In Memoriam: Lowell ‘Stretch’ Smith Jr.

Lowell “Stretch” Smith Jr., longtime banker and avid civic supporter in Johnson County, passed away on August 29. He was 88. For decades, he helped lead the First State Bank of Rio Vista. Smith grew up on a family ranch near Rio Vista. Many people knew him as “Stretch,” a nickname acquired from his high … Read more

Schmid Becomes Sixth President and CEO of SWGSB Foundation

Jeff Schmid has joined the Southwestern Graduate School of Banking (SWGSB) Foundation as president and CEO, effective September 1. The move comes as S. Scott MacDonald Ph.D. retires from the position after 24 years of service to the foundation, headquartered at the Cox School of Business on the campus of Southern Methodist University (SMU) in … Read more

Mississippi’s BancorpSouth Hires Bain as Community Bank President in Sherman

Tupelo, Mississippi-based BancorpSouth Bank has hired Will Bain as community bank president at its branch in Sherman, Texas. He has more than 11 years of banking experience, including work as a commercial lender and credit underwriter. Bain earned a bachelor’s degree and an MBA degree from Southeastern Oklahoma State University and is a student at … Read more

PlainsCapital Bank Hires Kane, Thompson and McCollum for Austin Lending Teams

Dallas-based PlainsCapital Bank recently expanded its commercial banking team in Austin with the addition of Laura Kane and Rodney Thompson as senior vice presidents of commercial lending and Carly McCollum as commercial loan officer. Kane and McCollum will serve clients from PlainsCapital Bank’s downtown Austin office while Thompson will work from its Westlake branch. Kane … Read more

IBC Bank–Corpus Christi Announces Promotion of Barrera to President and CEO

The board of directors of IBC Bank–Corpus Christi recently appointed Gustavo A. Barrera to lead its Corpus Christi region as president and CEO. With more than 26 years of community banking experience, all with IBC Bank, Barrera’s knowledge and expertise have contributed to the overall growth and success of the Corpus Christi region and business … Read more

American National Bank & Trust Promotes Andrews to Chief Operating Officer

Blake Andrews, Wichita Falls market president at American National Bank & Trust, has been promoted to chief operating officer. Andrews has served at American National Bank & Trust since 1998. Prior to that, he was an audit manager at the accounting firm Mathis, West, Huffines & Co. PC for nine years. He earned his BBA … Read more

MapleMark Bank Hires Nebergall for Relationship Management

Shaughn Sutton, executive vice president/chief lending officer at Dallas-based MapleMark Bank, announced that Elizabeth Nebergall has been hired to serve as vice president/relationship manager. Nebergall will work with mid-market businesses in the commercial and industrial space throughout the Dallas/Fort Worth and North Texas markets. Prior to joining MapleMark Bank, Nebergall was a commercial banker at … Read more

Rodriguez Appointed Deputy Commissioner of the Texas Department of Banking

On August 20, Charles G. Cooper, commissioner of the Texas Department of Banking, announced the appointment of Wendy Rodriguez as the agency’s deputy commissioner. She will oversee all the operational and administrative functions of the department, including strategic initiatives. She will also assist Cooper with governmental interactions, including the Office of the Governor, Texas Legislature … Read more

Independent Bankers Association of Texas Honors Five*Star Award Winners

The Independent Bankers Association of Texas (IBAT) announced this year’s three winners of its coveted Five*Star Award in June during the association’s 2021 IBAT Connecting Leaders Conference held in Grapevine, Texas. The 2021 recipients are Fenimore, Kay, Harrison & Ford LLP (category 1, small-size business); Bank Compensation Consulting (BCC) (category 2, medium-size business); and CLA … Read more

Texas Bank and Trust Opens New Branch in Flower Mound

In early August, Longview-based Texas Bank and Trust announced the opening of its new Flower Mound branch. Full-service banking at the new facility, located at 737 International Pkwy., Ste. 150, will begin on August 16. Jeremiah Hansen (pictured above) will lead the team as Flower Mound market president. Joining him in the new branch will … Read more