TEXAS BANKING NEWS, PEOPLE and IDEAS
During the IBAT Connecting Leaders Conference held last month in Round Rock, the Independent Bankers Association of Texas (IBAT) presented its annual Excellence in Leadership Award. This year’s recipient was Brett Murphy, audit partner, partner-in-charge of the financial institutions industry and Austin market president at Whitley Penn LLP. To be considered for the Excellence in … Read more
The Leadership Division of the Independent Bankers Association of Texas (IBAT) elected new executive committee members to its board during the 41st Annual Connecting Leaders Conference, held in June at the Kalahari Resort in Round Rock. Founded in 1985, the IBAT Leadership Division is dedicated to the development of tomorrow’s leaders in community banking. The … Read more
In May, Fort Worth-based Trinity Bank NA announced that Mindy Hegi has joined the executive management team as chief financial officer. She brings more than 20 years of executive-level financial and operational leadership experience in community banking. Before joining Trinity Bank, Hegi served as vice president of corporate finance for State National Bancshares from 2001 … Read more
Kenneth Kuntschik, regional director of the San Antonio office for the Texas Department of Banking, is retiring with more than 22 years of service with the agency. His retirement will be effective August 31. “Kenneth has served for almost 37 years as a banking regulator,” notes Charles G. Cooper, commissioner. “He has been a valuable … Read more
Larry Allen, area chairman of Lubbock-based Peoples Bank, and Kelly Marsh, regional manager and senior vice president for Cornerstone Home Lending, have jointly announced a promotion of Sonya Garcia to branch manager and senior mortgage loan originator for Peoples Bank Home Loan Center, a division of Cornerstone Home Lending. Garcia has more than 16 years of … Read more
Liberty-based First Liberty Bank has announced the promotion and appointment of officers and supervisory staff for 2026, as approved by its board of directors. Charles Bolds has been promoted to senior vice president and continues to serve as senior mortgage officer. He has nine years of experience at First Liberty Bank. Bolds is actively involved … Read more
The Independent Bankers Association of Texas (IBAT) has announced this year’s recipients of its coveted Five*Star Award: IntraFi (tier 1), Ncontracts (tier 2) and Whitley Penn LLP (tier 3). These three IBAT associate members—based on company size—were honored during the association’s 2026 IBAT Connecting Leaders Conference, June 25–27 at the Kalahari Resort in Round Rock. … Read more
San Antonio-based Broadway Bank has once again partnered with Caritas of Austin for the third annual “Beat the Heat” donation drive, helping protect individuals experiencing homelessness from extreme summer temperatures. The campaign is being held June 1–15 and invites communities to donate essential items that provide relief during the hottest months of the year. Every donation … Read more
Shirley Mae Wood Hall, 87, passed away peacefully on May 28. A resident of Orange, she was one of the community’s most respected banking professionals for more than four decades. Born in 1938 in San Augustine, Hall moved to Orange with her family when she was only a year old. Hall began her banking career in … Read more
Gulfport, Mississippi-based Hancock Whitney Bank has announced several commercial banking leadership promotions as part of its continued growth strategy across Texas and Louisiana. The appointments underscore the bank’s continued investment in Texas and its strategy to grow alongside the region’s business community. Hancock Whitney currently operates 18 branches in the Lone Star State. Chris Mosteller … Read more