TEXAS BANKING NEWS, PEOPLE AND IDEAS
TEXAS BANKING NEWS, PEOPLE AND IDEAS
The Galveston Regional Chamber of Commerce will honor banking industry veteran Vic Pierson as the 2025 “Nonno” Tony Smecca “Galvestonian of the Year” at its 181st annual meeting on January 24 at Galveston Island Convention Center. A banking pioneer and lifelong champion for Galveston’s economic vitality, his leadership continues to shape businesses and communities across … Read more
Mike Fernandez, president and CEO of Sweetwater-based Texas National Bank, announced that Kimmy Riddel has joined the bank as senior vice president of deposit relationships. She will be responsible for the strategic direction, execution and profitability of the bank’s retail and commercial deposit departments. Riddel began her community banking career working as a part-time teller in high school … Read more
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
Austin-based Compliance Select recently announced the hiring of Amy Woolsey and Barbra Sims to serve as digital compliance officers. Since 2022, Compliance Select has provided community banks with resources to ensure consumer and regulatory compliance. The team continually expands to meet the needs of all client banks. Woolsey brings 21 years of community banking experience to … Read more
Eva Marie (Kleckley) Miller, 86, of Crockett, passed away peacefully on October 11. She enjoyed a lifelong career in banking before retiring in her 60s. Her banking career began as a drive-through teller in Houston, where she made the news for being robbed at gunpoint in the 1960s. Undeterred, she stayed in the banking industry … Read more
Tupelo, Mississippi-based Cadence Bank has promoted Michelle N. Hodge to deputy regional president and she joins the bank’s Texas region leadership team led by Lester Lucy, regional president. Hodge was most recently in a leadership role with Industry Bancshares and joined Cadence Bank following its July acquisition. Hodge has been in the banking sector for … Read more
On October 22, First Financial Bankshares, the parent company of Abilene-based First Financial Bank, announced the election of Tim Brown as executive vice president and chief information officer of the company and CEO of First Technology Services Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of the company. John Ruzicka, who has been serving as chief information officer … Read more
On October 22, Third Coast Bancshares Inc., the parent company of Houston-based Third Coast Bank, and Keystone Bancshares Inc., the parent company of Austin-based Keystone Bank SSB, jointly announced the signing of a definitive merger agreement pursuant to which Third Coast will acquire Keystone in a stock and cash transaction valued at approximately $123 million … Read more
On October 16, the board of directors of Southside Bancshares Inc. and its subsidiary, Tyler-based Southside Bank, announced the appointment of Mitchell Craddock to chief operating officer of the company and bank, effective immediately following the retirement of Brian K. McCabe, current COO, on November 14. In addition, the company announced the appointments of Keith … Read more