TEXAS BANKING NEWS, PEOPLE and IDEAS
Neil Ferguson 
Mark Nurdin, CEO of Bank of Texas, announced that the bank has hired Arthur Sanchez to serve as relationship manager in Fort Worth. Bank of Texas is a subsidiary of Tulsa, Oklahoma-based BOK Financial. Sanchez will handle small to mid-size commercial client relationships with annual sales of $5 million to $50 million in the Fort … Read more
Mount Pleasant-based Guaranty Bank & Trust recently promoted Katie Croasdale to market president of the bank’s Galleria location in Houston. She has been with Guaranty Bank & Trust since 2018. Croasdale began her 25-year banking career while attending college and has gained comprehensive experience and expertise in accounting, analysis, internal auditing, operations and commercial lending. … Read more
Choudrant, Louisiana-based Origin Bank has announced that it will establish a flagship location in the heart of Dallas’ premier commercial center with the planned relocation of its Preston banking center. The new location is currently under development in Berkshire Court, located at 8411 Preston Rd. “I’m thrilled to share Origin’s plans to strengthen our presence … Read more
On November 8, Dallas-based First Foundation Inc., a financial services company with two wholly-owned operating subsidiaries, First Foundation Bank and First Foundation Advisors, announced that David DePillo, who has served as president of First Foundation Inc. and First Foundation Bank since 2015, will step down effective immediately. Kevin Thompson, chief financial officer, has been named … Read more
On November 7, Henderson-based VeraBank announced the hiring of new bankers for three of its Central Texas locations. VeraBank has hired Kevin Kelly to serve as the Georgetown market president. He has worked as a community banker in the Georgetown market for nearly 20 years. Before that, he served the Austin market for almost 20 … Read more
Greg Carter, who joined Durant, Oklahoma-based First United Bank in 2014 as vice president/talent acquisition manager, has been promoted to senior vice president/senior talent acquisition partner. In this role, he will focus on senior-level recruiting, including commercial banking roles such as market presidents and commercial lenders. First United Bank operates 40 branches in Texas. “Greg … Read more
Corpus Christi-based Charter Bank has appointed local business leader and former president of the Snappy Foods convenience store chain Mohammad “Moe” Motaghi to its board of directors. Motaghi immigrated to Corpus Christi from Iran in 1977. While in high school, he worked at Whataburger to support himself and his family back home. He eventually worked … Read more
Charles Colley has joined the Austin commercial lending team at Tyler-based Southside Bank as executive vice president/commercial lending. He has worked in the banking industry in Austin for 28 years. He is active within the Austin community, including membership in the Real Estate Council of Austin, serving as a 10-year board member, past president and … Read more
Mergers and Acquisitions The OCC reports that it has approved an application by Great Plains National Bank, based in Elk City, Oklahoma, to acquire Providence Bank of Texas SSB, based in Southlake. The TDB reports that Pinnacle Bank, based in Fort Worth, has applied to acquire Crockett National Bank, based in San Antonio. Branches The … Read more
Branches The OCC reports that Classic Bank NA, based in Cameron, has applied to establish a branch at 204 W. U.S. Hwy. 79 in Thorndale. The OCC reports that Wells Fargo Bank NA, based in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, has relocated a branch from 109 N. San Saba St. in San Antonio to 106 S. … Read more