Monica Houston is the new market president of City National Bank in Abilene. She began her banking career while in college and has since built more than 30 years of experience in retail banking and lending, serving customers and communities throughout the region. Before joining City National Bank, she served in executive roles at First Financial Bank and First Financial Bankshares Inc. for most of her career. She was also owner and president of Pivotal Align-ment Coaching LLC. Houston attended Cisco College and McMurry University.
Shay Minor is the new operations specialist in Abilene. After moving to Abilene in 1997, Minor started her banking career at First Financial Bank’s Judge Ely location. After 14 years there, she moved downtown to its Pine Street location for just under another 14 years. Her roles included teller, personal banker, personal banker supervisor, retail manager, retail branch manager and senior vice president.
Karen Appling has been hired as senior vice president/loan officer in Abilene. After earning her BBA degree in finance with a real estate option from Angelo State University, she worked as a title examiner and escrow officer at Beall Abstract & Title Co. for more than eight years. In 2016, Appling joined Roscoe Bank, for which she was instrumental in starting a secondary-market mortgage program at the Sweetwater location. Her primary focus was residential real estate, but she assisted with teller operations, new accounts and various other banking operations. As a native of West Texas, Appling has spent the past 20 years assisting homeowners with conventional, FHA, VA and USDA loans. She also has experience with commercial and consumer lending.
Deana Denison has joined City National Bank as a retail banker in Abilene. She attended Howard Payne University, where she pursued a psychology degree and played basketball for the HPU Lady Jackets. She went on to pursue a career in real estate and obtained her real estate certification from Texas A&M University–Commerce. She later transitioned into the insurance world at State Farm, working in the banking department, life/health and property/casualty.
David Aycock is a new member of the board of directors of City National Bank. He is senior vice president/loan officer at the bank’s San Angelo branch. He started his banking career in 1979 working as a part-time teller while attending Angelo State University. After graduating, he began working in trust administration, mortgage servicing and as a commercial lender for several area banks. He left banking for several years to work for the family business and obtained licensing in real estate before coming to work for City National Bank. Aycock and his wife, Blenda, support local organizations and civic activities. They have a special passion for foster/adoption and the Rainbow Room–Concho Valley community partners.
Rob Houser is the new senior vice president/chief information officer in San Angelo. He started his career with CalTech in 2002; it was acquired by Integris in 2023. Houser has more than 24 years of experience working with community banks, with expertise spanning technology, operations, risk management, strategic planning and executive leadership. Throughout his career, he has advised more than 40 community banks, actively partnering with 19 of them during his tenure at Integris. He conducted more than 30 comprehensive operational assessments to streamline efficiency and strengthen compliance. Houser is an Angelo State University alumnus who has proudly called San Angelo home since 1999.
Robert Ortiz is a new member of the City National Bank board of directors. He retired from the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) last year, having started his career there in 1985. He brings a wealth of regulatory knowledge, having served in various capacities while with the OCC. From 2013 to 2021, Ortiz was assistant deputy comptroller for the Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania office of the OCC. He later served as the assistant deputy comptroller in the Lubbock office from 2021 until his retirement. In that position, he supervised a team of field examiners and 24 banks across West Texas.
Established in 1900, City National Bank operates branches in Colorado City, San Angelo, Abilene and Knox City.
