Community Bankers Honor Bussey with Excellence in Leadership Award, Pay Tribute to Palone

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

The First National Bank of Central Texas Hires Patterson for Lending in Gatesville

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

VeraBank Taps Stark to Serve as Treasury Management Officer in Williamson and Bell Counties

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

Charter Bank Promotes Cissna to Vice President of Commercial Lending, Welcomes Rios to the Team

The board of directors of Corpus Christi-based Charter Bank announced that Jack Cissna has been promoted to vice president of commercial lending. He joined the bank in 2022 as an assistant vice president. Prior to joining Charter Bank, Cissna served as a relationship manager and credit analyst at Kleberg Bank for almost four years. He … Read more

Jacksonville-based Austin Bank Promotes Karns, Rowe and Reynolds, Hires Estrada in July

Jacksonville-based Austin Bank announced several promotions and a new hire in July. Currently serving as senior vice president and retail market manager for the Piney Woods region, Teressa Karns assumed the role of director of digital banking on August 15 upon the retirement of Lisa Emmons. Karns will also retain the role as retail market … Read more

Governor Abbott Appoints Fernandez to Governor’s Committee to Support the Military

Texas Governor Greg Abbott has appointed Fernando Fernandez to the Governor’s Committee to Support the Military for a term to expire at the pleasure of the governor. The committee studies and makes recommendations on how to best maintain and enhance military value at existing military installations in Texas and how to best make Texas a … Read more

Bubela Named Chief Banking Officer at R Bank

Chris Bubela has been promoted to chief banking officer at Round Rock-based R Bank, transitioning from his previous role as chief lending officer. As reported previously in Bankers Digest, Michael Ramirez has been hired to succeed Bubela as chief lending officer and executive vice president. Bubela, who also serves as executive vice president, has been … Read more

Former Texas Banker Hill Elected to Dallas Fed Board; Kilroe Joins Agency as Communications Head

James Hill, former Texas banker and current director of the Neeley Center for Real Estate at Texas Christian University in Fort Worth, has been elected to the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas board of directors by its member banks. He will serve the remaining portion of an unexpired term ending December 31, 2024, and provide … Read more

Kidd Named CEO of the National Bank of Andrews

Ricky Kidd has been named chief executive officer of the National Bank of Andrews. The promotion was announced by current CEO Russell Shannon, who will remain board chairman and Andrews Bancshares Inc.’s chief executive officer. Kidd brings more than 40 years of banking and commercial lending experience in Andrews and the surrounding region. He joined … Read more

Jacksonville-based Austin Bank Promotes Droege to Regional President

Dan Droege was recently promoted to executive vice president and regional president at Jacksonville-based Austin Bank. The promotion was announced by Jeff Austin III, chairman of the board. Droege joined the bank in 2017 as a senior vice president and relationship manager in the Longview Oak Forest office and was promoted to Longview market president … Read more