On March 9, Journey Financial Group Inc. and Houston-based Lone Star Bank jointly announced the signing of a definitive agreement pursuant to which Journey will acquire Lone Star. The transaction is expected to close late in the second quarter or early in the third quarter of 2026.
Journey Financial Group is led by Dean O. Bass and Kevin Bass. Dean Bass founded Conroe-based Spirit of Texas Bank in 2008, which started by concentrating in the Houston region and then expanded into each of the major cities in Texas. As chairman and CEO, Dean led its growth from a $39 million bank into a multi-market Texas platform, going public under the ticker STXB before selling the company to Simmons First National Corp. in 2022. At the time of sale, the bank had exceeded $3 billion in total assets. Earlier, Dean Bass founded Royal Oaks Bank in Houston—located just a few miles from Lone Star Bank’s headquarters. He built Royal Oaks Bank into a profitable community bank and sold it to a Missouri-based banking company, which provided a successful exit for its shareholders.
“We have admired the growth and reputation of the Lone Star franchise over the past many years and are excited about the potential of this new partnership to become a leading community bank for the Houston community,” Dean Bass says.
Dennis L. Harrington, Lone Star Bank’s president and CEO, will stay with the new company, serving as vice chairman and Houston president.
“Under the veteran leadership of Dean Bass, Journey Financial Group has the capital resources and relationships to expand the reach of Lone Star Bank across the Houston area and into new and larger business opportunities,” Harrington notes.
Established in 2006, Lone Star Bank is an independent and privately owned community bank primarily engaged in commercial banking with a diversified line of financial products and services, including conventional business and real estate loans and SBA loans. It operates four banking offices in Harris, Colorado and Austin counties. As of December 31, 2025, Lone Star Bank had total assets of $191 million, total deposits of $167 million and total loans of $166 million.
Journey Financial Group Inc. is advised by Hovde Group LLC as financial advisor and Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP is serving as legal counsel. Lone Star Bank is advised by Piper Sandler & Co. as financial advisor and Bradley Arant Boult Cummings LLP is serving as legal counsel.
