Matt Crable, regional loan president and SBA lending manager at the Pearland branch of Texas City-based Texas First Bank, has been elected chair of the IBAT Leadership Division, a division of the Independent Bankers Association of Texas (IBAT). He assumed the role from Cory Flencher, executive vice president at Somerville-based Citizens State Bank during IBAT’s Connecting Leaders Conference, held June 22–24 at Lake Conroe. As chair of the Leadership Division, Crable will also serve on the IBAT executive committee.

Established in 1985, the IBAT Leadership Division is dedicated to the development of tomorrow’s leaders in community banking. The 450-plus-member group is divided into 13 regions, each of which hosts education and networking events for community bankers in the area throughout the year. Each region has its own president, who also serves as the region’s board member.

Crable has been with Texas First Bank since 2004, serving in a variety of roles focused on Small Business Administration lending, including as SBA underwriter, closer, development officer and department manager. He holds a BBA degree in marketing and management and an MBA degree in management from Texas Tech University. In addition, he is a graduate of the SW Graduate School of Banking at Southern Methodist University. He has served as president of the Houston Association of Government Guaranteed Lenders. Active in his community, he volunteers as a school board trustee and member of the city’s economic development board.

“I have been heavily involved in the Leadership Division throughout my career,” Crable told the audience during the Connecting Leaders Conference. “This organization has helped me realize what it means to be a community banker and has provided me with the opportunity to form lasting relationships with other community bankers throughout the state. I know I have some big shoes to fill. One thing I can assure you is that I am willing to put in the work and my ask is for you to put in the work with me. Together we can create a better IBAT for our banks and the future of our industry.”