Jeff Austin III, vice chairman of the board at Jacksonville-based Austin Bank, recently announced a number of promotions. The promotions were approved at the March 2021 board of directors meeting.
Natalie Henderson was promoted to vice president and assistant retail market manager for the Southwest region. She joined the bank in 2013 as a teller in Frankston with four years of previous banking experience and moved to retail office manager in the Jacksonville main office in 2017. In addition to her duties there, she will now serve as assistant retail market manager for the Southwest region. Henderson is a graduate of Trinity Valley Community College and numerous banking courses. She is a member of the Kiwanis Club in Jacksonville.
Jaclyn Tyler, relationship manager, was elected vice president. She started her career with Austin Bank in 2009, having worked at a local law firm as a legal assistant. She is a graduate of Tyler Junior College and Texas A&M University–Commerce. Tyler has also completed Austin Bank Commercial and Consumer Lending School, as well as Leadership I, the Jacksonville Leadership Institute and the Dale Carnegie Leadership Training Program. She has served as treasurer and a board member for the Jacksonville Education Foundation, board member for Cherokee County Child Welfare Board and president for the United Fund.
Lisa Hale, mortgage loan originator, has been named vice president. She is a graduate of Stephen F. Austin State University and Leadership Nacogdoches. With more than 22 years of banking experience, she has also worked as a retail office manager during her tenure with the bank. An active member of her community, Hale is a member of the Recent Alumni Business Advisory Council and SFA Alumni Association. In addition, she has worked as a United Way board member, Chamber of Commerce board member and Nacogdoches Junior Forum member.
Teressa Karns has been named vice president and assistant retail market manager for the Pineywoods and Southeast regions. She joined Austin Bank in 2011, bringing with her four years of previous banking experience. She worked as a teller operations supervisor and loan assistant in the Nacogdoches office before moving into her role as retail office manager in 2014. In 2015, she was rewarded with Star of the Month recognition. A graduate of Stephen F. Austin State University, Karns has also completed the Dale Carnegie Leadership course and the Austin Bank Leadership program. She is the business manager for the Nacogdoches Boys Youth Baseball Association.
Katie Branton, in-house mortgage department supervisor, has been promoted to vice president. She has worked in several areas of the bank since joining the bank 13 years ago—including teller, customer service representative, loan document specialist and mortgage specialist—before moving to her current role in 2015. She holds a bachelor’s degree in business management from Western Governor’s University.
Cindy Cook has been promoted to assistant retail market manager for the Smith County region. Joining the Austin Bank team in 2005 as retail office manager in Whitehouse, Cook brought with her eight years of previous bank management experience. She studied psychology at Amber University and holds an associate’s degree in business management from Tyler Junior College. Promoted to vice president in 2009, her extensive management experience has benefited the bank in her position as retail office manager, taking her to South Tyler, Tyler Med Center and, most recently, the Bullard location as her skills were needed. In addition to her duties as retail office manager in Bullard, she will now serve as an assistant retail market manager for the Smith County region. Active in her community, Cook has served as a loaned executive for United Way and as a volunteer with Whitehouse Football and Cheer Booster Clubs, Wounded Warriors, Champions for Children and Whitehouse/East Texas Wildcat Youth Football.
Established in 1900, Austin Bank branches are located in 34 East Texas locations within 24 cities and 12 counties. Austin Bank is locally owned and operated by the Austin Family, celebrating 111 years of service in the Texas banking industry.
