Texas Banking

Innovation & in Rural America

There are stories emerging in rural America, below the mainstream radar, that are truly inspiring. These success stories were made possible by community leaders, who identified problems and strengths in their communities, convened other community leaders to chart a course of action and used available resources, including the citizens of the community, to achieve their goals. After his first year on the job, Southern Bancorp's CEO realized that the bank's highly successful business and persona...

Home On the Range: The Double Lives of Rancher Bankers

At the First State Bank of Spearman, the Schnell brothers, Mike and Clay, go about their daily banking business of meetings, paperwork and conference calls. But in their spare time, Mike, the bank's chairman and CEO, and Clay, the bank's EVP and CFO, can't wait to shed their suits, put on their jeans and get out in the open air on their family's ranch. Ranching goes back three generations in the Schnell family. John Northcut, president and CEO, Stockmens National Bank, Cotulla, said that bein...

Bank People

Tbasco Endorses Mailmax Data

The Texas Bankers Association (TBA) and its subsidiary, TBA Services Co Inc, announce the endorsement of MailMax Data, a division of Anderton Group Ltd, a Waco-based company that has been servicing Texas businesses with printing and mail services since 1994. MailMax offers financial institutions a cost-effective, SAS70-approved, secure, high quality alternative to in-house statement production. MailMax provides hard and soft copy bank statement printing and e-services as alternatives to in-ho...

Banking Bytes

Chairman's Forum

Recovering From a Monster of a Storm

In Sep 13, 2008, Hurricane Ike made US landfall in Galveston. In late January, the author accompanied other Galveston community leaders to Austin, where they presented the entire Texas Legislature with a picture book about the hurricane's devastation, "Ike: Stories of the Storm." The story that isn't often told, however, is about the role banks play in their communities when disaster strikes. With all of the negative publicity being generated about banks these days, they need to be less reluc...

News & Trends

Ceo of Town North Bank Named Citizen of Year

John C. Reap, president and CEO of Dallas-based Town North Bank (TNB), has been named Citizen of the Year by the Metrocrest Chamber of Commerce. Recognized for his outstanding contribution of time and service to various civic, community and non-profit organizations, Reap was honored at the Metrocrest Chamber's Annual Banquet on January 30. Reap's commitment to the community has fostered a culture of community advocacy throughout TNB. TNB executives and employees actively participate in commun...

Austin Bank Recognized for Work Environment

Austin Bank was recently selected as one of the Best Companies to Work for in Texas 2009. The bank was recognized and honored at an awards ceremony on Jan. 28 at the Texas Association of Business 2009 Annual Conference in Austin. Jeff Austin III, vice chairman of the board, said the success of the bank has been built by a wonderful team of dedicated, professional employees. To support employees and their vital contributions, it is the bank's goal to provide the best possible workplace environ...

First Financial Bankshares Named Top-Performing Bank

We Wish to Welcome and Thank Our Newest Associate Members

Tbasco Endorses Anova Financial Corporation

The Texas Bankers Association and its subsidiary, TBA Services Company Inc, announce the endorsement of ANOVA Financial Corp, a North Carolina-based company established in 2002 as a result of a community bank focus group to provide wholesale funding solutions for banks. With ANOVA's alternative ANOVACore funding solution, FDIC-insured institutions have immediate access to a cost-effective steady source of wholesale funds without typical collateral requirements or credit limits. ANOVA also off...

Your Advocate

Geithner Puts His Stamp On Tarp; Will It Work?

Legislation passed last October authorized $700 billion for troubled financial institutions. To date, $350 billion has been allocated to 350 banks and two automakers and $45 billion to insurance company AIG. The plan was originally sold to Congress by the Bush administration as a way to take toxic securities off the balance sheet of large diversified bank holding companies; instead, Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson and Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke opted to follow the British example ...

Message From The President

Another Successful 'Freshman Fly-In'

In mid-February, Texas Bankers Association Chairman Vic Pierson and the author participated in the ABA "Freshman Fly-In," where they met with Texas' only freshman congressman, Pete Olson of Houston, as well as with all six Texas members of the House Financial Services Committee and with Sen Kay Bailey Hutchison, newly appointed member of the Senate Banking Committee. First on the agenda, was attendance at Hutchison's first "Constituent Coffee" of the new congressional year. Then, Pierson and ...

Banker To Banker

Welcoming the Year of the Ox

Lunar New Year celebrations for the Year of the Ox started early on January 26 in Asian communities around the world. Over the years, TBA has joined in the festivities at member banks, and this year they focused on the events at Golden Bank NA, in Houston's China Town area on West Bellaire Boulevard. Chris King, TBA Professional Development advisor, visited the Asian Banks in the Dallas area and delivered their traditional gifts. The Year of the Ox is one of the 12-year-cycle of animals that ...

Legal Hotline

Precautions to Take When Presented with a Poa

The purpose of a Power of Attorney (POA) is to appoint an agent for the principal. A POA may be broad or limited. A broad POA is one that gives the agent broad authority to perform any act that the principal could perform. A limited POA gives the agent limited authority to perform only the act or acts specified in the POA. In order for a POA to remain in effect despite the subsequent incapacity or incompetence of the principal or the passage of time, it must be a durable POA. All powers of at...

Community Banker: Spotlight

The Moo and the Moolah

First National Bank of Baird SVP Ron Keller was not always a banker. Before beginning his second career as a banker, Keller was involved in ranching and the livestock business, particularly the livestock auction business. Now his job as an ag lender and the chair of TBA's Agriculture Committee intersects both worlds; the moo and the moolah. Though Keller, as a banker, is not completely removed from his ag roots, ag lending is slowly falling farther and farther down the list of tasks he perfor...

From The Editor

Bankers As Conveners

Partner Focus

Ipi Delivers Solid Income to Community Banks

Investment Professionals Inc's (IPI) proven methodology for delivering solid income to community financial institutions -- in many cases boosting non-interest income by 7% to 12% -- is closely linked to their ability to motivate employees and financial consultants based on shared goals. Their commitment to matching people to roles, training and ongoing professional development is why IPI team members across the board give their all to driving results for banks and their customers. In 2007, in...

Gaining Cra Credits Risk Free