In April, El Paso-based WestStar Bank announced four promotions.
Mara Portillo has been promoted to senior vice president/compliance and Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) officer. With more than 16 years of experience in the banking industry, including 14 years at WestStar Bank, she will expand her leadership role by overseeing the bank’s CRA initiatives. Portillo will continue to manage the bank’s compliance risk management program, ensuring adherence to applicable laws and regulations. She will lead the compliance department in conducting internal reviews, overseeing external audits and preparing quarterly compliance reports for the bank’s compliance committee, executive management and the audit, risk and compliance committee.
“While I remain committed to advancing the bank’s strong compliance program, I am honored to lead and expand our CRA efforts,” Portillo says. “This new role gives me the opportunity to broaden my experience while strengthening the bank’s outreach and impact throughout the Borderplex.”
Portillo holds a BBA degree in finance and international business and an MBA degree from the University of Texas–El Paso. She is currently in her second year of the SW Graduate School of Banking program at Southern Methodist University and has been a certified regulatory compliance manager since 2015. Portillo’s commitment to community service includes serving as past president of the Women’s Fund of El Paso’s board of directors and currently serving on the board of directors for Project Vida and The Challenge Foundation–El Paso advisory council. Additionally, she will serve on the United Way of El Paso County board of directors.
WestStar Bank has promoted Nicholas Alarcón to vice president of loan origination system (LOS) administration. With WestStar for a decade, he oversees the full suite of platforms supporting the commercial banking division, leveraging his prior experience as a credit analyst and senior accounting associate to guide system strategy with a strong foundation in credit processes, financial analysis and operational controls. He successfully led the ground‑up implementation of nCino, a world‑class loan origination platform, and has driven improvements across all commercial lending systems. His leadership has streamlined end‑to‑end workflows, enhanced data integrity and increased efficiency and consistency throughout the division’s client and credit operations. In his new position, Alarcón will be responsible for the enterprise-level Salesforce implementation by providing solutions and leadership while promoting strong adoption and best practices across the organization.
“I am proud to have built my entire professional career at WestStar and am truly grateful for the opportunities it has provided,” Alarcón says.
Alarcón graduated summa cum laude with a BBA degree in accounting and summa cum laude with a Master of Accountancy degree, both from the University of Texas–El Paso. He is also a certified public accountant and holds certifications in nCino Commercial Banking and the nCino Platform. Beyond his professional achievements, Alarcón is committed to community service as a member of the Young Leaders Society with United Way of El Paso County. He is also a participant in WestStar’s Leadership Excellence Advancement and Development (LEAD) Program.
Patrick Sarabia to has been promoted to vice president/small-business lender. He will continue to focus on expanding the small-business department by underwriting small-business and consumer loans. With nearly 30 years of banking experience at WestStar Bank, Sarabia has established himself as a trusted industry expert. His client-focused approach earned him the Small Business Administration Financial Champion award in 2007.
“I am excited to continue to focus on servicing our clients at WestStar by treating them as I want to be treated,” Sarabia says.
Sarabia earned a BA degree in finance and marketing from the University of Texas–El Paso and holds a certificate from the Western States School of Banking. In addition to his professional achievements, he is dedicated to community service. He currently serves as treasurer and a board member of the Northeast El Paso Rotary Club and previously served as president for two terms. He is also an elder at Vista Hills Church and an active member of the church’s finance committee.
The bank has promoted Saul Castro to public funds officer and assistant vice president. He brings more than 20 years of banking experience and a deep understanding of the regional economy to this role, where he will lead WestStar Bank’s newly established public funds department. WestStar created the public funds department to meet the growing demand for specialized public-sector banking services in the Borderplex. The department is designed to support local governments, school districts and public entities by ensuring strong stewardship of public funds, regulatory compliance and the ability to keep local deposits working within the communities they serve. In his new role, Castro will oversee public deposit relationships, manage collateral and reporting requirements, support liquidity and risk management efforts and work closely with public sector partners to ensure strong governance and regulatory compliance.
Throughout his career, Castro has supported small businesses as a business banker, developed future leaders as an assistant manager and built deep technical expertise in merchant services, earning recognition as a top performer and multiple nationwide awards. Since joining WestStar Bank two years ago as a senior treasury management sales advisor, he has expanded his expertise in treasury and liquidity solutions.
“I am honored to step into the role of public funds officer and help lead an initiative that is vital to both our bank and our community,” Castro notes. “When public funds stay local, they strengthen the economic foundation of the city they come from and support the businesses, families and institutions that rely on them.”
Castro is also deeply committed to community service. He volunteers with Strive Now, a mentorship and character development program for youth, and is an active member of Abundant Church, supporting outreach efforts that serve underserved communities throughout El Paso.
Established in 1990, WestStar Bank operates 14 branches that serve the Borderplex region, which includes El Paso, Texas; Las Cruces, New Mexico; and Juárez, Mexico.
