TEXAS BANKING NEWS, PEOPLE AND IDEAS
TEXAS BANKING NEWS, PEOPLE AND IDEAS
Neil Ferguson 
The SW Graduate School of Banking (SWGSB) will convene its 159th Assembly for Bank Directors at the JW Marriott Desert Springs Resort & Spa in Palm Springs, California, February 13–16. The Assemblies for Bank Directors attract bank directors and senior management from across the country to discuss the latest issues affecting the industry. From nationally … Read more
On October 17, Charles McGuire, chairman of First Liberty National Bancshares Inc., the holding company of Liberty-based First Liberty Bank, and Kelly Stretcher, president and CEO of First Liberty Bank, announced that a definitive agreement has been executed wherein First Liberty National Bancshares Inc., has agreed to acquire 100 percent of the issued and outstanding … Read more
Mergers and Acquisitions The TDB reports that Oakwood Bank, based in Dallas, has completed its merger into b1BANK, based in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Branches The OCC reports that First National Bank Texas, based in Killeen, has applied to establish a new branch at 1192 W. Dallas, Ste. A, in Conroe. The OCC reports that it … Read more
In early October, the Independent Bankers Association of Texas (IBAT) announced that Tracy Harris, chief strategic planning and project officer at Harlingen-based Texas Regional Bank, has been elected chair of the IBAT board of directors for 2024–25. She officially accepted the position during the association’s 50th Annual Convention held October 5–8 in San Antonio. In … Read more
Houston-based Stellar Bank has hired John Ensminger to serve as chief information officer. He brings more than two decades of experience in leading enterprise and global IT functions, driving technology strategy, innovation and transformation across various industries, including financial services, life sciences/biologics and internet startups. Prior to joining Stellar Bank, Ensminger served as executive vice … Read more
On October 7, Houston-based Gulf Capital Bank announced that Ignacio Pujol is joining the bank as executive vice president and market president for its Spring branch and Memorial/West Houston market. Pujol joins Gulf Capital Bank with more than 38 years of credit and commercial lending experience. His most recent position was as executive vice president … Read more
David McLaughlin has joined Dallas-based Texas Capital Bank to serve as managing director of the bank’s technology, media and telecom team in Austin. With more than 25 years of experience in financial services, Before joining Texas Capital bank, McLaughlin was managing director at Westlake Securities and, prior to that, he was senior vice president/venture banking … Read more
Walter Clarke has been named chief financial officer at Dallas-based PlainsCapital Bank. Clarke brings 19 years of finance, accounting, strategy and operations experience to his new role. Most recently, he served as director of corporate financial planning at Hilltop Holdings, PlainsCapital Bank’s parent company, from 2017 to 2024. Prior to joining Hilltop, Clarke served as … Read more
Chris Spain has joined Harlingen-based Texas Regional Bank as vice president and treasury management officer for the bank’s Dallas area market. Spain has 10 years of experience in banking, including six years specializing in treasury management. Prior to joining Texas Regional Bank, he was a treasury management sales officer for American National Bank of Texas … Read more
On October 16, Jeff Austin III, chairman of the board of Jacksonville-based Austin Bank, announced that Austin Bancorp Inc., the bank’s parent company, has entered into an agreement to acquire Houston-based Chasewood Bank. Chasewood Bank serves northern Harris County with two locations and reports assets of approximately $88 million. The merger is expected to close … Read more