TEXAS BANKING NEWS, PEOPLE and IDEAS
Dallas-based PlainsCapital Bank has hired Cullen Seitz to serve on its Austin lending team as senior vice president/senior commercial loan officer. He will be based at the bank’s Downtown Austin location at 201 W. Fifth St., Ste. 100. “Cullen brings nearly two decades of commercial banking experience and a deep understanding of the Austin market,” … Read more
Corpus Christi-based American Bank has hired Marek Labedzki to serve as senior commercial lending officer the bank’s 3737 Buffalo Speedway location in Houston. Making the announcement was Charlie Phillips, Houston market president. Labedzki has worked in senior leadership roles for several mid-sized and large banks, spending the past 15 years serving clients in the Houston … Read more
On June 3, Independent Banker magazine, the monthly publication of the Independent Community Bankers of America (ICBA), announced its seventh annual “40 Under 40: Community Bank Leaders” list, recognizing the rising stars transforming community banking through innovation, leadership and service. Several Texas-based bankers were included on the list, which represents a diverse mix of emerging … Read more
On July 1, Tupelo, Mississippi-based Cadence Bank announced the successful completion of its previously announced acquisition of Industry Bancshares Inc., the bank holding company for Industry State Bank, The First National Bank of Bellville, Fayetteville Bank, Citizens State Bank, The First National Bank of Shiner and Bank of Brenham. Cadence Bank hopes to complete operational … Read more
Harlingen-based Texas Regional Bank received dual recognition from the Bee Cave Chamber of Commerce in June. David DeStefano, Bee Cave market president, was named “Businessman of the Year” and the Bee Cave banking center was recognized as “Community Business Partner of the Year.” DeStefano is actively involved in several nonprofit and civic organizations focused on … Read more
On June 5, Houston-based USV Bancorp Inc. announced that it has entered the final phase of its capital raising efforts to establish the first Vietnamese/American minority-owned bank in Houston. USV Bancorp notes that this milestone marks the culmination of a vision more than 50 years in the making. Founded in 2023, USV Bancorp is a … Read more
Houston-based Amegy Bank is opening its newest banking center on the first floor of 300 Convent St. in downtown San Antonio. The branch opening precedes the bank’s Central Texas’ headquarters relocation to the 21st and 22nd floors of the same building. Spanning more than 44,000 square feet, the new office space increases the bank’s market … Read more
The Independent Bankers Association of Texas (IBAT) has announced this year’s recipients of its coveted Five*Star Award: Advantage Health Plans Trust (tier 1), IntraFi (tier 2) and SHAZAM (tier 3). These three IBAT associate members—based on company size—will be honored during the association’s 2025 IBAT Connecting Leaders Conference, June 26–28 at the Moody Gardens Hotel … Read more
This spring, Henderson-based VeraBank awarded 35 scholarships totaling $35,000 to local college-bound high school seniors through its annual Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) scholarship program. Since the inception of the program in 2005, the bank has awarded more than $252,000 in scholarships to 401 local high school students who have met the established criteria. To qualify, … 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