TEXAS BANKING NEWS, PEOPLE AND IDEAS
TEXAS BANKING NEWS, PEOPLE AND IDEAS
On September 11, Houston-based Gulf Capital Bank announced that Downey Bridgwater has joined the bank as chief executive officer. He succeeds Ed Jones, who will remain executive chairman and chief development officer. Bridgwater joins Gulf Capital Bank with more than 43 years in the banking industry. He began his banking career with Allied Bank in … Read more
Harlingen-based Texas Regional Bank recently appointed Ben Fedorko trust division president. He will oversee the bank’s trust business statewide. Fedorko launched his career as a corporate lawyer with an international law firm based in Houston. He eventually narrowed his focus to specializing in trusts and estates. He holds a certification in estate planning and probate … Read more
Coral Gables, Florida-based Amerant Bank has appointed Corey Frost Powell senior vice president/head of private client group. He is responsible for ensuring that the bank’s strategic vision and business objectives are met within wealth management services in the Houston market, while also providing tailored financial solutions and personalized services to high-net-worth clients. “His vast experience in … Read more
Spence Bridges has been hired to serve as the new president at Houston-based Texas Gulf Bank NA. He succeeds Rich Jochetz, who is retiring after serving as president for the past 15-plus years. Over the first few months of 2023, the bank engaged Sudduth Search, a well-respected executive search firm, to aid in identifying the … Read more
On August 7, Choudrant, Louisiana-based Origin Bank announced the opening of its Northwest Freeway banking center in Houston, located at the intersection of W. 34th St. and Hwy. 290. The new location marks the bank’s entry into Houston’s Northwest corridor and is the 10th banking center Origin Bank has opened in the Houston area since … Read more
Denver, Colorado-based Sunflower Bank has tapped two seasoned Texas bankers to serve as market presidents for the bank’s Houston and Austin regions. Texas is a primary market for Sunflower Bank and its assets in the state have increased to more than $2.5 billion in the past two years. John Stacy has joined the bank as … Read more
Baton Rouge, Louisiana-based Investar Bank NA, which has banking offices in the Houston region, has promoted Holly Hidalgo-DeKeyzer to chief banking officer. She will lead the bank’s consumer lending, retail, and business banking teams. Hidalgo-DeKeyzer has been with Investar Bank since its founding in 2006, serving as the central region president. Under her leadership, the … Read more
Stellar Bancorp Inc., the holding company of Houston-based Stellar Bank, announced the election of Cynthia Dopjera to the board of directors of the company. This election as a class II director fills an existing vacancy. Stellar Bancorp has a 14-member board, which consists of 11 independent directors. Dopjera currently serves on the Stellar Bank board … Read more
Corpus Christi-based American Bank recently announced the appointment of Carrie Colbert to its Houston regional board of directors. She is the founder and general partner of Curate Capital in Houston, a venture capital fund that invests in businesses by women for women. With a background as an executive in engineering and finance, as well as … Read more
On July 12, Ruston, Louisiana-based Origin Bank announced that it has hired Marcela Williamson as a mortgage loan officer. She joins the team at the bank’s location in Memorial City, a district in Houston. She is responsible for originating new loans, reviewing lending options with her mortgage clients and helping them set long-term goals. Williamson … Read more