TEXAS BANKING NEWS, PEOPLE AND IDEAS
TEXAS BANKING NEWS, PEOPLE AND IDEAS
During the IBAT Connecting Leaders Conference held this summer in Galveston, the Independent Bankers Association of Texas (IBAT) presented its annual Excellence in Leadership Award. This year’s recipient was Jay Bearden, president and CEO of Legend Bank in Decatur. To be considered for the Excellence in Leadership Award, one must selflessly promote, support and serve … Read more
The SW Graduate School of Banking (SWGSB) at Southern Methodist University 2025 summer session wrapped up June 6 with a commencement ceremony for SWGSB Class LXVI at the George W. Bush Presidential Center. Jan Mills, president and chair of First National Bank of Winnsboro and a graduate of SWGSB Class XL, delivered the commencement address … Read more
Joe H. Sharp Jr., 86, a highly respected leader in the banking industry, passed away on June 30 in Longview. After graduating from Mineola High School in 1956, he earned a BBA degree in accounting from Southern Methodist University and gained his license as a certified public accountant. He also attended and later taught at … Read more
As Brownwood-based TexasBank opens a new branch in Decatur this month, it has hired Andrew Rottner to serve as Wise County market president. He is a seasoned financial executive with more than 30 years of experience in banking. A grand opening event for the bank’s new Decatur branch is scheduled for 11 a.m.–2 p.m., July … Read more
Jeff Austin III, chairman of Jacksonville-based Austin Bank, has announced promotions of three executives within the organization. Jason Petersen has been named chief credit officer. A current member of the executive committee and a senior executive vice president, Petersen will move from the role of chief lending officer to chief credit officer following the retirement of … Read more
Henderson-based VeraBank announced the addition of William “Billy” Brannon as senior vice president and commercial banker at the College Station location. He joins the bank with extensive experience in various sectors of commercial banking, including homebuilder finance, land acquisition, development lending and SBA lending. VeraBank will be expanding its presence in College Station with the … Read more
On April 7, Fort Worth-based Trinity Bank NA announced that Steve Lombardi has joined the executive management team as executive vice president and chief lending officer. Prior to joining Trinity Bank, Lombardi served as a managing director and head of the Fort Worth corporate banking group at Prosperity Bank. In this role, he oversaw a … Read more
On January 8, Bowie-based Legend Bank announced the appointment of Ricky Taylor as Wichita Falls branch president/senior vice president and Colton Sheffield as vice president/commercial lender in North Richland Hills. Taylor has been in the financial industry for more than 20 years, specializing in agriculture, commercial real estate, small business, equipment and construction loan needs. … Read more
Henderson-based VeraBank has announced that Joel Jackson is now senior executive vice president, chief lending officer and regional chair of the bank’s Southeast region. Jackson has more than 23 years of experience with a focus on commercial banking. He started his career in East Texas, working his way through various leadership positions at community banks … Read more
Lubbock-based Victory Bank and its parent company, Victory Financial Corp., recently announced the promotion of Chad Hill to chief lending officer. Since joining Victory Bank in 2023, Hill has played a pivotal role in expanding lending efforts across West Texas and the Big Country. “Chad embodies our mission to deliver a Different and Better banking … Read more