TEXAS BANKING NEWS, PEOPLE and IDEAS

Neil Ferguson

American National Bank & Trust Names Korbuly Chief Financial Officer, Promotes Andrews to Chief Operating Officer

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Wichita Falls-based American National Bank & Trust recently made two key executive leadership appointments. Craig Korbuly, whose career in finance spans more than 35 years, has been appointed executive vice president and chief financial officer. A Richardson native who grew up in Tarrant County, he manages the bank’s financial decisions, reporting and regulatory compliance efforts. … Read more

The National Bank of Texas at Fort Worth Hires Messenger as Mortgage Manager

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Jodi Messenger has joined The National Bank of Texas at Fort Worth as vice president/mortgage manager. She has more than 20 years of banking experience in compliance and commercial real estate lending at First National Bank, First State Bank, Bridgeport and Bank of Texas. Messenger earned a BBA degree in finance from the University of … Read more

Falcon Bank Opens New Location in Zapata

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Laredo-based Falcon Bank opened its newest location in Zapata on August 30. The full-service branch, located at 134 S. U.S. Hwy. 83, was acquired from Roma-based Citizens State Bank. “This transaction provides us the opportunity to service our existing customer base and further expand our market share in the Zapata community,” Gilbert Narvaez Jr., president … Read more

University of Texas–El Paso Launches Banking Academy to Grow Diverse Workforce

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On September 7, the University of Texas–El Paso (UTEP) announced the launch of the UTEP Banking Academy, supported by significant contributions from regional and national banks and financial institutions. Part of UTEP’s College of Business Administration, the Banking Academy was created to address the shortage of banking professionals in the West Texas and Southern New … Read more

Understanding the Reach of the SBA and Community Banks in Texas

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MARK GRIFFITHS, Adjunct Professor, University of Southern California MIKE MAULDIN, Director of the Excellence In Banking Program, Texas Tech University DREW WINTERS, Pickering Chair in Finance, Texas Tech University EDITOR’S NOTE: This research paper—part three of a comprehensive look at the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP)—was provided by the Excellence in Banking Program at Texas Tech … Read more

In Memoriam: Lowell ‘Stretch’ Smith Jr.

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Lowell “Stretch” Smith Jr., longtime banker and avid civic supporter in Johnson County, passed away on August 29. He was 88. For decades, he helped lead the First State Bank of Rio Vista. Smith grew up on a family ranch near Rio Vista. Many people knew him as “Stretch,” a nickname acquired from his high … Read more

SouthStar Bank Acquires Kerrville Branch from Community First National Bank

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Moulton-based SouthStar Bank has purchased the Kerrville branch of Community First National Bank with the full approval of the Texas Department of Savings and Mortgage Lending and the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency. The branch, located at 1101 Junction Hwy., opened as a SouthStar Bank branch on August 30. The community is invited to … Read more

Texas Heritage Bank Hires Officers Kreuz, Borne and Rehkopf

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Jack Griggs, chairman, and Steve Mack, CEO, have announced the appointment of Jim Kreuz to serve as chief lending officer at Boerne-based Texas Heritage Bank. Additional officers recently appointed are Katie Borne, CPA, controller, and Tim Rehkopf, consumer lending officer. Kreuz is a career banking professional who has served in the San Antonio market for … Read more

August 15–21, 2021

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Branches The OCC reports that it has approved an application by Commercial Bank of Texas National Association, based in Nacogdoches, to establish a branch at 321 N. Central Expwy., Ste. 100, in McKinney. The OCC reports that it has approved applications by First National Bank Texas, based in Killeen, to establish the following branches: 3855 … Read more

August 8–14, 2021

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Conversion The TDB reports that it has approved an application by Texas Capital Bank, based in Dallas, to convert from a national association to a Texas-chartered bank. Branches The OCC reports that Lamar National Bank, based in Paris, has established a branch at 100 Plaza Place, Ste. 100, in Northlake. The agency also reports that … Read more