TEXAS BANKING NEWS, PEOPLE and IDEAS
Larry Allen, area chairman of Lubbock-based Peoples Bank, and Kelly Marsh, regional manager and senior vice president for Cornerstone Home Lending, have jointly announced a promotion of Sonya Garcia to branch manager and senior mortgage loan originator for Peoples Bank Home Loan Center, a division of Cornerstone Home Lending. Garcia has more than 16 years of … Read more
Liberty-based First Liberty Bank has announced the promotion and appointment of officers and supervisory staff for 2026, as approved by its board of directors. Charles Bolds has been promoted to senior vice president and continues to serve as senior mortgage officer. He has nine years of experience at First Liberty Bank. Bolds is actively involved … Read more
Laura Acosta has been promoted to chief transformation officer at Texas City-based Texas First Bank. In this newly created position, she will partner with the CEO and executive team to execute strategic and operational priorities, coordinate high‑impact initiatives and lead cross‑functional transformation efforts across the organization. Acosta brings more than 15 years of banking and … Read more
San Antonio-based Jefferson Bank has added three new bankers and promoted one. Gabe Longoria has joined Jefferson Bank as executive vice president/chief information officer. He brings more than 20 years of technology leadership in financial services, specializing in digital transformation, infrastructure modernization and cybersecurity. Before joining Jefferson Bank, he served as senior vice president/chief information … Read more
In April, El Paso-based WestStar Bank announced four promotions. Mara Portillo has been promoted to senior vice president/compliance and Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) officer. With more than 16 years of experience in the banking industry, including 14 years at WestStar Bank, she will expand her leadership role by overseeing the bank’s CRA initiatives. Portillo will … Read more
Jacksonville-based Austin Bank hired three team members in April, as announced by Jeff Austin III, chair. Dan Taylor has joined the bank as senior vice president/relationship manager in the Creekside Park location. He has a varied background in finance, banking, real estate, aviation and entrepreneurship. With two decades of experience in banking, he joins Austin … Read more
In April, Mount Pleasant-based Pilgrim Bank announced that it has hired John Russell to serve as vice president/relationship manager and Ben Taylor has joined the bank as assistant vice president/relationship manager. Prior to joining Pilgrim Bank, Russell spent the better part of 16 years in public education, in both the classroom as an agriculture science … Read more
Dallas-based PlainsCapital Bank announced that it has hired two bankers to serve on the bank’s relationship management teams in The Woodlands and Denton. Jamie Ballard, CTP, has joined the bank as senior vice president/senior relationship manager. He will office out of The Woodlands branch at 1699 Research Forest Dr., Ste. 100. Ballard brings more than … Read more
In April, Henderson-based VeraBank announced a new commercial banker in Conroe, as well as a new wealth management team member. Billy Brannon has joined the bank as senior vice president/commercial banker at its Conroe location. He was born and raised in Conroe and is excited to return home to support the area where his roots … Read more
El Paso-based WestStar Bank has promoted Priscilla Monarez to senior vice president. She has played a central role in strengthening the bank’s commitment to El Paso’s small-business community. Recognizing the necessity of having a dedicated division to support the unique needs of small businesses, she led the development and stabilization of the bank’s small-business division in … Read more