Texas Banking

In Touch with Technology

Technology has evolved from its earliest days of creating new efficiencies in banking to becoming a vital part of every organization's strategy for success. In looking toward the future, there are five key maxims that community bank executives should keep in mind as they plan for the future: 1. Bring technology out of the back room and into the boardroom. 2. Turn vendor relationships into partnerships. 3. Separate technology and information security. 4. Use technology to build core deposits. ...

Building a Management Pipeline

Less than five years ago, Texas bankers shared a unique problem: how to educate the new and upcoming generations of employees for the Texas banking industry. Fast forward to the present and things have changed in this regard for students wishing to enter the world of banking. Sam Houston State University has advanced banking educational opportunities to a point where the university leads the US in banking programs and opportunities for all levels of training. The program starts with a minor i...

Keeping an Eye On Information Security Risks

Community bankers across the US are keeping a cautious eye on the regulators' increased focus on information security risk. As technology continued to make the transfer and storage of information easier and faster, regulators became even more concerned. There is risk, and the regulators are determined to ensure that banks are taking appropriate action. Unless there is a staff of proficient technology gurus available around-the-clock who can research and address issues, attend training on a re...

Tba Welcomes Bernie Garza

News & Trends

Southern National Bank of Texas Opens New Branch

F&Amp;M Bank Opens Financial Center in North Dallas

The F&M Bank & Trust Co has announced the opening of its second Dallas area location, F&M Bank financial center in the Centura Tower at 14185 North Dallas Parkway. The executive management of the F&M Bank in the Dallas area includes President Carlos Mungia and SVP David Broussard, who will be responsible for managing the new North Dallas financial center. F&M Bank in Dallas focuses on privately held and family-owned middle market businesses with revenues between $5 million...

Ibc-Eagle Pass Opens New Branch

Texas Homebuyers Get More Home for Their Incomes

Housing might be getting pricier in some parts of the country, but throughout Texas, homebuyers are finding homes affordable. For the state, the Real Estate Center's newly revised Texas Housing Affordability Index (THAI) was 1.69 during the quarter. Dr James P. Gaines, research economist at the Real Estate Center at Texas A&M University, says that comparing indices between two or more areas can be misleading. Gaines says that the index is a good barometer, however, of state and local affo...

Pulse Debit Card Study Quantifies Impacts of Fraud

A new study commissioned by PULSE EFT Association Inc projects a dynamic outlook for the continued expansion of debit card payments, providing data that address card penetration, usage and growth opportunities, and allaying concerns that fraud is having a costly negative impact. Findings from the survey of 48 financial institutions of all types and sizes provide a factual basis upon which financial institutions can take steps to maximize their debit card business. The study also revealed that...

First Financial Celebrates Grand Opening in Midlothian

Tbasco Endorses Crowe Chizek and Company

The Texas Bankers Association and its subsidiary, TBA Services Company Inc, are pleased to announce the endorsement of Crowe Chizek and Company LLC for its Sales Culture Development and Training programs. Crowe Chizek focuses on strategies to find and sustain revenue growth by rethinking and retooling the sales culture within the institution. Depending on an institution's needs, individual services may be selected or a comprehensive, system approach that addresses all areas of the organizatio...

Credit Card Loan Delinquencies Reach Record High

Credit card loan delinquencies reached a record high of 4.81% of accounts in the second quarter of this year, according to the American Bankers Association's Consumer Credit Delinquency Bulletin. In calculating these results, ABA incorporated revised information on the first quarter delinquency rates. The composite ratio of closed-end installment loans increased to 2.22% from 2.03% of all accounts, and not 1.89% as previously reported. Additionally, past-due payments on home equity lines of c...

Moody Builds New Financial Center

Debbie Hilliard Hired As Convention Coordinator

Pavillion Bank Moves Headquarters to Richardson From North Dallas

Bankers Roundtable

In Light of the Recent Hurricanes, has Your Bank Made Changes to Its Disaster Recovery Plan?

Several banking executives talked about what changes their banks have made to their disaster recovery plan in light of the recent hurricanes. Thomas Wooten, president and CEO, Community National Bank said members of their staff intend to participate in one or more teleconferences and discussions over the next few weeks and the lessons learned will result in several changes to their disaster recovery plan. Cindy Dickens, SVP, First Bank said as a result of the recent disasters, they have gaine...

Your Advocate

Fighting Unfair Competition

The Texas Bankers Association and other state banking associations sent a joint letter to the FDIC opposing Wal-Mart's application to establish the industrial bank. Specifically, Wal-Mart's bank proposal would: 1. Pose unacceptable risk to the banking system and its regulatory safety net. 2. Result in hugely unfair competition to existing banks, likely driving some of them out of business. 3. Create unacceptable conflicts of interest. Another area of ongoing concern for TBA bankers is unfair ...

Message From The President

Hurricanes Reveal Necessity for Disaster Recovery

It does not take a psychic to predict that a hurricane or other natural disaster could strike again -- sooner rather than later. Hurricanes Rita and Katrina have forced many bankers to dust off their disaster recovery plans so that they can be better prepared for the future. At the Texas Bankers Association, their staff has been busy updating their business continuity plan. This was already a goal in their strategic plan, but the recent back-to-back hurricanes have given this project a sense ...

Banker To Banker

Lessons Learned From Basketball

Clark Consulting, one of TBA's valued endorsed vendors, recently hosted its Banking Forum 2005 in Tucson, AZ. This is a regional roundtable that offers banking executives a chance to connect with each other as well as with some of the top leaders in business. The highlight of the conference was the after-dinner address delivered by Lute Olsen, head basketball coach at the University of Arizona in Tucson. Many of the premier players in the NBA were coached by Olsen, and they attribute their su...

Community Banker

Spotlight: First State Bank Known for Being 'First to Serve, First to Help'

It is not unusual to find Dennis Kutach, president and CEO of First State Bank, working as a teller when the bank is short-handed. He and his officers will do anything, from sweeping crickets off the foyer to passing out popcorn to customers on football Fridays. The key to the bank's success, according to Kutach, is that employees are treated as family and they, in turn, have helped the bank earn its reputation for friendliness. Kutach began his 33-year career with First State Bank in 1972. H...

Legal Hotline

Handling Multiple Pod Beneficiaries

Questions about handling multiple POD beneficiaries are answered. Payment may be made to a POD beneficiary if proof of death is presented to the financial institution showing that the POD beneficiary was the survivor of all other persons named on the account as an owner. Using a POD agreement on a safe deposit rental lease can create liability for a bank. A prudent appraisal and evaluation program should include criteria to determine whether an existing appraisal or evaluation remains valid t...

What's Hot Withtbasco

Senior Housing Crime Prevention Foundation Keeps Growing in Texas

The Senior Housing Crime Prevention Foundation, a TBASCO-endorsed vendor since October 2003, continues to be a popular avenue for banks in Texas to use in securing Community Reinvestment Act credit, as well as in generating retail banking business. In addition, many banks participating in the foundation choose to take advantage of its retail business development training program. Presently, banks in Texas are providing foundation program sponsorships to approximately 2,500 Texas nursing home ...