TEXAS BANKING NEWS, PEOPLE and IDEAS
Neil Ferguson 
Joe Robert Grist Sr., president of Snyder-based West Texas State Bank, passed away on August 13 in Snyder at the age of 58. After earning his bachelor’s degree from Abilene Christian University and a master’s degree from Hardin-Simmons University, Grist launched his banking career. His professional career was spent working alongside his father, John E. … Read more
Todd Jordan has joined Dallas-based Texas Capital Bank to serve as executive director/group manager middle market. He is the new Austin market president and leader of the bank’s Austin middle-market banking team. Prior to joining Texas Capital Bank, Jordan was senior vice president/senior relationship manager with Bank of America in Austin for nine years. With … Read more
On August 19, San Antonio-based USAA announced that Wayne Peacock plans to retire as president and CEO after a distinguished 36-year career at the company, including nearly five as CEO. He will retire in the first half of 2025. “Wayne has always answered the call to serve and the board is thankful for his leadership,” … Read more
In August, the Independent Bankers Association of Texas (IBAT) announced the 2024 winners of its Best of Community Banking (BOCB) Awards. Dallas-based Veritex Community Bank received the Best of Show for its “Welcome to Southern Dallas” campaign, which was in the Community Service Category of this year’s BOCB Awards. Winners of the 2024 BOCB Awards … Read more
Fort Worth-based Bank of Texas has hired David Self to serve as senior vice president/relationship manager for commercial banking. He will be part of a team serving small- to mid-size businesses with annual sales of $5 million to $75 million. Self joins Bank of Texas with 20 years of experience in the Fort Worth commercial … Read more
To help prepare bankers for current and future banking challenges, the SW Graduate School of Banking at Southern Methodist University (SWGSB), in partnership with the Texas Bankers Association (TBA), have announced the introduction of a new commercial lending school. The inaugural session of the school will be held on the Southern Methodist University campus April … Read more
During the IBAT Connecting Leaders Conference held this summer in San Antonio, the Independent Bankers Association of Texas (IBAT) presented its annual Excellence in Leadership Award. This year’s recipient was Christy Bussey, chief risk officer at Integrity Bank (in formation) in Houston. To be considered for the Excellence in Leadership Award, one must selflessly promote, … Read more
Joe Patterson has joined Waco-based The First National Bank of Central Texas as vice president/lender. He will work out of the bank’s new Gatesville office, which opened in May. CEO Joe Barrow made the announcement. Patterson previously served as a lender at Extraco Banks. He is a veteran of the U.S. Air Force and currently … Read more
Henderson-based VeraBank recently welcomed Meghan Stark to its business banking team. She will serve as vice president/treasury management officer and will work with business customers in Williamson and Bell counties. Stark will assist business customers with mitigating financial, operational and reputational risk. Her banking career spans almost three decades. “Meghan’s enthusiastic attitude, paired with her … Read more
Mergers and Acquisitions The TDB and the FRBD report that Producer Acquisition Corp., based in Beaumont, has applied to become a bank holding company by acquiring Powell State Bank, based in Powell. Branches The OCC reports that it has approved an application by BOKF NA, based in Tulsa, Oklahoma, to establish a branch at 4306 … Read more