TEXAS BANKING NEWS, PEOPLE and IDEAS
Neil Ferguson 
Paris-based Lamar National Bank has hired Corbett Howard—a former three-term mayor of Celina and widely recognized as the architect of the community’s unprecedented recent economic growth and development—to serve as market president. He will begin at the bank’s Celina branch at 110 S. Preston Rd. on June 16. He will lead the branch’s team while … Read more
The Texas Bankers Association (TBA) has announced its board of directors for the 2022–23 fiscal year. Leading the board will be Chairman A. Ford Sasser III with Rio Bank in McAllen; Vice Chair David W. Osborn with WestStar Bank in El Paso; and Treasurer Jan Mills with First National Bank of Winnsboro. The officers’ terms … Read more
Jeff Austin III, chairman of Jacksonville-based Austin Bank, recently announced the hiring of Leigh Gilland and Jed Crow for its new Montgomery branch. Scheduled to open in June, Montgomery will be Austin Bank’s 36th location and further expand its Southeast Texas service area. “Expanding into Montgomery is a natural progression for Austin Bank,” Austin says, … Read more
In the wake of the recent tragic events at the Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, bankers in the Lone Star State and across America are committed to supporting the families of victims, as well as impacted educators and first responders. The Texas Bankers Association and Independent Bankers Association of Texas have united to provide support … Read more
Ashley Harrison-Peña has been hired to serve as senior vice president/commercial lender at Mount Pleasant-based Guaranty Bank & Trust. She has more than 15 years of banking experience, including underwriting, portfolio management and lending. As a commercial lender, she has experience in various lending areas, including health care, commercial real estate, commercial construction, nonprofit and … Read more
On May 18, Houston-based Agility Bank NA announced that it has received all regulatory approvals to open as the first bank in the U.S. primarily owned and led by women under a special charter by the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency. Through this Minority Depository Institution (MDI) charter, Agility Bank’s focus will be … Read more
Plains Bancorp Inc., the holding company for Dimmitt-based First United Bank, has hired Gary Hinders to serve on the bank’s Canyon team as senior vice president of commercial lending. He will office at the Canyon banking center at 801 23rd St. Hinders, a longtime resident of Canyon, comes to First United Bank with 29 years … Read more
On May 17, CBTX Inc., the parent company of Houston-based CommunityBank of Texas NA, and Allegiance Bancshares Inc., the holding company of Houston-based Allegiance Bank, jointly announced that Stellar Bancorp Inc. will be the name of the combined company and Stellar Bank will be the name of the combined bank to be created through their … Read more
Wellington-based Wellington State Bank announced that Joe B. Thompson has been named senior vice president and branch president of the bank’s Stephenville location. Thompson has more than 30 years of banking experience in Erath County and 20 years in the Stephenville market. He most recently served as vice president at Spirit of Texas Bank in … Read more
El Paso-based WestStar Bank has promoted Yvonne Dorado to senior vice president/treasurer. As treasurer, she will oversee the bank’s treasury function with responsibilities in interest rate risk management and reporting, investment accounting and monitoring, capital and liquidity planning, management of correspondent bank relationships and assistance with special projects. Dorado previously served as both assistant controller … Read more