Bank of Texas, part of Tulsa, Oklahoma-based BOK Financial Corp., has expanded its Fort Worth corporate banking team with the addition of Bryson Bowden and John Gerdes. Bowden joins as team lead of the corporate banking team and Gerdes as relationship manager, both reporting to Fort Worth Region CEO Mark Nurdin. The corporate banking team is focused on growing relationships with privately held middle-market companies with annual revenues ranging up to $1 billion.

As a native of Tarrant County, Bowden has served as a commercial banker in the community for more than 17 years. He earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of Texas–Arlington. He supports the community by serving on the board of directors of Communities in Schools of Tarrant County since 2017 and as Fort Worth board chair for the Association for Corporate Growth in Dallas/Fort Worth since 2015.

“Banking in Fort Worth has become highly commoditized and there’s no shortage of competition, but I believe this will always be a town of people doing business with people and making decisions that are best for the local economy,” Bowden says.

Gerdes previously held similar roles at Comerica, BBVA Compass and Bank of America. He earned his MBA degree from the M.J. Neeley School of Business at Texas Christian University and his bachelor’s degree from the University of North Texas. Gerdes is currently serving on the board of Como Lion’s Heart. He is a graduate of Leadership Fort Worth and was previously director of the Fort Worth Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and board president of The Parenting Center.

“Having lived here for 16 years, I see a city with tremendous growth opportunities, an open business community and a focus on altruism and philanthropy that is truly palpable,” Gerdes notes. “I am eager to put my strengths—in leveraged sponsor lending, credit risk analysis and consultative sales—to work for Bank of Texas.”

“Our attraction and addition of both Bryson and John is part of the strategic priority to grow our business in Texas,” Nurdin says. “Both have extensive knowledge of local businesses and the social landscape that will further our ability to serve our clients in a localized way. We are set for growth in Fort Worth, one of the fastest-growing areas in the country.”

BOK Financial Corporation’s holdings include BOKF NA, which operates banking divisions across eight states as Bank of Albuquerque, Bank of Oklahoma, Bank of Texas and BOK Financial (in Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Kansas and Missouri).