The Bank of San Antonio, The Bank of Austin and Texas Hill Country Bank Complete Merger

On October 21, San Antonio-based Southwest Bancshares Inc., the bank holding company for The Bank of San Antonio, closed its merger of three affiliated banks, creating a unique Central Texas banking franchise. In connection with the closing of the transaction, Capitol of Texas Bancshares, the holding company for The Bank of Austin, and Texas Hill … Read more

Yoakum National Bank Promotes Morkovsky to Controller, Baranowski to COO

Yoakum-based Yoakum National Bank recently announced the promotion of two team members. Sandra Morkovsky has been named vice president/controller. Additional duties include bank compliance and audit, and she also serves as the bank’s BSA officer. Morkovsky has worked at Yoakum National Bank since 1998, previously responsible for the bank’s non-traditional deposit office through NFA Wealth … Read more

VeraBank Hires Cole as Angelina County Market President

Henderson-based VeraBank recently hired Ashlyn Cole as Angelina County market president. Cole, an experienced commercial banker and leader in Lufkin, will focus on leading and growing VeraBank’s business in Lufkin and Angelina County. Cole has been a community banker for more than 11 years and has spent most of her career in commercial lending helping … Read more

What was Different in the Second Round of PPP in Texas? Part Two of a Study of the Role of Community Banks in Texas

MARK GRIFFITHS, Principal, MG2 Investments LLCMIKE MAULDIN, Director of the Excellence In Banking Program, Texas Tech UniversityDREW WINTERS, Pickering Chair in Finance, Texas Tech University EDITOR’S NOTE: This research paper—part two of a comprehensive look at the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP)—was provided by the Excellence in Banking Program at Texas Tech University and offers documentation … Read more

Baum Joins Lamar National Bank as Commercial Lender, Cobb Appointed Vice President of Loan Operations/BSA Officer

H. Gregory Wilson, president and CEO of Paris-based Lamar National Bank, recently announced the following appointments. Alicia Baum has joined the bank as vice president/commercial lender. She will assist with Lamar National Bank’s expansion into the Plano/Frisco area. She brings 13 years of experience in commercial real estate acquisition, commercial construction, working capital lines of … Read more

Lamar National Bank Names New Chief Information Officer and Chief Compliance Officer

H. Gregory Wilson, president and CEO of Paris-based Lamar National Bank, recently announced two key appointments. Clay Baum has been named chief information officer and will be essential in developing Lamar National Bank’s strategic technology initiatives and driving future innovation efforts. He is an experienced technology professional who has spent the past 10 years in … Read more

Community Bankers Launch Ed. @ Your Desk Virtual Education Series

The Independent Bankers Association of Texas (IBAT) launched its Ed. @ Your Desk virtual education series on October 13. The program, part of the community banking association’s 2020 unCONVENTIONal virtual convention, will feature new sessions every Tuesday and Thursday through December 17. Ed. @ Your Desk will cover a wide range of topics, including accounting, … Read more

Liberty National Bank Chairman Philip Ridley Cecil Passes Away

Philip Ridley Cecil, chairman of Liberty National Bank, passed away peacefully on October 10 with his family nearby at Paris Regional Medical Center  in Paris, Texas, due to complications from COVID-19. He was 84. After earning a business degree from the University of Texas–Austin and then serving as a lieutenant JG in the U.S. Navy … Read more

Community Bank Optimism on Local Economic Health Ticks Up Slightly, but Concerns Remain

Community bankers are feeling slightly better about the health of their local economies, but still far short of their pre-pandemic level of confidence, the most recent Community Bank Sentiment Index (CBSI) reveals. The Conference of State Bank Supervisors released the third-quarter results in early October, collecting data from 334 community banks across the nation during … Read more

IBAT Kicks Off Fall Lineup of unCONVENTIONal Events

The Independent Bankers Association of Texas (IBAT) planned its 2020 Annual Convention for September 26–29 in Fort Worth. Then came COVID and plans changed. Now, instead of gathering in Fort Worth, the show is being held virtually. Instead of a week in September, the event is now spread out through the end of the year. … Read more