Dominik "Dom" Mjartan
Dominik Mjartan is President and CEO of American Bancorp Inc., American Pride Bank, and New Republic Bank. Since joining the American Bancorp, Inc. in September of 2024, the company has grown to $1 billion in total assets from $340 million, expanded to North Carolina and Florida, launched a national mortgage division, raised over $100 million in new capital and executed a successful bank merger.
Dominik also serves as Vice Chairman of Optus Bank and Optus Financial Corporation. He previously led Optus as President and CEO from 2017 to August 2024. Under his leadership, Optus was transformed into a high-performing innovative bank with total assets growing from $47 million to more than $600 million. Dominik was also a founding director and investor with Climate First Bank.
Dominik is a recognized voice on financial inclusion and banking innovation. He is a regular contributor to NPR’s Marketplace and has been featured in The Wall Street Journal, American Banker, and other national outlets. He was appointed to the FDIC Community Bank Advisory Board in 2022 and reappointed in 2023, and he was named EY Entrepreneur of the Year for the Southeast U.S. Dedicated to community, he has served as Chair, Finance Chair or Director of numerous community development, education and nonprofit organizations.
Originally from the former Czechoslovakia, Dominik immigrated to the United States at age 16. He graduated Summa Cum Laude from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock as a Donaghey Scholar and later earned an MBA with distinction from the University of Ulster in the United Kingdom. He and his wife, Georgia Mjartan—President and CEO of Central Carolina Community Foundation—have three children.
Terry Owens
Jason Grooters
Jason Grooters currently serves as Chief Operating Officer for American Bancorp Inc., playing a strategic role across its subsidiary banks, New Republic Bank and American Pride Bank. A proven, strategic financial executive, his expertise spans corporate finance, regulatory compliance, public accounting, and business operations. Jason was the driving force behind New Republic Bank's significant expansion as both its Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer. In this capacity, he grew NRB’s total assets from $30 million to $215 million in just over three years, successfully spearheading the community bank acquisition process, obtaining a North Carolina banking charter, and leading the headquarters relocation to Charlotte.
Jason brings a strong foundation in complex financial oversight, having previously served as Chief Accounting Officer for First Citizens Bancshares, where he oversaw all financial reporting, tax, and compliance functions. He successfully led critical projects, including the 24-month implementation of the $10 million Current Expected Credit Losses (CECL) methodology. Jason holds a Master of Accounting from the Kenan-Flagler Business School at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He maintains an active commitment to community service, currently serving on the audit and finance committees for Haven House Services in Raleigh, North Carolina.
Elizabeth Moraff
Elizabeth Moraff works closely with the executive team to lead strategic, cross-department initiatives that support the bank’s mission and long-term success. She stepped into the role in March 2025 after joining the bank in fall 2024 as Vice President, Director of Marketing and Communications.
Before joining American Pride Bank, Elizabeth was Senior Strategist for Marketing and Communications at Ruby Brick, a boutique agency specializing in nonprofit organizations engaged in place-based revitalization. In that role, she worked with clients across the country, many of whom collaborated with or pursuing status as Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs). This experience gave her a deep appreciation for how banking can shape communities and help people build strong, meaningful lives right where they are. While at Ruby Brick, Elizabeth planned and led campaigns to support clients in raising more than $200 million in philanthropic dollars. She worked closely with Ruby Brick’s CEO to increase the company’s revenue by nearly tenfold during her tenure at the firm.
Elizabeth brings more than a decade of experience in cross-cultural collaboration, community development, and partnership-building.
Outside of work, Elizabeth enjoys baking and reading novels or poetry. In the winter, you can find her ice skating with her two daughters and husband.
Jessica Bluj
Kristie McMahan
Kristie McMahan brings nearly 25 years of diverse banking experience to her role as Executive Vice President and Chief Credit Officer. Her broad expertise spans credit and risk management, commercial and private banking, and operational leadership. Throughout her career, she has held key leadership positions including Director of Commercial Administration, Credit Administration Manager, Loan Operations Manager, and Senior Credit Underwriter.
Kristie’s background also includes roles as a relationship manager and portfolio manager as well as financial leadership positions in private equity and international manufacturing. This unique blend of experience gives her a comprehensive perspective on financial strategy and credit discipline.
She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Finance from Wofford College and an MBA with concentrations in Finance and Risk Management from the University of Georgia. Kristie is known for her strategic insight, commitment to sound credit practices, and dedication to supporting long-term organizational growth.
Kristie resides in Decatur, Georgia with her husband, Scott, and their two daughters.
Javier Espido
Javier Espido serves as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer for American Pride Bank, bringing more than 25 years of experience in financial management, strategic planning, and operational leadership within the banking sector. A transformational financial executive, Javier is known for his ability to strengthen financial performance, enhance operational efficiency, and guide institutions through periods of growth, change, and regulatory scrutiny. Before joining APB, he played a pivotal role in advancing Optus Bank’s expansion and profitability as its Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer He also led the development of core financial and risk management infrastructure that positioned the institution for scalable, long-term growth.
Javier’s background spans senior leadership roles at community, regional, and multi-billion-dollar financial institutions, including Suncoast Credit Union, Florida’s largest credit union, where he oversaw capital planning, asset/liability strategy, and liquidity management across a $14+ billion portfolio. Earlier in his career, he led multiple successful turnaround efforts as CFO for several community banks, resolving longstanding regulatory issues, improving liquidity and capital structures, and negotiating major recapitalization initiatives, including significant debt forgiveness and investor restructuring. A founding executive for multiple de novo banks, Javier has built financial, operational, and technology frameworks from the ground up, implementing automated systems that delivered multimillion-dollar cost savings and supported rapid growth.
Javier holds a bachelor’s degree in public accounting from Santa Maria University and is a CPA (Venezuela). He has completed advanced training in bank financial management, ALM, and risk strategy through programs at Vanderbilt University, the Florida Bankers Association, and Center State Bank. With a leadership style grounded in integrity, innovation, and operational excellence, Javier brings a strategic, future-focused financial perspective to American Pride Bank as the bank continues to grow and expand its impact.
Holly Wilson
Holly Wilson serves as Chief Compliance Officer and Executive Vice President for American Pride Bank, where she oversees the bank’s regulatory compliance program, external audits, risk management processes, and all compliance reporting to the Board of Directors. A seasoned banking and legal professional, Holly provides strategic leadership on regulatory matters while also supporting operational oversight for American Pride Bank’s Roanoke Rapids, North Carolina market. Her expertise ensures the bank maintains strong governance practices, sound internal controls, and consistent alignment with federal and state regulatory expectations.
Prior to joining American Pride Bank, Holly held several key leadership positions within the New Republic organization, including Executive Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer of New Republic Savings Bank, where she also served on the Board of Directors. Earlier in her career, she was a partner with the law firm Wellman, White & Wilson, PLLC, focusing on legal matters that further strengthened her foundation in regulatory compliance, risk mitigation, and corporate governance.
Holly earned her Bachelor of Arts in English from North Carolina State University and her Juris Doctor from the Norman Adrian Wiggins School of Law at Campbell University. Deeply committed to community engagement and public service, she is an active member of the board of directors for the Halifax Community College Foundation, Inc. With her extensive legal background, regulatory expertise, and dedication to organizational integrity, Holly plays a vital role in supporting American Pride Bank’s commitment to compliance excellence and responsible growth.