Gross and Cooper Honored for Distinction by Southwestern Graduate School of Banking

On June 1, William “Tex” Gross, chairman of Dallas-based Commerce Street Holdings, and Charles G. Cooper, commissioner of the Texas Department of Banking, were honored by the Southwestern Graduate School of Banking (SWGSB) at Southern Methodist University. During an awards banquet, Gross received SWGSB’s Distinguished Service Award Award and Cooper received the Distinguished Alumnus Award. … Read more

Harmony Bank NA and Texas Brand Bank Officially Close on Merger

Kemp-based Harmony Bank NA and Dallas-based Texas Brand Bank have officially closed on their merger, conducting business as Harmony Bank and now operating as a Texas state-chartered bank. The merger agreement was announced last September by John J. Carona, former Texas state senator and chairman of Harmony Bank, and Edward B. Tomlinson II, chairman of Texas … Read more

The State National Bank of Groom to be Acquired by 5th Generation Holdings

On January 19, The State National Bank of Groom and its parent holding company, Groom Bancshares Inc., announced an acquisition agreement with 5th Generation Holdings Inc., a community-bank-focused entity formed for purposes of the transaction. As a result of the acquisition, 5th Generation Holdings will become a bank holding company for The State National Bank … Read more

First National Bank in Kemp to Acquire First State Bank in Rice

In January, FNBK Holdings Inc. and its wholly owned subsidiary, First National Bank of Kemp, and Rice-based First State Bank announced that they have entered into an agreement whereby FNBK Holdings Inc. would acquire First State Bank. Upon closing of the transaction, expected in the second quarter of 2022, First State Bank will be merged … Read more

Commerce Street Capital’s Steven Ellis Passes Away

Steven M. Ellis, who served as managing director of the corporate investment banking and financial institutions group at Dallas-based Commerce Street Capital, passed away on November 29. He was 62. Ellis had more than 35 years of experience in the financial services industry as an investor, executive, advisor and director of financial institutions and other … Read more