Exhibit 10.4


 


EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT


 


THIS EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
is made and entered into as of April 15, 2015 (the “Effective Date”), by and among SmartFinancial, Inc., a Tennessee
corporation and registered bank holding company (the “Company”); SmartBank, a banking corporation organized
under the laws of the State of Tennessee (the “Bank,” and together with the Company, collectively, the “Employer”);
and C. Bryan Johnson, a resident of the State of Tennessee (the “Employee”). The Company, the Bank, and the
Employee are sometimes referred to herein collectively as the “Parties,” and each is sometimes referred to herein
individually as a “Party.”


 


RECITALS


 


A.          The
Employer desires to employ the Employee as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of the Company and the Bank, and
the Employee desires to accept such employment.


 


B.          The
Parties desire to set forth in this Agreement the terms and conditions upon which the Employee will be so employed.


 


AGREEMENT


 


In consideration of
the premises set forth above, the mutual agreements hereinafter set forth, and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt
and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the Parties hereby agree as follows:.


 


1.           Definitions.
When used in this Agreement, the following terms and their variant forms shall have the meanings set forth below:


 


(a)          “Affiliate”
shall mean any person that controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with another person. For this purpose, “control”
means ownership of more than 50% of the ordinary voting power of the outstanding equity securities of a person. For the avoidance
of doubt, it is expressly acknowledged that, following the Merger, the Bank and Cornerstone Community Bank, a banking corporation
organized under the laws of the State of Tennessee (“Cornerstone”), will be Affiliates for purposes of this Agreement.


 


(b)          “Agreement”
shall mean this Employment Agreement and any appendices incorporated herein together with any amendments hereto made in the manner
described in this Agreement.


 


(c)          “Area”
shall mean, during the period of the Employee’s employment, a radius of 75 miles from each banking office (whether a main
office, branch office, or loan or deposit production office) maintained by the Bank and/or any Affiliate of the Bank from time
to time during such period of employment, and, following the period of the Employee’s employment, a radius of 75 miles from
each banking office (whether a main office, branch office, or loan or deposit production office) maintained by the Bank and/or
any Affiliate of the Bank as of the last day of the Employee’s employment.


 


(d)          “Board
of Directors” shall mean the board of directors of the Bank or the Company, as indicated herein, and, where appropriate,
any committee or designee thereof.


 




     


     


    

 


(e)         “Business
of the Employer” shall mean the business conducted by the Company and/or the Bank and/or any Affiliate of the Company
or the Bank, which as to the Bank and the Company shall include the business of commercial and consumer banking. 


 


(f)          “Cause”
shall mean:


 


(i)          In
the context of the termination of this Agreement by the Employer:


 


(1)         a
breach of the terms of this Agreement by the Employee not cured by the Employee within 15 business days after the Employee’s
receipt of the Employer’s written notice thereof, including, without limitation, failure by the Employee to perform the Employee’s
duties and responsibilities in the manner and to the extent required under this Agreement;


 


(2)         any
act by the Employee of fraud against, misappropriation from, or dishonesty to the Company or the Bank or any Affiliate of the Company
or the Bank;


 


(3)         the
conviction of the Employee of any crime;


 


(4)         conduct
by the Employee that amounts to willful misconduct, gross neglect, or a material failure to perform the Employee’s duties
and responsibilities hereunder, including prolonged absences without the written consent of the President and Chief Executive Officer
of the Company; provided that the nature of such conduct shall be set forth with reasonable particularity in a written notice to
the Employee who shall have 15 business days following delivery of such notice to cure such alleged conduct, provided that such
conduct is, in the reasonable discretion of the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company, susceptible to a cure;


 


(5)         the
exhibition by the Employee of a standard of behavior within the scope of or related to the Employee’s employment that is
in violation of: (i) any written policy, which violation results in or is likely to result in a material loss or regulatory criticism,
(ii) any board committee charter, or (iii) any code of ethics or business conduct of the Company or any Affiliate of the Company;
provided in each case that the nature of such behavior shall be set forth with reasonable particularity in a written notice to
the Employee who shall have 15 business days following delivery of such notice to cure such alleged behavior, provided that such
behavior is, in the reasonable discretion of the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company, susceptible to a cure;


 


(6)         conduct
or behavior by the Employee that, in the reasonable opinion of the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company, has harmed
or could be expected to harm the business or reputation of the Company, the Bank, or any Affiliate of the Company or the Bank,
including, without limitation, conduct or behavior that is unethical or involves moral turpitude;


 


(7)         receipt
of any form of written notice that any regulatory agency or authority having jurisdiction over the Company, the Bank, or any Affiliate
of the Company or the Bank has instituted any form of regulatory action against the Employee; or


 




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(8)         the
Employee’s removal from office or permanent prohibition from participating in the conduct of the affairs of the Company,
the Bank, or any Affiliate of the Company or the Bank by an order issued under Section 8(e) or Section 8(g) of the Federal Deposit
Insurance Act (12 U.S.C. § 1818(e) and (g)).


 


(ii)         In
the context of the termination of this Agreement by the Employee:


 


(1)         a
material reduction, when considered in the aggregate, in the scope of the Employee’s duties and responsibilities, which (A)
is not consented to by the Employee in writing, or (B) does not occur within the 12 months following either the Merger or the merger
of the Bank and Cornerstone; 


 


(2)         a
material reduction, when considered in the aggregate, in the salary and other compensation and benefits provided for in Section
4 hereof from the level in effect immediately prior to such reduction, which is not consented to by the Employee in writing; or


 


(3)         a
change in the location of the Employee’s primary office such that the Employee is required to report regularly to an office
located outside of a radius of 75 miles from the location of the Employee’s primary office as of the date of such change
in location, which change is not consented to by tiie Employee in writing.


 


(g)         “Change
of Control” shall mean:


 


(i)          the
acquisition by any person or persons acting in concert (other than any officer(s), directors), and/or shareholders) of the Company
or any Affiliate of the Company), in a single transaction or series of related transactions, of 50% or more of the outstanding
voting securities of the Company entitled to vote in the election of Company directors;


 


(ii)         a
reorganization, merger, or consolidation to which the Company is a parly with respect to which persons who were shareholders of
the Company immediately prior to such reorganization, merger, or consolidation do not immediately thereafter own more than 50%
of the combined voting power of the reorganized, merged, or consolidated company’s then outstanding voting securities entitled
to vote in the election of directors; or


 


(iii)        the
sale, transfer, or assignment by the Company of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company and its subsidiaries to any
third party (excluding, however, any pledge by the Company of the capital stock of any subsidiary of the Company to secure indebtedness
of the Company or for other general corporate or commercial purposes).


 


Notwithstanding the
foregoing, the Parties expressly acknowledge and agree that neither the Merger nor any merger of the Bank and Cornerstone (irrespective
of the surviving bank of such merger) shall constitute or give rise to a Change of Control for purposes of this Agreement.


 


(h)         “Code”
shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.


 




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(i)          “Competing
Business” shall mean any person (other than an Affiliate of the Company or the Bank) that is conducting any business
that is the same or substantially the same as the Business of the Bank.


 


(j)          “Confidential
Information” means data and information relating to the business of the Company or the Bank or any Affiliate of the Company
or the Bank (which does not rise to the status of a Trade Secret) which is or has been disclosed to the Employee or of which the
Employee became aware as a consequence of or through the Employee’s relationship with the Company or the Bank or any Affiliate
of the Company or the Bank and which has value to Company or the Bank or any Affiliate of the Company or the Bank and is not generally
known to its or their competitors. Confidential Information shall not include any data or information that has been voluntarily
disclosed to the public by the Company or the Bank or any Affiliate of the Company or the Bank {provided that no such public disclosure
shall be deemed to be voluntary when made without authorization by the Employee or any other employee of Company or the Bank or
any Affiliate of the Company or the Bank) or that has been independently developed and disclosed by others or that otherwise enters
the public domain through lawful means. 


 


(k)         “Disability”
shall mean the inability of the Employee to perform each of the Employee’s duties and responsibilities under this Agreement
for a period of more than 90 consecutive days; provided that the Parties agree that, to the extent necessary to comply with Section
409A of the Code, the definition of “Disability” shall be amended to the definition of disability required by Section
409A of the Code,


 


(l)          “Employer
Information” shall mean, collectively, Confidential Information and Trade Secrets.


 


(m)        “Merger”
shall mean the merger of the Company with and into Cornerstone Bancshares, Inc. (“Cornerstone Bancshares”),
a Tennessee corporation, as contemplated by that certain Agreement and Plan of Merger, by and among the Company, the Bank, Cornerstone
Bancshares, and Cornerstone, dated December 5, 2014.


 


(n)         “Post-Termination
Period” shall mean a period of 12 months following the effective date of the termination of the Employee’s employment.


 


(o)         “Severance
Benefit” shall mean any post-termination benefit(s) to be paid by the Employer pursuant to Section 5(a)(ii), Section
5(b)(i), or Section 6 hereof.


 


(p)         “Trade
Secrets” shall mean information of the Company or the Bank or any Affiliate of the Company or the Bank, including, without
limitation, technical and nontechnical data, formulas, patterns, compilations, programs, devices, methods, techniques, drawings,
processes, financial data, financial plans, product plans, and lists of actual or potential customers, prospects, or suppliers,
which:


 


(i)          derives
economic value, actual or potential, from not being generally known to, and not being readily ascertainable by proper means by,
other persons who can obtain economic value from its disclosure or use; and


 


(ii)         is
the subject of efforts that are reasonable under the circumstances to maintain its secrecy.


 




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2.           Employee
Duties.


 


(a)         Position(s).
The Employee will be employed as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of the Company and the Bank, and shall perform
and discharge faithfully the duties and responsibilities which may be assigned to the Employee from time to time in connection
with the conduct of the Employer’s business. The duties and responsibilities of the Employee shall be commensurate with those
of individuals holding similar positions at other banks similarly situated. The Employee will report directly to the President
and Chief Executive Officer of the Company and the Bank, or such other officer as the Board of Directors may determine.


 


(b)         Full-Time
Status. In addition to the duties and responsibilities specifically assigned to the Employee pursuant to Section 2(a)
hereof, the Employee shall:


 


(i)          subject
to Section 2(c) hereof, during regular business hours devote substantially all of the Employee’s time, energy, attention,
and skill to the performance of the duties and responsibilities of the Employee’s employment (reasonable vacations, approved
leaves of absence, and reasonable absences due to illness excepted) and faithfully and industriously perform such duties and responsibilities;


 


(ii)         diligently
follow and implement all reasonable and lawful policies and decisions communicated to the Employee; and


 


(iii)        timely
prepare and forward to the requesting party or parties all reports and accountings as may be reasonably requested of the Employee.


 


(c)         Permitted
Activities. The Employee shall devote substantially all of the Employee’s entire business time, attention, and energies
to the Business of the Employer and shall not, during the Term, be engaged (whether or not during normal business hours) in any
other significant business or professional activity, whether or not such activity is pursued for gain, profit, or other pecuniary
advantage, but as long as the following activities do not interfere with the Employee’s obligations to the Employer, this
shall not be construed as preventing the Employee from:


 


(i)          investing
the Employee’s personal assets in any manner which will not require any services on the part of the Employee in the operations
or affairs of the subject person and in which the Employee’s participation is solely that of an investor; provided that such
investment activity following the Effective Date shall not result in the Employee owning, beneficially or of record, at any time
2% or more of the equity securities of any Competing Business; or


 


(ii)         participating
in civic and professional affairs and organizations and conferences, preparing or publishing papers or books, or teaching, so long
as any such activities do not interfere with the ability of the Employee to effectively discharge the Employee’s duties and
responsibilities hereunder; provided that the Board of Directors may direct the Employee in writing to resign from any such organization
and/or cease any such activities in the event the Board of Directors reasonably determines that continued membership and/or activities
of the type identified would not be in the best interests of the Employer.


 




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3.           Term
of Employment. The initial term of this Agreement (the “Initial Term”), and the Parties’ employment
relationship, shall commence on and as of the Effective Date and, unless this Agreement is sooner terminated in accordance with
its terms, shall end 011 the date which is the second anniversary of the Effective Date. At the end of the Initial Term (and at
the end of any one-year renewal term), this Agreement will automatically renew for an additional, successive term of one year,
unless the Employer or the Employee gives the other written notice of its intent to terminate this Agreement as of the end of the
Initial Term (or as of the end of the then-current renewal term) at least 60 days prior to the end of the Initial Term (or then-current
renewal term). The Initial Term and any and all renewal terms, if any, are referred to together herein as the “Term.”


 


4.           Compensation.
The Employer shall compensate the Employee as follows during the Employee’s period of employment hereunder, except as otherwise
provided below:


 


(a)         Annual
Base Salary. The Employee shall be compensated at an annual base rate of $175,000.00 per year (the “Annual Base Salary”).
The Employee’s Annual Base Salary will be reviewed by the compensation committee of the Board of Directors at least annually
(in accordance with the committee’s charter and any procedures adopted by the committee) for adjustments based on an evaluation
of the Employee’s performance. The Employee’s Annual Base Salary shall be payable in accordance with the Employer’s
normal payroll practices.


 


(b)         Annual
Incentive Compensation.


 


(i)          The
Employee shall be eligible to receive annual bonus compensation as determined by, and based on performance measures established
by, the Board of Directors (upon recommendation by the compensation committee) consistent with the strategic plan(s) of the Employer
pursuant to any incentive compensation program that may be adopted from time to time by the Board of Directors (an “Annual
Bonus”).


 


(ii)         Any
Annual Bonus earned shall be payable in cash in the first calendar quarter of the year following the year in which the Annual Bonus
is earned, in accordance with the Employer’s normal practices for the payment of short-term incentives. The payment of any
Annual Bonus shall be subject to any approvals or non-objections required by any regulator of the Company or the Bank or any Affiliate
of the Company or the Bank, and it is understood by the Parties that the Employee may not be eligible to receive any such Annual
Bonus or other short-term incentive compensation if the Company or the Bank or any Affiliate of the Company or the Bank is subject
to restrictions imposed on the Company or the Bank or any such Affiliate by the United States Department of the Treasury, the Board
of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, the Tennessee Department of Financial Institutions,
or any other bank or bank holding company regulatory authority, or if the Employer is otherwise restricted from making payment
of such compensation under applicable law.


 


(c)         Reimbursement
of Business Expenses. Subject to the reimbursement policies from time to time adopted by the Board of Directors, and consistent
with the annual budget approved for the period during which an expense is incurred, the Employer will reimburse the Employee for
reasonable and necessary business expenses incurred by the Employee in the performance of the Employee’s duties and responsibilities
hereunder; provided\ however, that, as a condition to any such reimbursement, the Employee shall submit verification of the nature
and amount of such expenses in accordance with said reimbursement policies. Examples of appropriate categories of reimbursable
expenses include memberships in professional and civic organizations, professional development, and customer entertainment. The
Employee acknowledges that the Employer makes no representation with respect to the taxability or non-taxability of the benefits
provided under this Section 4(c).


 




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(d)          Cellular
Telephone. The Employer will provide the Employee with an allowance of $100 per month to offset cellular telephone costs incurred
by the Employee in the course of the Employee’s employment for Employer-related business.


 


(e)          Paid
Leave. On a non-cumulative basis, the Employee shall be entitled to 20 days of paid leave per calendar year, prorated for any
partial calendar year of service. The provisions of this Section 4fe^ shall apply, notwithstanding any less generous paid leave
policy then maintained by the Employer, but the use of Employee’s paid leave shall otherwise be in accordance with and subject
to the Employer’s paid leave policy as in effect from time to time.


 


(f)          Other
Benefits. In addition to the benefits specifically described in this Agreement, the Employee shall be entitled to such benefits
as may be available from time to time to similarly situated employees of the Employer, including, by way of example only, retirement
plan and health, dental, life, and disability insurance benefits. Ail such benefits shall be awarded and administered in accordance
with the written terms of any applicable benefit plan or, if no written terms exist, the Employer’s standard policies and
practices relating to such benefits.


 


(g)          Reimbursement
of Expenses; In-Kind Benefits. All expenses eligible for reimbursement described in this Agreement must be incurred by the
Employee during the Term of this Agreement to be eligible for reimbursement. Any in-kind benefits provided by the Employer must
be provided during the Term of this Agreement. The amount of reimbursable expenses incurred, and the amount of any in-kind benefits
provided, in one taxable year shall not affect the expenses eligible for reimbursement, or in-kind benefits provided, in any other
taxable year. Each category of reimbursement shall be paid as soon as administratively practicable, but in no event shall any such
reimbursement be paid after the last day of the calendar year following the calendar year in which the expense was incurred. Neither
rights to reimbursement nor in-kind benefits shall be subject to liquidation or exchange for other benefits.


 


(h)          Clawback
of Compensation. The Employee agrees to return or repay any compensation previously paid or otherwise made available to the
Employee that is subject to recovery under any applicable law, rule, or regulation (including any rule of any exchange or service
on or through which the securities of the Company or any Affiliate of the Company are traded) where such compensation was in excess
of what should have been paid or made available because the determination of the amount due was based, in whole or in part, 011
materially inaccurate financial information of the Employer. The Employee agrees to return or repay promptly any such compensation
identified by the Employer. If the Employee fails to return or repay such compensation promptly, the Employee agrees that the amount
of such compensation may be deducted from any and all other compensation owed to the Employee. The Employee acknowledges that the
Employer may take appropriate disciplinary action (up to and including termination of employment) if the Employee fails to return
or repay such compensation. The provisions of this Section 4(h) shall be modified to the extent, and remain in effect for
the period, required by applicable law, rule, or regulation.


 




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5.           Termination
of Employment.


 


(a)         Termination
by Employer. During the Term, the Employee’s employment, and this Agreement, may be terminated by the Employer:


 


(i)          for
Cause, upon written notice to the Employee approved by two-thirds of the members of the Board of Directors, in which event the
Employee shall not be entitled to any post- termination compensation or benefits;


 


(ii)         at
any time without Cause (provided that the Bank shall give the Employee at least 30 days prior written notice of the Employer’s
intent to terminate), in which event the Employer shall (1) be required to pay to the Employee a severance benefit equal to one
times the Employee’s Annual Base Salary as of the date of termination, said benefit to be payable over the course of the
12-month period following termination in accordance with the Employer’s normal payroll practices, and (2) reimburse the Employee
for the reasonable cost of premium payments paid by the Employee to continue the Employee’s then-existing health insurance
for himself as provided by the Employer for the lesser of (A) 12 months following termination and (B) until such time as the Employee
obtains other employment providing health insurance coverage, provided that the Employer may discontinue reimbursing the Employee
for such premium payments for the applicable time period and instead provide a cash payment to the Employee (for the Employee to
use as the Employee deems appropriate) equal to the amount of the remainder of such reimbursable premium payments in the event
that the Employer determines that continued reimbursement of premium payments would cause a violation of applicable nondiscrimination
rules (for the avoidance of doubt, the termination of the Employee’s employment by the Employer upon the disability of the
Employee under Section 5(a)(iii) below shall not be considered or deemed termination of the Employee’s employment
without Cause under this Section 5(a)(ii); or


 


(iii)        at
any time upon the Disability of the Employee {provided that the Employer shall give the Employee at least 30 days prior written
notice of the Employer’s intent to terminate), in which event the Employee will be entitled to such benefits (if any) as
may be available to the Employee under the Employer’s disability insurance policy or policies (if any) then in effect.


 


(b)         Termination
by Employee. During the Term, the Employee’s employment, and this Agreement, may be terminated by the Employee:


 


(i)          for
Cause, in which event the Employer shall (1) be required to pay to the Employee a severance benefit equal to (A) if termination
is for Cause as defined in Section 1(f)(ii)(1) or Section 1(f)(ii)(3) one times the Employee’s Annual Base
Salary as of the date of termination, said benefit to be payable over the course of the 12-month period following termination in
accordance with the Employer’s normal payroll practices, or (B) if termination is for Cause as defined in Section 1(f)(ii)(2)
one times the Employee’s Annual Base Salary immediately before the reduction in salary and other compensation and benefits
giving rise to termination, said benefit to be payable over the course of the 12- month period following termination in accordance
with the Employer’s normal payroll practices, and (2) reimburse the Employee for the reasonable cost of premium payments
paid by the Employee to continue the Employee’s then-existing health insurance for himself as provided by the Employer for
the lesser of (A) 12 months following termination and (B) until such time as the Employee obtains other employment providing health
insurance coverage, provided that the Employer may discontinue reimbursing the Employee for such premium payments for the applicable
time period and instead provide a cash payment to the Employee (for the Employee to use as the Employee deems appropriate) equal
to the amount of the remainder of such reimbursable premium payments in the event that the Employer determines that continued reimbursement
of premium payments would cause a violation of applicable nondiscrimination rules; or


 




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(ii)         at
any time without Cause or upon the Disability of the Employee (provided that the Employee shall give the Employer at least 60 days
prior written notice of the Employee’s intent to terminate), in which event the Employee shall not be entitled to any post-termination
compensation or benefits other than such benefits (if any) as may be available to the Employee under the Employer’s disability
insurance policy or policies (if any) then in effect.


 


(c)         Termination
by Mutual Agreement. During the Term, the Employee’s employment, and this Agreement, may be terminated at any time by
mutual, written agreement of the Parties.


 


(d)         Termination
Upon Death. The Employee’s employment, and this Agreement, shall terminate automatically upon the death of the Employee.


 


(e)         Effect
of Termination; Resignation. Upon the termination of the Employee’s employment hereunder, the Employer shall have no
further obligations to the Employee or the Employee’s estate, heirs, beneficiaries, executors, administrators, or legal or
personal representatives with respect to this Agreement, except for the payment of any amounts earned and owing under Sections
4(a)-4(c) hereof as of the effective date of the termination of the Employee’s employment and any payment(s) required
by Section 5(a)(ii), Section 5(b)(i), or Section 6 of this Agreement. Further, upon the termination of the
Employee’s employment, if the Employee is a member of the Board of Directors or the board of directors of any Affiliate of
the Employer, the Employee shall, at the request of the Employer, resign from his position(s) on such board(s), with any and all
such resignations to be effective not later than the date on which the Employee’s employment is terminated.


 


6.           Change
of Control.


 


(a)         If,
within 12 months following a Change of Control, the Employer (or any successor of or to the Employer) terminates the Employee’s
employment without Cause, the Employee (or in the event of the Employee’s subsequent death the Employee’s estate or
designated beneficiary or beneficiaries, as the case may be) shall receive, as liquidated damages, in lieu of all other claims,
a severance payment equal to two times the Employee’s Annual Base Salary as of the date of termination, such amount to be
paid in full in one lump sum payment on the last day of the month following the date of termination of the Employee’s employment
Additionally, the Employee will continue to receive the health insurance plan benefits then in effect for employees of the Employer
for the lesser of (i) 12 months following termination and (ii) until such time as the Employee obtains other employment providing
health insurance plan benefits, to include payment of any Bank-funded portion of the plan; provided, however, that the Employer
may discontinue paying insurer(s) COBRA premiums for health insurance coverage for the applicable time period and instead provide
a cash payment to the Employee (for the Employee to use as the Employee deems appropriate) equal to the amount of the remainder
of such COBRA premiums in the event that the Employer determines that continued provision of a COBRA subsidy would cause a violation
of applicable nondiscrimination rules.


 




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(b)         If
within 12 months following a Change of Control the Employee terminates the Employee’s employment with the Employer (or any
successor of or to the Company or the Bank) for Cause, the Employee (or in the event of the Employee’s subsequent death the
Employee’s estate or designated beneficiary or beneficiaries, as the case may be) shall receive, as liquidated damages, in
lieu of all other claims, a severance payment equal to (i) if termination is for Cause as defined in Section 1(f)(ii)(l)
or Section 1(f)(ii)(3)two times the Employee’s Annual Base Salary as of the date of termination, such amount to be
paid in full in one lump sum payment on the last day of the month following the date of termination of the Employee’s employment,
or (ii) if termination is for Cause as defined in Section 1(f)(ii)(2). two times the Employee’s Annual Base Salary
immediately before the reduction in salary and other compensation and benefits giving rise to termination, such amount to be paid
in full in one lump sum payment on the last day of the month following the date of termination of the Employee’s employment.
Additionally, the Employee will continue to receive the health insurance plan benefits then in effect for employees of the Employer
for the lesser of (i) 12 months following termination and (ii) until such time as the Employee obtains other employment providing
health insurance plan benefits, to include payment of any Bank-funded portion of the plan; provided, however, that the Employer
may discontinue paying insurer(s) COBRA premiums for health insurance coverage for the applicable time period and instead provide
a cash payment to the Employee (for the Employee to use as the Employee deems appropriate) equal to the amount of the remainder
of such COBRA premiums in the event that the Employer determines that continued provision of a COBRA subsidy would cause a violation
of applicable nondiscrimination rules. 


 


7.           Employer
Information.


 


(a)         Ownership
of Employer Information. All Employer information received or developed by the Employee or by the Company or the Bank or any
Affiliate of the Company or the Bank while the Employee is employed by the Employer shall be and will remain the sole and exclusive
property of the Company or the Bank or such Affiliate, as the case may be.


 


(b)         Obligations
of the Employee. The Employee agrees:


 


(i)          to
hold all Employer Information in strictest confidence;


 


(ii)         to
not use, duplicate, reproduce, distribute, disclose, or otherwise disseminate Employer Information or any physical embodiments
of Employer Information to any unauthorized recipient; and ‘


 


(iii)        in
any event, to not take any action causing any Employer Information to lose its character or cease to qualify as, and to not fail
to take any action necessary in order to prevent any Employer Information from losing its character or ceasing to qualify as, Confidential
Information or a Trade Secret; provided, however, that none of the foregoing obligations shall preclude the Employee from making
any disclosures of Employer Information which the Employee has been advised in writing by independent legal counsel are required
by applicable law, rule, or regulation. This Section 7 shall survive for a period of two years following the termination of this
Agreement for any reason with respect to Confidential Information, and shall survive the termination of this Agreement for any
reason for so long as is permitted by applicable law with respect to Trade Secrets.


 




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(c)         Delivery
Upon Request or Termination. Upon the request of the Employer, and in any event upon the termination of the Employee’s
employment with the Employer, the Employee will promptly deliver to the Employer all property belonging to the Employer, including,
without limitation, all Employer Information then in the Employee’s possession or control.


 


8.           Non-Competition;
Non-Solicitation; Non-Disparagement.


 


(a)         Non-Competition.
The Employee agrees that during the period of the Employee’s employment by the Employer hereunder and, in the event of the
termination of the Employee’s employment, for the period of time in which the Employee is entitled to receive any Severance
Benefit, the Employee will not (except on behalf of or with the prior written consent of the Employer):


 


(i)          within
the Area, either directly or indirectly, on the Employee’s own behalf or in the service of or on behalf of others, engage
in any business, activity, enterprise, or venture competitive with the Business of the Employer;


 


(ii)         within
the Area, either directly or indirectly, perform for any Competing Business any services that are the same as, or substantially
the same as, the services the Employee provides or provided for the Employer;


 


(iii)        within
the Area, accept employment with or be employed by any person engaged in any business, activity, enterprise, or venture competitive
with the Business of the Employer; or 


 


(iv)        work
for or with, consult for, or otherwise be affiliated with, in either a paid or unpaid capacity, or be employed by any person or
group of persons proposing to establish a new bank or other financial institution within the Area.


 


(b)         Non-Solicitation
of Customers. The Employee agrees that, during the period of the Employee’s employment by the Employer hereunder and,
in the event of the termination of the Employee’s employment for any reason, for the duration of the Post-Termination Period,
the Employee will not, directly or indirectly (except on behalf of or with the prior written consent of the Employer), on the Employee’s
own behalf or in the service of or on behalf of others, solicit, divert, or appropriate, or attempt to solicit, divert, or appropriate,
any business from any of the customer of the Company, the Bank, or any Affiliate of the Company or the Bank, including prospective
customers actively sought by the Company, the Bank, or any Affiliate of the Company or the Bank, with whom the Employee has or
had contact during the last two years of the Employee’s employment with the Employer, for purposes of selling, offering,
or providing products or services that are competitive with those sold, offered, or provided by the Company, the Bank, or any Affiliate
of the Company or the Bank,


 




    	 	11	 



     


    

 


(c)          Non-Solicitation
of Employees. The Employee agrees that, during the period of the Employee’s employment by the Employer hereunder and,
in the event of the termination of the Employee’s employment for any reason, for the duration of the Post-Termination Period,
the Employee will not, directly or indirectly (except on behalf of or with the prior written consent of the Employer), on the Employee’s
own behalf or in the service of or on behalf of others, solicit, recruit, or hire away, or attempt to solicit, recruit, or hire
away, any employee of the Company, the Bank, or any Affiliate of the Company or the Bank with whom the Employee had contact during
the last two years of the Employee’s employment with the Employer, regardless of whether such employee is a full-time, part-time,
or temporary employee of the Company, the Bank, such an Affiliate of the Company or the Bank or such employee’s employment
is pursuant to a written agreement, for a determined period, or at will.


 


(d)          Non-Disparagement.
TheEmployee agrees that, during the period of the Employee’s employment by the Employer hereunder and for a period of two
years thereafter, the Employee will not make any untruthful statement (written or oral) that is or could reasonably be perceived
as disparaging to the Company, the Bank, or any Affiliate of the Company or the Bank.


 


(e)          Modification.
The Parties agree that the provisions of this Agreement represent a reasonable balancing of their respective interests and have
attempted to limit the restrictions imposed on the Employee to those necessary to protect the Employer from inevitable disclosure
of Confidential Information and Trade Secrets and/or unfair competition. The Parties agree that, if the scope or enforceability
of this Agreement is in any way disputed at any time and an arbitrator, court, or other trier of fact determines that the scope
of the restrictions contained in this Agreement is overbroad, then such arbitrator, court, or other trier of fact may modify the
scope of the restrictions contained in this Agreement.


 


(f)          Tolling.
The Employee agrees that, in the event the Employee breaches this Section 8. the Post-Termination Period shall be tolled during
the period of such breach and shall be extended to 12 months after all breaches of this Agreement have ceased.


 


(g)          Remedies.
The Employee agrees that the covenants contained in Section 7 and Section 8 of this Agreement are of the essence
of this Agreement; that each of such covenants is reasonable and necessary to protect the business, interests, and properties of
the Employer and its Affiliates; and that irreparable loss and damage will be suffered by the Employer should the Employee breach
any of such covenants. Therefore, the Employee agrees and consents that, in addition to any and all other remedies provided by
or available at law or in equity, the Employer shall be entitled to a temporary restraining order and temporary and permanent injunctions
to prevent a breach or threatened or contemplated breach of any of the covenants contained in Section 7 or Section 8 of this Agreement,
and that, in such event, the Employer shall not be required to post a bond. The Employer and the Employee agree that all remedies
available to the Employer shall be cumulative.


 


9.           Severability.
The Parties agree that each of the provisions included in this Agreement is separate, distinct, and severable from the other provisions
of this Agreement and that the invalidity or unenforceability of any provision of this Agreement shall not affect the validity
or enforceability of any other provision of this Agreement. Further, if any provision of this Agreement is ruled invalid or unenforceable
by a court of competent jurisdiction because of a conflict between the provision and any applicable law, rule, regulation, or public
policy, the provision shall be redrawn to make the provision consistent with, and valid and enforceable under, such law, rule,
regulation, or public policy.


 




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10.         No
Set-Off by Employee. The existence of any claim, demand, action, or cause of action by the Employee against the Company, the
Bank, or any Affiliate of the Company or the Bank, whether predicated upon this Agreement or otherwise, shall not constitute a
defense to the enforcement by the Employer of any of the Employer’s rights hereunder.


 


11.         Notices.
All notices, requests, waivers, and other communications required or permitted hereunder shall be in writing and shall be either
personally delivered; sent by national overnight courier service, postage prepaid, next-business-day delivery guaranteed; or mailed
by first class United States Mail, postage prepaid return receipt requested, to the recipient at the address below indicated:


 


	If to the Employer:	
        SmartFinanciai, Inc.

        SmartBank

        Attention: President & Chief Executive Officer

        5401 Kingston Pike Suite 600

        Knoxville, Tennessee 37919

         

	If to the Employee:	
        C. Bryan Johnson

        4618 Alta Vista Way

        Knoxville, Tennessee 37919



 


or to such other address or to the attention
of such other person as the recipient Party shall have specified by prior written notice to the sending Party. All such notices,
requests, waivers, and other communications shall be deemed to have been effectively given: (a) when personally delivered to the
Party to be notified; (b) two business days after deposit with a national overnight courier service, postage prepaid, addressed
to the Party to be notified as set forth above with next-business-day delivery guaranteed; or (c) four business days after deposit
in the United States Mail, first class, postage prepaid with return receipt requested, at any time other than during a general
discontinuance of postal service due to strike, lockout, or otherwise (in which case such notice, request, waiver, or other communication
shall be effectively given upon receipt), and addressed to the Party to be notified as set forth above. A Party may change such
Party’s notice address set forth above by giving the other Party 10 days written notice of the new address in the manner
set forth above.


 


12.         Assignment.
The rights and obligations of the Company and the Bank under this Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and shall be binding
upon the successors and assigns of the Company and the Bank, including, without limitation, a purchaser of all or substantially
all of the assets of the Company or the Bank. If this Agreement is assigned pursuant to the foregoing sentence, the assignment
shall be by novation, and the assigning Party shall have no further liability hereunder, and the successor or assign shall become
the “Company” or the “Batik,” as applicable, hereunder, but the Employee will not be deemed to have experienced
a termination of employment by virtue of such assignment. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Parties expressly
acknowledge and agree that, in the event of any merger of the Company with and into Cornerstone, Cornerstone as the surviving company
of such merger will, as successor by merger to the Company, succeed to all rights and obligations of the Company hereunder, without
any further action by the Parties, and that at and after the effective time of such merger, all references in this Agreement to
the “Company” shall be references to Cornerstone as successor by merger to the Company. This Agreement is a personal
contract and the rights and interest of the Employee may not be assigned by the Employee. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit
of and be enforceable by the Employee and the Employee’s personal or legal representatives, executors, administrators, successors,
heirs, distributees, devisees, and legatees.


 




    	 	13	 



     


    

 


13.         Waiver.
A waiver by one Party to this Agreement of any provision of this Agreement or of any breach of this Agreement by any other Party
to this Agreement shall not be effective unless in writing, and no waiver shall operate or be construed as a waiver of the same
or any other provision or breach on any other or subsequent occasion.


 


14.         Mediation.
Except with respect to Section 7, Section 8, and Section 22 hereof, and except as provided in Section 15
hereof, in the event of any dispute arising out of or relating to this Agreement, or a breach hereof, which dispute cannot be settled
through direct discussions between the Parties, the Parties agree to first endeavor to settle the dispute in an amicable manner
by non-binding mediation in accordance with the rules of alternative dispute resolution of the State of Tennessee for the judicial
circuit containing Knox County, Tennessee before resorting to any other process for resolving the dispute.


 


15.         Applicable
Law and Choice of Forum. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed and enforced under and in accordance with the laws
of the State of Tennessee, without regard to or the application of principles of conflicts of laws. The Parties agree that any
legal action or proceeding arising under or relating to this Agreement shall be brought in a state court of record located in Knox
County, Tennessee, or, in the event (but only in the event) that no such state court has subject matter jurisdiction over such
action or proceeding, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee, which courts shall have exclusive
jurisdiction over any such action or proceeding. Each Party consents to, and waives any objection such Party may otherwise have
to, the jurisdiction and venue of such courts.


 


16.         Interpretation.
Words used herein importing any gender include all genders. Words used herein importing the singular shall include the plural and
vice versa. When used herein, the terms “herein,” “hereunder,” “hereby,” “hereto,”
and “hereof,” and any similar terms, refer to this Agreement, When used herein, the term “person” shall
include an individual, a corporation, a limited liability company, a partnership, an association, a trust, and any other entity
or organization, whether or not incorporated. Any captions, titles, or headings preceding the text of any section or subsection
of this Agreement are solely for convenience of reference and shall not constitute part of this Agreement or affect its meaning,
construction, or effect.


 


17.         Entire
Agreement. This Agreement embodies the entire, final, and integrated agreement of the Parties on the subject matter stated
in this Agreement. No amendment or supplement to or modification of this Agreement shall be valid or binding upon the Employer
or the Employee unless made in a writing signed by all of the Parties. All prior understandings and agreements relating to the
subject matter of this Agreement are hereby expressly terminated.         . 


 


18.         Counterparts.
This Agreement may be executed in counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original but all of which together shall be deemed
to be one and the same agreement. A signed copy of this Agreement delivered by facsimile, e-mail, or other means of electronic
transmission shall be deemed to have the same legal effect as delivery of an original signed copy of this Agreement.


 




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19.         Rights
of Third Parties. Nothing herein expressed is intended to or shall be construed to confer upon or give to any person, other
than the Parties hereto and their successors and permitted assigns, any rights or remedies under or by reason of this Agreement.


 


20.         Legal
Fees. In the event of any claim, action, suit, or proceeding arising out of or in any way relating to this Agreement, the prevailing
Party or Parties shall be entitled to recover from the non- prevailing Party or Parties all reasonable fees, expenses, and disbursements,
including, without limitation, reasonable attorneys’ fees and court costs, incurred by such prevailing Party or Parties in
connection with such claim, action, suit, or proceeding, in addition to any other relief to which such prevailing Party or Parties
may be entitled at law or in equity.


 


21.         Survival.
The obligations of the Parties pursuant to Sections 4(h), 7, 8, 14, 15, 20, 21, 23,
24, 25, 26, and 27 shall survive the expiration and/or termination of this Agreement and/or the termination
of the Employee’s employment hereunder for the periods expressly designated under such sections or, if no such period is
designed, for the maximum period permissible under applicable law.


 


22.         Representation
Regarding Restrictive Covenants. The Employee represents that the Employee is not and will not become a party to any non-competition
or non-solicitation agreement or any other agreement which would prohibit the Employee from entering into this Agreement or providing
the services for the Employer contemplated by this Agreement on or after the Effective Date. In the event the Employee is subject
to any such agreement, this Agreement shall be rendered null and void and the Employer shall have no obligations to the Employee
under this Agreement.


 


23.         Right
to Contact. The Employee acknowledges and agrees that the Employer shall retain and have the right to contact any new employer
or potential employer (or other business) and apprise such person of the Employee’s responsibilities and obligations owed
under this Agreement.


 


24.         Section
409A. It is the intent of the Parties for any payment to which the Employee is entitled under this Agreement to be exempt from
Section 409A of the Code to the maximum extent permitted under Section 409A of the Code. However, if any amounts payable are considered
to be “nonqualified deferred compensation” subject to Section 409A of the Code, such amounts shall be paid and provided
in a manner that, and at such time and in such form as, complies with the applicable requirements of Section 409A of the Code to
avoid the unfavorable tax consequences provided therein for non-compliance. Neither the Employee nor the Employer shall intentionally
take any action to accelerate or delay the payment of any amounts in any manner which would not be in compliance with Section 409A
of the Code without the consent of the other Party. For purposes of this Agreement, all rights to payments shall be treated as
rights to receive a series of separate payments to the fullest extent allowed by Section 409A of the Code. To the extent that some
portion of the payments provided for under this Agreement may be bifurcated and treated as exempt from Section 409A of the Code
under the “short- term deferral” or “separation pay” exemptions, then such amounts may be so treated as
exempt from Section 409A of the Code. 


 




    	 	15	 



     


    

 


25.         Tax
Matters.


 


(a)         Withholding
of Taxes. The Employer may deduct and withhold from any amounts payable under this Agreement all federal, state, city, or other
taxes the Employer is required to deduct or withhold pursuant to applicable law, rule, regulation, or ruling.


 


(b)         Excise
Taxes.


 


(i)          In
the event that any amounts payable under this Agreement or otherwise to the Employee would (1) constitute “parachute payments”
within the meaning of Section 280G of the Code or any comparable successor provision and (2) but for this Section 25(b).
be subject to the excise tax imposed by Section 4999 of the Code or any comparable successor provision (the “Excise Tax”),
then such amounts payable to the Employee shall be either (y) provided to the Employee in full or (z) provided to the Employee
to the maximum extent that would result in no portion of such benefits being subject to the Excise Tax, whichever of the foregoing
amounts, when taking into account applicable federal, state, local, and foreign income and employment taxes, the Excise Tax, and
any other applicable taxes, results in the Employee’s receipt, on an after-tax basis, of the greatest amount of benefits,
notwithstanding that all or some portion of such benefits may be taxable under the Excise Tax. Unless the Employer and the Employee
otherwise agree in writing, any determination required under this Section 25(b) shall be made in writing in good faith by
the Employer’s independent accounting firm (the “Independent Accountants”). In the event of a reduction
in benefits hereunder, the reduction of the total payments shall apply as follows, unless otherwise agreed in writing and such
agreement is in compliance with Section 409A of the Code: (1) any cash severance payments subject to Section 409A of the Code due
under this Agreement shall be reduced, with the last such payment due first forfeited and reduced, and sequentially thereafter
working from the next last payment; (2) any cash severance payments not subject to Section 409A of the Code due under this Agreement
shall be reduced, with the last such payment due first forfeited and reduced, and sequentially thereafter working from the next
last payment; (3) any acceleration of vesting of any equity subject to Section 409A of the Code shall remain as originally scheduled
to vest, with the tranche that would vest last (without any such acceleration) first remaining as originally scheduled to vest;
and (4) any acceleration of vesting of any equity not subject to Section 409A of the Code shall remain as originally scheduled
to vest, with the tranche that would vest last (without any such acceleration) first remaining as originally scheduled to vest.
For purposes of making the calculations required by this Section 25(b), the Independent Accountants may make reasonable
assumptions and approximations concerning applicable taxes and may rely on reasonable, good-faith interpretations concerning the
application of the Code and other applicable legal authority. The Employer and the Employee shall furnish to the Independent Accountants
such information and documents as the Independent Accountants may reasonably request in order to make a determination under this
Section 25(b). The Employer shall bear all costs that the Independent Accountants may reasonably incur in connection with
any calculations contemplated by this Section 25(b).


 




    	 	16	 



     


    

 


(ii)         If
notwithstanding any reductions described in this Section 25(b) the Internal Revenue Service (the “IRS”) determines
that the Employee is liable for the Excise Tax as a result of the receipt of amounts payable under this Agreement or otherwise
as described above, then the Employee shall be obligated to pay back to the Employer, within 30 days after a final IRS determination
or, in the event that the Employee challenges the final IRS determination, a final judicial determination, a portion of such amounts
equal to the Repayment Amount. The “Repayment Amount,” with respect to the payment of benefits, shall be the
smallest such amount, if any, that is required to be paid to the Employer so that the Employee’s net after-tax proceeds with
respect to any payment of benefits (after taking into account the payment of the Excise Tax and all other applicable taxes imposed
on such payment) are maximized. The Repayment Amount with respect to the payment of benefits shall be zero if a Repayment Amount
of more than zero would not result in the Employee’s net after-tax proceeds with respect to the payment of such benefits
being maximized. If the Excise Tax is not eliminated pursuant to this Section 25(b), the Employee shall pay the Excise Tax.


 


(iii)        Notwithstanding
any other provision of this Section 25(b), if (1) there is a reduction in the payment of benefits as described in this Section
25(b), (2) the IRS later determines that the Employee is liable for the Excise Tax, the payment of which would result in the
maximization of the Employee’s net after-tax proceeds (calculated as if the Employee’s benefits had not previously
been reduced), and (3) the Employee pays the Excise Tax, then the Employer shall pay to the Employee those benefits which were
reduced pursuant to this Section 25(b) as soon as administratively possible after the Employee pays the Excise Tax, so that
the Employee’s net after-tax proceeds with respect to the payment of benefits are maximized.


 


26.         Regulatory
Restrictions. The Parties expressly acknowledge and agree that (a) any and all payments contemplated by this Agreement are
subject to and conditioned upon their compliance with 12 U.S.C. § 1828(k) and 12 C.F.R. Fart 359, as such laws and regulations
may be amended from time to time, and (b) the obligations of Parties under this Agreement are generally subject to such conditions,
restrictions, and limitations as may be imposed from time to time by applicable state and/or federal banking laws, rules, and regulations.


 


27.         Nature
of Employer Obligations. The obligations of the Company and the Bank hereunder shall be joint and several.


 


28.         Effect
on Prior Agreements and Existing Benefits Plans. This Agreement contains the entire understanding between the Parties and supersedes
any prior employment agreement, whether written or oral, between the Company, the Bank, and the Employee. This Agreement shall
not affect or operate to reduce any benefit or compensation inuring to the Employee of a kind elsewhere provided, and no provision
of this Agreement shall be interpreted to mean that the Employee is subject to receiving fewer benefits than those available to
the Employee without reference to this Agreement.


 


{Signature Page Follows)


 




    	 	17	 



     


    

 


IN WITNESS WHEREOF,
the Parties have executed and delivered this Agreement as of the date first written above.


 


	BANK:	SMARTBANK
	 	 
	 	By:	/s/ William Y. Carroll, Jr.
	 	 	William Y. Carroll, Jr.
	 	 	President & Chief Executive Officer
	 	 	 
	COMPANY:	SMARTFINANCIAL, INC.
	 	 	 
	 	By:	/s/ William Y. Carroll, Jr.
	 	 	William Y. Carroll, Jr.
	 	 	President & Chief Executive Officer
	 	 	 
	EMPLOYEE:	 	 
	 	 	 
	 	/s/ C. Bryan Johnson
	 	C. Bryan Johnson


 


(Signature Page to Johnson Employment Agreement)


 




    	 	18