TEXAS BANKING NEWS, PEOPLE AND IDEAS
TEXAS BANKING NEWS, PEOPLE AND IDEAS
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
Natalie Saikowski Goertz has joined Texas City-based Texas First Bank to serve as senior vice president and director of treasury management. An Athena Leadership Award recipient, she brings extensive experience in corporate and public fund banking to the bank’s treasury management team in The Woodlands. Before joining Texas First Bank, Goertz was president and CEO … Read more
Llano National Bank has announced the addition of Mason King as vice president and branch manager of its Buchanan Dam branch. He brings a strong background in commercial banking, portfolio management and community leadership to his new role. Prior to joining Llano National Bank, Mason served as assistant vice president and portfolio manager for First United … Read more
Henderson-based VeraBank has hired Scott Daniels to serve on its commercial banking team in downtown Austin. He will partner with local businesses to provide customized financing solutions. He has more than 15 years of experience in commercial lending, portfolio management, structured financing, investment advising, asset management and financial planning. Before joining VeraBank, Daniels was senior … Read more
Alex Trlica has been named the new executive director of energy financial services at Tulsa, Oklahoma-based BOK Financial. Since joining the bank in 2017, he’s led key energy portfolios across upstream, midstream and syndicated markets, most recently serving as manager of energy financial services for North Texas. Trlica earned his business degree from Texas Tech … 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
Choudrant, Louisiana-based Origin Bank has hired Sara Imes to serve as chief audit executive. She will develop and implement a risk-based audit plan while overseeing the planning, design, implementation, communication and delivery of audit initiatives across the organization. In addition, she will partner with all levels of management and cross-functional teams to strengthen internal controls … 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