TEXAS BANKING NEWS, PEOPLE AND IDEAS
TEXAS BANKING NEWS, PEOPLE AND IDEAS
In April, Henderson-based VeraBank announced a new commercial banker in Conroe, as well as a new wealth management team member. Billy Brannon has joined the bank as senior vice president/commercial banker at its Conroe location. He was born and raised in Conroe and is excited to return home to support the area where his roots … Read more
Dallas-based PlainsCapital Bank has hired Reid Wendell to serve as senior vice president/senior relationship manager. Based at the bank’s Kirby location in Houston, he brings 15 years of commercial banking experience to his new role. Wendell oversees a portfolio of commercial clients, builds new banking relationships and leads analysts who support portfolio management. Wendell previously … Read more
The SW Graduate School of Banking at Southern Methodist University (SWGSB) has announced its highest honors of the year. Michael G. O’Rourke, president and CEO of TIB, will be honored with the 2026 Distinguished Service Award and J. Carter Tolleson, CEO of Tolleson Wealth Management, will be honored with the 2026 Distinguished Alumnus Award. The … Read more
In early January, the Texas Bankers Hall of Fame announced its 2026 inductees: Mark K. Johnson, Michael G. O’Rourke, Rogers Pope Jr., A. Ford Sasser III and Marelyn B. Shedd. These five iconic bankers will be recognized for their achievements and many contributions to their communities and the banking industry at the 13th Annual Texas … Read more
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