In September, the Independent Bankers Association of Texas (IBAT) honored Thomas Sellers, chairman of the board at Alliance Bank in Sulphur Springs, with its 2023 “Excellence in Leadership” Award. He was presented the award during the association’s 49th annual convention held September 16–19 in Frisco.
To be considered for the Excellence in Leadership Award, one must be a member of the IBAT Leadership Division. This person demonstrates a long history of personal commitment to, and financial support of, the 450-member division, which was founded in 1985 and is dedicated to the development of tomorrow’s leaders in community banking. Recipients of the award must selflessly donate their time to promote, support and serve independent bankers in Texas.
“Thomas Sellers personifies what leadership means at his bank, in his community and in the community banking industry,” says Christopher Williston, IBAT president and CEO. “He leads by example and with integrity, and he is very deserving of this recognition.”
With a banking career that spans 45 years, Sellers has served Sulphur Springs and the surrounding community at Alliance Bank for 35 years. Prior to his time at Alliance Bank, he was a county supervisor at the Farmers Home Administration and vice president/senior leading officer at the Federal Land Bank at Tyler. Sellers has given to the community banking industry for years, serving as chairman of the IBAT Education Foundation, as well as chairman of the IBAT board and executive committee.
Sellers is active in his community, serving as president of the Sulphur Springs Economic Development Corp., a board member for CHRISTUS Hopkins Health Alliance and lay leader for First United Methodist Church. Previously, he was president of the Sulphur Springs ISD board of trustees, served on the Texas Tech University Alumni Association national board and was a member of Rotary Club of Sulphur Springs and the NETSEO Trails Council for the Boy Scouts of America.
Established in 1927, Alliance Bank operates more than a dozen locations in Sulphur Springs, Commerce, Greenville, Mount Vernon, Rockwall and Wolfe City.
