Brad Tidwell receives IBAT’s 2022 Excellence in Leadership Award from Justin Steinbach, IBAT Leadership Division chair and senior vice president at Frost Bank in Dallas.The Leadership Division of the Independent Bankers Association of Texas (IBAT) recently honored Brad Tidwell, president and CEO of Henderson-based VeraBank, with its 2022 Excellence in Leadership Award. Tidwell was honored in June during the 37th Annual Connecting Leaders Conference—the division’s flagship event—in Round Rock.

To be considered for the Excellence in Leadership Award, one must be a member of the IBAT Leadership Division. This person demonstrates a long history of personal commitment to and financial support of the 450-member division, which was founded in 1985 and is dedicated to the development of tomorrow’s leaders in community banking. Recipients of the award must selflessly donate their time to promote, support and serve independent bankers in Texas.

“Brad Tidwell personifies what leadership means at his bank, in his community and in the community banking industry,” says Christopher Williston, IBAT president and CEO. “IBAT is proud to present him with this year’s Excellence in Leadership Award. He leads by example and with integrity, and he is very deserving of this recognition.”

Tidwell was named president and CEO of VeraBank in 2008. Under his management, the bank has grown from $700 million in assets to more than $3.9 billion, and has evolved into a progressive, full-service financial institution, offering retail and commercial banking, wealth management and insurance. Prior to joining VeraBank, Tidwell spent 17 years with JPMorgan Chase. He holds a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree in agricultural economics from Texas A&M University.