Alliance Bank’s Sellers Bestowed 2023 ‘Excellence in Leadership’ Award by Texas Community Bankers

In September, the Independent Bankers Association of Texas (IBAT) honored Thomas Sellers, chairman of the board at Alliance Bank in Sulphur Springs, with its 2023 “Excellence in Leadership” Award. He was presented the award during the association’s 49th annual convention held September 16–19 in Frisco. To be considered for the Excellence in Leadership Award, one … Read more

Texas First Bank’s Crable Elected Chair of the IBAT Leadership Division

Matt Crable, regional loan president and SBA lending manager at the Pearland branch of Texas City-based Texas First Bank, has been elected chair of the IBAT Leadership Division, a division of the Independent Bankers Association of Texas (IBAT). He assumed the role from Cory Flencher, executive vice president at Somerville-based Citizens State Bank during IBAT’s … Read more

In Memoriam: Mae Beth Palone, Former IBAT Employee

First National Bank of Giddings CEO Bill Landiss with IBAT’s Mae Beth Palone showing their respective allegiances in 2014Mae Beth Palone, who led the IBAT Leadership Division for the Independent Bankers Association of Texas for many years, passed away on June 25 from injuries sustained in a car accident. Palone was born in Klamath Falls, … Read more

Scurlock, IBAT’s Government Relations Director, Honored with the Association’s Trailblazer Award

Steve Scurlock accepts the 2022 IBAT Trailblazer Award from Christopher Williston, IBAT’s president and CEO.The Leadership Division of the Independent Bankers Association of Texas (IBAT) recently honored Stephen Scurlock, IBAT’s director of government relations, with the association’s 2022 esteemed Trailblazer Award. He was honored in June during the 37th Annual Connecting Leaders Conference—the division’s flagship … Read more

VeraBank’s Tidwell Honored with Community Bankers’ Prestigious Leadership Award

Brad Tidwell receives IBAT’s 2022 Excellence in Leadership Award from Justin Steinbach, IBAT Leadership Division chair and senior vice president at Frost Bank in Dallas.The Leadership Division of the Independent Bankers Association of Texas (IBAT) recently honored Brad Tidwell, president and CEO of Henderson-based VeraBank, with its 2022 Excellence in Leadership Award. Tidwell was honored … Read more

Independent Bankers Association of Texas Honors Ahmed and Courtney with its 2021 Excellence in Leadership Award

The Independent Bankers Association of Texas (IBAT) recently honored two trailblazers in Texas community banking with the organization’s 2021 Excellence in Leadership Award. Hazem Ahmed, Houston area president at Independent Financial, and Julie Courtney, CAE, CMP, president of IBAT Services Inc. in Austin, were presented this prestigious award during the association’s Connecting Leaders Conference held … Read more

IBAT Elects New Leadership Division Board Members

The Leadership Division of the Independent Bankers Association of Texas (IBAT) elected new board members during its quarterly board meeting in June. Founded in 1985, the IBAT Leadership Division is dedicated to the development of tomorrow’s leaders in community banking. The board’s executive committee will be led by Chairman Peter Smith, Lubbock market president at … Read more