TEXAS BANKING NEWS, PEOPLE AND IDEAS
TEXAS BANKING NEWS, PEOPLE AND IDEAS
Longview-based Texas Bank and Trust announced several promotions at its employee awards dinner held in Longview in March. Jorge Acuna was promoted to vice president/commercial lending officer, lending. He has worked for Texas Bank and Trust for the past eight years in the lending division, previously serving as a credit analyst and portfolio manager before … Read more
San Antonio-based Jefferson Bank has added three new bankers and promoted one. Gabe Longoria has joined Jefferson Bank as executive vice president/chief information officer. He brings more than 20 years of technology leadership in financial services, specializing in digital transformation, infrastructure modernization and cybersecurity. Before joining Jefferson Bank, he served as senior vice president/chief information … Read more
On April 28, Bastrop Bancshares Inc., the holding company for Bastrop-based First National Bank of Bastrop, announced that it has entered into an agreement to acquire Columbus Bancorp Inc., the holding company for Columbus-based The First State Bank, for cash consideration. The transaction is expected to close in the third quarter of 2026. According to … Read more
Registration for the Independent Bankers Association of Texas’ (IBAT) 41st Annual Connecting Leaders Conference, the IBAT Leadership Division’s flagship event, is now open. Texas community bankers are encouraged to attend the family-friendly event being held June 25–27 at the Kalahari Resort in Round Rock. IBAT’s Connecting Leaders Conference brings together rising community bank leaders for … Read more
Harry J. “Johnny” Brooks, chair and CEO of Woodville-based Citizens State Bank, has been named 2026 Mr. East Texas as part of the community’s 83rd Annual Tyler County Dogwood Festival in Woodville, held on weekends in March and April. The Dogwood Festival is the longest-running outdoor celebration in Texas. Citizens State Bank has supported it … Read more
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
Wichita Falls-based American National Bank & Trust has promoted three executives and hired a fourth. “As we continue to grow, it is essential to recognize and elevate the leaders who have helped build our success,” says Craig Berry, president and chief lending officer. Damon Whatley has been promoted to executive vice president. His banking career began … Read more
Jacksonville-based Austin Bank hired three team members in April, as announced by Jeff Austin III, chair. Dan Taylor has joined the bank as senior vice president/relationship manager in the Creekside Park location. He has a varied background in finance, banking, real estate, aviation and entrepreneurship. With two decades of experience in banking, he joins Austin … 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
On April 23, Dallas-based Texas Capital announced several executive leadership appointments that, according to the bank, “are designed to scale the firm’s clearly differentiated platform in its next phase of growth.” Jeff Hood has been appointed managing director/chief human resources officer. He joins Texas Capital from Citizens Financial Group with more than 25 years of … Read more