NATCHEZ &8212; Longtime Britton & Koontz Bank officer Mike Ellard has joined United Mississippi Bank.

Wednesday was Ellard&8217;s first day, said UMB President Sammy Porter.

&8220;Mike is our senior vice president in the lending side of the bank,&8221; Porter said.

&8220;He brings 20-plus years of banking experience to UMB, and we&8217;re pleased to have him.&8221;

Ellard said the decision to leave B&K was not an easy one.

&8220;It was tough,&8221; he said. &8220;I had been at B&K almost 20 years, but I weighed things out and decided this was the right thing to do.&8221;

At B&K, Ellard was senior vice president and senior lender, a position similar to the new one at UMB.

Prior to his nearly 20 years at B&K, he was employed at Deposit Guaranty Bank, now AmSouth.

&8220;United Mississippi offered me a good opportunity,&8221; Ellard said of the new position. &8220;I decided it was the best move for me and my family.&8221;