TEXAS BANKING NEWS, PEOPLE and IDEAS
Round Rock-based R Bank has promoted Cole McDonald to executive vice president and chief operating officer. Since joining the bank in 2024, he has quickly established himself as a respected leader and trusted resource across the organization. Prior to joining R Bank, McDonald served on the commercial lending team at VeraBank for almost four years. … Read more
In July, Fayetteville, Arkansas-based Arvest Bank announced plans to open a loan production office in Frisco, marking its official physical entry into the North Texas market. The office, expected to open later this year at 11025 Preston Rd., will be staffed by a local team of commercial lenders. The bank’s Southwest Oklahoma market, which already … Read more
On May 4, Dallas-based Harmony Bank announced that it has hired Anne Witherspoon to serve as executive vice president and chief operating officer. She brings more than 25 years of leadership experience in banking operations, client experience, treasury services, project and product management, training and development and compliance management. Prior to joining Harmony Bank, Witherspoon was … Read more
On April 23, Dallas-based Texas Capital announced several executive leadership appointments that, according to the bank, “are designed to scale the firm’s clearly differentiated platform in its next phase of growth.” Jeff Hood has been appointed managing director/chief human resources officer. He joins Texas Capital from Citizens Financial Group with more than 25 years of … 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 March 11, Weatherford-based First Bank Texas announced that Zan Sharp Prince, chair, has recently been appointed to the boards of both the West Texas Rehabilitation Center and the Independent Bankers Association of Texas (IBAT). The West Texas Rehabilitation Center, a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing life-changing outpatient therapy and support services to individuals with … Read more
On February 18, Texas City-based Texas First Bank announced the appointment of nine senior executives to its advisory board of directors. These new advisory directors bring deep expertise and regional ties from across key operational areas, including technology, risk management, retail banking and lending. The advisory directors will provide strategic guidance to the Texas First … Read more
On February 2, Prosperity Bancshares Inc., the parent company of El Campo-based Prosperity Bank, announced the completion of the merger of Southwest Bancshares Inc. with and into Prosperity and the merger of Southwest’s wholly owned subsidiary, San Antonio-based Texas Partners Bank, with and into Prosperity Bank. Brent Given, Texas Partners interim chairman, president and chief … Read more
In the new year, San Antonio-based Jefferson Bank announced key executive promotions upon the retirement of Danny Butler, the bank’s longtime president and CEO, who retired at the end of 2025. Butler retired after 26 years of service at Jefferson Bank and nearly 50 years in the banking industry. Under his leadership, the bank expanded … Read more
On December 1, Larry Autrey, executive chairman and former chief executive officer of the Fort Worth-based tax, audit and advisory firm Whitley Penn, announced his retirement effective December 31, 2025, marking the conclusion of a distinguished career spanning more than three decades in the accounting profession. Autrey joined Whitley Penn in 1995 and served as … Read more