On October 7, Sonora-based Sonora Bank announced that James Cox has been named executive vice president and chief credit officer. He will be responsible for driving the bank’s credit culture and overseeing its lending portfolio while guiding risk-appropriate growth.
Cox brings more than 30 years of banking and financial services experience—including extensive knowledge of commercial and agricultural lending—to his new role on the executive team. Prior to joining Sonora Bank, he held leadership roles with Texas Champion Bank, US Bank and Security National Bank. He is a graduate of the Southwestern Graduate School of Banking at Southern Methodist University and obtained his BS degree in finance and economics from Trinity University.
“[Cox’s] leadership qualities, strong credit knowledge and proven history of risk management and policy development make him the ideal person to fill this pivotal role at Sonora Bank,” says Bob Malone, chairman, president and CEO.
“Sonora Bank has a strong history of community banking in the Hill Country and West Texas,” Cox says. “I look forward to adding to their reputation of excellence.”
Established in 1900, the First National Bank of Sonora opened in 1900, only 10 years after Sonora became a town. By 1995, Sonora Bank expanded to San Angelo. Today, the bank has more than $450 million in assets and seven locations throughout West Texas and the Hill Country, including Sonora, San Angelo, Boerne, Bulverde and Wimberley.
