TEXAS BANKING NEWS, PEOPLE and IDEAS

Neil Ferguson

Louisiana-based Origin Bank Hires Williams as Senior Vice President of Business Development in North Texas

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Choudrant, Louisiana-based Origin Bank has hired Charles P.A. Williams to serve as senior vice president of business development/North Texas region. He joins Origin Bank with nearly five years of alternative small-business lending experience, specializing in business development and real estate lending. In his new role, he will source new small- to medium-sized business loans and … Read more

Dudley Joins Kansas-based CrossFirst Bank as Frisco Market President

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Leawood, Kansas-based CrossFirst Bank has hired Jason Dudley to serve as market president in Frisco. Dudley has more than 15 years of banking experience focused on mid-sized businesses and private wealth for individuals. Prior to joining CrossFirst Bank, he served for almost nine years as executive vice president at PlainsCapital Bank in Dallas and prior … Read more

Louisiana-based Origin Bancorp Completes Acquisition of BT Holdings/BTH Bank

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On August 1, Origin Bancorp Inc., the holding company for Choudrant, Louisiana-based Origin Bank, announced the completion of its acquisition of BT Holdings Inc., the holding company for Quitman-based BTH Bank NA. The acquisition became effective on August 1 in accordance with the terms of the agreement and plan of merger announced in February. “We … Read more

Mississippi-based Cadence Bank Announces Two Senior Leadership Corporate Banking Appointments in Dallas

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Tupelo, Mississippi-based Cadence Bank recently announced two key market leadership commercial banking promotions in Dallas. Andrew Widmer has been appointed executive vice president/senior managing director–Dallas of middle-market banking. He brings 20 years of banking experience to this role and will focus on using his talents to lead the Dallas commercial and industrial banking efforts, developing … Read more

Independent Bank Group Appoints Langdale Chief Financial Officer

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On July 29, McKinney-based Independent Bank Group Inc. announced the appointment of Paul Langdale as chief financial officer. He is replacing Michelle Hickox, who has served as CFO of Independent Bank Group Inc. and its subsidiary, Independent Bank, since 2012. She will remain employed in an advisory capacity to facilitate the transition until October 1. … Read more

Louisiana-based Investar Bank Agrees to Sell Two South Texas Branches to First Community Bank

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On July 18, Baton Rouge, Louisiana-based Investar Holding Corp. announced that its wholly owned subsidiary, Investar Bank National Association, has entered into an agreement to sell certain assets, deposits and other liabilities associated with its Alice and Victoria locations in Texas to Corpus Christi-based First Community Bank. The pending sale is expected to close in … Read more

In Memoriam: Terry Lee, Veritex Community Bank

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Terry Lee, director of correspondent banking for Dallas-based Veritex Community Bank, passed away on July 31 in McKinney. He grew up in Weatherford, graduated from North Texas State University and later was a graduate of the Southwestern Graduate School of Banking at Southern Methodist University. Lee was deeply devoted to his family and his faith. … Read more

Chavez Promoted to Business Banker at FirstBank & Trust

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On July 20, Chad Alexander, south region president of Lubbock-based FirstBank & Trust, announced the recent promotion of Jessica Chavez to business banker. Chavez will office at the bank’s Odessa location at 7281 Tres Hermanas Blvd. “Jessica has been an integral member of the FBT team for many years and she has shown a talent … Read more

VeraBank’s Engemoen Nominated for Best CFO Award from the Austin Business Journal

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Henderson-based VeraBank announced that Todd Engemoen, the bank’s executive vice president and chief financial officer, was nominated as one of this year’s best chief financial officers as determined in the Austin Business Journal’s 15th annual “Best CFOs of the Year in Central Texas” awards. Engemoen joined VeraBank in 2014, bringing a decade of experience in … Read more

Amegy Bank Promotes Garza and Higtower to Executive Vice Presidents

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Natalie Garza and Ryan Hightower have both been promoted to executive vice president at Houston-based Amegy Bank. In their respective roles, they will provide executive leadership and continue their efforts in the commercial lending group. Having joined Amegy Bank after completing the company’s credit training program, both have more than 30 years of combined commercial … Read more