After Almost Three Decades, Scurlock Retiring from Community Banking Association

When Steve Scurlock retires on December 31 of this year, he will do so after almost 29 years of faithful service leading the government relations efforts of the Independent Bankers Association of Texas (IBAT). While intending to spend just a few years at IBAT and then move on, Scurlock instead became a champion for community … Read more

PlainsCapital Bank President and CEO Schaffner to Retire in 2024

On November 20, Hilltop Holdings Inc. announced that Jerry Schaffner, president and CEO of Hilltop Holdings’ banking subsidiary, Dallas-based PlainsCapital Bank, is retiring on May 1, 2024. At that time, Jeremy B. Ford, Hilltop Holdings president and CEO, will become CEO of PlainsCapital Bank. In anticipation of the transition, PlainsCapital Bank’s COO Brian Heflin has … Read more

Guaranty Bank & Trust’s Payne to Retire After 40-Year Career

On October 23, Addison-based Guaranty Bancshares Inc., the parent company of Guaranty Bank & Trust NA, announced that Clifton A. “Cappy” Payne, senior executive vice president and chief financial officer of the company, plans to retire March 31, 2024, after 40 years with the company and 35 years as its principal accounting officer. He will … Read more

Texas Gulf Bank Welcomes Bridges as President Upon Jochetz’s Retirement

Spence Bridges has been hired to serve as the new president at Houston-based Texas Gulf Bank NA. He succeeds Rich Jochetz, who is retiring after serving as president for the past 15-plus years. Over the first few months of 2023, the bank engaged Sudduth Search, a well-respected executive search firm, to aid in identifying the … Read more

Waco’s American Bank President and CEO Hicks Retires

On July 14, David “Bubba” Hicks retired from Waco-based American Bank. He joined the bank in 2007 as senior executive vice president and was promoted to president and CEO in 2009. According to the bank’s Facebook page, “Hicks ‘semi-retired’ as president in 2018 and has since focused his time loaning money to some of his … Read more

Texas Department of Banking’s Houston Regional Director Willardson to Retire 

Jacqueline Willardson, director of the Texas Department of Banking’s Houston regional office, is retiring after 29 years of service with the agency. Her retirement is effective August 31. She has had the responsibility for reviewing examination reports, monitoring the financial conditions of banks within the region, interacting with bankers and fielding their questions, assisting with … Read more

Reyer, Texas Banking Department General Counsel, to Retire

Catherine Reyer has announced her retirement from the Texas Department of Banking, effective July 31. She has served as general counsel for the department since 2014. As general counsel, she has been responsible for overseeing the legal division and providing advice and counsel to the finance commission, the banking commissioner and other divisions across the … Read more

Upon Retirement, Martin Reflects on Frontier Bank of Texas’ Path to Success

In 2006, Elaine Martin was working for the Elgin Bank of Texas when five Central Texas entrepreneurial partners approached her about writing a charter for a new bank. “I’ve worked with and around banks most of my life,” Martin recalls thinking. “How hard can it be?” Over the ensuing months, the answer to that question … Read more

SouthWest Bank Announces Leadership Succession Plan

On December 20, Odessa-based SouthWest Bank announced that Dewey Bryant, chief executive officer, will assume the role of CEO emeritus effective January 1, 2023. In this role, he will continue to serve on the SouthWest Bank board of directors and help execute a seamless leadership transition for the bank. The SouthWest Bank board has elected … Read more

TexasBank Announces Stewart’s Retirement as Chief Financial Officer, McDonald to Serve as CFO

Carey Stewart, who has served as chief financial officer of Brownwood-based TexasBank for the past 32 years, retired at the end of 2022. Stewart and his wife, Kim, plan to relocate to Lubbock to spend more time as “Boss” and “Lolli” to their four grandchildren. “To say that TexasBank would not be in the position … Read more