TEXAS BANKING NEWS, PEOPLE and IDEAS
Neil Ferguson 
Ralph Gilbert (Gib) Blackman Jr. died peacefully at home on January 8 surrounded by his family after a courageous battle with cancer. A Texas community banker, he was most widely known as the publisher and editor—along with his wife, Bonnie—of Bankers Digest for more than 30 years. Born October 11, 1947, to Ralph and Betty … Read more
On March 4, Texas National Bank, a $170 million bank headquartered in Sweetwater, announced the upcoming launch of Bankers Lender, a digital-first bank designed to serve the needs of individuals working in the banking industry. “Bankers are no different from anyone else when it comes to consumer preferences,” says Mike Fernandez, president and CEO. “Everyone is … Read more
Branches The OCC reports that it has approved an application by Wells Fargo Bank NA, based in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, to establish a branch at 7900 Woodbridge Pkwy. in Sachse. The OCC reports that it has approved an application by JPMorgan Chase Bank NA, based in Columbus, Ohio, to establish a branch at the … Read more
Bank Charter The TDB reports that Texas Traditions Bank, based in Katy, has applied for a bank charter. Mergers and Acquisitions The OCC reports that The First National Bank of Kemp, based in Kemp, has applied to acquire The First State Bank, based in Rice. Branches The OCC reports that Woodforest National Bank, based in … Read more
Texas Capital Bancshares Inc., the parent company of Dallas-based Texas Capital Bank, in coordination with the American Bankers Association (ABA), has expanded its Commercial Lending Certificate Program to Huston-Tillotson University in Austin. Texas Capital Bank and ABA launched the program for historically Black colleges and universities in 2021 at Texas A&M University–Prairie View. As an … Read more
The Frost Little Elm Financial Center—the second of 28 new financial centers to open in San Antonio-based Frost Bank’s Dallas region expansion—is now open for business. The new branch, like the other locations in the bank’s recent expansions, features a full range of financial services for consumer and business customers. It’s also home to one … Read more
Tom Farris, chairman of First National Bank of Floydada, has announced the following recent promotions. T.K. Farris has been named senior vice president. A graduate of Texas Christian University, he has been with First National Bank since 2017. His experience is in lending and investment. Farris also serves on the board of directors. Logan Bradley … Read more
On February 24, Ruston, Louisiana-based Origin Bancorp Inc., the holding company for Choudrant, Louisiana-based Origin Bank, and BT Holdings Inc., the holding company for Quitman-based BTH Bank NA, jointly announced the signing of an agreement and plan of merger under which Origin will acquire BTH in an all-stock transaction valued at approximately $313.5 million, based … Read more
Greg Garland, president and CEO of Lubbock-based FirstBank & Trust, announced the recent hiring of Shawn Knox as executive vice president of consumer lending and private banking. Knox will oversee bank-wide consumer lending operations and private banking services. Knox started his career in banking in 1999 just a few years after graduating with his BS … Read more
Larry Allen, chairman and CEO of Lubbock-based Peoples Bank, has announced the addition of Jennifer Lopez and LaTisha Sneed to the team. Lopez will serve as a mortgage underwriter for the bank’s home loan center. She has been in banking for more than 20 years. Lopez serves as an ambassador for Polished, a nonprofit organization … Read more