TEXAS BANKING NEWS, PEOPLE and IDEAS



Rottner Joins TexasBank as Wise County Market President to Coincide with Opening of New Decatur Branch

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

Jacksonville-based Austin Bank Announces Executive Promotions of Petersen, King and Adcock

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

VeraBank Welcomes Brannon as Senior Vice President and Commercial Banker in College Station

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

Trinity Bank Names Lombardi Executive Vice President and Chief Lending Officer

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

Legend Bank Announces New Commercial Lender and Appointment of Branch President

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

Jackson Named Chief Lending Officer and Senior Executive Vice President at VeraBank

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

Victory Bank in Lubbock Names Hill Chief Lending Officer

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

In Memoriam: Laurel Ann ‘Sissy’ Phillips Austin, Jacksonville-based Austin Bank CLO

Laurel Ann (Sissy) Phillips Austin, chief lending officer, investment officer and member of the board of directors at Jacksonville-based Austin Bank and its parent company, Austin Bancorp Inc., passed away on August 29 after a courageous battle with Parkinson’s disease. She was 83. Austin grew up in Jacksonville, graduated as valedictorian from the Jacksonville High … Read more

Oklahoma-based Valliance Bank Promotes Clouse to Chief Lending Officer

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma-based Valliance Bank has promoted Matt Clouse to chief lending officer. He will also continue to serve as Norman president. Valliance Bank has Texas branches in Fort Worth and McKinney. “Matt has been with Valliance since it was chartered in 2004 and has played an integral and important role in our growth as … Read more

Bubela Named Chief Banking Officer at R Bank

Chris Bubela has been promoted to chief banking officer at Round Rock-based R Bank, transitioning from his previous role as chief lending officer. As reported previously in Bankers Digest, Michael Ramirez has been hired to succeed Bubela as chief lending officer and executive vice president. Bubela, who also serves as executive vice president, has been … Read more