Jeff Austin III, chairman of the board of Jacksonville-based Austin Bank, recently announced promotions approved at the March 2022 board of directors meeting.
Shannon Seay has been elected vice president, special assets manager and assistant manager of loan operations. Seay manages the bank’s special assets division. She has been with Austin Bank for 15 years, with a total of 20 years in the banking industry, having previously served as a banking officer and in the credit analyst department. Seay is a graduate of Kilgore College, the University of Texas–Tyler and the Southwestern Graduate School of Banking at Southern Methodist University. She has also completed the Austin Bank Leadership Program, Community Bankers Lending School and is currently enrolled in Austin Bank’s STAR program. Active in her community, Seay received the Austin Bank Community Involvement Award in 2021 for her work with Newgate Mission in Longview. She has served for more than 10 years at Newgate Mission and has been a member of East Texas CASA since 2018.
Jenny Huddleston has been named vice president and retail office manager. She joined Austin Bank’s Palestine office in 2017 as a customer service representative following an eight-year career with Regions Bank in Houston. Putting her administrative and bank management experience to use, she was promoted to retail office manager of the location in 2018 and to assistant vice president in 2020. Huddleston is a graduate of Lone Star College and serves as a mentor in the bank’s mentor program. She is an active member of her community, working with Anderson County Blanket and Bears Children’s Fund.
Donna McKissick has been promoted to assistant vice president and retail office manager at Austin Bank’s Garrison location. She moved to this position in 2018 after working at the bank’s Lufkin location as a universal banker since 2017. McKissick has more than 19 years of experience in banking.McKissick serves as a Sunday school teacher at Christ Congregational Church in Lufkin and is a mentor for the Austin Bank mentorship program.
Melanie Shirley has been elected assistant vice president and retail office manager in Lufkin. She joined Austin Bank in 2017 with the opening of the Lufkin office. Shirley has a total of 18 years in banking, including experience in a call center and legal department before transitioning into retail operations. Shirley attended both Louisiana Tech University and Stephen F. Austin University. She is an active member in her community, currently volunteering for the Junior League of Lufkin and United Way. In addition to community projects, Shirley also serves on the bank’s scholarship committee.
Melanie Valdez has been named assistant vice president and retail office manager. With 18 years of banking experience, she joined Austin Bank in 2019 as retail office manager for the Marshall office. Prior to joining Austin Bank, Valdez previously worked for Guaranty Bank and BBVA Compass Bank. She attended South Plains College. Active in her community, Valdez is a member of the Marshall Chamber of Commerce, Marshall Lions Club and Marshall Elks Lodge.
Kyle Bridges was named assistant vice president and relationship manager. He joined Austin Bank in 2015 as a teller in the Nacogdoches office. Following a brief break in service, he returned in 2018 to the bank’s Timpson office as a commercial portfolio manager. In 2019, Bridges was promoted to banking officer and relationship manager. He earned his BS degree in agriculture from Stephen F. Austin University. Bridges currently serves as a member of the Center Rotary Club.
Tim Ward has been named assistant vice president and relationship manager. He joined the Austin Bank team in 2018 as a relationship manager in the Nacogdoches office. Ward has 17 years of banking experience with the past four served at Austin Bank. He started his banking career as a teller and has since held several other positions, including investment analyst, bank investment portfolio manager, trust administrator, credit analyst and relationship manager. Ward earned his bachelor’s degree in finance from Stephen F. Austin State University. He has served for 14 years a member of the Nacogdoches Jaycees holding many offices, including president in 2015 and chairman of the board in 2016. Ward is also a member of the Nacogdoches Rotary Club.
Established in 1900, Austin Bank operates branches in 35 East Texas locations within 25 cities and 13 counties. Austin Bank is locally owned and operated by the Austin Family who is celebrating 113 years of service in the Texas banking industry.
