TEXAS BANKING NEWS, PEOPLE AND IDEAS
TEXAS BANKING NEWS, PEOPLE AND IDEAS
Clara Edwards retired from Lubbock-based City Bank’s Monahans branch on December 31, 2025—capping a career that spanned 77 years. “We are so proud of Clara and all she has done in her 77 years of banking,” Cory T. Newsom, CEO, told KCBD News in Lubbock. “She is an extraordinary example of someone who puts her … Read more
To recognize banks (and credit unions) making a meaningful difference, Newsweek and Plant-A Insights Group have published “America’s Best Regional Banks and Credit Unions 2026.” The methodology utilized the Texas Ratio (a measure of a bank’s credit quality), as well as reviewed profitability and net loans and leases, press coverage over the past two years, … Read more
On December 1, South Plains Financial Inc. (SPFI), the parent company of Lubbock-based City Bank, announced that it has entered into a definitive merger agreement with Houston-based BOH Holdings Inc. (BOH), the parent company of Bank of Houston, whereby South Plains will acquire BOH in an all-stock transaction valued at approximately $105.9 million. As a … Read more
The Texas Tech School of Banking recently completed its 2025 session. Banking professionals from across Texas and three other states convened at Rawls College of Business on the campus of Texas Tech University in Lubbock for the program. Established in 1973, the school offers a blend of traditional academic coursework and interactive lecture sessions hosted … Read more
The Texas Bankers Association (TBA) recently announced the elected board of directors for its 2025–26 fiscal year. The officers’ terms run from June 1, 2025, through May 31, 2026. Ron Butler, executive vice president and chief administrative officer of Abilene-based First Financial Bank NA, has been named TBA chairman. The new vice chair is William … Read more
To honor regional banks that positively impact their communities, Newsweek and Plant-A Insights Group publish an annual list of “America’s Best Regional Banks [and Credit Unions]”* every December. The publication’s 2025 list includes 46 regional banks that operate in Texas, with 39 banks based in the Lone Star State. As Newsweek states, “Regional banks…are the … Read more
Forbes’ 2024 ranking of the Best-In-State Banks and Credit Unions was released at the end of June. The list provides a comprehensive look at the elite of America’s smaller financial institutions in 2024. Forbes collaborated with market research firm Statista to conduct in-depth interviews of more than 26,000 U.S. citizens from all 50 states about … Read more
Lubbock-based City Bank has announced the hiring of Liz Gatlin to serve as senior vice president/commercial lender. She joins the City Bank team with more than 16 years of experience in community banking. Her expertise in lending and involvement in the El Paso community has helped her succeed at every level of banking. A graduate … Read more
On November 6, Lubbock-based City Bank celebrated Clara Edwards’ 75 years in banking. She began her career in 1948 at the First State Bank of Monahans. Since then, she has served in many capacities and is currently the smiling face that greets customers as they enter the Monahans branch. Edwards is also active in the … Read more
Forbes has released its fifth annual list of the “World’s Best Banks,” with numerous banks headquartered and/or doing business in Texas making the cut. Of the 75 banks based in the U.S., at least 16 of them operate in the Lone Star State. San Antonio-based USAA Federal Savings Bank topped the list of U.S.-based banks. … Read more