East Texas Financial Corp., the parent company of Kilgore-based Citizens Bank, and Texas National Bancorporation, the parent company of Jacksonville-based Texas National Bank, have announced the successful completion of East Texas Financial Corp.’s previously announced acquisition of Texas National Bancorporation after receiving all required regulatory approvals.
East Texas Financial Corp. will operate as a two-bank holding company with combined assets of $1.3 billion as of December 31, 2025. Texas National Bank and Citizens Bank will operate independently until approximately the fourth quarter of 2026, at which time the two banks will merge. After the merger, customers will be able to transact business at any of the combined bank’s 20 offices in East and Southeast Texas.
“Citizens Bank and Texas National Bank share deep roots in East Texas and cultures built on community commitment, local leadership and long-standing traditions of helping East Texas families and businesses thrive,” says John Mills, president and CEO of Citizens Bank. “This merger was designed with our customers in mind, and I’m confident we’ll be even better able to serve them as a modern, community-focused bank in the future.”
Texas National Bank was established in Jacksonville in 1985. The bank has expanded over the years to include nine offices in Bullard, Jacksonville, Lindale, Longview, Lufkin, Marshall, Rusk and Tyler (two).
Citizens Bank was chartered in 1949 and, through a combination of acquisitions and branch expansions, operates 11 banking offices in Bryan, Carthage, Center, Gladewater, Humble, Kilgore, Kountze, Sour Lake, Tyler, The Woodlands and Yorktown.
