TEXAS BANKING NEWS, PEOPLE AND IDEAS
TEXAS BANKING NEWS, PEOPLE AND IDEAS
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
On April 22, El Paso-based WestStar Bank announced that David W. Osborn, president and CEO, has been named McMurry University’s 2026 Distinguished Alumnus, the Abilene-based university’s highest alumni honor. Osborn was recognized during McMurry’s Alumni Achievement Awards celebration held April 24 in Abilene. The Distinguished Alumnus Award honors graduates who have achieved exceptional professional success, … 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
El Paso-based WestStar Bank has promoted Claudia Rodriguez to executive vice president. She oversees all aspects of risk management, including the Bank Secrecy Act (BSA), financial intelligence unit (FIU), compliance, information security, legal, audit and loan review. With 23 years of experience in the banking sector, Rodriguez has dedicated the past 13 years of her career … Read more
On February 24, El Paso-based WestStar Bank announced the appointment of John Morales as executive vice president of information technology and chief information officer. He brings decades of federal senior executive leadership experience overseeing complex, mission-critical organizations and large multidisciplinary teams. Most recently, Morales served as a Federal Bureau of Investigation special agent in charge, … Read more
El Paso-based WestStar Bank recently announced the return of Liz Gatlin as senior vice president/commercial banker. With 19 years of financial expertise, 17 of which were spent at WestStar, she has a robust track record of delivering exceptional service to a diverse clientele. Gatlin earned her BBA degree from the University of Texas–El Paso. She … Read more
El Paso-based WestStar Bank has announced the promotions of Andres Marquez and Robin Anaya to commercial banking officers. Both officers will leverage their expertise to develop and manage a diverse portfolio of businesses, offering services such as loan structuring, credit risk management and tailored financial strategies. Their focus will include strengthening existing client relationships and … Read more
El Paso-based WestStar announced the appointment of Myrna A. Ortiz as senior vice president of corporate accounting. She will oversee capital and liquidity planning activities, manage interest rate risk and reporting, handle investment accounting and monitoring and lead special projects. In addition, the bank has hired Nancy C. McElroy as vice president of corporate accounting. … Read more
On April 2, the Texas Bankers Foundation, the charitable arm of the Texas Bankers Association, announced the 12 recipients of the 2025 Emerging Leader Awards. Nominated by their bank’s president, CEO or board chair, these rising stars were selected for their exceptional leadership, commitment to service and impact on the banking industry. “These outstanding professionals … Read more
Janette Coon, senior vice president and commercial escrow officer at WestStar Title, a division of El Paso-based WestStar Bank, retired at the end of January, concluding a 41-year career. She has been a member of the WestStar Title team for 14 years. “It has been a great honor to be part of WestStar Title and … Read more