Texas community bankers are heading to Capitol Hill in May for the Independent Community Bankers of America’s 2023 Capital Summit and the Independent Bankers Association of Texas’ 29th Annual Congressional Visit, being held in tandem May 14–17 in Washington, D.C. The purpose is to advocate for the community banking industry in person. It’s the year’s … Read more
Harlan Raymond Heitkamp, founder and former chairman of Corpus Christi-based ValueBank Texas, passed away on February 6. Raised in Bracken, he attended Texas Tech University, earning a master’s degree in civil engineering. After marrying his wife of 64 years, Gerry, in 1958, the couple moved to Corpus Christi where Heitkamp worked for the City of … Read more
Bankers Helping Bankers, an online platform that promotes innovation among community banks, has named Discover Financial Services’ PULSE debit network its exclusive debit partner. The agreement builds upon PULSE’s longstanding support of community banks and the Independent Bankers Association of Texas (IBAT), which co-founded Bankers Helping Bankers in partnership with FedFis. As the exclusive debit … Read more
On December 6, Dr. Charlie McCormick, president of Schreiner University in Kerrville, announced the launch of the university’s new banking program, created to help students navigate rural-focused banking needs in Texas. Schreiner University students will be admitted into the program by the end of their sophomore year. Upon acceptance, they will receive a scholarship for … Read more
Bee Cave-based Keystone Bank raised $18 million in its latest round of funding—with an industry expert noting that its growth makes it one of the fastest-growing banks in the country. The fresh funds will be used to expand the bank’s team, enhance its banking technology and put the four-year-old community bank on track to handle … Read more
As the Bankers Helping Bankers (BHB) network expands, community banks can now participate in BHB’s new Test Pilots program and be among the innovative bankers to test fintech products and services. These screened, early-stage fintech companies need the partnership of banks to establish their viability in providing stable solutions for the banking industry. “The BHB … Read more
Paducah, Kentucky-based Computer Services Inc. (CSI), a leading provider of end-to-end fintech and regtech solutions, has partnered with Bankers Helping Bankers to further the organization’s mission of empowering community banks. Established by FedFis and the Independent Bankers Association of Texas (IBAT) in late 2021, Bankers Helping Bankers connects bankers nationwide so that they can identify … Read more
The Texas Bankers Association (TBA) and the Independent Bankers Association of Texas (IBAT) have raised $250,000 to date in support of victim families of the Robb Elementary School shooting in Uvalde on May 24. Through the Texas Bankers Foundation, TBA and IBAT have united to offer support via the Uvalde Community Response Fund. The funds … Read more
Steve Scurlock accepts the 2022 IBAT Trailblazer Award from Christopher Williston, IBAT’s president and CEO.The Leadership Division of the Independent Bankers Association of Texas (IBAT) recently honored Stephen Scurlock, IBAT’s director of government relations, with the association’s 2022 esteemed Trailblazer Award. He was honored in June during the 37th Annual Connecting Leaders Conference—the division’s flagship … Read more
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 … Read more
