After 48 years in the banking industry, William “Bill” Cowden, president and CEO of Fredericksburg-based Security State Bank & Trust, is retiring. He has served Security State Bank & Trust for the past 28 years and will remain on the bank’s board of directors and loan committee.
A native of Kerrville, Cowden began his banking career in 1973 after graduating from Texas A&M University. He has served in community banking as vice president/loan officer, senior vice president, executive vice president and, ultimately, president and CEO. He has also been a member of the bank’s board of directors since 2006.
Continuing education was important to Cowden. In 1977, he attended the National Commercial Lending School in Norman, Oklahoma, and, in 1981, graduated from the Southwestern Graduate School of Banking at Southern Methodist University. Active in his community, he has served as president of the West Kerr County Chamber of Commerce, president and vice president of the Hal & Charlie Peterson Foundation and board member and president of the Kerr County Farm Bureau. He has been named “Citizen of the Year” and inducted into the West Kerr County Chamber Hall of Fame.
In retirement, Cowden is looking forward to spending more time with his family on his two ranches, one in Mountain Home and the other in Frio County.
Established in 1941, Security State Bank & Trust operates 21 branches in Central Texas.
