On August 7, Arlington-based Worthington Bank announced its expansion north into Denton with a new branch at 1696 S. Loop 28. The bank is currently operating in a satellite building at the same address while construction of the permanent facility is completed. A ribbon-cutting ceremony for the 3,782-square-foot building will take place in the fall.

Debbie Rhoads will serve as Denton market president. A 34-year banking industry veteran, she joins Worthington Bank after serving more than seven years at Guaranty Bank & Trust and, prior to that, Northstar Bank from 1999 to 2015. The largely female team of eight banking professionals at the Denton branch have worked together previously and share more than a century of banking experience.

Joining Rhoads in executive leadership roles is Tracey Long, senior vice president of lending, and Kathy Kelly, senior vice president of lending and liquidity-saving mechanisms. Long previously served at Northstar Bank and its successor, Independent Financial. Kelly previously worked for Guaranty Bank & Trust and Northstar Bank.

“The opening of our Denton location is a significant step for our operations, introducing Worthington Bank’s high-level service to a whole new community,” says Greg Morse, CEO.

“I’ve known [CEO] Greg [Morse] for 30 years and worked with him in the past, so it was really an easy decision,” Rhoads says of joining the Worthington Bank team.

Morse says knowing Rhoads made the decision easy for the bank. “It’s great to open in a fast-growing market like Denton, but you have to have the right people, and we do,” he told the Fort Worth Report.

The new branch will also continue Worthington Bank’s tradition of featuring Western-influenced art at its locations. The Denton location will showcase works by artist Sophy Brown, photographer Emily McCartney and sculptors Deborah Ballard, Fredrick Prescott and Dale Rogers.

Established in 2002, Worthington Bank operates five locations in Texas: Arlington, Fort Worth (two branches), Colleyville and Denton.