TEXAS BANKING NEWS, PEOPLE and IDEAS



Future Financial Bankshares to Acquire Palmer Bancshares and Commercial State Bank

On July 17, Plano-based Future Financial Bankshares Inc., a recently formed Texas corporation, announced that it has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Palmer Bancshares Inc. and its wholly owned subsidiary, Palmer-based Commercial State Bank. Future Financial Bankshares was founded by CEO Jeffrey A. Kesler, a seasoned banker with more than 25 years of experience. … Read more

Third Coast Bancshares Sells Subsidiary’s Commercial Capital Assets to Gulf Coast Bank & Trust

On July 13, Third Coast Bancshares Inc., the holding company of Humble-based Third Coast Bank, announced that it has closed the sale of substantially all of the assets of Third Coast Commercial Capital Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of the bank, to New Orleans, Louisiana-based Gulf Coast Bank & Trust Co. “The sale…allows us to … Read more

CNB&TT Announces Retirement of President Stites and Appointment of Hitt as CEO and President

On July 1, the board of directors for Community Bank Holdings of Texas, the holding company of Corsicana-based Community National Bank & Trust of Texas, announced the retirement of President Tim Stites after an extraordinary 42-year career with the bank. Following Stites’ retirement, Rusty Hitt has been named chief executive officer and president of the … Read more

Prosperity Bancshares Completes Merger with Stellar Bancorp

On July 1, Prosperity Bancshares Inc., the parent company of Houston-based Prosperity Bank, announced the completion of the merger of Stellar Bancorp Inc. with and into Prosperity and the merger of Stellar’s wholly owned subsidiary, Houston-based Stellar Bank with and into Prosperity Bank. Robert R. Franklin Jr., Stellar’s CEO and Stellar Bank’s executive chairman, joined … Read more

Harraman Joins Gulf Capital Bank as Senior Vice President/Business Banking Director

In June, Houston-based Gulf Capital Bank announced that longtime Houston banker Brent Harraman has joined the bank as senior vice president/business banking director. Harrraman joins Gulf Capital Bank after serving for more than 14 years at Comerica Bank. His last position there was as senior vice president, regional director/small-business banking for Texas, Arizona and Florida. … Read more

Security State Bank & Trust Names Perez President and Member of the Board

On June 16, Fredericksburg-based Security State Bank & Trust announced the appointment of Tish Perez as president and a member of the board of directors during the bank’s 85th anniversary year. She becomes the first woman to serve as president and on the bank board. Perez will oversee Security State Bank’s operations, marketing, credit, treasury solutions, … 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

Texas National Bank To Acquire Zapata National Bank

On April 13, TNB Bancshares Inc., the holding company for Mercedes-based Texas National Bank, announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Zapata Bancshares Inc. and its bank subsidiary, Zapata-based Zapata National Bank. This acquisition aligns with Texas National Bank’s 2025 expansion into Starr County through the acquisition Roma-based Citizens State Bank. The … Read more

VeraBank Awards $12,500 in Scholarships to Outstanding Students

On May 6, Henderson-based VeraBank announced the recipients of its 2026 Scholarship Program, awarding five $2,500 scholarships to exceptional students whose parents are part of the VeraBank family. This year’s scholarship recipients are: Coy Becka, senior at Caldwell High School, Caldwell (son of Melanie Becka); Zachary Leonard, senior at Westlake High School, Austin (son of … Read more