Galveston-based HomeTown Bank recently announced a number of staff promotions, as well as a new hire.
HomeTown Bank has promoted Elizabeth Birch to vice president. Birch, who has 17 years of banking experience, joined HomeTown Bank seven years ago in the new accounts department at the Galveston main bank and is now new accounts supervisor. She has been on the bank’s annual United Way campaign committee since joining the HomeTown team and has chaired the committee for three years. Birch was named HomeTown Bank’s “Employee of the Year” in 2017. “Liz always welcomes each customer with a very warm greeting every day,” says Angela Brooks, senior vice president. “Her banking knowledge and customer service skills are valuable to the bank and our customers.”
Loan officer Scott Asimakis has been promoted to vice president at HomeTown Bank’s downtown Friendswood office. He earned a bachelor’s degree in economics and business from the University of Texas. Asimakis joined HomeTown Bank in 2015 and has 15 years of banking experience. He is active in the Friendswood Chamber of Commerce and as a member of the Clear Lake Chamber of Commerce Young Professionals Group. “Scott is a tremendous person and a hometown guy,” says Allan Rasmussen, senior executive vice president. “He does an excellent job with his customers and has been a great asset to our Friendswood team. I have enjoyed watching him grow as a community banker and I believe his best days are still in front of him.”
Cynthia Gomez has been promoted to vice president. She began in HomeTown Bank’s customer service department in 2002, later worked in the auditing department, electronic banking department and finally transferred to the wire department, where she continues to serve customers at the main bank in Galveston. Gomez is also an active member of the bank’s United Way committee. “I have enjoyed working for HomeTown Bank,” Gomez says. “Our staff works as a team to meet all of our customers’ needs and customers are very important to all of us at HomeTown Bank.”
Lauren Zahniser has been promoted to vice president. She offices at the Pearland branch and oversees teller and new account services as operations manager. Zahniser joined the bank in 2016 and has more than 14 years of experience in banking in the Pearland area. “I could not be more excited and proud of the promotion of Lauren to vice president,” says Sean Murphy, senior vice president and Pearland branch manager. “She continues to help us succeed by taking great care of all of our customers.”
Aaron Leteff has been promoted to assistant vice president. As operations manager and assistant manager of the Friendswood Bay Area branch, he oversees day-to-day operations for tellers and the new accounts desk, and assists branch manager Steve Owens in ensuring the branch runs smoothly. Leteff joined HomeTown Bank as a teller in 2012, was promoted to new accounts representative in 2015 and to lobby supervisor last January. “Aaron’s promotion is well deserved,” Owens said. “I couldn’t be more excited about him joining our Friendswood Bay Area team. Aaron brings a lot of knowledge with him, is well-liked and is an all-around good guy!”
Daniel Park has joined HomeTown Bank as vice president in loan operations in League City. He recently moved to the area from Fayetteville, Arkansas. A 2016 graduate of the University of Arkansas Sam M. Walton College of Business, he previously served as senior bank examiner for the Arkansas State Bank Department. “Local community banks are essential for a thriving local economy,” he says, “HomeTown Bank has a strong reputation in the banking industry, and I look forward to contributing to it.” Candy Temple, executive vice president, says, “Daniel is exactly the kind of person we seek to join our team of skilled, experienced and customer-friendly HomeTown Bank employees.”
Established in 1966, HomeTown Bank NA operates seven branches in Galveston, Friendswood, Alvin, League City and Pearland.