TEXAS BANKING NEWS, PEOPLE and IDEAS
Neil Ferguson 
Texas City-based Texas First Bank has promoted Jeffery Morgan to vice president/relationship manager in Conroe and the surrounding areas. Morgan joined the bank in 2019 as a credit analyst before transitioning to lender in 2020. Prior to joining Texas First Bank, he was an accounting technician intern at the Texas Department of Banking. A native … Read more
Henderson-based VeraBank has hired Paul Gerling to serve as executive vice president and regional chairman in its Austin market. He will lead the bank’s business in Travis, Bastrop and Hays counties. Gerling steps into the role following an extensive career in the Austin financial sector. With 34 years of banking experience, he previously led all … Read more
MIKE MAULDIN, F. Scott Dueser Chair in Excellence in Banking, Rawls College of Business at Texas Tech University ARTHUR M. TRAN, John Massey School of Business at Southeastern Oklahoma State University DREW B. WINTERS, Lucille and Raymond Pickering Chair in Finance, Rawls College of Business at Texas Tech University The Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and … Read more
Conversions The TDB reports that Sunflower Bank NA, based in Dallas, has applied to convert to a Texas state charter under the name Sunflower Bank. Branches The OCC reports that it has approved an application by American Bank NA, based in Corpus Christi, to establish a branch at 101 N. Shoreline in Corpus Christi. The … Read more
Branches The OCC reports that it has approved applications by Bank of America NA, based in Charlotte, North Carolina, to establish the following branches: 401 N. Hwy. 77, Ste. 20, in Waxahachie and 2408 McKinney Ave. in Dallas. The agency also reports that it has approved an application by Bank of America to relocate a … Read more
Wichita Falls-based American National Bank & Trust has appointed Judy Leveridge chief risk officer. She brings more than 30 years of banking industry experience to her new role, with a diverse background spanning credit, risk management, operations, compliance and regulatory liaison. “Judy brings a wealth of knowledge and experience around the discipline of credit, risk … Read more
Amanda McChesney has been appointed executive vice president and chief credit officer at San Antoinio-based Texas Partners Bank. She will focus on developing credit risk policies, strategies and portfolio management. With more than 17 years of commercial banking experience, McChesney previously served as senior vice president and credit executive at Texas Partners Bank, covering the … Read more
Lubbock-based Peoples Bank recently celebrated 25 years of service. The bank was established in 1999 when a group of investors led by Larry Allen and Todd McKee purchased Lorenzo State Bank in Lorenzo, which held a charter established in 1968. In 2000, the bank built its headquarters on 82nd St. in Lubbock. By 2005, the headquarters … Read more
El Paso-based WestStar Bank has promoted Victor Barroteran to senior vice president/commercial banking manager. In this new role, Barroteran will lead and develop one of WestStar’s commercial banking teams to facilitate the expansion of new commercial business. With 27 years of experience, Barroteran brings a robust background in commercial banking, leadership and business development to his … Read more
Les Mendicello, CEO and chairman of Longview-based Spring Hill State Bank, announced that the board of directors has appointed Wallace E. Rhymes III as president and bank director. Rhymes has served as executive vice president and advisory director since 2021. Rhymes joined the bank in 1997 and has more than 30 years of banking experience. … Read more