TEXAS BANKING NEWS, PEOPLE and IDEAS
Baton Rouge, Louisiana-based Investar Bank NA, which has banking offices in the Houston region, has promoted Holly Hidalgo-DeKeyzer to chief banking officer. She will lead the bank’s consumer lending, retail, and business banking teams. Hidalgo-DeKeyzer has been with Investar Bank since its founding in 2006, serving as the central region president. Under her leadership, the … Read more
On August 16, Texas Banking Commissioner Charles G. Cooper announced the appointment of Gregory Cole Wisian as Houston regional director of the bank and trust supervision division for the Texas Department of Banking. The appointment is effective September 1. Wisian will be responsible for the bank supervisory activities of the Houston regional office and its … Read more
On August 2, the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City’s (Kansas City Fed) board of directors announced that Jeffrey R. Schmid, president and CEO of the SW Graduate School of Banking Foundation at Southern Methodist University’s Cox School of Business, has been appointed president and CEO of the Kansas City Fed, effective August 21. Schmid … Read more
The board of directors of the Independent Bankers Association of Texas (IBAT) recently presented Joe Henkel, vice chairman of the board of Kingsville-based Kleberg Bank, with an IBAT board resolution recognizing more than 50 years of service as a True Texas Community Banker. Henkel started his career at Kleberg Bank in 1970 while a student … Read more
Woodville-based Citizens State Bank has hired David Munn to serve as executive vice president and chief credit officer. Munn is a Houston-based career banker with 39 years of professional experience. Upon graduating from college, he was hired as an examiner with the Texas Department of Banking. After 28 years of state service, he retired from … Read more
Dallas-based Comerica Bank has promoted Brandon Jones to senior vice president of external affairs. He previously served in the same role as vice president. He will report to Wendy Bridges, executive vice president of corporate responsibility. In his new role, Jones will oversee the bank’s Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) community engagement function, including External affairs, … Read more
Round Rock-based R Bank has hired Charles McElrath to serve as senior vice president, community development director and commercial lender. His primary focus will be on promoting the bank’s small-business lending products and programs while also facilitating community development initiatives. Prior to joining R Bank, McElrath was vice president and regional director for commercial lending … Read more
Dallas-based First Foundation Inc., a financial services company with two subsidiaries, Irving, California-based First Foundation Bank and First Foundation Advisors, has appointed James Britton executive vice president and chief financial officer, effective August 14. Reporting to Scott F. Kavanaugh, president and CEO, Britton will lead the financial operations teams for First Foundation and its subsidiaries. … Read more
Stellar Bancorp Inc., the holding company of Houston-based Stellar Bank, announced the election of Cynthia Dopjera to the board of directors of the company. This election as a class II director fills an existing vacancy. Stellar Bancorp has a 14-member board, which consists of 11 independent directors. Dopjera currently serves on the Stellar Bank board … Read more
Kilgore-based Citizens Bank has opened its first location in Tyler. The new banking center opened its doors earlier this year and is currently operating as a loan production office with plans to convert to a full-service branch in the near future. To celebrate the opening of the Tyler location, the Tyler Area Chamber of Commerce … Read more