J. Russell Guess, MBA
Vice President
Russ joined Smith Shellnut Wilson in July 2021. His primary role is in sales and relationship management for the firm’s Financial Institutions practice. A native Mississippian and banking veteran, his career includes Regions Bank: C&I Credit Underwriter and Commercial Lender; BancorpSouth: Commercial Underwriter and Commercial Lender; Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas: Relationship Manager for the Mississippi, Louisiana, and Arkansas Territory; and Texas Capital Bank: Correspondent Banker.
Prior to his career in banking, Russ was in the United States Marine Corps from 2000 to 2006. He became a non-commissioned officer with a rank of Sergeant (E-5) and held various Marine leadership positions during deployments both in the United States and the Middle East.
Russ is a graduate of Mississippi State University with a BBA in Business (2004), Millsaps College with an MBA in Finance (2008), and the Mississippi School of Banking at the University of Mississippi (2015).
