Jacksonville-based Austin Bank announced several promotions and a new hire in July.
Currently serving as senior vice president and retail market manager for the Piney Woods region, Teressa Karns assumed the role of director of digital banking on August 15 upon the retirement of Lisa Emmons. Karns will also retain the role as retail market manager for the offices in the Piney Woods region and continue to office in Lufkin.
Karns joined Austin Bank in 2011 bringing with her four years of previous banking experience. She worked as a teller operations supervisor, loan assistant, retail office manager and assistant retail market manager before moving into her current role. She was named senior vice president in 2023. A graduate of Stephen F. Austin State University, Karns has also completed the Dale Carnegie Leadership course and the Austin Bank Leadership program.
John Rowe has been named vice president. He joined Austin Bank in 2020 as assistant vice president and securities and facilities assistant manager. With more than 21 years of law enforcement experience, he spent 20 years with the Kilgore Police Department before retiring in 2019. Prior to joining the bank, Rowe worked in a security management position for the food production industry.
During his law enforcement career, he was honored as “Patrolman of the Year” in 2003 and “Detective of the Year” in 2013, and earned nearly 3,000 continuing education hours. A lifelong resident of Kilgore, Rowe is a graduate of Kilgore College where he earned an Associate of Science degree in criminal justice. He is also an Eagle Scout (Troop 252).
Elva Estrada has joined the bank as vice president and relationship manager in its Tyler Medical Center office. With more than 20 years in the banking industry, she has spent the past 10 years focused on lending. She began her career in 2006 and has served as a teller, loan assistant, customer service representative, administrative assistant, consumer loan underwriter, office manager, commercial lender and relationship manager.
Estrada holds an associate’s degree from Tyler Junior College and a bachelor’s degree from the University of Texas–Tyler. In addition, she has completed the Texas Bankers Association’s (TBA) Consumer Lending School and Real Estate School. Estrada was also honored to participate on the Rising Women in Banking panel at the 2023 TBA Women in Banking conference.
Ryan Reynolds has also been promoted to vice president. He joined the bank in 2022 as a credit analyst and was promoted to relationship manager and assistant vice president in 2023, working from the Longview Oak Forest office. With his current promotion, he will be transferring to Van.
Reynolds holds a bachelor’s degree in business management from Texas A&M University.
Established in 1900, Austin Bank has 36 East Texas locations within 26 cities and 14 counties. Austin Bank is locally owned and operated by the Austin family, which is celebrating 115 years of service in the Texas banking industry.
