TEXAS BANKING NEWS, PEOPLE AND IDEAS
TEXAS BANKING NEWS, PEOPLE AND IDEAS
Neil Ferguson 
Rusty Hitt, CEO of Corsicana-based Community National Bank & Trust, recently announced the addition of Leslie Leerskov as vice president of business development. Heading up a new department at the bank, she will grow new business and provide service recommendations to aid existing customers. She has held positions with Kerens ISD, Raymond James Financial and LPL … Read more
O n December 1, the Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas (FHLB Dallas) announced that, in partnership with its member financial institutions, it has awarded $19.3 million in Affordable Housing Program (AHP) subsidies to 38 projects in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Mexico and Texas. The subsidies will result in the creation or rehabilitation of 2,749 … Read more
The economy expanded at a modest pace in the Federal Reserve System’s 11th District in recent months, but activity in most industries remained below normal levels. That’s one of the key findings reported in the Fed’s latest edition of the Beige Book, published eight times per year. Each Federal Reserve Bank gathers anecdotal information on current economic … Read more
On November 30, longtime West Texas banker John E. Grist acquired a controlling interest in Snyder-based West Texas State Bank, according to the Odessa American. Grist assumed the positions of chairman and chief executive officer. Mark Williamson will remain as president and continue to serve on the board, while Darryl Calley will continue to serve as executive vice … Read more
The board of directors of Oklahoma City-based Valliance Bank has elected Alicia Wade president and chief operating officer, effective January 1, 2021. She joined Valliance Bank in 2007 and has more than 23 years of banking experience. Wade has overseen bank and branch operations, compliance, cybersecurity, physical security, marketing and information technology. Brad Swickey will … Read more
Enterprise-level technology solutions expert Kenneth Arakelian has been tapped by Tulsa, Oklahoma-based ENACOMM to spearhead the advancement of the company’s suite of fintech products and services as senior vice president/chief product officer. He will scale the company’s intelligent interactive voice response system for deployment by major banks with numerous branches. He’ll also expand ENACOMM’s virtual personal … Read more
On December 2, Tupelo, Mississippi-based BancorpSouth Bank announced the signing of a definitive merger agreement with National United Bancshares Inc., the parent company of Gatesville-based National United, pursuant to which National United will be merged with and into BancorpSouth. The merger is anticipated to close during the first half of 2021. National United, established in 1889, … Read more
Conroe-based Spirit of Texas Bancshares Inc., the holding company for Spirit of Texas Bank SSB, recently announced that Allison S. Johnson has been appointed by the board to serve as executive vice president and chief financial officer of both the company and its wholly owned subsidiary. She has been serving as interim chief financial officer of … Read more
Casey Barrett, president and CEO of the San Angelo-based Texas Bank, has been appointed the newest member of Advantage Health Plans Trust’s (AHPT) board of trustees. A member of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma-based AHPT since 2012, Barrett joined the board as a trustee in June 2020. He fills one of two Texas seats on the board and … Read more
San Antonio-based USAA Federal Savings Bank is adding to its senior leadership team. In late October, the company announced two senior leadership additions focused on protecting members from fraud, driving technological capabilities and leveraging member data. Dave Gordon recently joined USAA Federal Savings Bank as senior vice president, chief technology and data officer, overseeing teams responsible … Read more