TEXAS BANKING NEWS, PEOPLE AND IDEAS
TEXAS BANKING NEWS, PEOPLE AND IDEAS
The Texas Bankers Foundation, the charitable arm of the Texas Bankers Association, has announced the 22 recipients of the 2026 50-Year Banker Awards. Each of the bankers selected is recognized for their exemplary and long-standing service to the banking industry. Launched in 1989 by the Texas Bankers Association, the 50-Year Banker Awards honor those who … Read more
The SW Graduate School of Banking (SWGSB) at Southern Methodist University 2026 summer session wrapped up June 5 with a commencement ceremony for SWGSB Class LXVII at the George W. Bush Presidential Center. William T. Chittenden, Ph.D., president and CEO of SWGSB, delivered the commencement address to more than 350 guests celebrating 82 graduates from … Read more
In May, Fort Worth-based Trinity Bank NA announced that Mindy Hegi has joined the executive management team as chief financial officer. She brings more than 20 years of executive-level financial and operational leadership experience in community banking. Before joining Trinity Bank, Hegi served as vice president of corporate finance for State National Bancshares from 2001 … Read more
On December 1, Ernst & Young LLP announced that John D. Steinmetz, president and CEO of Dallas-based Vista Bank, has been named a 2025 “Entrepreneur of the Year” national finalist, following his selection as a Southwest regional award winner in June. Steinmetz was chosen from a group of 221 “Entrepreneur of the Year” regional winners, … Read more
American Banker has released its 2025 list of the “Best Banks to Work For,” which includes 13 banks based in Texas and banks that do significant business in the Lone Star State. The 2025 list of the 90 best banks has a few newcomers, including the one that nabbed the No. 1 spot—Wood & Huston … Read more
In September, the Independent Bankers Association of Texas (IBAT) honored the 2025 top winners of its Best of Community Banking (BOCB) Awards. McAllen-based Lone Star National Bank won Best of Show for its community service entry “Starr County Volunteerism.” The 2025 BOCB Best of Show, Community Spirit and Gold Eagle Award recipients were recognized at … Read more
On September 15, Denver-based National Bank Holdings Corp., the holding company for NBH Bank, announced the signing of a definitive merger agreement to acquire Vista Bancshares Inc., the holding company for Dallas-based Vista Bank with operations in Dallas/Fort Worth, Austin and Lubbock, as well as Palm Beach, Florida. The transaction is expected to close in … Read more
The Texas Tech School of Banking recently completed its 2025 session. Banking professionals from across Texas and three other states convened at Rawls College of Business on the campus of Texas Tech University in Lubbock for the program. Established in 1973, the school offers a blend of traditional academic coursework and interactive lecture sessions hosted … Read more
On August 5, Dallas-based Vista Bank announced the appointment of Mandy Austin as president of corporate banking. She has more than 20 years of experience in strategic financial leadership. Austin spent 18 years at Bank of Texas, serving as Dallas market president and CEO, leading the corporate banking division. Under her leadership, the Dallas region … Read more
On April 30, Dallas-based Vista Bank announced the appointment of Bob Mahalik, a seasoned financial expert with more than 40 years of regulatory experience at the Dallas Federal Reserve Bank, to senior vice president, director of strategic initiatives and mergers-and-acquisitions (M&A) advisor. The move signals a deepening of the Vista Bank M&A bench as it positions … Read more