Bryan Gilbert has joined Corpus Christi-based American Bank as director of marketing. He will oversee all aspects of the bank’s marketing strategy and campaigns, product and service promotions, advertising, market research, and branding. Making the announcement was John Wessman, executive vice president/consumer banking and marketing.

Gilbert joins American Bank with more than 20 years of financial services experience, primarily leading marketing and communications teams. The majority of his career was with Texas Guaranteed Student Loan Corp., now Trellis Co., at which he held the position of director of branding and communications. Most recently, Gilbert was director of corporate communications at Farm Credit Bank of Texas. He holds a BA degree from Baylor University and an MBA degree from St. Edward’s University. A Central Texas resident for nearly 30 years, Gilbert has been active in the community, serving on numerous boards.

“Bryan brings 20 years of proven marketing and corporate communications expertise that will be especially valuable to the bank’s strategic plan,” Wessman says. “Our goal is to deepen our relationships with current clients, while offering the same personalized-banking experience to new clients across our geographic footprint. Bryan will be key to helping us develop and execute that vision. I’m honored to have Bryan join my team.”

“I’m humbled to get to work with American Bank’s leadership and talented team,” Gilbert says. “The bank has an established brand and a great story to tell. This is an exciting opportunity.”

Established in 1970, American Bank has assets totaling more than $1.9 billion as of June 31 and 13 locations in the Texas communities of Austin, San Antonio, Houston, Corpus Christi, Port Aransas, Rockport, Goliad and Victoria.