TEXAS BANKING NEWS, PEOPLE AND IDEAS
TEXAS BANKING NEWS, PEOPLE AND IDEAS
Neil Ferguson 
FSBH Inc. has agreed to acquire Farmers Bancshares Inc., the parent company of Center-based Farmers State Bank. Upon completion of the merger, management and the employees of the bank will remain in place and there will be no change in the business plan of the bank. The transaction is expected to close in the fourth … Read more
Round Rock-based R Bank has hired Charles McElrath to serve as senior vice president, community development director and commercial lender. His primary focus will be on promoting the bank’s small-business lending products and programs while also facilitating community development initiatives. Prior to joining R Bank, McElrath was vice president and regional director for commercial lending … Read more
Waco-based The First National Bank of Central Texas recently opened a new banking center in Gatesville. A new facility is currently under construction at 2908 E. Main St. It is expected to open in late 2023 or early 2024. Currently, the bank is operating a temporary location at 1400 E. Main St. in Gatesville. “We … Read more
On July 10, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma-based Valliance Bank announced the establishment of a Fort Worth advisory board. The board will work in tandem with market president Chad Kerr and his team. “Each of these individuals brings their own unique gifts, talents and experiences,” Kerr notes. “We are excited to have them as part of the Vbank … Read more
Dallas-based First Foundation Inc., a financial services company with two subsidiaries, Irving, California-based First Foundation Bank and First Foundation Advisors, has appointed James Britton executive vice president and chief financial officer, effective August 14. Reporting to Scott F. Kavanaugh, president and CEO, Britton will lead the financial operations teams for First Foundation and its subsidiaries. … Read more
Stellar Bancorp Inc., the holding company of Houston-based Stellar Bank, announced the election of Cynthia Dopjera to the board of directors of the company. This election as a class II director fills an existing vacancy. Stellar Bancorp has a 14-member board, which consists of 11 independent directors. Dopjera currently serves on the Stellar Bank board … Read more
Texas Regional Bank CEO Michael Scaief and director of the North San Antonio Chamber of Commerce Rich WeimertOn July 20, Harlingen-based Texas Regional Bank held a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the official opening of its first banking center in San Antonio. This marks the bank’s 29th location in Texas and 10th in the Hill Country … Read more
Kilgore-based Citizens Bank has opened its first location in Tyler. The new banking center opened its doors earlier this year and is currently operating as a loan production office with plans to convert to a full-service branch in the near future. To celebrate the opening of the Tyler location, the Tyler Area Chamber of Commerce … Read more
On July 14, Henderson-based VeraBank announced that it has received the 2023 Financial Services Impact Award in the “Speed” category by North Carolina-based nCino, a financial technology company. The company’s cloud-based banking software helps financial institutions gain efficiencies from digitizing and streamlining processes in commercial banking, small-business banking and retail banking. The award recognizes stand-out … Read more
Fort Worth-based NBT Financial Bank has announced two new hires. Mark Swift has been hired as an assistant vice president/credit analyst. He most recently served as assistant vice president/consumer lender at First Financial Bank. He earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology and an MBA degree, both from Tarleton State University. Shawn McCage has joined NBT … Read more