Executive Management

Dominik Mjartan is the President & CEO of American Bancorp and its subsidiary, American Pride Bank. He also serves as Vice Chairman of Optus Bank and Optus Financial Corporation. Previously, he was President and CEO of Optus from 2017 until August 2024, leading the bank’s transformation from a troubled institution into a high-performing, digital, mission-driven bank. During his tenure, Optus' total assets grew over 1,100%, from $47 million to over $600 million, and the loan portfolio expanded from $27 million to $400 million. Shareholders saw a 240% increase in equity.

Dominik is a founding director of Climate First Bank, serves on the boards of the Community Development Bankers Association and National Bankers Association, and has been featured in NPR’s Marketplace and the Wall Street Journal. He was recently named EY Entrepreneur of the Year in the Southeast U.S. Prior to Optus, he was an executive at Southern Bancorp, where he served as Executive VP and CEO of its affiliated lending company.

Dominik immigrated to the U.S. from Czechoslovakia at 16 and holds a B.S. in management from the University of Arkansas and an MBA from the University of Ulster. He and his wife, Georgia, have three children.

Rebecca Bell brings over 25 years of executive leadership experience in banking to her role as Chief Financial Officer at American Pride Bank from 2021 to Present. Throughout her tenure, she has overseen a broad range of departments, including Accounting, Audit, Compliance, Deposit Operations, and Human Resources. She serves on the bank’s Executive Committee and is responsible for preparing financial reports for the Board of Directors.

Following recent organizational changes, Rebecca now leads the Accounting, Compliance, and Human Resources departments. She continues her role on the Executive Committee and remains responsible for Board financial reporting.

Prior to joining American Pride Bank, Rebecca served as Chief Accounting Officer and Chief Risk Officer for SouthCrest Bank Group from 2014 to 2021. In these roles, she managed monthly, quarterly, and annual financial and regulatory reporting processes, ensuring compliance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP), Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) guidelines, and regulatory requirements for both the holding company and the bank.

Rebecca also served as a member of the Asset Liability Committee, reviewing quarterly ALM analyses and ensuring compliance with internal policies. Her responsibilities extended to managing Deposit Operations, Compliance and BSA, Vendor Management, and Information Security functions within the organization.

Earlier in her career, Rebecca advanced through the audit ranks at Mauldin & Jenkins, ultimately being promoted to Partner. From 1987 to 2011, she provided audit services to nonpublic and SEC-registered financial institutions with assets ranging from $20 million to over $1 billion.

Jason Grooters currently serves as Chief Operating Officer for American Bancorp Inc., playing a strategic role across its subsidiary banks, New Republic Bank and American Pride Bank. A proven, strategic financial executive, his expertise spans corporate finance, regulatory compliance, public accounting, and business operations. Jason was the driving force behind New Republic Bank's significant expansion as both its Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer. In this capacity, he grew NRB’s total assets from $30 million to $215 million in just over three years, successfully spearheading the community bank acquisition process, obtaining a North Carolina banking charter, and leading the headquarters relocation to Charlotte.

Jason brings a strong foundation in complex financial oversight, having previously served as Chief Accounting Officer for First Citizens Bancshares, where he oversaw all financial reporting, tax, and compliance functions. He successfully led critical projects, including the 24-month implementation of the $10 million Current Expected Credit Losses (CECL) methodology. Jason holds a Master of Accounting from the Kenan-Flagler Business School at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He maintains an active commitment to community service, currently serving on the audit and finance committees for Haven House Services in Raleigh, North Carolina.

Jessica Bluj

Kristie McMahan brings nearly 25 years of diverse banking experience to her role as Executive Vice President and Chief Credit Officer. Her broad expertise spans credit and risk management, commercial and private banking, and operational leadership. Throughout her career, she has held key leadership positions including Director of Commercial Administration, Credit Administration Manager, Loan Operations Manager, and Senior Credit Underwriter.

Kristie’s background also includes roles as a relationship manager and portfolio manager as well as financial leadership positions in private equity and international manufacturing. This unique blend of experience gives her a comprehensive perspective on financial strategy and credit discipline.

She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Finance from Wofford College and an MBA with concentrations in Finance and Risk Management from the University of Georgia. Kristie is known for her strategic insight, commitment to sound credit practices, and dedication to supporting long-term organizational growth.

Kristie resides in Decatur, Georgia with her husband, Scott, and their two daughters.

Elizabeth Moraff works closely with the executive team to lead strategic, cross-department initiatives that support the bank’s mission and long-term success. She stepped into the role in March 2025 after joining the bank in fall 2024 as Vice President, Director of Marketing and Communications.

Before joining American Pride Bank, Elizabeth was Senior Strategist for Marketing and Communications at Ruby Brick, a boutique agency specializing in nonprofit organizations engaged in place-based revitalization. In that role, she worked with clients across the country, many of whom collaborated with or pursuing status as Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs). This experience gave her a deep appreciation for how banking can shape communities and help people build strong, meaningful lives right where they are. While at Ruby Brick, Elizabeth planned and led campaigns to support clients in raising more than $200 million in philanthropic dollars. She worked closely with Ruby Brick’s CEO to increase the company’s revenue by nearly tenfold during her tenure at the firm.

Elizabeth brings more than a decade of experience in cross-cultural collaboration, community development, and partnership-building. 

Outside of work, Elizabeth enjoys baking and reading novels or poetry. In the winter, you can find her ice skating with her two daughters and husband.