Woodforest National Bank Appoints Jain to Board of Directors

The Woodlands-based Woodforest National Bank recently appointed Umesh “Mike” Jain, CPA, to its board of directors. He migrated to the U.S. in 1981, becoming a U.S. citizen in 1987. In 1986, he founded Jain & Jain PC Accountants and Tax Consultants, an accounting firm that focuses primarily on assurance and tax services for privately held … Read more

Baker Tapped as Houston Market President for Comerica Inc.

Dallas-based Comerica Inc. has promoted Jason Baker to Houston market president, succeeding J. Downey Bridgwater. Earlier this year, Bridgwater announced his plan to retire during the first quarter of 2021 after 24 years at Comerica and 40 years in banking. In his new role, Baker will oversee business and community development efforts in the Houston … Read more

Community Banking: Survival Above All Else

Take a stroll back in time with me. It was a simpler time. It was an easier time. It was February. In the February 24, 2020, edition of Bankers Digest, I declared that the era of “banking as a service” had arrived. As proof, I pointed to the partnerships between Goldman Sachs and Apple to … Read more

Happy State Bank to Acquire First Bank of Muleshoe

In a joint statement on October 29, J. Pat Hickman, chairman of Amarillo-based Happy State Bank, and Tommy Gunstream, chairman of Muleshoe-based Muleshoe Bancshares Inc., announced that Happy State Bank is acquiring Muleshoe Bancshares Inc. and its subsidiary, First Bank of Muleshoe, through a series of mergers. A Texas state bank, First Bank of Muleshoe … Read more

Texas Capital Bancshares Names Holmes President and CEO

Dallas-based Texas Capital Bancshares Inc., the parent company of Texas Capital Bank NA, has appointed Rob C. Holmes president, CEO and a member of the board of directors of both companies, effective January 24, 2021. He succeeds Larry L. Helm, who has served as executive chair, CEO and president since May 2020. Helm will step … Read more

Farm Credit Bank of Texas CEO Doyle Announces Retirement, CFO Pala Named Successor

Austin-based Farm Credit Bank of Texas CEO Larry Doyle recently announced that he is retiring after 17 years with the bank and 45 years in the Farm Credit System. Amie Pala, the bank’s current chief financial officer, will succeed Doyle on January 1, 2021. Doyle will remain CEO until December 31, 2020, to support the … Read more

The Bank of San Antonio, The Bank of Austin and Texas Hill Country Bank Complete Merger

On October 21, San Antonio-based Southwest Bancshares Inc., the bank holding company for The Bank of San Antonio, closed its merger of three affiliated banks, creating a unique Central Texas banking franchise. In connection with the closing of the transaction, Capitol of Texas Bancshares, the holding company for The Bank of Austin, and Texas Hill … Read more

Yoakum National Bank Promotes Morkovsky to Controller, Baranowski to COO

Yoakum-based Yoakum National Bank recently announced the promotion of two team members. Sandra Morkovsky has been named vice president/controller. Additional duties include bank compliance and audit, and she also serves as the bank’s BSA officer. Morkovsky has worked at Yoakum National Bank since 1998, previously responsible for the bank’s non-traditional deposit office through NFA Wealth … Read more

VeraBank Hires Cole as Angelina County Market President

Henderson-based VeraBank recently hired Ashlyn Cole as Angelina County market president. Cole, an experienced commercial banker and leader in Lufkin, will focus on leading and growing VeraBank’s business in Lufkin and Angelina County. Cole has been a community banker for more than 11 years and has spent most of her career in commercial lending helping … Read more

What was Different in the Second Round of PPP in Texas? Part Two of a Study of the Role of Community Banks in Texas

MARK GRIFFITHS, Principal, MG2 Investments LLCMIKE MAULDIN, Director of the Excellence In Banking Program, Texas Tech UniversityDREW WINTERS, Pickering Chair in Finance, Texas Tech University EDITOR’S NOTE: This research paper—part two of a comprehensive look at the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP)—was provided by the Excellence in Banking Program at Texas Tech University and offers documentation … Read more