TEXAS BANKING NEWS, PEOPLE AND IDEAS
TEXAS BANKING NEWS, PEOPLE AND IDEAS
In mid-March, Midland-based Community National Bank announced numerous officer promotions and market president appointments. Sterling Swack has been named the Lubbock market president, bringing with him more than 14 years of banking experience. He has been a member of the Community National Bank team since 2017, most recently serving as Odessa market president, where he … Read more
Pittsburg-based Pilgrim Bank has announced the promotion of Jason Snodgrass to market president/Tyler. He joined the bank in 2018 and currently serves in Mount Pleasant as senior vice president/market leader for Northeast Texas. Pilgrim Bank has steadily expanded its presence across East Texas in recent years, and Snodgrass will play an important role in strengthening the … Read more
The SW Graduate School of Banking at Southern Methodist University (SWGSB) has announced its highest honors of the year. Michael G. O’Rourke, president and CEO of TIB, will be honored with the 2026 Distinguished Service Award and J. Carter Tolleson, CEO of Tolleson Wealth Management, will be honored with the 2026 Distinguished Alumnus Award. The … Read more
The Texas Tech School of Banking will convene its 2026 program the week of August 9–14 at the Rawls College of Business on the campus of Texas Tech University in Lubbock. For 51 years, the school has partnered with hundreds of community banks to bring together thousands of bankers seeking to advance their careers as … Read more
Tye Jones has been promoted to president of Woodville-based Citizens State Bank. He has more than 15 years of banking experience and joined Citizens State Bank in 2022 as executive vice president and chief operating officer. In addition to his role as president, Jones will continue to serve as chief operating officer. He will also … Read more
Dimmitt-based First United Bank has hired Craig Grossman to serve as vice president of commercial lending at the bank’s northwest Lubbock branch. The hiring was announced by R. Mark Bain, CEO. Grossman brings more than eight years of commercial banking experience to First United Bank. He spent five years with Lubbock National Bank serving as … Read more
Plains Bancorp Inc., the holding company for Dimmitt-based First United Bank and Spirit Mortgage, announced 11 company promotions in the new year. Staci Ortiz: senior vice president of Spirit Mortgage. She has been with the bank since 2017 and has 20 years of mortgage experience. She graduated from Texas Tech University with a degree in … Read more
On January 27, the boards of First Financial Bankshares Inc. and Abilene-based First Financial Bank announced the promotion of David Bailey to CEO of both entities. The position was previously held by F. Scott Dueser, who will continue to serve as executive chairman of both boards. “David has been with the company for more than … Read more
In early January, the Texas Bankers Hall of Fame announced its 2026 inductees: Mark K. Johnson, Michael G. O’Rourke, Rogers Pope Jr., A. Ford Sasser III and Marelyn B. Shedd. These five iconic bankers will be recognized for their achievements and many contributions to their communities and the banking industry at the 13th Annual Texas … Read more
Ken Pilgrim, senior chairman, and Lonnie Pilgrim, chairman, along with the Pittsburg-based Pilgrim Bank board of directors, have announced two new additions to the bank’s board: dentist Danny Lawrence and attorney Ramsey Strube. Lawrence is the owner and practicing dentist at Sulphur Springs Dental and is a lifelong resident of Hopkins County. He earned a … Read more