Woodforest National Bank Appoints Longtime Banker Mendez to Board of Directors

The Woodlands-based Woodforest National Bank announced the appointment David Mendez to its board of directors. He retired as vice chairman/middle-market banking and specialized industries after serving JPMorgan Chase (and its predecessors) for 42 years. His prior roles include head of middle market south region, chairman of the Houston region, head of Texas commercial real estate banking, … Read more

Koncaba Elected Chair of the Texas Bankers Foundation, Joins Texas Bankers Association Board

Kristi Koncaba, president and COO of Houston-based Texan Bank, has been elected to the board of directors of the Texas Bankers Association. She has also been appointed chair of the Texas Bankers Foundation, the philanthropic arm of the Texas Bankers Association that serves and supports Texas banks, their employees and communities through educational programs, gifting … Read more

Louisiana-based Origin Bank Hires Irwin and Kresser for Fort Worth Relationship Banking Team

Choudrant, Louisiana-based Origin Bank has announced that Greg Irwin and Bill Kresser have joined the company’s Fort Worth relationship banking team. Both will maintain offices at the bank’s financial center on Throckmorton St. in downtown Fort Worth. “We are thrilled to welcome Greg and Bill to Origin Bank,” says Justin Holt, Tarrant County market leader. “Their … Read more

Citizens Bank Promotes Cozart, Jackson, McKnight and Pearson

Kilgore-based Citizens Bank announced the promotions of four of its officers at the Kilgore and Plano locations. Michael Cozart has been promoted to vice president by the board of directors. He joined Citizens Bank in 2014 as a credit analyst in the bank’s location in The Woodlands. In 2017, he was promoted to assistant vice … Read more

Jones Announces Retirement as Commissioner of the Texas Department of Savings and Mortgage Lending

On June 4, Caroline Jones, commissioner of the Texas Department of Savings and Mortgage Lending, announced her retirement, effective August 31. She joined the department in 2008 and was appointed commissioner in 2014. Prior to joining the Department of Savings and Mortgage Lending, Jones served as in-house counsel for financial institutions for more than 20 years. Her … Read more

Legendary Dallas Banker George Jones Passes Away

Dallas banking icon George Jones passed away on May 21 at age 77. For most of the past year, he endured challenges caused by an illness—the exceedingly rare Vexas Syndrome—that had developed over the past 20 years. But, according to his obituary, no one ever heard him complain. After earning his BBA degree from the … Read more

Western Heritage Bank Promotes Molina to Controller

Las Cruces, New Mexico-based Western Heritage Bank announced that Shannon Molina has been promoted to controller. She began her banking career in 2003 with First American Bank and joined Western Heritage Bank as a teller shortly thereafter. Molina has held positions in both operations and accounting at the bank over the years. She holds several certifications in … Read more

Texas Bankers Association Elects 2021-22 Officers

The membership of the Texas Bankers Association recently elected officers for the 2021-22 fiscal year. Elected were Chairman Raymond “Rusty” Rust III, president and CEO of Commercial Bank of Texas in Nacogdoches; Vice Chair A. Ford Sasser III, president and CEO of Rio Bank, McAllen; and Treasurer David W. Osborn, president and chief operating officer … Read more

FirstCapital Bank of Texas Welcomes Bird as Relationship Manager

Midland-based FirstCapital Bank of Texas has hired Garrett Bird to serve as vice president/relationship manager at the bank’s Lubbock Indiana branch location. He has eight years of banking experience with a focus on commercial lending. He received his finance degree from Texas Tech University. Bird, who grew up in Lubbock, is happy to return to his … Read more

Texas Community Bankers Included in Independent Banker’s 2021 ‘40 Under 40’ List

Independent Banker, the flagship publication of the Independent Community Bankers of America, recently published its third-annual list of “40 Under 40: 2021’s Emerging Community Bank Leaders.” According to the magazine, “The competition highlights young community bankers who stepped up to help their banks navigate a chaotic year. They delivered economic relief. They introduced new technology. … Read more