EXHIBIT 10.1


 


EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT


 


THIS EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
made and entered into as of the 9th day of November, 2015, by and between CORDIA BANCORP INC., a Virginia corporation,
(hereinafter together with its Affiliates called “Corporation"), BANK OF VIRGINIA (hereinafter called “Bank”)
and ROY I. BARZEL (hereinafter called "Employee") (collectively “the Parties”), and provides as follows:


 


RECITALS


 


WHEREAS, the Corporation
is a bank holding company engaged in the operation of a bank; and


 


WHEREAS, the Bank hired
Employee pursuant to the offer letter attached hereto as Exhibit A because of his banking and managerial experience, knowledge,
skills and expertise in its business;


 


WHEREAS, the employment
of Employee by the Bank is and was in the best interests of the Corporation and Employee;


 


WHEREAS, at the time
the Bank hired Employee, due to regulatory restrictions the Bank had placed a hold on entering into an employment agreement with
an employee providing severance pay;


 


WHEREAS, the Corporation
desires to protect its confidential information and guard against unfair competition; and


 


WHEREAS, the Parties
have mutually agreed upon the terms and conditions of Employee's continued employment by the Bank as hereinafter set forth;


 


TERMS OF AGREEMENT


 


NOW, THEREFORE, for
and in consideration of the promises and undertakings of the Parties as hereinafter set forth, the parties covenant and agree as
follows:


 


Section 1. Employment.
(a) Employee shall be employed as Executive Vice President and Chief Credit Officer of the Bank. He shall perform such services
for the Corporation as may be assigned to Employee by the Corporation from time to time upon the terms and conditions hereinafter
set forth. Employee's services shall be rendered in a senior management or executive capacity and shall be of the type for which
he is suited by background and training.


 


(b)          References
in this Agreement to services rendered for the Corporation and compensation and benefits payable or provided by the Corporation
shall include services rendered for and compensation and benefits payable or provided by any Affiliate, including but not limited
to the Bank. References in this Agreement to the “Corporation” also shall mean and refer to each Affiliate for which
Employee performs services. References in this Agreement to “Affiliate” shall mean any business entity that, directly
or indirectly, through one or more intermediaries, is controlled by the Corporation.


 




     


     


    

 


Section 2. Term.
The term of this Agreement shall begin on the date of execution of this Agreement and, unless sooner terminated pursuant to Section
10 of this Agreement, shall terminate on June 30, 2017; provided that on June 30, 2016 the term
of this Agreement shall be extended for two years; and on June 30, 2018 and each June 30 thereafter, the term of this Agreement
shall be extended for one year. At any time either party may notify the other that this Agreement shall no longer be extended and
that this Agreement will terminate at the end of its current term.


 


Section 3. Exclusive
Service. Employee shall devote his best efforts and his full business time to rendering services
on behalf of the Corporation in furtherance of its best interests. Employee shall comply with all policies, standards and regulations
of the Corporation now or hereafter promulgated, and shall perform his duties under this Agreement to the best of his abilities
and in accordance with standards of conduct applicable to executive officers of banks.


 


Section 4. Salary.
(a) As compensation while employed hereunder, Employee, during his faithful performance of this Agreement, in whatever capacity
rendered, shall receive an annual base salary of $200,000 payable in accordance with established payroll practices of the Bank.
The Bank’s Board of Directors, in its discretion, may increase Employee’s base salary.


 


(b)          The
Bank shall withhold state and federal income taxes, social security taxes and such other payroll deductions as may from time to
time be required by law or agreed upon in writing by Employee and the Bank. The Bank shall also withhold and remit to the proper
party any amounts agreed to in writing by the Bank and Employee for participation in any corporate sponsored benefit plans for
which an employee contribution is required.


 


(c)          Except
as otherwise expressly set forth hereunder, no compensation shall be paid pursuant to this Agreement in respect of any month or
portion thereof subsequent to any termination of Employee's employment by the Bank.


 


Section 5. Corporate
Benefit Plans/Other Benefits. During the term of this Agreement, Employee shall be entitled to participate in any employee
benefit plan of the Bank presently in effect or hereafter adopted by the Bank and generally available to any employees of senior
executive status in accordance with plan terms, as amended from time to time. In addition, Employee shall be entitled to other
benefits that are generally available to Bank employees of senior executive status.


 


Section 6. Bonuses/Equity
Grants. The Bank’s Board of Directors, in its discretion, may award bonuses to Employee from time to time. Employee will
be eligible to participate in any plans for executives that are adopted by the Bank’s Board of Directors to award equity
grants and/or bonuses.


 




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Section 7. Expense
Account. The Bank shall reimburse Employee for reasonable and customary business expenses incurred in the conduct of the Bank's
business incurred during the term of this Agreement. Such expenses will include business meals, out-of-town lodging and travel
expenses. Employee agrees to timely submit records and receipts of reimbursable items and agrees that the Bank can adopt reasonable
rules and policies regarding such reimbursement. The Bank agrees to make prompt payment to Employee following receipt and verification
of such reports. In addition, the Bank will continue to pay a portion of Employee’s housing and travel expenses at the Employee’s
current rate of reimbursement for so long as the Employee maintains a secondary residence in Richmond during the term of this Agreement.


 


Section 8. Termination.
(a) Notwithstanding the termination of Employee's employment pursuant to any provision of this Agreement, the parties shall be
required to carry out any provisions of this Agreement which contemplate performance by them subsequent to such termination.


 


(b)          Employee
may resign his employment upon thirty (30) days written notice to the Bank or at any time by mutual agreement in writing. It shall
not constitute a breach of this Agreement for the Bank to suspend Employee’s duties and to place Executive on a paid leave
during the notice period.


 


(c)          Except
as otherwise provided in this Section 8(c), this Agreement shall terminate upon death of Employee. In such event the Bank shall
pay to the estate of Employee the compensation including salary and accrued bonus, if any, which otherwise would be payable to
Employee through the end of the month in which his death occurs. In addition, Employee’s death is not intended to, and shall
not, prevent amounts to which Employee would have been entitled under Sections 8(d)(2) or 8(g) had he lived from being paid under
this Agreement to Employee’s estate or beneficiaries at the time or times such amounts would have been paid had Employee
lived.


 


(d)(1)     The
Bank may terminate Employee’s employment other than for “Cause,” as defined in Section 8(e), at any time upon
written notice to Employee, which termination shall be effective immediately. Employee may resign thirty (30) days after notice
to the Bank for "Good Reason", as hereafter defined.


 


(2)         If
the Bank terminates the Employee's employment without Cause, then the Employee shall be paid for 12 months, at such times as payment
was theretofore made, his salary according to Section 4.


 


(3)         If
the Employee resigns for Good Reason, then the Employee shall be paid for 12 months, at such times as payment was theretofore made,
his salary according to Section 4.


 


(4)         In
the event of termination or resignation under Section 8(d)(2) or 8(d)(3), if Employee timely elects COBRA coverage, his current
benefits under group health and dental plans will continue through the shorter of one year or the remainder of the term of this
Agreement at the rates paid by active participants and the Bank will continue to pay its portion of the premiums during this period,
but in no event shall such benefits continue beyond the period permitted by COBRA and periods of coverage under this Agreement
shall offset Employee’s period of coverage under COBRA.


 




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(5)         Notwithstanding
anything in this Agreement to the contrary, if Employee breaches Section 9 or 10, Employee will not thereafter be entitled to receive
any further compensation or benefits pursuant to this Section 8.


 


(6)         For
purposes of this Agreement, "Good Reason" shall mean:


 


(i)          The
assignment of duties to the Employee by the Corporation which result in the Employee having significantly less authority or responsibility
than he has on the date hereof, without his express written consent;


 


(ii)         Requiring
the Employee to move his principal office to a location more than 15 miles from Richmond, Virginia, without Employee’s consent.


 


(iii)        The
Corporation’s material breach of this Agreement; or


 


(iv)       The
failure of the Corporation to obtain the assumption of and agreement to perform this Agreement by any successor.


 


(e)          The
Bank shall have the right to terminate Employee’s employment under this Agreement at any time for Cause, which termination
shall be effective immediately. Termination for “Cause” shall include termination for (i) Employee’s failure,
neglect or refusal to perform his duties and responsibilities to the satisfaction of the Bank without the same being corrected
after ten days prior written notice; (ii) his personal dishonesty, willful misconduct, or breach of a fiduciary duty involving
personal profit; (iii) violation of any law, rule or regulation in the course of Employee’s employment with the Bank; (iv)
conviction of a felony or of a misdemeanor involving moral turpitude; (v) misappropriation of the Corporation’s assets (determined
on a reasonable basis), or (vi) the material breach of any other provision of this Agreement. In the event Employee’s employment
under this Agreement is terminated for Cause, Employee shall be paid for all time worked, but thereafter have no right to receive
compensation or other benefits under this Agreement.


 


(f)          The
Bank may terminate Employee's employment under this Agreement if Employee is unable or expected to be unable to perform the essential
functions of his position for more than 90 consecutive days.


 


(g)(1)         If
Employee’s employment is terminated without Cause or if he resigns for Good Reason within one year after a Change of Control
has occurred, then the Bank shall pay to Employee his salary according to Section 4 for the longer of the remaining term of this
Agreement or 15 months, at such times as payment was theretofore made.


 




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(2)         For
purposes of this Agreement, a Change of Control occurs if, after the date of this Agreement, (i) any person, including a "group"
as defined in Section 13(d)(3) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, becomes the owner or beneficial owner of Corporation securities
having 50% or more of the combined voting power of the then outstanding Corporation securities that may be cast for the election
of the Corporation's directors other than a result of an issuance of securities initiated by the Corporation, or open market purchases
approved by the Corporation’s Board of Directors, as long as the majority of the Corporation’s Board of Directors approving
the purchases is a majority at the time the purchases are made; or (ii) as the direct or indirect result of, or in connection with,
a tender or exchange offer, a merger or other business combination, a sale of assets, a contested election of directors, or any
combination of these events, the persons who were directors of the Corporation before such events cease to constitute a majority
of the Corporation's Board, or any successor's board, within one year of the last of such transactions. For purposes of this Agreement,
a Change of Control occurs on the date on which an event described in (i) or (ii) occurs. If a Change of Control occurs on account
of a series of transactions or events, the Change of Control occurs on the date of the last of such transactions or events.


 


(3)         It
is the intention of the parties that no payment be made or benefit provided to Employee pursuant to this Agreement that would constitute
an "excess parachute payment" within the meaning of Section 280G of the Code and any regulations thereunder, thereby
resulting in a loss of an income tax deduction by the Corporation or Bank or the imposition of an excise tax on Employee under
Section 4999 of the Code. If the independent accountants serving as auditors for the Corporation or Bank on the date of a Change
of Control (or any other accounting firm designated by the Corporation or Bank) determine that some or all of the payments or benefits
scheduled under this Agreement, as well as any other payments or benefits on a Change of Control, would be nondeductible by the
Company under Section 280G of the Code, then the payments scheduled under this Agreement will be reduced to one dollar less than
the maximum amount which may be paid without causing any such payment or benefit to be nondeductible. The determination made as
to the reduction of benefits or payments required hereunder by the independent accountants shall be binding on the parties. Employee
shall have the right to designate within a reasonable period, which payments or benefits will be reduced; provided, however, that
if no direction is received from Employee, the Bank shall implement the reductions in its discretion.


 


(4)         In the event of a Change in
Control, any unvested stock options or restricted stock grants under the Company's 2011 Stock Incentive Plan will vest in accordance
with the terms of such plan.


 


Section 9. Confidentiality/Nondisclosure.
Employee covenants and agrees that any and all information maintained as confidential by the Corporation concerning the customers,
vendors, employees, employment applicants, investors, participating banks, businesses and services of the Corporation of which
he has knowledge or access as a result of his association with the Corporation in any capacity, shall be deemed confidential in
nature and shall not, without the proper written consent of the Corporation, be directly or indirectly used, disseminated, disclosed
or published by Employee to third parties other than in connection with the usual conduct of the business of the Corporation. Such
information shall expressly include, but shall not be limited to, information concerning the Corporation's trade secrets, business
operations, business records, employment records, customer lists and contact information, or other confidential customer information.
Upon termination of employment Employee shall deliver to the Corporation all originals and copies of documents, forms, records
or other information, in whatever form it may exist, concerning the Corporation or its business, customers, products or services.
This Section 9 shall not be applicable to any information which, through no misconduct or negligence of Employee, has previously
been disclosed to the public by anyone other than Employee.


 




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Section 10. Covenant Not to Compete
and Related Covenants.


 


(a)          
During the Restricted Period, Employee covenants and agrees that he will not (except pursuant to this Agreement) engage in
Competitive Activity anywhere within a five (5) mile radius of any office operated by the Corporation, its subsidiaries
and/or affiliates on any date on which the conduct at issue occurs. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the restrictions imposed
by this Section 10 shall cease to apply in the event of termination without Cause or resignation for Good Reason within 12
months following a Change of Control. For purposes of this Section 10, Competitive Activity means performing services as the
senior credit or lending officer of a bank or financial institution offering banking and financial products and services
substantially similar to those offered by the Corporation on any date on which the conduct at issue occurs.


 


(b)          During
the Restricted Period, the Employee covenants and agrees not to solicit or induce, or attempt to induce, on behalf of himself or
any other individual or entity, any person to terminate their employment with the Corporation, its subsidiaries and/or affiliates
if those individuals provide, or have provided during all or part of the covenant period described in this Section 10(b), accounting,
credit, lending, information technology, account management or personal banking services for the Company, its subsidiaries and/or
affiliates or any other types of services that give those individuals significant contact with or knowledge of the customer base
of the Company. This Section 10(b) only applies to a person employed by the Corporation with whom Employee had contact, about whom
Employee had confidential information, or who Employee supervised, directly or indirectly, during Employee’s employment with
the Bank.


 


(c)          During
the Restricted Period, Employee will not, except to the extent necessary to carry out his duties as an employee of the Bank, solicit,
or assist any other person or business entity in soliciting, (i) any depositors or other customers of the Company, its subsidiaries
and/or affiliates to make deposits in or to become customers of any other financial institution offering banking and financial
products and services substantially similar to those offered by the Company, its subsidiaries and/or affiliates on any date on
which the conduct at issue occurs, (ii) any referral sources of the Company, its subsidiaries and/or affiliates to make a referral
to another financial institution for banking and financial products and services substantially similar to those offered by the
Company, its subsidiaries and/or affiliates on any date on which the conduct at issue occurs. This paragraph 10(c) shall only apply
to depositors, customers, or referral sources with whom Employee had contact or about whom Employee had confidential information.


 


(e)          The
Restricted Period is during the term of this Agreement and throughout any further period that Employee is an employee of the Bank,
and for the longer of (i) twelve (12) months from and after the date that Employee is (for any reason) no longer employed by the
Bank; or (ii) for a period of twelve (12) months from the date of entry by a court of competent jurisdiction of a final judgment
enforcing this covenant in the event of a breach by Employee.


 




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(h)          The
Employee agrees that the covenants in this Section 10 are reasonably necessary to protect the legitimate interests of the Corporation,
are reasonable with respect to the time and territory and do not interfere with the interests of the public. The Employee further
agrees that the descriptions of the covenants contained in this Section 10 are sufficiently accurate and definite to inform the
Employee of the scope of the covenants. Finally, the Employee agrees that the consideration set forth in this Agreement is full,
fair and adequate to support the Employee’s obligations hereunder and the Corporation’s rights hereunder. The Employee
acknowledges that in the event the Employee’s employment with the Bank is terminated for any reason, the Employee will be
able to earn a livelihood without violating such covenants.


 


(i)          The
parties have attempted to limit the Employee’s right to compete only to the extent necessary to protect the Corporation from
unfair competition. The parties recognize, however, that reasonable people may differ in making such a determination. Accordingly,
the parties intend that the covenants contained in this Section 10 be completely severable and independent, and any invalidity
or unenforceability of any one or more such covenants will not render invalid or unenforceable any one or more of the other covenants.
The parties further agree that, if the scope or enforceability of a covenant contained in this Section 10 is in any way disputed
at any time, and if permitted by applicable law, a court or other trier of fact may modify and reform such provision to substitute
such other terms as are reasonable to protect the Corporation’s legitimate business interests.


 


(j)          It
is agreed that notwithstanding the above to the contrary, Employee may engage in business ventures as long as they are not competitive
with the Corporation. Anything to the contrary notwithstanding, Employee may own, as a passive investor, securities of any public
competitor corporation, so long as his direct holdings in any one such corporation shall not in the aggregate constitute more than
one percent (1%) of the voting stock of such corporation. The parties intend that the covenants and restrictions in this Section
10 be enforceable against Employee regardless of the reason that his employment by the Bank may terminate. The existence of any
claim or cause of action by the Employee against the Corporation, whether predicated on this Agreement or otherwise, shall not
constitute a defense to the enforcement by the Corporation of the restrictive covenants set forth in Sections 9 and 10 of this
Agreement.


 


Section 11. Injunctive
Relief, Damages, Etc. Employee agrees that given the nature of the positions held by Employee with the Corporation, that each
and every one of the covenants and restrictions set forth in Sections 9 and 10 above are reasonable in scope, length of time and
are necessary for the protection of the significant investment of the Corporation in developing, maintaining and expanding its
business. Accordingly, the parties hereto agree that in the event of any breach by Employee of any of the provisions of Sections
9 or 10 that monetary damages alone will not adequately compensate the Corporation for its losses and, therefore, that it may seek
any and all legal or equitable relief available to it, specifically including, but not limited to, injunctive relief and Employee
shall be liable for all damages, including actual and consequential damages, costs and expenses, including legal costs and actual
attorneys' fees, incurred by the Corporation as a result of taking action to enforce, or recover for any breach of, Section 9 or
Section 10. The covenants contained in Sections 9 and 10 shall be construed and interpreted in any judicial proceeding to permit
their enforcement to the maximum extent permitted by law.


 




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Section 12. Binding
Effect/Assignability. This Employment Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the Corporation and Employee
and their respective heirs, legal representatives, executors, administrators, successors and assigns, but neither this Agreement,
nor any of the rights hereunder, shall be assignable by Employee or any beneficiary or beneficiaries designated by Employee. Employee
agrees that Corporation can assign its rights and benefits under this Agreement to any successor to its business, stock or assets.


 


Section 13. Governing
Law. This Employment Agreement shall be subject to and construed in accordance with the laws of Virginia.


 


Section 14. Jury
Waiver. The Employee and the Corporation agree that in any litigation action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this
Agreement or the Employee’s employment with the Corporation, trial shall be in a court of competent jurisdiction without
a jury. The Employee and the Corporation irrevocably waive any right each may have to a jury trial and a copy of this Agreement
may be introduced as written evidence of the waiver of the right to trial by jury. The Corporation has not made and the Employee
has not relied on, any oral representation regarding the enforceability of this provision. The Employee and the Corporation have
read and understand the effect of this jury waiver provision.


 


Section 15. Invalid
Provisions. The invalidity or unenforceability of any particular provision of this Employment Agreement shall not affect the
validity or enforceability of any other provisions hereof, and this Employment Agreement shall be construed in all respects as
if such invalid or unenforceable provisions were omitted.


 


Section 16. Notices.
Any and all notices, designations, consents, offers, acceptance or any other communications provided for herein shall be given
in writing and shall be deemed properly delivered if delivered in person or by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested,
addressed in the case of the Corporation to its registered office or in the case of Employee to his last known address.


 


Section 17. Entire
Agreement.


 


(a)          This Employment
Agreement constitutes the entire agreement among the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes any and all
other agreements, either oral or in writing, among the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof.


 


(b)          This
Employment Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which shall be considered an original copy of this Agreement,
but all of which together shall evidence only one agreement.


 


Section 18. Amendment
and Waiver. This Employment Agreement may not be amended except by an instrument in writing signed by or on behalf of each
of the parties hereto. No waiver of any provision of this Employment Agreement shall be valid unless in writing and signed by the
person or party to be charged.


 




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Section 19. Case
and Gender. Wherever required by the context of this Employment Agreement, the singular or plural case and the masculine, feminine
and neuter genders shall be interchangeable.


 


Section 20. Captions.
The captions used in this Employment Agreement are intended for descriptive and reference purposes only and are not intended to
affect the meaning of any Section hereunder.


 


Section 21. Code
Section 409A. This Employment Agreement is intended to satisfy the requirements of Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code
of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), and Treasury Regulations and other guidance thereunder and shall be administered
and interpreted accordingly. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, to the extent that Code Section 409A requires
payments to which Employee is entitled on account of a separation from service to be delayed due to Employee’s status as
a “specified employee” under Code Section 409A, (i) such payments shall be made or commence on the first day of the
seventh month following such separation from service or, if earlier the date of Employee’s death, with all amounts that would
have been payable during such period but for the required delay accumulated without interest and included in the first payment;
and (ii) all welfare benefit continuation to which Employee is entitled during such period of delay shall be maintained during
the period at Employee’s cost and, only to the extent such benefits would otherwise have been provided or paid for by the
Corporation, reimbursed by the Corporation as part of the first payment.


 


Section 22.         Regulatory
Requirements. Notwithstanding anything contained in this Agreement to the contrary, it is understood and agreed that the Corporation
(or any of its successors in interest) shall not be required to make any payment or take any action under this Agreement if:


 


(a)       such payment
or action is prohibited by any governmental agency having jurisdiction over the Corporation or any of its subsidiaries (hereinafter
referred to as “Regulatory Authority”) because the Corporation or any of its subsidiaries is declared by such Regulatory
Authority to be troubled, insolvent, in default or operating in an unsafe or unsound matter; or


 


(b)       such
payment or action (i) would be prohibited by or would violate any provision of state or federal law applicable to the Corporation,
including, without limitation, the Federal Deposit Insurance Act, as now in effect or hereafter amended, (ii) would be prohibited
by or would violate any applicable rules, regulations, orders or statements of policy, whether now existing or hereafter promulgated,
of any Regulatory Authority, or (iii) otherwise would be prohibited by any Regulatory Authority.


 


[SIGNATURES APPEAR ON THE NEXT PAGE]


 




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IN WITNESS WHEREOF,
the Corporation and Bank have caused this Employment Agreement to be signed by its duly authorized officer and Employee has hereunto
set his hand on the 9th day of November, 2015.


 


	 	CORDIA BANCORP INC.
	 	 
	 	By: 	/s/ Jack Zoeller
	 	 	Jack Zoeller
	 	 	President and Chief Executive Officer
	 	 	 
	 	BANK OF VIRGINIA
	 	 	 
	 	By: 	/s/ Jack Zoeller
	 	 	Jack Zoeller
	 	 	Chairman
	 	 	 
	 	EMPLOYEE
	 	 	 
	 	 	/s/ Roy I. Barzel
	 	 	Roy I. Barzel


 



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