SouthWest Bank Announces Leadership Succession Plan

On December 20, Odessa-based SouthWest Bank announced that Dewey Bryant, chief executive officer, will assume the role of CEO emeritus effective January 1, 2023. In this role, he will continue to serve on the SouthWest Bank board of directors and help execute a seamless leadership transition for the bank. The SouthWest Bank board has elected … Read more

Guest Retiring at Year’s End as CEO from Citizens National Bank at Brownwood

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

Wade Named Bank of Texas CEO as Bagwell Transitions to New Role

Mark Wade has been named chief executive officer of Bank of Texas, a subsidiary of Tulsa, Oklahoma-based BOK Financial Corp., as of January 1, 2023. He will assume the role as longtime CEO Norm Bagwell transitions into a new part-time role after leading the Texas bank for more than 15 years. “Norm Bagwell has been … Read more

Faulconer Retires as Legend Bank CEO, Bearden Appointed President and CEO and Brown Named East Regional President

On February 23, Bowie-based Legend Bank announced the appointment of Jay Bearden as president and CEO following the retirement of CEO Mickey Faulconer after 18 years of leadership at the bank. Faulconer will remain on the Legend Bank board of directors. “On behalf of the board of directors, the executive management team and all the … Read more

Fernandez Named President and CEO of Texas National Bank; Johnson to Remain Board Chair

The board of directors of Sweetwater-based Texas National Bank announced changes in the bank’s executive management following its December meeting. Mike Fernandez was named president and chief executive officer of the bank effective December 31, 2021. Former CEO Bill Johnson is moving to the bank’s holding company, Mesa Financial Corp. Johnson will remain board chairman … Read more

First Financial Bank Taps Thompson as CEO of Bryan/College Station Region

Abilene-based First Financial Bank NA announced the promotion of Nora P. Thompson to chief executive officer of the bank’s Bryan/College Station region. She was promoted to president of the region earlier this year and now has been named CEO to replace Ivan M. Olson, who retired earlier this summer. Thompson has more than 30 years … Read more

Bank of Brenham Founder Lee Gaskamp Passes Away

Longtime Texas banker Lee Roy Gaskamp Jr., 69, passed away on September 6 after an exhausting battle with COVID-19. During his lifetime, he served at several community banks and as a commissioned state bank examiner with the Texas Department of Banking before founding the Bank of Brenham in 2001. He served as the bank’s president … Read more

York and Plunk to Retire from Citizens Bank, Velvin Hired as President and Mills as Chief Lending Officer

Kilgore-based Citizens Bank recently announced the retirement of two of its officers and the hiring of a new president and chief operating officer as well as a new executive vice president and chief lending officer. Sammy York, the bank’s current president and CEO, announced his plan to retire at the end of 2021 after a … Read more

Alliance Bank CEO Sellers Named Chairman of Alliance BancShares, Law to Serve as President/CFO and Shurtleff Tapped as Market President

Tom Sellers, CEO of Sulphur Springs-based Alliance Bank, has been named chairman of the board of Alliance BancShares Inc., the bank’s parent company. In addition, James Law, chief financial officer, will assume Sellers’ former role as president of Alliance Bank and remain CFO for the bank and its holdings, and Keith Shurtleff has been promoted … Read more

Liberty Capital Bank Taps Morris as CEO and Pickard as CFO

Addison-based Liberty Capital Bank has announced the appointment of Alan Morris as chief executive officer and Amy Pickard as chief financial officer. These leadership changes follow the retirements of former CEO Ben Cunningham and former CFO David Sprinkle from the company. “Ben Cunningham’s influence as the CEO of Liberty Capital Bank cannot be understated,” says … Read more