TEXAS BANKING NEWS, PEOPLE AND IDEAS
TEXAS BANKING NEWS, PEOPLE AND IDEAS
To honor regional banks that positively impact their communities, Newsweek and Plant-A Insights Group publish an annual list of “America’s Best Regional Banks [and Credit Unions]”* every December. The publication’s 2025 list includes 46 regional banks that operate in Texas, with 39 banks based in the Lone Star State. As Newsweek states, “Regional banks…are the … Read more
Curtis Wilkinson, Angel DeLeon and Austin Hughes have recently joined Brownwood-based TexasBank to strengthen its corporate and lending teams further. Curtis “Curt” Wilkinson joined the bank as senior vice president/controller. He brings a wealth of financial and industry expertise to TexasBank, having served in similar capacities for several other successful, high-growth large commercial banks over … Read more
Greg Dodds, president and CEO of Brownwood-based TexasBank has announced the hiring of Tony Vargas to serve as senior vice president and chief digital officer and Stephanie Martin to serve as senior vice president of retail and deposit operations. Vargas joins TexasBank with more than 25 years of experience in banking technology and operations. Raised … Read more
Brownwood-based TexasBank has hired Kelsey Goates to serve as vice president/market manager at the bank’s Stephenville location. She comes to TexasBank upon the announcement of Katharine Demetruk’s retirement. Demetruk recently celebrated 46 years in banking. Goates’ banking career started in 2013 as a teller and she quickly moved up the ranks to branch operations manager. … Read more
Lee Herron, Mike Monroe and Mark Piland have joined Brownwood-based TexasBank as senior vice presidents in commercial lending, advancing the bank’s growing presence in construction lending across Dallas/Fort Worth and all North Texas. “These guys are truly the cream of the crop when it comes to DFW construction lending,” says Lin Bearden, chief lending officer. “They … Read more
Citizens National Bank at Brownwood announced that J.D. Johnson, currently serving as president, has been named chief executive officer. He will continue in his role as president as well. The announcement was made by Calvin Fryar, chairman of the board. Johnson brings more than 15 years of commercial banking experience across several markets in Central … Read more
Calvin Fryar, chairman of the board of directors of Brownwood-based Citizens National Bank, announced two promotions in March. Will Locke has been promoted to assistant vice president, IT officer and IT security officer. While a student, he joined Citizens National Bank in 2014 as a part-time proof operator and in 2017 was promoted to IT … Read more
Brownwood-based TexasBank recently announced the appointment of Wayne Garrett, founder and CEO of BentOak Capital, and Mark Denton, former managing director of JPMorgan Chase’s Private Bank, to its board of directors. Garrett is also a founding partner of Snow Garrett Williams CPAs. Garrett has received numerous awards and recognition for his professional service. He is … Read more
Carey Stewart, who has served as chief financial officer of Brownwood-based TexasBank for the past 32 years, retired at the end of 2022. Stewart and his wife, Kim, plan to relocate to Lubbock to spend more time as “Boss” and “Lolli” to their four grandchildren. “To say that TexasBank would not be in the position … Read more
John P. Guest, CEO of Citizens National Bank at Brownwood, announced that he is retiring at the end of the year after 40 years of service in the Texas community banking industry. He will continue to serve on the bank’s board of directors. A native of Abilene, Guest moved to Brownwood in 1979 and worked … Read more