Wallis Bank’s Dakri Family Donates $4 Million to Support University of Houston’s Center for Economic Inclusion

The Dakri family, which includes the leadership of Wallis-based Wallis Bank, has pledged $4 million to support the University of Houston’s new Center for Economic Inclusion (CEI) in the C.T. Bauer College of Business. Launched in May, the CEI’s programs build on Bauer’s award-winning SURE program (Stimulating Urban Renewal through Entrepreneurship), which trains students in … Read more

Bank of San Antonio and Texas A&M University–San Antonio Partner to Offer Business Training Free of Charge

With the goal of impacting San Antonio’s Southside business community with real-world education and practices, The Bank of San Antonio has announced a partnership with Texas A&M University–San Antonio (A&M-SA) to launch the STRIDE Entrepreneurship Leadership program. The hands-on business training is free of charge. STRIDE stands for the six key pillars of a founder’s … Read more

American Momentum Bank Volunteers with Junior Achievement in Midland

Employees of College Station-based American Momentum Bank volunteered their time this spring to support the Junior Achievement of the Permian Basin’s JA Economics for Success program. Ten bank employees volunteered at Midland’s Franks Elementary School in March, where they worked with sixth-grade students to teach practical information about personal finance. “We believe that financial education … Read more

Independent Financial Returns as an Official Sponsor for the 2022 AT&T Byron Nelson

The AT&T Byron Nelson Golf Tournament returned to the city of McKinney May 9–15 with McKinney-based Independent Financial once again serving as the official bank sponsor of the PGA Tour event. As the official bank sponsor, Independent Financial is one of five companies designated as “Premier Partners” of the AT&T Byron Nelson. For the second year, … Read more

Texas Capital Bank Partners with Huston-Tillotson University to Provide Commercial Lending Certificate Program

Texas Capital Bancshares Inc., the parent company of Dallas-based Texas Capital Bank, in coordination with the American Bankers Association (ABA), has expanded its Commercial Lending Certificate Program to Huston-Tillotson University in Austin. Texas Capital Bank and ABA launched the program for historically Black colleges and universities in 2021 at Texas A&M University–Prairie View. As an … Read more

Community Bankers Explore the Basics of Cryptocurrencies

In early December, Bankers Helping Bankers hosted its first event for community bankers throughout the country since the platform launched in October. The hour-long educational session featured Ben Soppitt, CEO of Unifimoney, a cryptocurrency trading application, in conversation with Independent Bankers Association of Texas President and CEO Christopher Williston about the basics of cryptocurrencies and … Read more

University of Texas–El Paso Launches Banking Academy to Grow Diverse Workforce

On September 7, the University of Texas–El Paso (UTEP) announced the launch of the UTEP Banking Academy, supported by significant contributions from regional and national banks and financial institutions. Part of UTEP’s College of Business Administration, the Banking Academy was created to address the shortage of banking professionals in the West Texas and Southern New … Read more

SWGSB and IBAT to Host Certified Community Bank Director’s Program in October in Dallas

Board education and training are essential best practices in the new era of community banking. Regulatory expectations and wise management demand a skill set that many directors lack. The Southwestern Graduate School of Banking Foundation (SWGSB) and the Independent Bankers Association of Texas (IBAT) have recognized this and offer the Certified Community Bank Director’s (CCBD) … Read more

Vaughan Named Smith-Hutson Endowed Chair of Banking at Sam Houston State University

The College of Business Administration at Sam Houston State University (SHSU) in Huntsville has named Jill Sharp Vaughan the Smith-Hutson endowed chair of banking. She will oversee the college’s accredited bachelor of business administration and executive MBA degree programs in banking and financial institutions. Vaughan has spent the majority of her career working with community … Read more

Texas Bankers Foundation Announces New Tom Frost Memorial Scholarship for Southwestern Graduate School of Banking Students

In February, the Texas Bankers Foundation, the charitable arm of the Texas Bankers Association (TBA), announced a new banker education scholarship, the Tom Frost Memorial Scholarship. Named for the late Tom Frost of San Antonio-based Frost Bank, the scholarship is available to junior and senior students enrolled in the Southwestern Graduate School of Banking at Southern Methodist University (SWGSB). “We’re … Read more