Velarion · Company Intelligence
Compensation Brief
Fiscal year 2023 · Filings through 2026-04-22

Cadence Bank (CADE)

Fiscal year 2023 executive and director compensation, incentive-plan design, equity activity, and governance — every figure in this brief is traceable to its exact location in the company’s SEC filing — the document, the section, the page, and the table, linked directly.

$7,475,607
Paul Murphy Jr. total, FY2023
Former Executive Vice Chairmanhighest-paid officer; CEO James Rollins III: $5,107,944
CEO (James Rollins III) pay percentile vs peers
CEO-to-median pay ratio
Say-on-pay support, latest vote
Companies that benchmark against CADE
20 companies name CADE as a compensation peer

Each company listed discloses CADE in its own benchmarking peer group, as disclosed in each company's most recent proxy statement within the last two proxy seasons. Two companies are therefore absent by design: one that named CADE in an earlier year and no longer does, and one whose own most recent disclosure is older than the last two seasons.

01

Summary Compensation Table — fiscal year 2023

Named executive officerSalaryBonusStock awardsOption awardsNon-equity incentivePension / NQDCAll otherTotal
Paul Murphy Jr.$365,096$0$1,355,708$0$0$152,029$5,602,774$7,475,607
Former Executive Vice Chairman
James Rollins III1,000,00002,485,4650996,460380,056245,9635,107,944
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
Chris Bagley675,0000915,1030560,509307,585115,3312,573,528
President
Michael Meyer472,500300,000427,04000235,056959,1752,393,771
Former Senior Executive Vice President and President Banking Services
R.H. Holmes IV600,0000677,8540398,58430,98161,7771,769,196
Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Banking Officer
Valerie Toalson550,0000497,0930365,36976,603117,0441,606,109
Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
Edward Braddock403,0770549,3380211,74824,43955,9031,244,505
Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Credit Officer

A dash means the company reported no figure in that column; 0 means it reported zero. Figures are as printed in the filing, without adjustment.

Three-year trend — total compensation per named executive

Named executive officerFY2023 totalFY2022 totalFY2021 totalΔ FY20222023
Paul Murphy Jr.$7,475,607$6,110,953$8,511,078+1,364,654
James Rollins III5,107,9445,882,48610,577,641−774,542
Chris Bagley2,573,5282,990,0104,635,402−416,482
Michael Meyer2,393,771
R.H. Holmes IV1,769,1962,262,3993,459,276−493,203
Valerie Toalson1,606,1092,321,2463,856,801−715,137
Edward Braddock1,244,505

Prior-year totals as disclosed in the corresponding proxy; deltas are computed values with the derivation shown in the register.

02

Equity transactions since the proxy statement was filed

No insider equity transactions reported since the proxy statement.

05

Incentive-plan design — the Compensation Discussion & Analysis

Our executive compensation program is designed to provide compensatory incentives to an experienced and engaged management team while the team implements the Company's short and long-term strategic goals. The program balances the emphasis placed on growth and earnings with well-considered governance and risk management.

CEO STI target (% of salary)
CEO LTI target (% of salary)
Independent consultantFrederick W. Cook & Co. (FW Cook) for 2023 grant cycle; Aon plc for 2024 and ongoing
Clawback policyTrue
Anti-hedgingTrue
Anti-pledgingTrue
08

Director compensation — fiscal year 2023

DirectorCash feesStock awardsOption awardsNon-equity incentiveAll otherTotal
Larry G. KirkIndependent · Lead Independent Director$140,000$77,041$0$0$0$217,041
Virginia A. HepnerIndependent · Compensation110,00077,041000187,041
Joseph W. EvansIndependent105,00077,041000182,041
Alan W. PerryIndependent105,00077,041000182,041
Marc J. ShapiroIndependent · Compensation (Chair)105,00077,041000182,041
Charlotte N. CorleyIndependent96,66877,041000173,709
Keith J. JacksonIndependent80,00077,041000157,041
Warren A. Hood, JrIndependent80,00077,041000157,041
Kathy N. WallerIndependent80,00077,041000157,041
Shannon A. BrownIndependent · Compensation80,00077,041000157,041
Precious W. OwodunniIndependent80,00077,041000157,041
Deborah M. CannonIndependent80,00077,041000157,041
William G. HollimanIndependent · Compensation80,00077,041000157,041
Thomas R. StantonIndependent · Compensation80,00077,041000157,041
Gus Blass IIIIndependent · Departed during FY35,000000035,000
J. Thomas Wiley JrIndependent · Departed during FY26,667000026,667
James D. Rollins IIIEmployee director · Board Chair00000
Paul B. Murphy JrEmployee director · Departed during FY00000
09b

Total cost of the board

ComponentFY2023
Cash retainers and fees$1,363,335
Equity awards (grant-date value)$1,078,574
All other compensation$0
Total cost of the board$2,441,909

Computed as the sum of the director compensation table rows above; inputs and formula shown in the register.

10

Disclosed peer group — fiscal year 2023

The compensation peer group as the company disclosed it in its own proxy — the reference set behind the percentile above.

10a

Peer reciprocity

Of the companies Cadence Bank names as compensation peers, which name it back in their own disclosed peer groups. A peer set the market reciprocates reads differently from one selected in a single direction.

Reciprocity shown where the peer's own current proxy has been read — each mark is cited in the register to that peer's filing. A dash means the peer's current proxy was read and names no reciprocal group including Cadence Bank.

10b

Chief executive pay against the peer group

Most recent fiscal-year chief executive compensation at each disclosed peer, taken from that company's own proxy statement.

RankCompanyFYChief executiveSalaryStock awardsOption awardsNon-equity incentiveTotal
1Western Alliance Bancorp.2025Kenneth Vecchione$1,500,000$5,326,094$4,050,000$10,969,236
2UMB Financial Corp.2025J. Mariner Kemper1,172,6575,499,76003,414,60010,350,577
3First Horizon Corp.2025D. Bryan Jordan1,236,0005,561,96702,132,10010,330,365
4East West Bancorp, Inc.2025Dominic Ng1,275,0005,094,19303,179,8509,683,884
5Comerica, Inc.2024Curtis Farmer1,115,9814,806,148523,2022,037,9608,864,041
6F.N.B. Corp.2025Vincent J. Delie, Jr.1,222,8933,843,34702,876,4008,472,627
7Texas Capital Bancshares, Inc.2025Rob Holmes1,100,0004,422,65002,079,0007,918,150
8Old National Bancorp2025James C. Ryan, III1,263,8773,910,77502,038,0027,633,279
9SouthState Corp.2025John Corbett1,128,2753,051,21603,384,8257,628,421
10Cullen/Frost Bankers, Inc.2025Phillip Green1,260,0004,000,08102,075,2207,625,974
11BankUnited, Inc.2025Rajinder Singh1,050,0003,018,78503,150,0007,437,175
12Wintrust Financial Corp.2025Timothy Crane1,188,4623,850,00007,037,919
13Valley National Bancorp.2025Ira Robbins1,050,0003,837,66701,647,6056,966,119
14Synovus Financial Corp.2024Kevin Blair1,065,3853,366,89002,301,2316,869,560
15Associated Banc-Corp2025Andrew Harmening1,120,0002,799,98002,150,4006,354,626
16Hancock Whitney Corp.2025John Hairston1,220,7012,970,25601,789,0886,334,741
17Webster Financial Corp.2024John Ciulla1,100,0003,354,30401,306,2506,050,156
18Zions Bancorp. NA2025Harris H. Simmons1,125,5091,762,84702,337,9635,358,037
19BOK Financial Corp.2025Stacy Kymes1,110,1253,187,8340770,9655,235,181
20Cadence Bank2023James Rollins III1,000,0002,485,4650996,4605,107,944
21Prosperity Bancshares, Inc.2025David Zalman1,120,187217,1440688,2843,434,273
Pinnacle Financial Partners Inc.not in coverage universe

Each peer's compensation is from its most recently filed proxy; fiscal years differ by company. Each peer's figures come from its own filings; the subject company is highlighted. Peers whose chief executive compensation is outside our coverage universe are stated as such, never left blank.

10c

Incentive design against the same peers

CompanyAnnual incentive payoutLong-term vehicle mixPSU measures include TSRCompensation consultant
Cadence Banknot disclosedPSU 60 · RSU 40NoFrederick W. Cook & Co. (FW Cook) for 2023 grant cycle; Aon plc for 2024 and ongoing
Associated Banc-Corpnot disclosedPRSU 75 · RSU 25not disclosedMercer
BankUnited, Inc.200%PSU 50 · RSU 50Yes — Relative three-year TSRPay Governance LLC
BOK Financial Corp.69%PSU 100Nonot disclosed
Comerica, Inc.122%PSU 60 · RSU 30 · Options 10Yes — Relative TSR (modifier)Frederic W. Cook & Co. Inc.
Cullen/Frost Bankers, Inc.not disclosedRSU 75 · PSU 25not disclosedMeridian Compensation Partners, LLC
East West Bancorp, Inc.not disclosedPSU 100Yes — TSRMeridian Compensation Partners, LLC
F.N.B. Corp.188%PSU 60 · RSU 40Nonot disclosed
First Horizon Corp.115%PSU 60 · RSU 40Yes — TSR-rank modifierMeridian Compensation Partners, LLC
Hancock Whitney Corp.122.14%PSU 60 · RSU 40Yes — Three-year relative Total Shareholder Return (TSR)Aon
Old National Bancorp129%PSU 60 · RSU 40Yes — Total Shareholder Return (TSR)WTW
Pinnacle Financial Partners Inc.not disclosednot disclosednot disclosednot disclosed
Prosperity Bancshares, Inc.40%RSU 100not disclosednot disclosed
SouthState Corp.200%PSU 60 · RSU 40NoFW Cook
Synovus Financial Corp.160%PSU 60 · RSU 40Yes — Relative TSRMeridian Compensation Partners
Texas Capital Bancshares, Inc.not disclosedPRSU 50 · RSU 50not disclosedPearl Meyer
UMB Financial Corp.189.7%PSU 60 · RSU 40NoAon Human Capital Solutions
Valley National Bancorp.112.1%PSU 60 · RSU 40Yes — relative TSRFW Cook
Webster Financial Corp.95%PSU 60 · RSU 40Yes — Peer-relative three-year TSRCAP
Western Alliance Bancorp.150%PSU 50 · LTIP Units 30 · RSU 20Yes — Relative TSR compared to KBW Regional Banking IndexMeridian Compensation Partners, LLC
Wintrust Financial Corp.120.8%PSU 60 · RSU 40Yes — Relative TSRMeridian Compensation Partners, LLC
Zions Bancorp. NA83%Cash LTI 50 · RSU 50not disclosedFW Cook

Read from each company's Compensation Discussion and Analysis: annual incentive payout as a percentage of target, the disclosed long-term vehicle mix, whether performance-share measures include a total shareholder return component, and the retained compensation consultant. “Not disclosed” appears only where the company's filing does not state the item.

11

Source register

Each figure's location is given both for the eye (section · page · table · row · column) and for a script (table/row/column index and exact character span in the filed document). Any figure can be independently confirmed against the source.

#SupportsDocumentFiledAccessionLocation in document
1Section 01, Paul Murphy Jr.DEF 14A2024-12-30Section “Executive Compensation”. As printed: 7,475,607. Filing ↗
2Section 01, James Rollins IIIDEF 14A2024-12-30Section “Executive Compensation”. As printed: 5,107,944. Filing ↗
3Section 01, Chris BagleyDEF 14A2024-12-30Section “Executive Compensation”. As printed: 2,573,528. Filing ↗
4Section 01, Michael MeyerDEF 14A2024-12-30Section “Executive Compensation”. As printed: 2,393,771. Filing ↗
5Section 01, R.H. Holmes IVDEF 14A2024-12-30Section “Executive Compensation”. As printed: 1,769,196. Filing ↗
6Section 01, Valerie ToalsonDEF 14A2024-12-30Section “Executive Compensation”. As printed: 1,606,109. Filing ↗
7Section 01, Edward BraddockDEF 14A2024-12-30Section “Executive Compensation”. As printed: 1,244,505. Filing ↗
8Section 08, Larry G. KirkDEF 14A2024-12-30Section “Director Compensation”. As printed: 217,041. Filing ↗
9Section 08, Virginia A. HepnerDEF 14A2024-12-30Section “Director Compensation”. As printed: 187,041. Filing ↗
10Section 08, Joseph W. EvansDEF 14A2024-12-30Section “Director Compensation”. As printed: 182,041. Filing ↗
11Section 08, Alan W. PerryDEF 14A2024-12-30Section “Director Compensation”. As printed: 182,041. Filing ↗
12Section 08, Marc J. ShapiroDEF 14A2024-12-30Section “Director Compensation”. As printed: 182,041. Filing ↗
13Section 08, Charlotte N. CorleyDEF 14A2024-12-30Section “Director Compensation”. As printed: 173,709. Filing ↗
14Section 08, Keith J. JacksonDEF 14A2024-12-30Section “Director Compensation”. As printed: 157,041. Filing ↗
15Section 08, Warren A. Hood, JrDEF 14A2024-12-30Section “Director Compensation”. As printed: 157,041. Filing ↗
16Section 08, Kathy N. WallerDEF 14A2024-12-30Section “Director Compensation”. As printed: 157,041. Filing ↗
17Section 08, Shannon A. BrownDEF 14A2024-12-30Section “Director Compensation”. As printed: 157,041. Filing ↗
18Section 08, Precious W. OwodunniDEF 14A2024-12-30Section “Director Compensation”. As printed: 157,041. Filing ↗
19Section 08, Deborah M. CannonDEF 14A2024-12-30Section “Director Compensation”. As printed: 157,041. Filing ↗
20Section 08, William G. HollimanDEF 14A2024-12-30Section “Director Compensation”. As printed: 157,041. Filing ↗
21Section 08, Thomas R. StantonDEF 14A2024-12-30Section “Director Compensation”. As printed: 157,041. Filing ↗
22Section 08, Gus Blass IIIDEF 14A2024-12-30Section “Director Compensation”. As printed: 35,000. Filing ↗
23Section 08, J. Thomas Wiley JrDEF 14A2024-12-30Section “Director Compensation”. As printed: 26,667. Filing ↗
24Section 08, James D. Rollins IIIDEF 14A2024-12-30Section “Director Compensation”. As printed: 0. Filing ↗
25Section 08, Paul B. Murphy JrDEF 14A2024-12-30Section “Director Compensation”. As printed: 0. Filing ↗
26Section 01 trend, Δ column (computed)ComputedcomputedΔ = current-FY total − prior-FY total per named officer.machine: formula: Δ = FY(n) − FY(n−1)
27Section 09b board cost (computed)ComputedcomputedCash 1,363,335 + equity 1,078,574 + all other 0 = 2,441,909, summed across the director compensation table rows.machine: formula: Σ = 2,441,909
28Western Alliance Bancorp., Section 10b CEO totalDEF 14A2026-04-220001193125-26-170399CEO total compensation as printed in Western Alliance Bancorp.'s own proxy. As printed: 10,969,236. Filing ↗machine: r4 · c14 · span 2999283–2999293
29UMB Financial Corp., Section 10b CEO totalDEF 14A2026-03-120001193125-26-103203CEO total compensation as printed in UMB Financial Corp.'s own proxy. As printed: 10,350,577. Filing ↗machine: t135 · r3 · c44 · span 736314–736324
30First Horizon Corp., Section 10b CEO totalDEF 14A2026-03-160000036966-26-000063CEO total compensation as printed in First Horizon Corp.'s own proxy. As printed: 10,330,365. Filing ↗machine: r3 · c39 · span 1142805–1142815
31East West Bancorp, Inc., Section 10b CEO totalDEF 14A2026-04-080002077096-26-000050CEO total compensation as printed in East West Bancorp, Inc.'s own proxy. As printed: 9,683,884. Filing ↗machine: t93 · r1 · c8 · span 653312–653321
32Comerica, Inc., Section 10b CEO totalDEF 14A2025-03-170000028412-25-000135CEO total compensation as printed in Comerica, Inc.'s own proxy. As printed: 8,864,041. Filing ↗machine: r2 · c27 · span 1069333–1069342
33F.N.B. Corp., Section 10b CEO totalDEF 14A2026-03-250001193125-26-122941CEO total compensation as printed in F.N.B. Corp.'s own proxy. As printed: 8,472,627. Filing ↗machine: t408 · r4 · c44 · span 1108880–1108889
34Texas Capital Bancshares, Inc., Section 10b CEO totalDEF 14A2026-03-120001077428-26-000040CEO total compensation as printed in Texas Capital Bancshares, Inc.'s own proxy. As printed: 7,918,150. Filing ↗machine: t153 · r3 · c18 · span 1326337–1326346
35Old National Bancorp, Section 10b CEO totalDEF 14A2026-04-020001104659-26-039075CEO total compensation as printed in Old National Bancorp's own proxy. As printed: 7,633,279. Filing ↗machine: t235 · r8 · c22 · span 1467749–1467758
36SouthState Corp., Section 10b CEO totalDEF 14A2026-03-030001104659-26-022580CEO total compensation as printed in SouthState Corp.'s own proxy. As printed: 7,628,421. Filing ↗machine: r1 · c6 · span 1308342–1308351
37Cullen/Frost Bankers, Inc., Section 10b CEO totalDEF 14A2026-03-200000039263-26-000023CEO total compensation as printed in Cullen/Frost Bankers, Inc.'s own proxy. As printed: 7,625,974. Filing ↗machine: r2 · c24 · span 705677–705686
38BankUnited, Inc., Section 10b CEO totalDEF 14A2026-04-100001504008-26-000037CEO total compensation as printed in BankUnited, Inc.'s own proxy. As printed: 7,437,175. Filing ↗machine: span 925764–925773
39Wintrust Financial Corp., Section 10b CEO totalDEF 14A2026-04-090001104659-26-041498CEO total compensation as printed in Wintrust Financial Corp.'s own proxy. As printed: 7,037,919. Filing ↗machine: r1 · c64 · span 1253249–1253258
40Valley National Bancorp., Section 10b CEO totalDEF 14A2026-04-030001193125-26-141225CEO total compensation as printed in Valley National Bancorp.'s own proxy. As printed: 6,966,119. Filing ↗machine: span 1134231–1134240
41Synovus Financial Corp., Section 10b CEO totalDEF 14A2025-03-120000018349-25-000057CEO total compensation as printed in Synovus Financial Corp.'s own proxy. As printed: 6,869,560. Filing ↗machine: span 787627–787637
42Associated Banc-Corp, Section 10b CEO totalDEF 14A2026-03-160000007789-26-000097CEO total compensation as printed in Associated Banc-Corp's own proxy. As printed: 6,354,626. Filing ↗machine: r2 · c8 · span 1463993–1464002
43Hancock Whitney Corp., Section 10b CEO totalDEF 14A2026-03-170001193125-26-109512CEO total compensation as printed in Hancock Whitney Corp.'s own proxy. As printed: 6,334,741. Filing ↗machine: t60 · r3 · c9 · span 1028573–1028582
44Webster Financial Corp., Section 10b CEO totalDEF 14A2025-04-110000801337-25-000015CEO total compensation as printed in Webster Financial Corp.'s own proxy. As printed: 6,050,156. Filing ↗machine: r3 · c45 · span 981486–981495
45Zions Bancorp. NA, Section 10b CEO totalDEF 14A2026-03-190000109380-26-000052CEO total compensation as printed in Zions Bancorp. NA's own proxy. As printed: 5,358,037. Filing ↗machine: r2 · c27 · span 656287–656296
46BOK Financial Corp., Section 10b CEO totalDEF 14A2026-03-190000875357-26-000023CEO total compensation as printed in BOK Financial Corp.'s own proxy. As printed: 5,235,181. Filing ↗machine: span 473816–473825
47Cadence Bank (subject), Section 10b CEO totalDEF 14A2024-12-30CEO total compensation as printed in Cadence Bank's own proxy. As printed: 5,107,944. Filing ↗
48Prosperity Bancshares, Inc., Section 10b CEO totalDEF 14A2026-03-160001193125-26-107142CEO total compensation as printed in Prosperity Bancshares, Inc.'s own proxy. As printed: 3,434,273. Filing ↗machine: t7 · r2 · c26 · span 612855–612864
49Section 10a, East West Bancorp, Inc. reciprocityDEF 14A0002077096-26-000050East West Bancorp, Inc.'s most recent proxy was read; its disclosed peer group does not include Cadence Bank. Filing ↗
50Section 10a, BOK Financial Corp. reciprocityDEF 14A0000875357-26-000023BOK Financial Corp. names Cadence Bank in its own disclosed peer group (read from its most recent proxy). Filing ↗
51Section 10a, Texas Capital Bancshares, Inc. reciprocityDEF 14A0001077428-26-000040Texas Capital Bancshares, Inc.'s most recent proxy was read; its disclosed peer group does not include Cadence Bank. Filing ↗
52Section 10a, Pinnacle Financial Partners Inc. reciprocityDEF 14A0001115055-25-000063Pinnacle Financial Partners Inc.'s most recent proxy was read; its disclosed peer group does not include Cadence Bank. Filing ↗
53Section 10a, F.N.B. Corp. reciprocityDEF 14A0001193125-26-122941F.N.B. Corp.'s most recent proxy was read; its disclosed peer group does not include Cadence Bank. Filing ↗
54Section 10a, Webster Financial Corp. reciprocityDEF 14A0000801337-25-000015Webster Financial Corp.'s most recent proxy was read; its disclosed peer group does not include Cadence Bank. Filing ↗
55Section 10a, Associated Banc-Corp reciprocityDEF 14A0000007789-26-000097Associated Banc-Corp's most recent proxy was read; its disclosed peer group does not include Cadence Bank. Filing ↗
56Section 10a, Hancock Whitney Corp. reciprocityDEF 14A0001193125-26-109512Hancock Whitney Corp. names Cadence Bank in its own disclosed peer group (read from its most recent proxy). Filing ↗
57Section 10a, Zions Bancorp. NA reciprocityDEF 14A0000109380-26-000052Zions Bancorp. NA's most recent proxy was read; its disclosed peer group does not include Cadence Bank. Filing ↗
58Section 10a, Old National Bancorp reciprocityDEF 14A0001104659-26-039075Old National Bancorp names Cadence Bank in its own disclosed peer group (read from its most recent proxy). Filing ↗
59Section 10a, UMB Financial Corp. reciprocityDEF 14A0001193125-26-103203UMB Financial Corp.'s most recent proxy was read; its disclosed peer group does not include Cadence Bank. Filing ↗
60Section 10a, Valley National Bancorp. reciprocityDEF 14A0001193125-26-141225Valley National Bancorp. names Cadence Bank in its own disclosed peer group (read from its most recent proxy). Filing ↗
61Section 10a, SouthState Corp. reciprocityDEF 14A0001104659-26-022580SouthState Corp. names Cadence Bank in its own disclosed peer group (read from its most recent proxy). Filing ↗
62Section 10a, BankUnited, Inc. reciprocityDEF 14A0001504008-26-000037BankUnited, Inc.'s most recent proxy was read; its disclosed peer group does not include Cadence Bank. Filing ↗
63Section 10a, First Horizon Corp. reciprocityDEF 14A0000036966-26-000063First Horizon Corp.'s most recent proxy was read; its disclosed peer group does not include Cadence Bank. Filing ↗
64Section 10a, Synovus Financial Corp. reciprocityDEF 14A0000018349-25-000057Synovus Financial Corp. names Cadence Bank in its own disclosed peer group (read from its most recent proxy). Filing ↗
65Section 10a, Cullen/Frost Bankers, Inc. reciprocityDEF 14A0000039263-26-000023Cullen/Frost Bankers, Inc.'s most recent proxy was read; its disclosed peer group does not include Cadence Bank. Filing ↗
66Section 10a, Prosperity Bancshares, Inc. reciprocityDEF 14A0001193125-26-107142Prosperity Bancshares, Inc. names Cadence Bank in its own disclosed peer group (read from its most recent proxy). Filing ↗
67Section 10a, Wintrust Financial Corp. reciprocityDEF 14A0001104659-26-041498Wintrust Financial Corp. names Cadence Bank in its own disclosed peer group (read from its most recent proxy). Filing ↗