TEXAS BANKING NEWS, PEOPLE and IDEAS

Neil Ferguson

PlainsCapital Bank Welcomes Sadka as Senior Vice President and Senior Relationship Manager

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Dallas-based PlainsCapital Bank has hired Dick Sadka as senior vice president/senior relationship manager, serving commercial banking clients throughout the Houston market. He will be based at PlainsCapital’s Richmond Ave. banking center. Sadka brings more than 40 years of banking experience spanning commercial banking, treasury services, portfolio management and business development. Prior to joining PlainsCapital Bank, … Read more

Ozona Bank Welcomes Villarreal as San Antonio Market President, Aguilar for Business Banking

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Ozona Bank has announced the appointment of Marc Villarreal as San Antonio market president. With nearly two decades of banking experience, he has built his career around helping businesses, entrepreneurs and families achieve their financial goals through relationship-driven banking. Since beginning his banking career in 2007, Villarreal has earned a reputation as a trusted advisor, … Read more

Benjamin Lacy Named President of Community Bank & Trust in Waco

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The board of directors of Waco-based Community Bank & Trust announced that Benjamin “Ben” C. Lacy has been named president of the bank, effective immediately. David Lacy will remain chairman and CEO. As president, Ben Lacy will assume increased administrative and leadership responsibilities while continuing to serve as senior commercial lending officer. In his expanded … Read more

New Mexico’s Southwest Capital Bank to Merge with WestStar Bank

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WestStar Bank Holding Company Inc., the holding company of El Paso-based WestStar Bank, and Las Vegas Bancorporation Inc., the holding company of Albuquerque-based Southwest Capital Bank, have entered into a definitive agreement to combine their organizations, creating a premier community banking franchise serving New Mexico and the Borderplex region. Southwest Capital Bank is expected to … Read more

WestStar Bank Appoints Marquez Chief Commercial Banking Officer

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On September 17, WestStar Bank announced the promotion of Trish Marquez to executive vice president and chief commercial banking officer. In her new role, she will lead the bank’s commercial lending, construction lending and treasury management teams. Marquez brings more than 41 years of banking experience to the position, including extensive leadership experience in commercial … Read more

Potts Tapped to Lead Community Bankers’ DTX Consortium

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The Independent Bankers Association of Texas (IBAT) has appointed Charles E. Potts to serve as president of DTX LLC, the association’s consortium for the development and deployment of digital asset technology for the good of community banks. Potts brings more than two decades of leadership experience at the intersection of banking, technology, innovation and fintech partnerships. He previously served … Read more

49 Bankers Complete 2026 Texas Tech School of Banking Program

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The Texas Tech School of Banking recently completed its 2026 session. Banking professionals from across Texas and New Mexico convened at Rawls College of Business on the campus of Texas Tech University in Lubbock for the program. Established in 1973, the school offers a blend of traditional academic coursework and interactive lecture sessions hosted by … Read more

Texas Regional Bank Launches TRB Financial to Address Banking and Credit Access Gaps

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Harlingen-based Texas Regional Bank has announced the launch of TRB Financial, a new core banking division that expands access to relationship banking through differentiated credit strategies, ongoing financial education and integrated community partnerships. TRB Financial’s first dedicated banking center, located at 332 Jefferson Blvd. in Oak Cliff, began serving customers on August 26. Citing an … Read more

Louisiana-based Origin Bank Adds Haygood and Grimm to East Texas Commercial Banking Team 

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Choudrant, Louisiana-based Origin Bank has hired Scott Haygood as commercial relationship manager/regional executive vice president and Merritt Grimm as commercial relationship banker/senior vice president, serving the East Texas region. They will office at Origin Bank’s Longview Financial Center at 3805 N. Spur 63. “They were both born and raised [in East Texas], and they’ve strengthened … Read more

Community Banking Association Elects Guerra Chair, Names New Executive Committee and Board

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In late September, the Independent Bankers Association of Texas (IBAT) announced that Gabe Guerra, president and CEO of Corpus Christi-based Kleberg Bank, has been elected chair of the IBAT board of directors for 2026–27. He officially accepted the position during the association’s 52nd Annual Convention held September 19–22 in San Antonio. In addition to Guerra, … Read more