TEXAS BANKING NEWS, PEOPLE AND IDEAS
TEXAS BANKING NEWS, PEOPLE AND IDEAS
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
Bankers Helping Bankers, an online platform that promotes innovation among community banks, has named Discover Financial Services’ PULSE debit network its exclusive debit partner. The agreement builds upon PULSE’s longstanding support of community banks and the Independent Bankers Association of Texas (IBAT), which co-founded Bankers Helping Bankers in partnership with FedFis. As the exclusive debit … Read more
On January 2, the Texas Bankers Hall of Fame announced its 2023 inductees who will be honored at the 10th Annual Texas Bankers Hall of Fame Gala, April 27 on the campus of Sam Houston State University in Huntsville. Five iconic bankers—Kenneth L. Burgess Jr., Ron Butler, James D. Goudge, J. Pat Parsons and the late … Read more
On December 6, Dr. Charlie McCormick, president of Schreiner University in Kerrville, announced the launch of the university’s new banking program, created to help students navigate rural-focused banking needs in Texas. Schreiner University students will be admitted into the program by the end of their sophomore year. Upon acceptance, they will receive a scholarship for … Read more