TEXAS BANKING NEWS, PEOPLE AND IDEAS
TEXAS BANKING NEWS, PEOPLE AND IDEAS
Natalie Saikowski Goertz has joined Texas City-based Texas First Bank to serve as senior vice president and director of treasury management. An Athena Leadership Award recipient, she brings extensive experience in corporate and public fund banking to the bank’s treasury management team in The Woodlands. Before joining Texas First Bank, Goertz was president and CEO … Read more
Blake Chisolm has joined Houston-based Texas Gulf Bank as assistant vice president/commercial loan officer at its CityCentre location in Houston. He brings five years of banking experience with a focus on commercial lending. Chisolm previously worked as a banking officer at Stellar Bank in Bellaire for more than four years. Before that, he was an … Read more
Do you know a banking professional who has made a lasting impact on the industry? Now’s your opportunity to spotlight their achievements to the entire Texas banking industry. The Texas Bankers Hall of Fame is in search of nominations for its 2026 honorees—Texas bankers who have made valuable contributions to the Texas banking industry. Until … Read more
Jeff Welch has joined Houston-based Central Bank to serve as senior vice president and commercial banker at the bank’s West Houston branch. With more than 14 years of banking and financial industry experience in the greater Houston area, his primary focus will be on serving commercial clients across multiple industries, including construction, commercial real estate, … Read more
Henderson-based VeraBank announced the addition of William “Billy” Brannon as senior vice president and commercial banker at the College Station location. He joins the bank with extensive experience in various sectors of commercial banking, including homebuilder finance, land acquisition, development lending and SBA lending. VeraBank will be expanding its presence in College Station with the … Read more
On March 18, multiple promotions were announced at Longview-based Texas Bank and Trust’s employee awards dinner. Cascey Freeman has been promoted to vice president/branch manager in Overton. Employed with the bank since 2014, she has managed the bank’s Overton branch since 2023, having previously served as both a consumer lender and lending assistant. A graduate … Read more
The Texas Bankers Hall of Fame on the campus of Sam Houston State University in Huntsville held its Annual Gala on May 1. Five iconic bankers—Sam H. Burris Jr., Charles G. Cooper, Harvey P. Hartenstine, Robert W. “Bobby” Hoxworth and William A. Nesbitt—were inducted. Established by the Smith-Hutson Endowed Chair of Banking at Sam Houston State University, the Texas Bankers … Read more
On March 18, Harvey P. Hartenstine, president and chief banking executive of San Antonio-based Broadway Bank, and David McGee, Houston-based Amegy Bank’s Central Texas CEO, were inducted into the San Antonio Business Hall of Fame, along with Elaine Mendoza, founder, president and CEO of Conceptual MindWorks Inc. The prestigious honor, presented annually by Junior Achievement … Read more
Jeff Austin III, chairman of the board of Jacksonville-based Austin Bank, recently announced the promotions of numerous employees approved at the March 2025 board meeting in Jacksonville. Crystal Bateman, senior vice president and relationship manager, has been promoted to deputy regional president for the Southwest Region, encompassing Jacksonville, South Jacksonville, Troup, Rusk, Frankston and Palestine. … Read more
The SW Graduate School of Banking (SWGSB) at the Cox School of Business at Southern Methodist University has announced new leadership and added three new trustees to its board of advisors. T. Gary Hudson, former president and CEO and current board member of Farmers & Merchant’s Bank, is the new SWGSB chair and R. Scott … Read more