2022 Five*Star Award Winners Announced by the Independent Bankers Association of Texas

The Independent Bankers Association of Texas (IBAT) has announced this year’s recipients of its coveted Five*Star Award: Fenimore Kay Harrison (tier 1), Bank Compensation Consulting (tier 2) and SHAZAM (tier 3). These three IBAT associate members—based on company size—will be honored during the association’s 2022 IBAT Connecting Leaders Conference, June 16–18 in Round Rock. Since … Read more

Former Celina Mayor Howard Joins Lamar National Bank as Market President

Paris-based Lamar National Bank has hired Corbett Howard—a former three-term mayor of Celina and widely recognized as the architect of the community’s unprecedented recent economic growth and development—to serve as market president. He will begin at the bank’s Celina branch at 110 S. Preston Rd. on June 16. He will lead the branch’s team while … Read more

Austin Bank Taps Gilland and Crow to Lead Montgomery Team

Jeff Austin III, chairman of Jacksonville-based Austin Bank, recently announced the hiring of Leigh Gilland and Jed Crow for its new Montgomery branch. Scheduled to open in June, Montgomery will be Austin Bank’s 36th location and further expand its Southeast Texas service area. “Expanding into Montgomery is a natural progression for Austin Bank,” Austin says, … Read more

Guaranty Bank & Trust Hires Harrison-Peña as Senior Vice President/Commercial Lender

Ashley Harrison-Peña has been hired to serve as senior vice president/commercial lender at Mount Pleasant-based Guaranty Bank & Trust. She has more than 15 years of banking experience, including underwriting, portfolio management and lending. As a commercial lender, she has experience in various lending areas, including health care, commercial real estate, commercial construction, nonprofit and … Read more

First United Bank Welcomes Hinders as Senior Vice President of Commercial Lending

Plains Bancorp Inc., the holding company for Dimmitt-based First United Bank, has hired Gary Hinders to serve on the bank’s Canyon team as senior vice president of commercial lending. He will office at the Canyon banking center at 801 23rd St. Hinders, a longtime resident of Canyon, comes to First United Bank with 29 years … Read more

Thompson Returns to Stephenville as Senior Vice President and Branch President for Wellington State Bank

Wellington-based Wellington State Bank announced that Joe B. Thompson has been named senior vice president and branch president of the bank’s Stephenville location. Thompson has more than 30 years of banking experience in Erath County and 20 years in the Stephenville market. He most recently served as vice president at Spirit of Texas Bank in … Read more

Dorado Transitions to Senior Vice President and Treasurer at WestStar Bank

El Paso-based WestStar Bank has promoted Yvonne Dorado to senior vice president/treasurer. As treasurer, she will oversee the bank’s treasury function with responsibilities in interest rate risk management and reporting, investment accounting and monitoring, capital and liquidity planning, management of correspondent bank relationships and assistance with special projects. Dorado previously served as both assistant controller … Read more

Louisiana-based Origin Bank Hires Cornelius as Regional Executive Vice President for North Texas Region 

Choudrant, Louisiana-based Origin Bank has hired Todd Cornelius as regional executive vice president/business development for its North Texas region. He joins the team at Origin Bank’s Dallas financial center. Cornelius has more than 27 years of banking experience, specializing in the development and training of banking personnel through strategic partnerships and relationship building. In his … Read more

Candia Joins WestStar Bank Accounting Team as Vice President and Controller

El Paso-based WestStar Bank has announced the hiring of Marcela Candia as vice president and controller. She will oversee financial and regulatory accounting and reporting for WestStar and will work closely with senior management on implementing new accounting pronouncements and special projects. Candia joins WestStar with 17 years of experience working for large publicly traded … Read more