TEXAS BANKING NEWS, PEOPLE AND IDEAS
TEXAS BANKING NEWS, PEOPLE AND IDEAS
On September 11, Houston-based Gulf Capital Bank announced that Downey Bridgwater has joined the bank as chief executive officer. He succeeds Ed Jones, who will remain executive chairman and chief development officer. Bridgwater joins Gulf Capital Bank with more than 43 years in the banking industry. He began his banking career with Allied Bank in … Read more
The board of directors of Cameron-based Classic Bank NA has appointed John D. Minor chief executive officer and chairman of the board. He previously served as president and chief lending officer. Minor is a third-generation banker with more than 30 years of banking experience in Central Texas. Prior to joining Classic Bank, he was senior vice … Read more
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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