TEXAS BANKING NEWS, PEOPLE AND IDEAS
TEXAS BANKING NEWS, PEOPLE AND IDEAS
Harry J. “Johnny” Brooks, chair and CEO of Woodville-based Citizens State Bank, has been named 2026 Mr. East Texas as part of the community’s 83rd Annual Tyler County Dogwood Festival in Woodville, held on weekends in March and April. The Dogwood Festival is the longest-running outdoor celebration in Texas. Citizens State Bank has supported it … Read more
On April 24, Ricky Kidd, CEO of National Bank of Andrews, announced the promotion of Eric Dominguez to president. Dominguez will assume leadership of the bank’s daily operations. A West Texas native, he brings more than two decades of banking experience to his new position. The son of a Fort Stockton banker, Dominguez developed an early … Read more
In April, Mount Pleasant-based Pilgrim Bank announced that it has hired John Russell to serve as vice president/relationship manager and Ben Taylor has joined the bank as assistant vice president/relationship manager. Prior to joining Pilgrim Bank, Russell spent the better part of 16 years in public education, in both the classroom as an agriculture science … Read more
On April 20, College Station-based American Momentum Bank announced the appointment of Robert “Bo” Scott as president and chief executive officer. He succeeds longtime executive James Wolfe, who will remain on the bank’s board of directors. Scott joins American Momentum Bank from Sunflower Bank, for which he served as chief banking officer. He brings more … Read more
On March 23, Ozona Bank announced the appointment of Tommy Forsythe to serve on the boards of both Ozona Bank and its parent company, ONB Bancshares Inc. Forsythe, who currently serves as president of Ozona Bank, brings extensive banking experience, strategic leadership and a deep commitment to the communities the bank serves. Forsythe joined Ozona … Read more
After 30 years at Odessa-based SouthWest Bank and a remarkable 60-year career in banking, Toby Tripp, trust and wealth manager, is retiring. Tripp has been with SouthWest Bank since the very beginning, playing a key role in the bank’s growth and success. As trust and wealth manager, his leadership and expertise helped build a legacy of … Read more
Llano National Bank announced that Ashley Hill has joined the team as assistant branch manager at the bank’s Buchanan Dam location. She brings valuable experience in retail banking and customer relationship management, most recently serving as a financial center manager at First United Bank. She launched her banking career at First United Bank in 2018 as … Read more
The SW Graduate School of Banking at Southern Methodist University (SWGSB) has announced that Stephan Crétier, GardaWorld Security founder, president and CEO, will be the keynote speaker for SWGSB’s 2026 summer graduate school session, May 26–June 5. Crétier founded GardaWorld in 1995 with an initial investment of $25,000, secured through a second mortgage on his … Read more
Wellington-based Wellington State Bank recently held the 35th annual stockholders meeting of its current ownership group, commemorating a significant milestone as the bank celebrates its 120th anniversary. Established in 1906, Wellington State Bank is recognized as the second-oldest state-chartered bank in Texas. In celebration of the bank’s 120th anniversary, stockholders received commemorative gifts, including cedar … Read more
Coastal Bend Bancshares, the holding company for Corpus Christi-based First Community Bank, has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Port Lavaca-based First National Bank. The transaction is expected to close in the second quarter of 2026. “Our roots along the Texas Gulf Coast run deep at First Community Bank,” notes Wes Hoskins, First Community … Read more