TEXAS BANKING NEWS, PEOPLE AND IDEAS
TEXAS BANKING NEWS, PEOPLE AND IDEAS
Neil Ferguson 
On March 5, Third Coast Bancshares Inc., the holding company of Humble-based Third Coast Bank, announced the appointment of Eva Pawelek to serve as regional president and head of Houston corporate banking. She joined the organization in October 2025 following the merger between Third Coast Bancshares Inc. and Keystone Bancshares Inc. Pawelek will lead the … Read more
Corpus Christi-based Charter Bank has announced the appointment of Matt Cravey to its board of directors. He is the founder and president of Cravey Real Estate Services Inc. in Corpus Christi, the largest commercial real estate firm south of San Antonio. Cravey’s career spans more than 50 years. He first went into real estate in … Read more
By JAMES WHITE, EngageFI Scan the trade publications and conference agendas, and you’ll find a drumbeat of optimism: AI adoption is surging. Two-thirds of financial institutions are now “implementing AI.” Budgets are climbing. Use cases are multiplying. The future, we’re told, has arrived. But the banking industry is celebrating the wrong number. Here’s the problem. … Read more
Mergers and Acquisitions The TDB reports that Peoples Bank, based in Lubbock, has applied to merge into Cornerstone Capital Bank SSB, based in Houston. The TDB reports that it has approved an application by City Bank, based in Lubbock, to acquire Bank of Houston, based in Houston. Conversions The TDB reports that Yoakum National Bank, based … Read more
Mergers and Acquisitions The OCC reports that it has approved an application by Sunflower Bank NA, based in Dallas, to acquire First Foundation Bank, based in Irvine, California. The TDB reports that Prosperity Bank, based in El Campo, has applied to acquire Stellar Bank, based in Houston. Branches The OCC reports that First National Bank … Read more
On March 9, Journey Financial Group Inc. and Houston-based Lone Star Bank jointly announced the signing of a definitive agreement pursuant to which Journey will acquire Lone Star. The transaction is expected to close late in the second quarter or early in the third quarter of 2026. Journey Financial Group is led by Dean O. … Read more
Dallas-based PlainsCapital Bank has hired Reid Wendell to serve as senior vice president/senior relationship manager. Based at the bank’s Kirby location in Houston, he brings 15 years of commercial banking experience to his new role. Wendell oversees a portfolio of commercial clients, builds new banking relationships and leads analysts who support portfolio management. Wendell previously … Read more
In early March, Longview-based Texas Bank and Trust announced that Matthew Spivey has been promoted to market president for its Fort Worth location and Mason Whitmarsh has been promoted to assistant vice president and lending officer. Spivey joined Texas Bank and Trust as a senior vice president and commercial lender in the bank’s Fort Worth … Read more
On March 5, Wichita Falls-based American National Bank & Trust announced key hires and promotions across multiple locations. This news comes in addition to the bank’s recent announcement that Craig Berry is succeeding Dwight Berry in the role of president; Dwight Berry will continue serving as chief executive officer and Craig Berry will continue as … Read more
Waco-based The First National Bank of Central Texas (FNBCT) has opened its newest banking center in College Station. The brand-new 21,000-square-foot facility is located at 4270 State Hwy. 6 S. To celebrate the opening, a ribbon-cutting ceremony was recently held at the new location. As part of the celebration, the bank made $5,000 donations to … Read more