TEXAS BANKING NEWS, PEOPLE AND IDEAS
TEXAS BANKING NEWS, PEOPLE AND IDEAS
Neil Ferguson 
On January 19, The State National Bank of Groom and its parent holding company, Groom Bancshares Inc., announced an acquisition agreement with 5th Generation Holdings Inc., a community-bank-focused entity formed for purposes of the transaction. As a result of the acquisition, 5th Generation Holdings will become a bank holding company for The State National Bank … Read more
On January 24, the Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas (FHLB Dallas) announced the appointment of David Long to its Affordable Housing Advisory Council and the reappointment of four current Advisory Council members. Long’s three-year term began on January 1 and will expire on December 31, 2025. Long brings more than 25 years of affordable … Read more
On January 23, El Paso-based WestStar Bank announced the executive vice president promotions of Lee Rodriguez, chief human resource officer; Jerry Harris, chief credit officer; and Orlando Hernandez, chief information officer. Rodriguez has served as chief human resource officer with WestStar Bank for almost 20 years. She manages all aspects of human resources, as well … Read more
Henderson-based VeraBank has hired Phillip Shawn to serve on its wealth management team as assistant vice president/specialty asset manager. He will office at the bank’s Henderson wealth management location. Prior to joining VeraBank, Shawn spent six years managing more than 40,000 net mineral acres in the Permian Basin for a family-owned company in Dallas. “It’s … Read more
Steve Stapp, president and CEO of Round Rock-based R Bank , recently announced two promotions—one in Austin and one in Round Rock. Garrett Morgan has been promoted to senior vice president/Austin banking center president. A veteran banker with more than 15 years of experience, he joined R Bank in 2017 as senior vice president/commercial lender. … Read more
Las Cruces, New Mexico-based Western Heritage Bank has promoted Nathan Rivera to assistant vice president/credit underwriting. “Nathan has been an asset to our team for several years and we are pleased to promote him to this new role,” says Greg Cory, president and CEO. “We are grateful to have him as part of our banking … Read more
Victoria Kuzmich has joined Midland-based Community National Bank as vice president/petroleum engineer in Midland. She previously served as a senior reservoir engineer and has an extensive background in both production and reservoir engineering. Originally from Lubbock, Kuzmich returned to her West Texas roots when she moved to Midland 15 years ago. Kuzmich holds a BA … Read more
The board of directors of the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas’ El Paso branch has elected Sally Hurt-Deitch chair and Tracy Yellen chair pro tem for 2023. Hurt-Deitch joined the El Paso branch board in 2018. She is the executive vice president of nursing and operations infrastructure for Ascension. She also has served at Tenet Healthcare … Read more
Mergers and Acquisitions The TDB reports that Chappell Hill Bank, based in Chappell Hill, has completed its merger with GOBI Acquisition Corp., based in Irving. Branches The OCC reports that it has approved an application by First Financial Bank NA, based in Abilene, to relocate a branch from 3400 Hwy. 21 E in Bryan to 1622 N. … Read more
Branches The OCC reports that it has approved an application by The First National Bank of Quitaque, based in Quitaque, to establish a branch at 501 Main St. in Silverton. The TDB reports that Citizens State Bank, based in Anton, has established a branch at 4718 S. Loop 289, Ste. 200, in Lubbock. The TDB … Read more