TEXAS BANKING NEWS, PEOPLE AND IDEAS
TEXAS BANKING NEWS, PEOPLE AND IDEAS
American Banker has released its 2025 list of the “Best Banks to Work For,” which includes 13 banks based in Texas and banks that do significant business in the Lone Star State. The 2025 list of the 90 best banks has a few newcomers, including the one that nabbed the No. 1 spot—Wood & Huston … Read more
Michael Atkins, a longtime owner of Odessa-based SouthWest Bank, passed away on October 8. He was 77. He was an esteemed lawyer and respected member of the Odessa community. After serving as a county attorney in Odessa for two terms early in his career, Atkins went into private practice, culminating with the firm Atkins, Hollman, … Read more
Herbert Lee Graham, a highly respected entrepreneur and visionary leader, passed away on September 25 at the age of 87. Born in 1938 in New Mexico, he relocated to Odessa in the late 1950s and would go on to leave a lasting impact on the region, including his ownership of Odesssa-based SouthWest Bank. Graham attended … Read more
The Texas Tech School of Banking recently completed its 2025 session. Banking professionals from across Texas and three other states convened at Rawls College of Business on the campus of Texas Tech University in Lubbock for the program. Established in 1973, the school offers a blend of traditional academic coursework and interactive lecture sessions hosted … Read more
Dallas-based Susser Bank has appointed Carl Cravens president and chief banking officer. In his expanded role, he will continue to report directly to Sam L. Susser, chairman and CEO, and assume responsibility for all commercial banking, credit functions and marketing across the bank’s footprint. Cravens joined Susser Bank in 2018 and has been instrumental in scaling … Read more
Lou Deane Littlefield has joined Odessa-based SouthWest Bank to serve as senior vice president/senior compliance officer. She oversees all of the bank’s compliance processes with an emphasis on Bank Secrecy Act and Community Reinvestment Act policies and procedures. With more than four decades of banking experience Littlefield previously worked as a CRA officer and compliance … Read more
On April 28, the board of directors of Odessa-based SouthWest Bank announced the promotion of Isaiah Navarrete from advisory director to full board member. Based in Odessa, Navarrete is an entrepreneur and business leader with a diverse background spanning lending, oil and gas, finance and construction. He is the owner of Cobra Coating, a partner … Read more
Loan Production Offices The OCC reports that it has approved an application by First National Bank Texas, based in Killeen, to establish a loan production office at 641 N. Stanton Dr. in El Paso. Branches The OCC reports that it has approved an application by Woodforest National Bank, based in The Woodlands, to establish a … Read more
Mergers and Acquisitions The TDB reports that Independent Bank, based in McKinney, has applied to merge into SouthState Bank NA, based in Winter Haven, Florida. Main Offices The OCC reports that it has approved an application by The First National Bank of Eagle Lake, based in Eagle Lake, to relocate its home office from 100 … Read more
Mergers and Acquisitions The TDB reports that Sunflower Bank, based in Dallas, has withdrawn its application to merge with HomeStreet Bank NA, based in Seattle, Washington, and has also withdrawn its application to convert to a national association. Branches The OCC reports that VeraBank NA, based in Henderson, has applied to establish a branch at … Read more