Significant Bankers Digest Stories in Southwest Banking During 2007
Bankers Digest Editorial Staff
Dallas, Texas
www.bankersdigest.com
In 2007, Bankers Digest celebrated its 65th year of reporting stories about bankers and banks in the Southwest/Mid-South. As 2007 came to a close, the editorial staff reviewed the year’s 52 issues and chose the stories we consider highlights of the year’s coverage.
Recognition
Several prominent bankers received special recognition.
Cynthia L. Blankenship, vice chairman of Bank of the West, Grapevine, TX, was elected ICBA chairman-elect for 2007-2008. John V. Anderson, Farmers and Merchants Bank, Crescent, OK, celebrated 60 years in banking. Brothers Milton Payne and Jim Payne, with First State Bank, Carthage, TX, celebrated a combined 100 years in banking.
New Responsibilities
Three well known bankers accepted new responsibilities of service to the industry. Candace A. Franks was appointed Arkansas State Bank Department Commissioner. John P. Ducrest was appointed Louisiana Office of Financial Institutions Commissioner. Robert “Bob” Taylor was elected CEO of the Louisiana Bankers Association.
Transitions
A number of bankers passed away in 2007. Texas: William Grogan Lord, founder of First Texas Bancorp, Inc., Georgetown; Larry E. Duckworth, CEO of OmniAmerican Bank, Fort Worth; Harry Shuford, retired chairman of First National Bank in Dallas; and 50-year bankers, Carl Galloway, Houston; Jack Hinton, Jewett; and Dan Haynes, Tyler. Arkansas: John M. Lewis, founder of the Bank of Fayetteville; and Jack Flieschauer, retired Regions Bank executive and 30-year banker. LOUISIANA: C.W. “Chuck” McCoy, retired Premier Bank, Baton Rouge, CEO; Doris B. Gunn, Office of Financial Institutions Commissioner; Willie B Middleton Jr., retired 50-year banker in Plaquemine; and Hermann Moyse Jr., retired chairman of First Commerce Corp., New Orleans, and honoree of the Hermann Moyse Jr Chair of Banking at LSU. OKLAHOMA: Glenn P. “Red” Word, 40-year banker and former president and chairman of the Oklahoma Bankers Association.
Acquisitions and Mergers
Acquisitions and mergers by out-of-state, in-state, and out-of-country financial institutions continued at a steady pace. There were no acquisitions of $1 billion or more-asset financial institutions based in the Bankers Digest coverage area. The largest transaction involving a regional banking company was the Madrid, Spain-based BBVA purchase of Compass Bancshares Inc., Birmingham, AL, with operations in TX, NM, and AZ.
Several of the more prominent transactions included: BOK Financial Corp., Tulsa, OK, acquired Worth Bancorporation, Fort Worth, TX; Great Western Bank, Sioux Falls, SD, acquired Sun State Bank, Casa Grande, AZ; MO-based Central Bancorp acquired ONB Bank and Trust Company, Tulsa, OK; Franklin Bank Corp., Houston, TX, acquired The First National Bank of Bryan, TX; First Fidelity Bank, N.A., Oklahoma City, acquired Western Security Bank, Scottsdale, AZ; The Farmers & Merchants Bank, Stuttgart, AR, announced plans to acquire Chart Bank of Perryville, AR; and Home Federal Bancorp of Louisiana and First Louisiana Bancshares, both of Shreveport, announced plans to combine their banking subsidiaries to form the largest locally controlled bank in Shreveport.
Milestones
Comerica Incorporated, Detroit, MI, relocated its headquarters to downtown Dallas, TX, and received a state bank charter for Comerica Bank.
IBAT/TBA held their first ever Legislative Day in Austin during the TX legislative session.
Oklahoma celebrated 100 years of statehood. The Community Bankers Association of OK recognized 35 banks with 100 years or more of service.
The Texas Banking Commissioner recognized the following banks with 100 years of service: Citizens State Bank, Princeton; Buckholts State Bank; Justin State Bank; First Bank Southwest, Amarillo; First State Bank, Bedias, and Citizens State Bank, Sealy.
De Novo Charters
De novo banks continued to be established at a brisk pace in TX and AZ, with 20 and 3 opened respectively and additional banks in organization.
