Longtime East Texas banker Jane Austin Chapman passed away peacefully on November 2 in her hometown of Frankston. She was a third-generation banker. Her grandfather, John F. Austin Sr., founded the First State Bank of Frankston in 1909, and her father, Jeff Austin Sr., served there as president starting in 1946. Jeff Austin Sr. went on to purchase First National Bank of Jacksonville in 1959 and was named its president and chairman. After a series of East Texas acquisitions across several decades, the bank’s name was changed to Austin Bank in 1999. Jane Austin Chapman was Jeff Austin Sr.’s daughter.
Chapman began her banking career at an early age, working in bookkeeping and filing checks at First State Bank in Frankston. After graduating in 1964 from the University of Texas–Austin with a BBA degree, she joined the credit department at Mercantile Bank in Dallas. She went on to serve at First State Bank in Rusk, First National Bank in Jacksonville, the Commercial Bank in Mason and First State Bank in Athens.
Her distinguished career culminated as vice president of Austin Bank and the bank’s parent company, Austin Bancorp Inc., as well as First State Bank Athens. She also served on the boards of both Austin Bank and First State Bank Athens. In 2014, Chapman was honored by the Texas Bankers Association with the 50-Year Banker Award in recognition of her lifelong dedication to the profession.
“Banking has been good to our family, and our family has tried to uphold the values of banking as they used to be,” she said. “We believe what’s good for the customer is good for the bank, and vice versa.”
Chapman is survived by her husband of 46 years, Bob L. Chapman, a son and a daughter, as well as numerous additional family members and friends. She is also survived by her big brother, Jeff Austin Jr., who currently serves as chairman of Austin Bancorp. Chapman’s son, Michael Neill, is CEO of First State Bank Athens.
Established in 1900, Austin Bank operates 40 East Texas locations within 28 cities and 14 counties.
