TEXAS BANKING NEWS, PEOPLE and IDEAS
On August 24, members of the leadership team at Baton Rouge, Louisiana-based Investar Bank NA rang the Nasdaq Closing Bell at the Nasdaq MarketSite in New York City’s Times Square. The ceremonial bell ringing marks a significant milestone for Investar Bank as it celebrates 20 years of serving customers, supporting communities and building relationships across … Read more
On July 13, Third Coast Bancshares Inc., the holding company of Humble-based Third Coast Bank, announced that it has closed the sale of substantially all of the assets of Third Coast Commercial Capital Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of the bank, to New Orleans, Louisiana-based Gulf Coast Bank & Trust Co. “The sale…allows us to … Read more
On October 16, Baton Rouge, Louisiana-based Investar Bank NA announced several key executive leadership promotions that add clarity to the bank’s direction and provide the needed infrastructure. Investar currently operates Texas branches in the Houston and Galveston areas. Jeffery “Jeff” Blum, currently executive vice president and regional president of the western division, has been promoted … Read more
On July 1, Investar Holding Corp., the holding company for Baton Rouge, Louisiana-based Investar Bank NA, and Wichita Falls Bancshares Inc., the holding company for Wichita Falls-based First National Bank, jointly announced that they have entered into a definitive agreement under which Investar will acquire Wichita Falls for cash and stock consideration. The merger is … Read more
On October 17, Baton Rouge, Louisiana-based b1BANK announced that N. Jerome “Jerry” Vascocu Jr. will be the bank’s new president, reporting to Jude Melville, who will retain the title of chair and CEO. b1BANK currently operates 18 banking offices in Texas. Vascocu, who joined b1BANK in 2022 as chief administrative officer, oversees the coordination of … Read more
In September, Business First Bancshares, the holding company for Baton Rouge, Louisiana-based b1BANK, received regulatory approvals to complete its merger with Oakwood Bancshares, the holding company for Dallas-based Oakwood Bank, a Texas banking association. “We appreciate our regulatory partners’ efficient review of the proposed transaction as well as the strong affirmation expressed by the Oakwood … Read more
On April 25, Business First Bancshares Inc., the holding company for Baton Rouge, Louisiana-based b1Bank, announced that it entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Oakwood Bancshares Inc. and its subsidiary, Dallas-based Oakwood Bank, in an all-stock transaction for total consideration value of approximately $85.7 million based on the company’s closing price of $21.57 per … Read more
The Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas (FHLB Dallas) has awarded $28.4 million in Affordable Housing Program (AHP) subsidies to 43 projects in its five-state district of Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Mexico and Texas. The subsidies will result in the creation or rehabilitation of 2,677 housing units. “Affordable housing is a critical need for communities … Read more
American Banker has released its 2023 list of the “Best Banks to Work For,” which includes 11 banks based in Texas or with operations in Texas among the 90 listed. Like last year and the year before, Oakworth Capital Bank in Birmingham, Alabama, was ranked the Best Bank to Work For. First Federal Savings & … Read more
Baton Rouge, Louisiana-based Investar Bank NA, which has banking offices in the Houston region, has promoted Holly Hidalgo-DeKeyzer to chief banking officer. She will lead the bank’s consumer lending, retail, and business banking teams. Hidalgo-DeKeyzer has been with Investar Bank since its founding in 2006, serving as the central region president. Under her leadership, the … Read more