TEXAS BANKING NEWS, PEOPLE AND IDEAS
TEXAS BANKING NEWS, PEOPLE AND IDEAS
In April, El Paso-based WestStar Bank announced four promotions. Mara Portillo has been promoted to senior vice president/compliance and Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) officer. With more than 16 years of experience in the banking industry, including 14 years at WestStar Bank, she will expand her leadership role by overseeing the bank’s CRA initiatives. Portillo will … Read more
Fort Worth-based TexasBank has hired Matt Duncan to serve as executive vice president/chief credit officer. He brings more than 30 years of experience in community banking and risk management. Duncan’s career spans senior leadership roles in credit administration, enterprise risk management and loan portfolio oversight. Before joining TexasBank, he held executive roles at regional community … Read more
Dallas-based PlainsCapital Bank announced that it has hired two bankers to serve on the bank’s relationship management teams in The Woodlands and Denton. Jamie Ballard, CTP, has joined the bank as senior vice president/senior relationship manager. He will office out of The Woodlands branch at 1699 Research Forest Dr., Ste. 100. Ballard brings more than … Read more
Weatherford-based First Bank Texas has announced the appointment of Stan Lambert to its board of directors. He brings more than 35 years of experience in community banking, having served in executive leadership roles across Texas, including as president of banks in Abilene, Ennis and Ozona. Lambert currently serves as state representative for Texas House District 71 … Read more
The SW Graduate School of Banking at Southern Methodist University (SWGSB) has announced that Stephan Crétier, GardaWorld Security founder, president and CEO, will be the keynote speaker for SWGSB’s 2026 summer graduate school session, May 26–June 5. Crétier founded GardaWorld in 1995 with an initial investment of $25,000, secured through a second mortgage on his … Read more
On March 31, Arlington-based Worthington Bank announced the hiring of Mark Evans to serve as chief lending officer and Brian Compton as Arlington market president. Evans succeeds the current chief lending officer, Dan Mocio, who recently retired. “Both Compton and Evans bring a total of six decades of industry experience with them to Worthington Bank,” … Read more
Durant, Oklahoma-based First United Bank has appointed Justin Sanderson to serve as chief transformation officer. Officing in Plano, he will lead the bank’s enterprise-wide transformation initiatives focused on growth, innovation and customer experience. Sanderson will focus on aligning strategy and technology. He will work across business lines to drive initiatives that improve efficiency, strengthen engagement … Read more
Sulphur Springs-based Alliance Bank announced that it has promoted two team members to serve as regional presidents. The promotions were announced by James Law, president and CEO. J. Corky Randolph has been promoted to senior vice president/regional president for Rockwall. Collin and Hunt counties. He previously served as the bank’s Rockwall County market president. He … Read more
In mid-March, Midland-based Community National Bank announced numerous officer promotions and market president appointments. Sterling Swack has been named the Lubbock market president, bringing with him more than 14 years of banking experience. He has been a member of the Community National Bank team since 2017, most recently serving as Odessa market president, where he … Read more
The SW Graduate School of Banking at Southern Methodist University (SWGSB), in partnership with the Texas Bankers Association (TBA), will welcome more than 150 community bankers to the 2026 session of its Commercial Lending School, held April 26–May 1 on the campus of Southern Methodist University. Now in its second year, the Commercial Lending School continues … Read more