TEXAS BANKING NEWS, PEOPLE AND IDEAS
TEXAS BANKING NEWS, PEOPLE AND IDEAS
Neil Ferguson 
Llano National Bank announced that Ashley Hill has joined the team as assistant branch manager at the bank’s Buchanan Dam location. She brings valuable experience in retail banking and customer relationship management, most recently serving as a financial center manager at First United Bank. She launched her banking career at First United Bank in 2018 as … Read more
The Texas Bankers Hall of Fame on the campus of Sam Houston State University in Huntsville held its 13th Annual Gala on April 23. Five iconic bankers—Mark K. Johnson, Michael G. O’Rourke, Rogers Pope Jr., A. Ford Sasser III and Marelyn B. Shedd—were inducted. Established by the Smith-Hutson Endowed Chair of Banking at Sam Houston … Read more
Dallas-based PlainsCapital Bank announced that it has hired two bankers to serve on the bank’s relationship management teams in The Woodlands and Denton. Jamie Ballard, CTP, has joined the bank as senior vice president/senior relationship manager. He will office out of The Woodlands branch at 1699 Research Forest Dr., Ste. 100. Ballard brings more than … Read more
Weatherford-based First Bank Texas has announced the appointment of Stan Lambert to its board of directors. He brings more than 35 years of experience in community banking, having served in executive leadership roles across Texas, including as president of banks in Abilene, Ennis and Ozona. Lambert currently serves as state representative for Texas House District 71 … Read more
Sweetwater-based Texas National Bank has hired Lawrence Bertsch to serve as market president for Abilene, marking a significant step in the bank’s growth throughout West Central Texas. Alongside this leadership addition, the bank will open a new loan and deposit production office in Abilene this summer, with details to be announced soon. Bertsch brings more … Read more
Harlingen-based Texas Regional Bank has strengthened its Central Texas presence with the opening of a new banking center in Boerne and the relocation of its Bulverde-area banking center into a newly constructed facility in Spring Branch. The new Boerne banking center provides full-service personal and business banking with direct access to local specialists. The Bulverde … Read more
The SW Graduate School of Banking at Southern Methodist University (SWGSB) has announced that Stephan Crétier, GardaWorld Security founder, president and CEO, will be the keynote speaker for SWGSB’s 2026 summer graduate school session, May 26–June 5. Crétier founded GardaWorld in 1995 with an initial investment of $25,000, secured through a second mortgage on his … Read more
Wellington-based Wellington State Bank recently held the 35th annual stockholders meeting of its current ownership group, commemorating a significant milestone as the bank celebrates its 120th anniversary. Established in 1906, Wellington State Bank is recognized as the second-oldest state-chartered bank in Texas. In celebration of the bank’s 120th anniversary, stockholders received commemorative gifts, including cedar … Read more
Coastal Bend Bancshares, the holding company for Corpus Christi-based First Community Bank, has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Port Lavaca-based First National Bank. The transaction is expected to close in the second quarter of 2026. “Our roots along the Texas Gulf Coast run deep at First Community Bank,” notes Wes Hoskins, First Community … Read more
On April 6, Texas Gulf Bancshares Inc., parent company of Houston-based Texas Gulf Bank NA, announced that Chase Zalman has been appointed president of Texas Gulf Bank, effective immediately. Zalman brings more than 20 years of banking leadership experience to the new position. He joins the bank from Prosperity Bank, for which he most recently … Read more