Community Bankers Assemble for 49th Annual Convention in Frisco

Members of the Independent Bankers Association of Texas are meeting in Frisco this week (September 16–19) for the association’s 49th Annual Convention. Frisco’s Omni PGA Resort is the destination for this year’s gathering, so plenty of golfing will be enjoyed in milder temperatures than most of Texas has experienced in months. The four-day event will … Read more

Kleberg Bank’s Henkel Celebrates 50 Years of Texas Community Banking

The board of directors of the Independent Bankers Association of Texas (IBAT) recently presented Joe Henkel, vice chairman of the board of Kingsville-based Kleberg Bank, with an IBAT board resolution recognizing more than 50 years of service as a True Texas Community Banker. Henkel started his career at Kleberg Bank in 1970 while a student … 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

Agent IQ Secures Capital from Texas-Based Bankers Helping Bankers Fund

On May 31, San Francisco-based Agent IQ, a provider of digital customer engagement solutions specializing in making financial services more personal again, announced a strategic investment from the Bankers Helping Bankers Fund (BHB Fund), a community bank-focused fintech venture capital fund managed by Latitude38 Venture Partners in partnership with IBAT Services Inc., a subsidiary of … Read more

In Memoriam: Karl Edward Hill, The First State Bank CEO and Chair

Karl Edward Hill passed away on May 22 at the age of 58 at his home in Columbus. At the time of his passing, he was CEO and chairman of the board at Columbus-based The First State Bank, capping a 35-year career there. Hill attended Southwest Texas State University (now Texas State University) and played … Read more

Community Bankers Heading to D.C. in May for ICBA Capital Summit/IBAT Congressional Visit

Texas community bankers are heading to Capitol Hill in May for the Independent Community Bankers of America’s 2023 Capital Summit and the Independent Bankers Association of Texas’ 29th Annual Congressional Visit, being held in tandem May 14–17 in Washington, D.C. The purpose is to advocate for the community banking industry in person. It’s the year’s … Read more

Community Bankers’ Compliance Select Program Taps Gibson for Digital Guidance

Stacy Gibson has joined the staff of the Independent Bankers Association of Texas (IBAT) in Austin to serve as digital compliance officer. She comes to IBAT’s Compliance Select program with more than 22 years of financial institution experience. She began her career at a community bank in Lubbock while earning her BBA degree in finance … Read more

Community Bankers Invited to Develop Leadership Skills at Upcoming IBAT EDGE

The Education Foundation of the Independent Bankers Association of Texas (IBAT) is gearing up for the debut of IBAT EDGE, a new program that offers two-and-a-half days of education, renowned industry keynote speakers and leadership development training focused on community banks in Texas. The goal is to Educate, Develop, Guide and Empower (EDGE) community bank … Read more

In Memoriam: ValueBank Texas’ Harlan Heitkamp

Harlan Raymond Heitkamp, founder and former chairman of Corpus Christi-based ValueBank Texas, passed away on February 6. Raised in Bracken, he attended Texas Tech University, earning a master’s degree in civil engineering. After marrying his wife of 64 years, Gerry, in 1958, the couple moved to Corpus Christi where Heitkamp worked for the City of … Read more