TEXAS BANKING NEWS, PEOPLE and IDEAS
In the wake of the recent tragic events at the Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, bankers in the Lone Star State and across America are committed to supporting the families of victims, as well as impacted educators and first responders. The Texas Bankers Association and Independent Bankers Association of Texas have united to provide support … Read more
The Texas Bankers Foundation, the charitable arm of the Texas Bankers Association, has announced the 17 recipients of the 2022 50-Year Banker Awards. Each of the bankers selected is recognized for his/her exemplary and long-standing service to the banking industry. Launched in 1989 by the Texas Bankers Association, the 50-Year Banker Awards honor the men … Read more
In August, the Texas Bankers Foundation, the charitable arm of the Texas Bankers Association, announced the eight recipients of its 2021 Cornerstone Award and Leader in Financial Education (LiFE) Award. Each of the banks selected has demonstrated excellence in community involvement or promoted financial education in its communities. The banks selected were celebrated at the … Read more
On September 7, the University of Texas–El Paso (UTEP) announced the launch of the UTEP Banking Academy, supported by significant contributions from regional and national banks and financial institutions. Part of UTEP’s College of Business Administration, the Banking Academy was created to address the shortage of banking professionals in the West Texas and Southern New … Read more
Lowell “Stretch” Smith Jr., longtime banker and avid civic supporter in Johnson County, passed away on August 29. He was 88. For decades, he helped lead the First State Bank of Rio Vista. Smith grew up on a family ranch near Rio Vista. Many people knew him as “Stretch,” a nickname acquired from his high … Read more
The Texas Bankers Foundation, the charitable arm of the Texas Bankers Association (TBA), has announced the 14 recipients of its 2021 Emerging Leader Awards. Each banker was chosen for his/her outstanding qualities by the president, CEO or chair of a TBA-member banking institution. Launched in 2019 by the Texas Bankers Foundation in collaboration with the Bank … Read more
Kristi Koncaba, president and COO of Houston-based Texan Bank, has been elected to the board of directors of the Texas Bankers Association. She has also been appointed chair of the Texas Bankers Foundation, the philanthropic arm of the Texas Bankers Association that serves and supports Texas banks, their employees and communities through educational programs, gifting … Read more
The membership of the Texas Bankers Association recently elected officers for the 2021-22 fiscal year. Elected were Chairman Raymond “Rusty” Rust III, president and CEO of Commercial Bank of Texas in Nacogdoches; Vice Chair A. Ford Sasser III, president and CEO of Rio Bank, McAllen; and Treasurer David W. Osborn, president and chief operating officer … Read more
The Texas Bankers Association (TBA) has partnered with national nonprofit organization CareerWork$ to support the expansion of its signature free vocational training program, BankWork$, in Texas. The program, which currently operates classes at Dallas College, helps young adults from low-income communities build meaningful careers in banking through a free eight-week career training program, with placement assistance … Read more
In February, Texhoma, Oklahoma-based Anchor D Bank announced the appointment of Michael L. Schnell, executive vice president/market president, to its board of directors. He has spent the majority of his career in the Texas Panhandle. After many years serving as chairman and CEO of another local bank, he joined Anchor D Bank in 2020, opening its … Read more