)
   
Bonus
($)
   
Stock
Awards(1)
($)
   
Option
Awards(1)
($)
   
Non-Equity
Incentive
Plan
Compensation
($)
   
Change
In
Pension
Value
and Nonqualified
Deferred
Compensation
Earnings
($)
   
All Other
Compensation (2)
($)
   
Total
($)
 
                                                   
Charles R. Hageboeck
2007
    356,333       -       -       475,284       195,983       -       8,560       1,036,160  
President, Chief Executive Officer and Director
(Principal Executive Officer)
2006
    336,131       60,000       -       -       165,041       -       8,085       569,257  
                                                                   
David L. Bumgarner
2007
    150,417       16,845       98,350       -       38,609       -       6,693       310,914  
Senior Vice President & Chief Financial Officer
(Principal Financial Officer)
2006
    140,000       21,825       -       -       40,425       -       4,476       206,726  
                                                                   
Craig G. Stilwell
2007
    210,000       20,000       -       119,772       115,500       -       8,647       473,919  
Executive Vice President, Retail Banking
2006
    197,700       32,000       -       -       116,841       -       6,847       353,388  
                                                                   
John A. DeRito
2007
    184,667       25,391       98,350       -       53,369       -       9,601       371,378  
Executive Vice President, Commercial Banking
2006
    177,569       28,745       -       -       83,235       -       6,967       296,516  
                                                                   
John W. Alderman, III
2007
    169,478       32,625       59,010       -       32,625       -       6,719       300,457  
Senior Vice President & Chief Corporate Counsel
2006
    166,458       36,412       -       -       36,412       -       5,348       244,630  

(1) No executive officers received either stock options or restricted stock awards in 2006.
(2) “All Other Compensation” for 2006 and 2007 consists of the following:  (i) the Company’s matching contribution under the City Holding Company 401(k) Plan & Trust and (ii) group term life insurance premium payments.


 
-17-

 

Grants of Plan-Based Awards

Each of the executive officers is compensated under a pre-defined incentive plan tied to quantifiable goals. Each officer’s incentive plan has a targeted payout if the officer hits predefined goals (Target).  Each officer must hit certain minimum goals in order to have any payout at all (Threshold). However, these incentive plans have no proscribed maximum, and it is anticipated that the officers will receive more than their targeted payouts if performance is good.

For example, Mr. Hageboeck’s incentive plan is based upon the formula contained in the Employment Agreement dated July 25, 2007. The incentive is tied to the Company’s return on tangible equity (ROTE).  A targeted incentive of 50% of Mr. Hageboeck’s base salary is earned if the ROTE is 20%. If the ROTE is lower, the incentive earned is lower. If the ROTE were 14%, the incentive would be $71,267. If the ROE is lower than 14%, no incentive is earned. However, if the ROE exceeds 20%, the incentive can increase. At an ROE of 26%, for instance, incentive compensation would be 80% of base salary.

The table below sets forth information concerning the targets, thresholds and maximums for each executive officer’s non-equity incentive plan-based awards as of December 31, 2007.

GRANTS OF PLAN-BASED AWARDS
     
Estimated Future Payouts
Under Non-Equity Incentive Plan
Awards
Estimated Future Payouts Under
 Equity Incentive Plan Awards
     
Name
Grant
Date
 
Threshold
($)
   
Target
($)
 
 Maximum
($)
 Threshold
(#)
 Target
(#)
 Maximum
(#)
All Other
Stock
Awards:
Number of
Shares
 of Stock
or Units
(#)
All Other
Option
Awards:
Number of
Securities
 Underlying
Options
(#)
Exercise
or Base
Price of
Option
Awards
($/sh)
                             
Charles R. Hageboeck
      71,267       178,167  
none
           
(Principal Executive Officer)
                               
                                 
David L. Bumgarner
      21,164       35,273  
none
           
(Principal Financial Officer)
                               
                                 
Craig G. Stilwell
      42,000       105,000  
none
           
                                 
                                 
John A. DeRito
      13,712       69,250  
none
           
                                 
                                 
John W. Alderman, III
      23,846       39,743  
none
           
                                 




 
-18-

 

EQUITY HOLDINGS

Outstanding Equity Awards At Fiscal Year-End

The following table sets forth the number of exerciseable and unexerciseable stock options, option exercise prices and expiration dates, the number of unvested stock awards along with their market values and the number and value of equity incentive plan awards held by the named executive officers as of the fiscal year ended December 31, 2007.  Each outstanding award is represented by a separate row which indicates the number of securities underlying the award.

For option awards, the table discloses the exercise price and the expiration date of the options.  For stock awards, the table provides the number of shares of stock that have not vested and the aggregate market value of shares of stock that have not vested.

OUTSTANDING EQUITY AWARDS AT FISCAL YEAR-END
 
   
Option Awards
 
Stock Awards
 
Name
 
Number of
Securities
Underlying
Unexercised
Options
(#)
   
Number of
Securities
Underlying
Unexercised
Options
(#)
   
Equity Incentive
Plan Awards:
Number of
Securities
Underlying
Unearned
Options
(#)
   
Option
Exercise
Price
($)
 
Option
Expiration
Date
 
Number
of Shares
of Units
of Stock
That
Have Not
Vested
(#)
   
Market
Value of
Shares or
Units of
Stock
That
Have Not
Vested
($)
   
Equity
Incentive
Plan
Awards:
Number
of
Unearned
Shares,
Units or
Other
Rights
That
Have
Not
Vested
(#)
   
Equity
Incentive
Plan
Awards:
Market or
Payout
Value of
Unearned
Shares, or
Other
Rights
That Have
Not
Vested
($)
 
   
Exerciseable
   
Unexerciseable
                                       
Charles R. Hageboeck (1)(2)
    10,000       -       -       28.000  
2/25/2013
    -       -       -       -  
(Principal Executive Officer)
    10,000       -       -       33.900  
2/24/2014
    -       -       -       -  
      23,000       27,000       -       32.925  
1/30/2015
    -       -       -       -  
              37,500               39.340  
2/27/2017
    -       -       -       -  
                                                                   
David L. Bumgarner (3)(4)
    7,500       2,500       -       32.925  
1/30/2015
    2,500       84,600       -       -  
(Principal Financial Officer)
    2,500       -       -       36.900  
12/20/2015
    -       -       -       -  
                                                                   
Craig G. Stilwell (5)(6)
    10,000       -       -       28.000  
2/25/2013
                    -       -  
      10,000       -       -       33.900  
2/24/2014
    -       -       -       -  
      2,000       3,000       -       31.320  
2/24/2015
    -       -       -       -  
      5,000       -       -       36.900  
12/20/2015
    -       -       -       -  
      -       10,000               39.340  
2/27/2017
    -       -       -       -  
                                                                   
John A. DeRito (7)(8)
    10,000       -       -       32.410  
6/27/2014
    2,500       84,600       -       -  
      2,000       3,000       -       30.650  
2/22/2015
    -       -       -       -  
      5,000       -       -       36.900  
12/20/2015
    -       -       -       -  
                                                                   
John W. Alderman, III (9)
    4,500       -       -       36.900  
12/20/2015
    1,500       50,760       -       -  

(1)  Mr. Hageboeck was awarded 50,000 options on 1/31/2005.  Those options vest and become exerciseable in six separate installments as follows: 5,000 on 1/31/2005; 9,000 on 2/1/2006; 9,000 on 2/1/2007; 9,000 on 2/1/2008; 9,000 on 2/1/2009 and 9,000 on 2/1/2010.
(2)  Mr. Hageboeck was awarded 37,500 options on 2/28/2007.  Those options vest and become exerciseable in three separate installments as follows:  12,500 on 2/28/2011; 12,500 on 2/28/2012 and 12,500 on 2/28/2013.
(3)  Mr. Bumgarner was awarded 10,000 options on 1/31/2005.  Those options vest and become exerciseable in four separate installments as follows: 2,500 on 2/1/2005; 2,500 on 2/1/2006; 2,500 on 2/1/2007 and 2,500 on 2/1/2008.
(4)  Mr. Bumgarner was awarded 2,500 shares of restricted stock on 2/28/2007.  The restricted shares will vest in their entirety on 2/28/2012.
 (5)  Mr. Stilwell was awarded 5,000 options on 2/25/2005.  Those options vest and become exerciseable in five separate installments as follows:  1,000 on 2/25/2006; 1,000 on 2/25/2007; 1,000 on 2/25/2008; 1,000 on 2/25/2009 and 1,000 on 2/25/2010.
 
-19-

 
(6)  Mr. Stilwell was awarded 10,000 options on 2/28/2007.  Those options vest and become exerciseable in two separate installments as follows:  5,000 on 2/28/2011 and 5,000 on 2/28/2012.
(7)  Mr. DeRito was awarded 5,000 options on 2/23/2005.  Those options vest and become exerciseable in five separate installments as follows: 1,000 on 2/23/2006; 1,000 on 2/23/2007; 1,000 on 2/23/2008; 1,000 on 2/23/2009 and 1,000 on 2/23/2010.
(8)  Mr. DeRito was awarded 2,500 shares of restricted stock on 2/28/2007.  The restricted shares will vest in their entirety on 2/28/2012.
(9)  Mr. Alderman was awarded 1,500 shares of restricted stock on 2/28/2007.  The restricted shares will vest in their entirety on 2/28/2012.


Option Exercises and Stock Vested

The following table shows the number of stock options exercised and the value realized upon exercise by the named executive officers during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2007.

OPTION EXERCISES AND STOCK VESTED
 
   
Option Awards
   
Stock Awards
 
Name
 
Number of
Shares
Acquired
on Exercise
(#)
   
Value
Realized
Upon
Exercise
($)
   
Number of
Shares
Acquired on
Vesting
(#)
   
Value
Realized
on
Vesting
($)
 
                         
Charles R. Hageboeck
    -       -       -       -  
(Principal Executive Officer)
                               
                                 
David L. Bumgarner
    -       -       -       -  
(Principal Financial Officer)
                               
                                 
Craig G. Stilwell
    -       -       300       11,886  
                                 
John A. DeRito
    -       -       200       10,249  
                                 
John W. Alderman, III
    500       20,335       -       -  

 
POST-EMPLOYMENT PAYMENTS
 
Post Employment Compensation

The table shown below summarizes the estimated payments to be made under each contract, agreement, plan or arrangement which provides for payments to a named executive officer at, following or in connection with any termination of employment including by resignation, retirement, disability, a change in control of the Company, a change in the named executive officer’s responsibilities or a constructive termination of a named executive officer.  The information shown below is as of the most recent fiscal year ended December 31, 2007.

POST-EMPLOYMENT COMPENSATION
 
Name
 
Termination
For Good Cause
($)
   
Termination
Without Good Cause
($)
   
Voluntary
Resignation
($)
   
Death (1)
($)
   
Disability (2)
($)
   
Change of
Control (3)
($)
 
                                     
Charles R. Hageboeck (4)
    -       1,729,663       1,224,566       1,683,516       1,729,663       1,729,663  
(Principal Executive Officer)
                                               
                                                 
David L. Bumgarner (5)
    -       -       -       -       -       215,100  
(Principal Financial Officer)
                                               
                                                 
Craig G. Stilwell (6)
    -       1,085,770       773,883       1,039,623       1,085,770       1,085,770  
                                                 
John A. DeRito (7)
    -       344,095       -       -       -       597,556  
                                                 
John W. Alderman, III (8)
    -       257,740       -       239,282       -       257,740  

-20-

 
(1) Excludes the value of life insurance to an NEO's beneficiary in the event of the NEO's death.  Life insurance benefits are calculated based on NEO's base salary times 2.00.  Life insurance is subject to minimum and maximum amounts of $25,000 and $700,000, respectively.  This life insurance benefit is available to all of the Company’s full-time equivalent employees.
(2) In the event of disability, the employment contracts for Messrs. Hageboeck and Stillwell provide that they have up to 12 months of continuous disability before their respective employment agreements may be terminated.  After that, the Company may terminate their employment and these individuals are entitled to receive an amount equal to “Termination Compensation” times three (which represents three years of compensation).  Termination Compensation for Messrs. Hageboeck and Stilwell for the calendar year ended December 31, 2007, was $561,172 and $346,541, respectively, reduced by the amount of any compensation received pursuant to any applicable disability insurance plan of the Company.  Mr. Alderman’s employment contract provides that in the event of disability, Mr. Alderman has up to 12 months of continuous disability before his employment may be terminated.  After that, the Company may terminate his employment.
(3) The Employment and/or Change in Control Agreements for each of the NEO's provides for salary continuation for a period following termination as a result of a Change in Control as defined by the respective agreements.  Amounts shown in this column are payable in either a lump sum or over a severance period.  The amounts shown in this column for Messrs. Hageboeck and Stilwell reflect “Termination Compensation” of $561,172 times three and $346,541 times three (which represents three years of compensation), respectively, as provided for in their employment agreements and amendments thereto.  The severance periods for Mr. DeRito is 24 months and the severance periods for Messrs. Alderman and Bumgarner are 12 months.  The amounts shown in this column for Mr. Derito reflects “Termination Compensation” of $289,549 times two.  The amount shown in this column for Messrs. Alderman and Bumgarner reflect “Termination Compensation” of $239,282 and $205,871 times one, respectively.  In the event of a change of control, the Agreement under which each executive officer is employed provides for continuation of health insurance coverage on the same terms as were in effect prior to termination resulting from a change in control.  The estimated value of these benefits are noted in subsequent footnotes, and are included as part of the post-employment compensation under a change of control.
(4) The Employment Agreement for Mr. Hageboeck provides for a continuation of health insurance coverage on the same terms as were in effect prior to his termination of employment for a period of up to 60 months under either the Company’s plan or comparable coverage. The estimated value of this benefit is $46,147 and would be effective if Mr. Hageboeck’s employment were terminated voluntarily by Mr. Hageboeck, if terminated by the Company Without Good Cause, due to a Change of Control, or due to disability.
(5) The Change in Control Agreement for Mr. Bumgarner provides for a continuation of health insurance coverage on the same terms as were in effect prior to his termination of employment for a period of up to 12 months under either the Company’s plan or comparable coverage.  The estimated value of this benefit is $9,229 and would be effective if Mr. Bumgarner’s employment were terminated by the Company as a result of a Change of Control.
(6) The Employment Agreement for Mr. Stilwell provides for a continuation of health insurance coverage on the same terms as were in effect prior to his termination of employment for a period of up to 60 months under either the Company’s plan or comparable coverage.  The estimated value of this benefit is $46,147 and would be effective if Mr. Stilwell’s employment were terminated voluntarily by Mr. Stilwell, if terminated by the Company Without Good Cause, due to a Change of Control, or due to disability.
(7) The Change in Control Agreement for Mr. DeRito provides for a continuation of health insurance coverage on the same terms as were in effect prior to his termination of employment for a period of up to 24 months under either the Company’s plan or comparable coverage. The estimated value of this benefit is $18,458, and would be effective if Mr. DeRito’s employment were terminated due to a change of control. Mr. DeRito’s Change in Control Agreement also provides that if Mr. DeRito is terminated Without Good Cause, Mr. DeRito will be paid an amount equal to his “Termination Compensation” for 60 weeks and provided health care for 60 weeks.
(8) The Employment Agreement for Mr. Alderman provides for a continuation of health insurance coverage on the same terms as were in effect prior to his termination of employment for a period of up to 24 months under either the Company’s plan or comparable coverage.  The estimated value of this benefit is $18,458 and would be effective if Mr. Alderman’s employment is terminated Without Good Cause or due to a Change of Control.

It should be noted that the Company maintains a self-insured health plan. As a result, the cost of providing health care coverage to the Company’s executive officers is estimated based on the current average cost of care across the base of the Company’s insured employee base. The actual costs to the Company would depend upon the health experience of the executive officer and his or her dependents during the period that coverage was in effect. The Company carries reinsurance for claims for any covered employee or dependent in excess of $100,000.

 
-21-

 


Employment and Consulting Agreements

The Company entered into employment agreements with Charles R. Hageboeck and Craig G. Stilwell on July 25, 2007 replacing agreements previously entered into during 2001. These agreements have a term of two years, but automatically renew each month for an additional month unless either Employer or Employee serves notice to the other to fix the term to a definite two year term.  Both Mr. Hageboeck and Mr. Stilwell’s employment agreements address salary, incentives and other benefits. In the event that Mr. Hageboeck or Mr. Stilwell, respectively, voluntarily terminate their employment with the Company for any reason or at any time, Employee will be entitled to receive a certain sum of money, plus interest from and after December 31, 2006, such amount paid over 36 months.  This covenant within the Employment Agreements between the Company and Mr. Hageboeck and Mr. Stilwell preserves termination benefits available to the Employee that were part of the original employment agreements between the Company and the officers originally signed on June 11, 2001 and May 15, 2001, respectively.  At December 31, 2007, Mr. Hageboeck could have voluntarily resigned, in which case the Company would be obligated to make payments to him over 36 months totaling $1,177,746 plus interest at the Treasury One-Year Constant Maturity rate, reset each December 31st.  At December 31, 2008, Mr. Hageboeck could voluntarily resign and the Company would be obligated to make payments to him over 36 months totaling $1,217,778 plus interest at the Treasury One-Year Constant Maturity rate until paid in full. At December 31, 2007, Mr. Stilwell could have voluntarily resigned, in which case the Company would be obligated to make payments to him over 36 months totaling $727,320 plus interest at the Treasury One-Year Constant Maturity rate, reset each December 31st. At December 31, 2008, Mr. Stilwell could voluntarily resign and the Company would be obligated to make payments to him over 36 months totaling $752,042 plus interest at the Treasury One-Year Constant Maturity rate until paid in full. Additionally, the Company is required to make health care available to either employee for a period of up to five years following voluntary termination.  The Company accrued expense between 2001 and 2007 to reflect the costs of this benefit totaling $1,905,066. These benefits just described for Mr. Hageboeck and Mr. Stilwell are deemed fully vested and shall not be subject to risk of forfeiture under any circumstances, including any of the reasons that qualify for “Just Cause” as described below and as provided under the Agreements, except where Employee personally profits from his willful fraudulent activity and that activity materially and adversely affects Employer.

In the event of termination with “Just Cause” for any of the named executives, no payments would be made (except as provided above).  “Just Cause is defined to include (a) Employee’s commission of an act materially and demonstrably detrimental to the Company or City National Bank of West Virginia (together, the “Employer”), which act constitutes willful misconduct by the Employee in the performance of his material duties to the Employer not authorized, directed or ratified by City National’s or the Company’s Board of Directors; (b) Employee’s material breach of any provision of the Agreement, provided that Employee has received written notice from Employer of such material breach and such breach remains uncured 30 days after the delivery of such notice. No act or failure to act will be considered “willful” under the Agreement unless it is done, or omitted to be done, by the Employee in bad faith or without reasonable belief that his action or omission was in the best interests of the Employer.

In the event of termination without “Just Cause”, death, or disability, either Mr. Hageboeck or Mr. Stilwell are entitled to receive three times his “Termination Compensation”, which is defined as equal to the highest amount of cash compensation paid to or for the benefit of the Employee in respect of any of the three most recent calendar years ending prior to the date of termination, determined by reference to the annual cash compensation (including salary, cash-based incentive compensation, and cash-based bonus but not including equity incentive compensation) of the Summary Compensation Table set forth in the Company’s proxy statement for such year. Additionally, both Mr. Hageboeck and Mr. Stilwell’s employment contracts require the Company to provide health care for five years in the event that their employment terminates due to death, disability or without “Just Cause”.

The Company entered into a Change in Control and Termination Agreement on June 28, 2004, with John A. DeRito.  Under this agreement, in the event of a Change in Control, Mr. DeRito may voluntarily terminate his employment with the Company until the expiration of the 24-month period after the Change in Control for “Good Reason” as defined in the Agreement and be entitled to receive benefits as described in the Post Employment Compensation Table above. Mr. DeRito’s Change in Control and Termination Agreement also provides that if Mr. DeRito is terminated “Without Good Cause”, he will receive benefits as described in the Post- Employment Compensation Table above.

The Company entered into an Employment Agreement with John W. Alderman, III, on July 25, 2007, replacing an earlier agreement signed by the Company and Mr. Alderman on March 14, 2002 which had terminated on March 14, 2007.  The Employment Agreement provides that Mr. Alderman will serve as the Chief Legal Officer and Senior Vice President of the Company.  Under this agreement, in the event of termination without “Just Cause”, death, or disability, Mr. Alderman is entitled to receive benefits as described in the Post-Employment Compensation Table above.

The Company entered into a Change in Control Agreement with David Bumgarner on February 1, 2005.  Mr. Bumgarner’s Agreement provides that in the event of a Change in Control of the Company, Mr. Bumgarner may voluntarily terminate his employment with the Company until the expiration of the 12-month period after the Change in Control for “Good Reason” as defined in the Agreement and receive benefits as shown in the Post Employment Compensation Table above.


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SECTION 16(a) BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP REPORTING COMPLIANCE

Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, requires the Company's officers, directors and persons who own more than 10% of a registered class of the Company's equity securities to file reports of ownership on Form 3 and changes in ownership on Form 4 or Form 5 with the SEC. Such officers, directors and 10% shareholders are also required by SEC rules to furnish the Company with copies of all Section 16(a) forms they file.

Based solely upon the review of copies of such reports furnished to the Company through the date hereof, or written representations that no reports were required, the Company believes that during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2007, all filing requirements applicable to its executive officers and directors were met .


CERTAIN TRANSACTIONS INVOLVING DIRECTORS AND
EXECUTIVE OFFICERS

During 2007, the Company’s subsidiaries had, and expect to have in the future, banking transactions with directors of the Company, their immediate families and entities in which they are principal owners (more than 10% interest). The transactions are in the ordinary course of business and on substantially the same terms, including interest rates and security, as those prevailing at the same time for comparable transactions with others and do not involve more than the normal risk of collectability or present other unfavorable factors.

The Company’s loan policy requires that all credits to directors and executive officers and their interests, as defined in Item 404 of SEC Regulation S-K, must be reviewed and approved by the Executive Loan Committee and promptly reported to the Board of Directors.  If required by the procedural and financial requirements of Regulation O of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, such credits will be approved in advance by a majority of uninterested directors.  Directors and executive officers may not be present for discussions on their own loans, loans involving their related interests or loans involving any other conflict of interest situation and must abstain from voting on such credits.

The Company has entered into employment agreements and an employment and consulting agreement with certain of its named executive officers and directors and provided other compensation to certain of its directors. See “Employment and Consulting Agreements” above under the section titled “Post-Employment Payments” and “Compensation of Directors” above under the section titled “Additional Information Concerning the Board of Directors.”


APPOINTMENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
(Proposal 2)

Subject to ratification by the Company’s shareholders, the Company’s Audit Committee has appointed Ernst & Young LLP (“Ernst & Young”) as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm to audit the consolidated financial statements of the Company for the year ending December 31, 2008.

Representatives of Ernst & Young are expected to be present at the Annual Meeting and will have an opportunity to make a statement if they so desire and are expected to be available to respond to appropriate questions.

Recommendation

The Audit Committee and the Board of Directors unanimously recommend the shareholders vote “FOR” such ratification.

 
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Principal Accounting Fees and Services

During the fiscal years ended December 31, 2007 and 2006, the Company engaged Ernst & Young PLLC as its independent registered public accounting firm principally to perform the annual audit of its consolidated financial statements and management’s assessment of the effectiveness of internal control, and to render other allowable services.  The following table lists fees paid to Ernst & Young, for services rendered in fiscal years 2007 and 2006:


   
2007
   
2006
 
Audit Fees………………….
  $ 542,230     $ 546,918  
Audit-Related Fees…………
    -----       9,080  
Tax Fees……………………
     54,580        68,000  
Total Fees…………………..
  $ 596,810     $ 623,998  

 
Audit Fees include fees associated with the annual audit of the Company’s consolidated financial statements, incorporated by reference in its annual report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, the audit of the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2007, and 2006, reviews of the Company’s quarterly reports on Form 10-Q filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and the issuance of consents in filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Audit-Related Fees primarily include fees and expenses related to providing information to successor auditors and performing post-report review procedures for the filing of Form 11-K in 2006.

Tax Fees primarily include fees associated with tax return preparation, research and planning.

Pre-Approval Policies and Procedures

The Audit Committee charter requires that the Audit Committee pre-approve all audit and non-audit services to be provided to the Company by the independent registered public accounting firm, provided, however, that the Audit Committee may specifically authorize its chairman to pre-approve the provision of any non-audit service to the Company.  All of the services described above which Ernst & Young PLLC provided and for which they billed the Company, were pre-approved by the Company’s Audit Committee.  For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2007 the Company’s Audit Committee did not waive the pre-approval requirement of any non-audit services provided to the Company by Ernst & Young.


 
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SHAREHOLDER PROPOSALS AND NOMINATIONS

Under the regulations of the SEC, any shareholder desiring to make a proposal pursuant to Rule 14a-8 of the SEC’s proxy rules to be acted upon at the Company’s 2008 annual meeting of shareholders must present such proposal to the Company’s Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Company at 25 Gatewater Road, Charleston, West Virginia 25313, not later than November 19, 2007 in order for the proposal to be considered for inclusion in the Company’s proxy statement for the 2008 annual meeting of shareholders.

Pursuant to the Company’s Amended and Restated Bylaws, a shareholder may nominate persons for election to the Board of Directors and, pursuant to the Governance Committee’s Charter, the Governance Committee considers nominees recommended by shareholders, in each case, if written notice is submitted to the Company’s Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Company not less than 120 calendar days prior to April 30, 2008.  If no annual meeting was held in the previous year or if the date of the annual meeting was changed by more than 30 days from the anniversary date of the previous year’s annual meeting, notice by the shareholder must be so received by the later of 120 calendar days prior to such annual meeting or 10 calendar days following the date on which public announcement of the date of the meeting is first made.

The shareholder’s notice must include:

 
o
as to each person whom the shareholder proposes to nominate for election as a director:

§      all information relating to such person that is required to be disclosed in solicitations of proxies for election of directors in an election contest or is otherwise required pursuant to Regulation 14A under the Exchange Act; and

§      such person’s written consent to being named in the proxy statement as a nominee and to serving as such as a director if elected; and

 
o
as to the shareholder giving the notice and the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the nomination is made:

§      the name and address of such shareholder, as they appear on the Company’s books, and of such beneficial owner;

§      the class and number of shares of the Company’s Common Stock that are owned beneficially and of record by such shareholder and such beneficial owner;

§      a description of all arrangements or understandings between the shareholder and each nominee and any other persons (naming them) pursuant to which the nominations are to be made by the shareholder;

§      a representation that such shareholder is a holder of record of the Company’s stock entitled to vote at such meeting and intends to appear in person or by proxy at the meeting to propose such nomination; and

§      a representation whether the shareholder intends to solicit proxies from shareholders in support of such nomination.

In order for a shareholder to bring other business before a shareholder meeting, timely notice must be received by the Company’s Secretary within the time limits described in the immediately following paragraph.  The shareholder’s notice must contain:

 
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o
as to each matter:

§      a brief description of the business desired to be brought before the meeting;

§      the reasons for conducting such business at the meeting;

§      in the event that such business includes a proposal to amend the Company’s Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws, the language of the proposed amendment; and

§      any material interest in such business of such shareholder and for the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the proposal is made; and

 
o
as to the shareholder giving the notice and the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the proposal is made, the information described above, with respect to the shareholder proposing such business.

The Company’s Secretary must receive written notice of a shareholder proposal to be acted upon at the 2008 annual meeting not later than the close of business on November 19, 2007.  In addition, if the Company does not receive notice of a shareholder proposal at least 45 days before the Company first mails its proxy statement for the 2008 annual meeting, the persons named as proxies in the Company’s proxy card for the 2008 annual meeting will have discretionary authority to vote on such proposal at the 2008 annual meeting.

The requirements found in the Company’s Amended and Restated Bylaws are separate from and in addition to the requirements of the SEC that a shareholder must meet to have a proposal included in the Company’s proxy statement.


OTHER MATTERS

As of the date of this proxy statement, the Board of Directors is not informed of any matters, other than those stated above, that may be brought before the annual meeting. However, if any other matters are brought before the annual meeting or any adjournments or postponements thereof, the persons named on the accompanying proxy card or their substitutes will vote with respect to such matters in accordance with their best judgment.
 
 
By Order of the Board of Directors,
V Faw signature
Victoria A. Faw,
Secretary


March 26, 2008

 
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