IBAT Education Foundation Awards SWGSB Women in Community Banking Scholarship

The Independent Bankers Association of Texas (IBAT) Education Foundation, in conjunction with the SW Graduate School of Banking Foundation, announced that Kelsey Goates, vice president and market manager at TexasBank in Stephenville, and Leslie Gonzalez, senior vice president at Stockmens National Bank in Cotulla, have been selected as recipients of the 2025 Women in Community … Read more

First United Bank Welcomes Anderson as Lubbock Market President

Dimmitt-based First United Bank has hired Drew C. Anderson to serve as president of the Lubbock market. He will office at the Lubbock-Northwest Banking Center located at 5802 4th St. He joins First United Bank with more than 25 years of experience. Anderson has served in key roles at First National Bank, Norwest, Wells Fargo … Read more

Vorhees Named Treasurer and Executive Vice President at First Financial Bank

The board of directors of Abilene-based First Financial Bank has announced the election of Jeff Vorhees to serve as executive vice president and treasurer. Vorhees most recently served as director of corporate treasury at McKinney-based Independent Financial, a $19 billion public bank. Prior to that, he held positions in asset liability management consulting, investment banking … Read more

Comerica Bank Promotes Marchbanks to Fort Worth Market President

On April 24, Dallas-based Comerica Bank announced that Matt Marchbanks has been named its Fort Worth market president. He will also serve as senior vice president/middle-market and business banking group manager in this footprint. Marchbanks began his financial services career 25 years ago after completing the Comerica Commercial Banking Development Program. Throughout his tenure, he … Read more

Texas Bankers Association Heads to San Antonio for 140th Annual Convention

Members of the Texas Bankers Association (TBA) are gathering in San Antonio this week, April 23–25, for the organization’s 140th Annual Convention. With the theme of “¡Viva! Los Banqueros,” the group has a full slate of education sessions, featured speakers, exhibits and networking opportunities to make the event enlightening, entertaining and fruitful. Special events at … Read more

SW Graduate School of Banking Announces 2025 Distinguished Service and Distinguished Alumnus Awards

The SW Graduate School of Banking (SWGSB) at Southern Methodist University has announced its highest honors for 2025. H. Gary Blankenship, chair, CEO and chief lending officer of Bank of the West, will be honored with the Distinguished Service Award on May 29. The following week, on June 5, Ron Butler, chair and CEO of … Read more

SW Graduate School of Banking Announces New Leadership and Additions to Board of Trustees

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

The Cecil Family Celebrates 100 Years of Liberty National Bank

The Cecil family is celebrating a centennial milestone, marking the 100th year of their leadership and family legacy at Paris-based The Liberty National Bank. In 1925, Jim Cecil, a prominent banker from Valliant, Oklahoma, moved to Paris, Texas, at the urging of his physician, Dr. L.P. McCuistion. McCuistion’s brother, Ed McCuistion, was the president of … Read more

Mississippi-based Cadence Bank Promotes Parkman to Division President in Texas


Tupelo, Mississippi-based Cadence Bank has promoted Wayne Parkman to North Central Plains division president, overseeing six Cadence Bank branches covering Fort Worth and the greater Waco region. Parkman has been with Cadence Bank for nearly four years and in banking for 39 years. “Wayne is a proven leader both within Cadence as well as with … Read more

West Texas State Bank Announces Two New Hires

John E. Grist, chairman and CEO of Snyder-based West Texas State Bank, along with Chris Comer, Lubbock market president, announced two new officer hirings. Both join the team with experience in West Texas banking and both will office at the bank’s new branch at 7202 Slide Rd. in Lubbock. John E. Dolan joins the bank … Read more