PlainsCapital Bank Welcomes Vernaza to Houston Lending Team

Dallas-based PlainsCapital Bank has hired Jorge Vernaza to serve as senior vice president/senior commercial loan officer on its Houston lending team. He will be based at the bank’s Richmond Ave. location. Vernaza has a strong background in both commercial real estate and commercial and industrial, with former clients across various sectors and sub-sectors of the … Read more

Guerra and Biggs Join Texas Bank and Trust

Melody Guerra has been promoted to banking officer in the lending division of Longview-based Texas Bank and Trust in its Richardson location. She has been with the bank since 2015 and currently serves as lead administrative assistant. She supports lending officers, credit analysts and lending assistants, monitors and tracks daily reports, serves as draw coordinator for … Read more

SouthStar Bank Welcomes Lenders Herbert and Garcia

On August 11, Moulton-based SouthStar Bank SSB announced the hiring of two new lenders. Jason Herbert joins the bank’s Leander branch as a vice president of lending and branch executive. He brings more than 20 years of experience in the banking industry with a focus on residential lending. One of Herbert’s crowning achievements across his … Read more

NBT Financial Bank Promotes Samples and Harris, Hires Hagin

Fort Worth-based NBT Financial Bank recently announced two promotions and a new hire. Lacy Samples has been promoted to senior vice president/senior compliance officer. She has been in banking for more than 20 years and with NBT Financial Bank since 2019. Samples holds certifications as a certified regulatory compliance manager, certified community bank risk specialist, … Read more

Texas Bank Promotes Braden and Polanco

San Angelo-based Texas Bank recently announced the promotions of Brandon Braden and Maryellen Lira Polanco. Braden was promoted to executive vice president. He began his banking career in 1991. After earning his BBA degree from Angelo State University, he joined Texas Bank in 1997 as a banking officer in its ag department. In 2002, Braden … Read more

Liberty National Bank Promotes Coleman, Pridemore, Franklin and Graham

Bank chairman Carl T. Cecil has announced four promotions at Paris-based Liberty National Bank approved by the board of directors. “Each one of these individuals has demonstrated the ability and willingness to accept additional responsibilities and provide exceptional customer service,” Cecil says. Chase Coleman has earned the title of chief lending and credit officer. he will … Read more

Loan Admin 101: Effective Loan Administration Crucial in Pandemic Era

Effective loan administration will protect margins and balance sheets at banks over the next year as financial institutions handle the effects of the pandemic-induced economic crisis. In any economy—but especially in the current one where borrowers’ financial situations are changing or highly uncertain—financial institution loan administration systems deserve a checkup and, in some cases, an … Read more

SWGSB to Focus on Mission-Critical Duties at Upcoming Virtual Workshop for Bank Directors

The Southwestern Graduate School of Banking (SWGSB) at Southern Methodist University will present its spring Workshop for Bank Directors in a virtual format via Zoom on the afternoons of March 17–19. This spring’s program, “An In-Depth Look at Mission-Critical Duties and Responsibilities,” will be led by the industry’s best and brightest and focus on what … Read more

FDIC Releases 2020 Community Banking Study

In mid-December, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. (FDIC) released the 2020 Community Banking Study, a new large-scale study on the state of the nation’s community banks. The study finds community banks played a critical role in providing access to credit in several key areas of the U.S. economy, particularly through lending to support commercial real … Read more

First State Bank Announces Promotions Following Annual Officer Reviews

Gainesville-based First State Bank announced the following promotions after the annual officer review and achievement meetings: Michael Ware named senior vice president/trust officer, wealth management and trust; Nate Bayless named senior vice president, lending for First State Bank’s Decatur location, which serves all of Wise County; Tammy Dudenhoeffer named vice president, accounting and financial reporting; … Read more