TEXAS BANKING NEWS, PEOPLE and IDEAS
The past year and a half has challenged our industry in ways previously unknown. We began the year expecting our biggest challenge would be the continued growth of deposits at reasonable rates. Today, we are faced with three challenges: a prolonged low-rate environment with continued margin compression; keeping branches open/serving our communities; and an increasing … Read more
Last year, I became the proud owner of an above-ground pool. I wanted a way for my family to enjoy our backyard, not realizing it would become our main hangout in 2020. But it turned out that I knew nothing about being the proud owner of an above-ground pool. I was a “noob,” according to … Read more
On June 3, Dallas-based First Foundation Inc., a financial services company with two operating subsidiaries, First Foundation Advisors and First Foundation Bank, and Naples, Florida-based TGR Financial Inc., the holding company of First Florida Integrity Bank, jointly announced the execution of a definitive agreement under which TGR Financial will merge into First Foundation in an … Read more
Houston-based Cornerstone Home Lending, one of the nation’s largest independent residential mortgage companies, announced that it has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Roscoe-based Roscoe State Bank. These two family-owned companies with nearly 150 years in business will combine to create an organization holding approximately $2 billion in assets and more than $300 million in equity … Read more
Abilene-based First Financial Bank NA, a subsidiary of First Financial Bankshares Inc., announced that it has acquired a new property and will build a state-of-the-art office in Bryan/College Station, located on the northwest corner of Harvey Mitchell Pkwy. and Earl Rudder Fwy. “We certainly are excited to enhance our branch experience for our customers,” says … Read more
On June 8, Atlanta-based Cadence Bank, a subsidiary of Houston-based Cadence Bancorporation, announced a strategic business alliance with Unity National Bank of Houston, the only Black-owned banking institution in Texas and one of two Black minority depository institutions with a national charter. The cooperative alliance brings growth capital to Unity National Bank, strengthening its ability to make … Read more
February was not a good month for the Central Texas community of Mason. In addition to battling the pandemic and an arctic freeze that shut off power and water for days and crippled much of the state, the county courthouse in Mason was destroyed by a fire. Although the Texas Historical Commission had provided some … Read more
On May 26, Birmingham, Alabama-based BBVA USA announced the opening of 11 new branches across five Texas markets, marking a major milestone in an endeavor first announced in June 2020. The branches, which opened in early May, feature updated models aligned with the bank’s vision of integrating both a digital and face-to-face branch banking experience … Read more
Henderson-based VeraBank announced in mid-May that it has completed its acquisition Carthage-based Panola National Bank. Panola National Bank has two locations, Carthage and Marshall, and assets totaling more than $130 million. This transaction expands VeraBank’s footprint into Panola County for the first time and increases its presence in East Texas. “Bringing our two organizations together will be … Read more
What began in the 1950s as rumblings of a new bank in Houston’s Montrose district grew into an institution with true staying power. This year, that institution has reason to celebrate. Central Bank, Houston’s longest-serving independent bank, is marking its milestone 65th anniversary. L.E. Cowling, owner of Southern States Life Insurance, set the wheels in … Read more