TEXAS BANKING NEWS, PEOPLE and IDEAS
Neil Ferguson 
Several promotions were announced at Longview-based Texas Bank and Trust’s employee awards dinner held in Longview on March 22. Caryn Pepper was promoted to vice president and executive assistant. She joined Texas Bank and Trust in its mortgage division in 1993, then transferred to the bank’s trust and investments division in 1996. In 1998, she … Read more
Anita Lewis has been promoted to senior vice president and regional retail manager for Longview-based Texas Bank and Trust’s Dallas/Fort Worth region. The promotion was announced at the bank’s employee awards dinner on March 22. Lewis has been involved in the financial services industry since 1991, beginning as a teller while attending high school, and … Read more
Jason Vinson has been hired to serve as Fort Worth area chairman for Mount Pleasant-based Guaranty Bank & Trust. He is a veteran 18-year Tarrant County banker with experience in all facets of commercial lending and banking operations. He comes to Guaranty Bank after serving as executive vice president and Fort Worth market leader for … Read more
In mid-April, Dallas-based Texas Capital Bank named Jocelyn Kukulka head of investor relations and corporate development. She will be instrumental in helping drive the bank’s strategy and developing opportunities to improve shareholder returns. Prior to Texas Capital Bank, Kukulka served as vice president of corporate development and investor relations for Western Alliance Bancorporation in Phoenix, … Read more
Dallas-based PlainsCapital Bank recently announced that Danny Schroder has been promoted to Houston region chairman. In his new role, he will oversee and coordinate banking operations and market development for PlainsCapital’s branches in the greater Houston area. “Danny has added tremendous value to our banking initiatives and expansion in East Texas,” says Jerry Schaffner, president … Read more
Bank of Brenham has announced development plans for a new, full-service branch in Bryan/College Station to be known as Bank of B/CS. The bank will begin operations late this spring at 3030 University Dr., Ste. 200, in College Station. In addition to opening this location, the bank will begin construction of a new bank at … Read more
Mergers and Acquisitions The TDB reports that Texas Regional Bank, based in Harlingen, has applied to acquire AccessBank Texas, based in Denton. Branches The OCC reports that it has approved an application by JPMorgan Chase Bank National Association, based in Columbus, Ohio, to establish a branch at the southwest corner of FM 1488 and Spur … Read more
Mergers and Acquisitions The OCC reports that Sunflower Bank, based in Denver, Colorado, has completed its acquisition of Pioneer Bank, based in Austin. Branches The OCC reports that it has approved an application by Austin Bank NA, based in Jacksonville, to establish a branch at 107 Old River Rd. in Montgomery. The TDB reports that … Read more
On April 11, Simmons First National Corp., the parent company of Pine Bluff, Arkansas-based Simmons Bank, announced that it has completed the acquisition of Spirit of Texas Bancshares Inc., the parent company of Conroe-based Spirit of Texas Bank SSB. A definitive agreement to acquire Spirit of Texas Bank was previously announced last November with Spirit’s … Read more
For the 13th consecutive year, Frost Bank has received the highest ranking in customer satisfaction in Texas, according to the J.D. Power 2022 U.S. Retail Banking Satisfaction Study. The study ranked banks doing business in Texas, including regional and large banks. With an overall satisfaction index score of 755—89 points higher than the Texas region average—Frost … Read more