The Texas Bankers Association has appointed David “Chip” Bartlett as senior vice president of government relations. The appointment—announced by Chris Furlow, TBA’s CEO, and Celeste Embrey, the association’s general counsel/executive vice president of government relations—is effective March 1.

“I was drawn to TBA because Texas is emerging as the new financial capital of the nation, and Texas banks of all sizes are contributing to this remarkable shift,” Bartlett says. “My dad was a proud Texas banker for well over a decade, so I know the value and trusted relationships that TBA members offer their customers and communities, and I look forward to fighting on their behalf.”

Bartlett comes to TBA from the Financial Services Forum, for which he most recently served as vice president of government relations. He previously served as vice president of congressional relations at the Consumer Bankers Association and worked in the same position at the Independent Community Bankers of America, focusing on legislative and regulatory priorities tied to financial regulatory reform and the needs of community banks.

Bartlett’s Capitol Hill experience includes serving as senior legislative assistant for financial services to U.S. Representative French Hill, managing a broad portfolio of issues before the House Financial Services Committee, including legislation affecting financial institutions, capital markets, housing, tax and trade policy. In addition, he has held multiple roles at the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN), including serving as a treasury attaché at the U.S. Embassy in Mexico City, where he supported cross-border financial intelligence coordination and anti-money laundering efforts. Earlier in his career, he served as a bank examiner with the Arkansas State Bank Department.

“Chip shares TBA’s commitment to reining in government overreach and allowing banks to focus on their essential role supporting Texas families and the American economy,” Furlow notes. “His passion for the industry, experience and integrity bolster our ability to advance member policy priorities before Congress, federal agencies and other key stakeholders.”