Brendon L. Matthews, Senior Vice President and Sales Director of First National Bank, recently graduated from the Paul W. Barret, Jr. Graduate School of Banking.

Matthews was an honors graduate at the recent ceremony.

Fifty-four students completed the three year curriculum and graduated in the 2013 class. 

The school was held May 19-24 on the campus of Christian Brothers University in Memphis, Tenn. Joe Miles, Chairman of the Board of Regents of Paul W. Barret, Jr. School of Banking, spoke at the graduation ceremony and congratulated the graduates on behalf of the Board.

In addition to course work, students attended the annual Paul W. Barret, Jr. Lecture Series event. Dr. Robert Gates, 2006-2011 Secretary of Defense, addressed School participants on the topic of leadership.
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Paul W. Barret, Jr. Graduate School of Banking has been providing advanced banking education for 41 years, with a curriculum designed to provide a high degree of understanding of all commercial banking functions.

During the three-year program, graduates received 125 hours of classroom instruction and prepared in-depth reports in eight areas of study. Approximately 250 financial industry professionals from 20 states participated in the 2013 session.