The Independent Bankers Association of Texas (IBAT) recently announced that Christopher Doyle, president and CEO of Texas City-based Texas First Bank, has been elected chairman of the IBAT board of directors for 2023–24. He officially accepted this position during the association’s 49th Annual Convention held September 16–19 in Frisco. In addition to Doyle, members of the community banking organization elected Tracy Harris (president and CEO at La Grange-based National Bank & Trust) IBAT’s chair-elect and Michael Scaief (chair and CEO of Harlingen-based Texas Regional Bank) secretary-treasurer.
Doyle, Harris and Scaief will serve on the IBAT executive committee alongside K. Kyle Irwin (president of Western Bank’s Gruver market), immediate past chair; Matt Crable (regional loan president at Texas First Bank in Pearland), chair of the IBAT Leadership Division; Kevin Monk (executive vice president/chief operations officer at Sulphur Springs-based Alliance Bank), chair of the IBAT Education Foundation; and Christopher Williston VI, IBAT’s president and CEO.
“Kyle, as chairman, you distinguished yourself as a judicious steward of our organization and never flinched in the face of difficult decisions,” IBAT wrote in a recent newsletter saluting Irwin’s year of service as IBAT chair. “Wisdom is knowing what to do next; courage is doing it. You proved to be both wise and courageous. As you look back on your time with us, please know that our achievements would not have been possible without you at the helm.”
Formed in 1974, the Independent Bankers Association of Texas represents Texas community banks. The Austin-based group is the largest state community banking organization in the nation.
