On December 10, the Independent Bankers Association of Texas (IBAT) announced a new addition to the IBAT Wall of Heroes and Legends of Texas Community Banking: Bob Walters, managing partner of The Bank CEO Network. The Wall of Heroes and Legends is reserved for special individuals who have contributed significantly to the strength of community banking in Texas.

For decades, Walters has represented hundreds of banks through his mergers and acquisitions and bank stock valuation advisory services. He is a recognized expert in quantifying the financial determinants of community bank value for both “control” and “minority” ownership positions. The Bank CEO Network has allowed Walters to maintain continuing interaction with community bank CEOs and, as a result, identify and analyze emerging trends within the banking industry.

In the late 1970s, Walters pioneered the use of the federal Call Report data to design bank peer group financial analysis tools that have become nationally recognized standards. He developed analytical tools using financial and market-price data derived from publicly traded banking organizations that identify and correlate bank financial performance with bank stock market price performance. Throughout his career, Walters participated in more than 1,500 client relationships and provided expert witness testimony regarding the overall financial performance characteristics of the community banking industry.

Walter’s career began at Touche Ross & Co. in Austin. He is a certified valuation analyst (National Association of Certified Valuators and Analysts) and certified public accountant. Walters graduated from Texas A&M University with a BBA degree in accounting.