On August 20, Dallas-based Hilltop Holdings Inc. announced that Tom C. Nichols has been elected to the company’s board of directors, on which he will serve as a member of the risk committee and merger and acquisition committee.

Nichols is the owner and CEO of Carlile Holdings Inc., a family investment office. He served as chairman and CEO of Carlile Bancshares Inc. for nine years until its acquisition by Independent Bancshares Inc. in 2017. He served as a director for Independent Bancshares until June 2020. Nichols also serves as a director of First Acceptance Corp. He has acquired, merged and sold banking organizations and other financial services companies for more than 30 years. He also served on the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board and as chairman of the campus planning committee from 1992 to 1998. Nichols began his career in 1969 as a bank examiner for the FDIC. He earned a BS degree in economics from Abilene Christian University.

Hilltop Holdings is a financial holding company that operates PlainsCapital Bank, PrimeLending, Hilltop Securities Inc. and Hilltop Securities Independent Network Inc. As of June 30, Hilltop Holdings employed approximately 4,800 and operated approximately 420 locations in 48 states.