On March 2, Dallas-based T Bank NA announced the opening of a new Houston branch and the appointment of veteran banker Chris Morris to serve as chief lending officer and a member of the bank’s board of directors. T Bank also announced the appointment of Houston businessman John Leggett to its board.
“While we operate a national lending platform, Texas is our home market,” says A. Haag Sherman, president and CEO. “We have a strong presence in Dallas, and Houston…is the logical next step in our evolution. We believe people drive performance, and we are excited to welcome exceptional Houston-based talent to lead our next phase of growth.”
Morris brings more than 25 years of experience in commercial and industrial lending, real estate finance, SBA lending and credit portfolio management. He most recently served as chief lending officer at Plains State Bank, leading lending operations across multiple Texas markets. He previously held senior leadership roles at Westbound Bank, Wallis Bank, Regions Bank and First Horizon National Corp.
A graduate of the University of Houston, Morris holds a BS degree in economics and is an honorably discharged U.S. Marine Corps veteran.
In connection with the Houston expansion, T Bank has appointed Leggett to its board of directors. He is an entrepreneur and investor with extensive experience across private equity, real estate, energy and operating companies. Legget is the founder and managing partner of Leggett Ventures, a Houston-based private investment firm with a diversified portfolio spanning real estate, energy and alternative investments, with total assets in excess of $350 million. He is the co-founder of multiple portfolio companies, including On Point Custom Homes, a nationally recognized residential construction firm; Cannon Field, an oil and gas company; NewFound Partners, a commercial real estate firm; and Frontier Title, which operates and manages locations across multiple states. He began his career in investment banking and equity research at Deutsche Bank and Crédit Lyonnais. Leggett holds a BA degree in business and a master’s degree in accounting from the University of North Carolina.
“John is an exceptional business leader with deep market insight, intellectual rigor and unwavering integrity,” Sherman notes. “We are delighted to welcome him to our board and look forward to his strategic contributions.”
Established in 2004, T Bank serves small-business owners, entrepreneurs and professionals through an integrated platform that combines commercial banking, retirement services and specialty finance.
