TEXAS BANKING NEWS, PEOPLE and IDEAS



Ozona Bank Welcomes Villarreal as San Antonio Market President, Aguilar for Business Banking

Ozona Bank has announced the appointment of Marc Villarreal as San Antonio market president. With nearly two decades of banking experience, he has built his career around helping businesses, entrepreneurs and families achieve their financial goals through relationship-driven banking. Since beginning his banking career in 2007, Villarreal has earned a reputation as a trusted advisor, … Read more

Vantage Bank Taps Martinez to Lead Brownsville Market

In June, San Antonio-based Vantage Bank announced the appointment of Alejandro “Alex” Martinez as its new Brownsville market president. With more than 24 years of experience in commercial banking, sales and marketing—including 22 years serving Cameron County—he will lead the bank’s efforts throughout the Brownsville region. Martinez holds a bachelor’s degree in international marketing from … Read more

82 Bankers Complete SW Graduate School of Banking Three-Year Executive Education Program

The SW Graduate School of Banking (SWGSB) at Southern Methodist University 2026 summer session wrapped up June 5 with a commencement ceremony for SWGSB Class LXVII at the George W. Bush Presidential Center. William T. Chittenden, Ph.D., president and CEO of SWGSB, delivered the commencement address to more than 350 guests celebrating 82 graduates from … Read more

Independent Bankers Association of Texas Elects 2026–27 Leadership Division Executive Committee

The Leadership Division of the Independent Bankers Association of Texas (IBAT) elected new executive committee members to its board during the 41st Annual Connecting Leaders Conference, held in June at the Kalahari Resort in Round Rock. Founded in 1985, the IBAT Leadership Division is dedicated to the development of tomorrow’s leaders in community banking. The … Read more

Texas Regional Bank Hires Ehrlich to Lead Kerrville Market

Harlingen-based Texas Regional Bank has appointed James Ehrlich market president in Kerrville. He brings more than 30 years of experience in commercial banking, private banking and trust, and commercial real estate. His background includes building and managing multi-million-dollar commercial loan portfolios and overseeing $160 million in private banking and trust assets. That experience is enhanced by decades … Read more

Gonzales Joins Guadalupe Bank to Expand Commercial Lending in San Antonio

Kerrville-based Guadalupe Bank has hired Lydia Gonzales to expand its commercial lending presence in San Antonio. She will serve as executive vice president of commercial lending. A San Antonio native with more than 28 years of banking experience, Gonzales most recently served as executive vice president/market president at Blue Sky Bank, leading commercial operations and … Read more

Texas National Bank Taps Bertsch to Lead Abilene Market Expansion

Sweetwater-based Texas National Bank has hired Lawrence Bertsch to serve as market president for Abilene, marking a significant step in the bank’s growth throughout West Central Texas. Alongside this leadership addition, the bank will open a new loan and deposit production office in Abilene this summer, with details to be announced soon. Bertsch brings more … Read more

Pilgrim Bank Promotes Snodgrass to Tyler Market President

Pittsburg-based Pilgrim Bank has announced the promotion of Jason Snodgrass to market president/Tyler. He joined the bank in 2018 and currently serves in Mount Pleasant as senior vice president/market leader for Northeast Texas. Pilgrim Bank has steadily expanded its presence across East Texas in recent years, and Snodgrass will play an important role in strengthening the … Read more

Texas Bank and Trust Announces Officer Promotions in Fort Worth Office

In early March, Longview-based Texas Bank and Trust announced that Matthew Spivey has been promoted to market president for its Fort Worth location and Mason Whitmarsh has been promoted to assistant vice president and lending officer. Spivey joined Texas Bank and Trust as a senior vice president and commercial lender in the bank’s Fort Worth … Read more

Oklahoma-based Regent Bank Enters Dallas Market with Veteran Commercial Lending Team

Tulsa, Oklahoma-based Regent Bank is entering the Dallas market, bringing more than a century of combined banking experience to the lending team. The Dallas loan production office is actively serving business clients, with a permanent office space currently under construction at 6210 Campbell Rd. The team of longtime Dallas metro bankers specializes in commercial real … Read more