Texas City-based Texas First Bank has hired Lee Garza to join its team in Pasadena as vice president/relationship manager. In addition, the bank has hired Tip Spata to serve as SBA business development officer and sales lead.
With more than 20 years in banking, Garza brings a variety of experiences to his new position—from personal and business banker to business development manager and sales coach. Prior to joining Texas First Bank, he was a business banking manager for Sunflower Bank NA in Houston for more than two years and before that, he served as vice president/business banking relationship manager at PNC Bank in Houston. Earlier experience includes stints at Bank OZK, JPMorgan Chase Bank, Regions Bank, Comerica Bank and Capital One.
Raised in Southeast Houston, Garza attended the University of Houston. He also received formal commercial credit training from the University of Houston. Active in the community, he is an instructor for both the U.S. Judo Association and U.S. Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Federation and holds a black belt in both skills.
A fifth-generation Houstonian, Spata brings more than 20 years of banking experience, 16 of those in Small Business Administration (SBA) lending. Prior to joining Texas First Bank, he was a senior vice president/regional government guaranteed lending specialist for Bank OZK in Houston and, before that, worked for Simmons Bank as SBA production manager. Earlier in his career, Spata served for more than a decade at Spirit of Texas Bank, as well as Royal Oaks Bank/First Bank.
Spata received a BBA degree in marketing from Texas State University. He has been recognized with the 2019 Houston SBA Impact Award and the 2018 Director’s Impact Award.
Established in 1982, Texas First Bank has 26 banking offices serving Central Texas, Houston, Galveston and the Texas Gulf Coast.
