TEXAS BANKING NEWS, PEOPLE AND IDEAS
TEXAS BANKING NEWS, PEOPLE AND IDEAS
More than 100 Coryell County citizens braved the stormy weather in May to celebrate the opening of Waco-based The First National Bank of Central Texas’ new Gatesville banking center. The event included a ribbon-cutting ceremony and much-needed support for local nonprofit organizations. At the opening, Will Coward, Gatesville banking center president, presented $10,000 donations to … Read more
In May, Independent Banker, the flagship publication of the Independent Community Bankers of America (ICBA), published its annual list of the “Best-performing Banks 2024,” which includes 10 banks based in Texas. According to a press release from Independent Banker, “These community banks hit their stride in 2024, and they intend to keep the momentum going … Read more
On April 30, Denver, Colorado-based FirstSun Capital Bancorp and Seattle, Washington-based HomeStreet Inc. announced that they have mutually agreed to amend their definitive merger agreement that was entered into on January 16. Among the amendments is the provision that “the combined company’s ongoing banking operations will operate under a Texas state charter with FirstSun Capital … Read more
Henderson-based VeraBank recently awarded five $2,500 scholarships to graduating high school students whose parents are employed at the bank. The recipients of the 2024 scholarships are: Dawson Zarazinski, Mt. Enterprise High School Elena Bryan, Harker Heights High School Kylie Fails, Bullard High School Aspen Woodall, Sabine High School (Louisiana Tech University) Megan Moores, Henderson High … Read more
On April 25, Business First Bancshares Inc., the holding company for Baton Rouge, Louisiana-based b1Bank, announced that it entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Oakwood Bancshares Inc. and its subsidiary, Dallas-based Oakwood Bank, in an all-stock transaction for total consideration value of approximately $85.7 million based on the company’s closing price of $21.57 per … Read more
On April 24, Texas Banking Commissioner Charles G. Cooper announced that Abilene-based First Financial Bank National Association has completed its conversion to a Texas state-chartered bank from a national banking association. The bank began operating under its new charter as First Financial Bank on April 23. In 1889, First Financial Bank was originally chartered as … Read more
On April 18, San Antonio-based Southwest Bancshares Inc., the bank holding company for Texas Partners Bank, announced plans to brand all locations of its regional bank subsidiary under the existing bank charter name, Texas Partners Bank. These banking locations will continue to reflect their respective names of The Bank of San Antonio, The Bank of Austin and … Read more
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma-based MidFirst Bank has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire the Houston branches of Coral Gables, Florida-based Amerant Bank. Upon closing expected later this year, MidFirst Bank will add six Amerant Bank locations to the company’s footprint and gain Amerant Bank’s Houston client relationships totaling approximately $576 million in deposits and $529 … Read more
On April 17, College Station-based American Momentum Bank announced that it is expanding its community association banking division. The bank launched its association banking division in 2016 and hired Heather Karamitsos to serve as senior vice president/director of association banking. Since then, Karamitsos and her team have established American Momentum Bank as one of the … Read more
The Independent Bankers Association of Texas (IBAT) office has moved from its longtime location at 1700 Rio Grande St. in Austin to its new headquarters in northwest Austin. With this move, the organization has “right-sized our physical space to align with changes in the way we work—with a mix of in-person and remote employees,” according … Read more