Tuesday, April 13, 2010

Austin Bank Promotes Jeff Sowell to Vice President

Jeff Austin, III, Vice Chairman of the Board, recently announced the promotion of Jeff Sowell to Vice President.

The promotion was approved at the March 9, 2010 Board of Directors meeting in Jacksonville.

“Jeff Sowell is a true professional who is dedicated to giving our customers exceptional service,” said Austin. “We are proud to have him as a member of the Austin Bank team.”

Sowell, Network Support Manager and Security Officer, has been with Austin Bank since 2000, where he has worked as a PC tech, network administrator, and a network engineer. Prior to that, he worked as the computer and network technician for Tyler ISD for two years, and served with the 19th Airborne Corps of the U.S. Army for four years.

Sowell graduated from T.K. Gorman High School in Tyler. He earned an Associate in Arts degree, an Associate in Applied Science degree, both from Tyler Junior College and also holds a Bachelor of Science from the University of Texas at Tyler. He is a graduate of the Austin Bank’s Leadership Class II and serves on the Tyler Chamber of Commerce Technology Committee.

Sowell lives in Whitehouse with his wife, Christi, and their son, Aaron.

Austin Bank is a community bank headquartered in Jacksonville, Texas with assets in excess of $1 billion. Bank offices are located in 27 East Texas locations within 18 cities and nine counties. Austin Bank is locally owned and operated by the Austin Family who is celebrating 101 years of service in the Texas banking industry. More information about Austin Bank can be found on the bank’s website at: www.austinbank.com

Released March 2010

Austin Bank Promotes Richard Solomon to EVP

Jeff Austin, III, Vice Chairman of the Board, recently announced the promotion of Richard Solomon to Executive Vice President.

“Richard is a true professional who is dedicated to giving our customers exceptional service,” said Austin. “We are proud to have him as a member of the Austin Bank team.”

Solomon is the Regional President for the Smith County Region supervising five offices in Tyler and one in Whitehouse. Solomon joined Austin Bank in 1998 as a commercial lender at the South Tyler office on Old Bullard Road.

Solomon graduated from W.T. White High School in Dallas, Texas and went on to earn his BBA from Texas A&M University. He is a graduate of the Southwestern Graduate School of Banking at SMU where he received the Outstanding Leadership Award.

With a total of 23 years of banking experience, Solomon has served several different roles including a Commissioned Bank Examiner with the Texas Department of Banking in Austin, Texas, and head of Texas Loan Review Dept. at First Commercial Corporation servicing Texas, Oklahoma, and Louisiana.

Community involvement proves to be important to Solomon as he is a member of the Tyler/Smith County A&M Club, the Tyler Chamber of Commerce SporTyler Committee, Vice President of the Robert E. Lee Dugout Club, and a volunteer teacher for Junior Achievement. He is also involved in Boy Scouts of America serving as Assistant Scoutmaster for Troop 369, as well as coach a for the Tyler Raiders Select High School baseball team.

Richard and his wife, Kelly, have two sons: Adam, a freshman at A&M University, and Matthew, a sophomore at Robert E. Lee High School. He and his family are also active members of Marvin United Methodist Church.

Austin Bank is a community bank with more than $1 billion in assets. Headquartered in Jacksonville, Austin Bank serves the needs of East Texas families and businesses in 27 locations in nine counties. More information about Austin Bank can be found on the bank’s website at www.austinbank.com.

Austin Bank Announces Longview Promotions

Jeff Austin, III, Vice Chairman of the Board, recently announced the promotion of six Longview employees – Keith Fletcher, Lora Hammond, Dennis Means, Cindy Moss, Renee Rice, and Lisa Sampson.

The promotions were approved at the March 9, 2010 Board of Directors meeting in Jacksonville.

“Each of these employees is a true professional who is dedicated to giving our customers exceptional service,” said Austin. “We are proud to have them as members of the Austin Bank team.”

Keith Fletcher, Senior Vice President, joined Austin Bank in 2003 as the Bank Security Officer. He also handles duties ranging from purchasing, supply, service contracts, building maintenance construction, and leasing.

Fletcher is a graduate of Marshall High School, Panola Junior College, the Law Enforcement Management Institute, the FBI National Academy 211th Session, and holds a BBA from LeTourneau University. He also graduated from Austin Bank’s Leadership Class V in 2009. Prior to his time at Austin Bank, Fletcher served at the Marshall Police Department in the Administrative Division.

Civically, he has been recognized for working with Longview Community Ministries in the Coats for Kids project. He has also spoken at numerous civic clubs and organizations. Fletcher maintains his Peace Officer Certification and holds a dual commission with both Harrison and Gregg County District Attorney Offices.

Lora Hammond, Vice President, has 10 years banking experience and is currently a Mortgage Lending Officer at the Longview Oak Forest office. Her banking experience consists of several different areas including teller, bookkeeper, Customer Service Representative and loan assistant.

Hammond graduated from Meridian High School, and attended McLennan Community College and Baylor University, both in Waco, Texas. Prior to joining Austin Bank in 2008, she worked for Central Title Company, and as a legal assistant for Phillips & Gilchrist, LLP. Hammond is President of the Dynamic Referrals local BNI networking chapter.

Lora and her husband, Jody, have four children, Mark, Ryan, Payton, and Brayden.
They are members of Center Street Church of Christ in White Oak.

Dennis Means, Assistant Vice President, has been with Austin Bank for over 8 years. He joined the Austin Bank team in 2001 as the Data Processing Manager and shortly became an Operations Officer.

Means is a graduate of Harmony High School, and earned an Associate of Applied Science degree from Kilgore College. He also holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Information Systems from American Sentinel University, and recently completed the Austin Bank Leadership Class V in 2009.

Means is active in his community by being involved in several organizations including the Harmony Band Boosters Club, the Harmony Choir and Athletic departments, as well as his local Boy Scout troop.

Dennis and his wife, Jan, have four children, Nicholas, Hannah, Elizabeth, and Katherine. They are all active members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.

Cindy Moss, Operations Officer, is the Austin Bank Customer Call Center supervisor. She joined Austin Bank in 1998 and has since completed 12 years experience in several roles ranging from teller to working in the bookkeeping department.

Moss graduated from Jacksonville High School, completed Austin Bank’s Leadership Class II, and earned her certificate in Spanish for Banking. She also donates her time to the Angel Food Ministries Outreach program.

Cindy and husband, Gil, are active members of Longview Metro Church. They have two children, James and Crystal, and two grandchildren, Shylah and Mya.

Renee Rice, Assistant Vice President, is a loan officer at the Austin Bank office located on Gilmer Road. She has been with Austin Bank since 2005 where she began working as a Credit Analyst.

Rice graduated from Tatum High School, and earned her BBA in accounting from University of Texas at Tyler. Prior to joining Austin Bank she worked for Michael Burgett, CPA and Express Personnel.

Rice’s community involvement includes working with the Longview United Way and the March of Dimes.

Lisa Sampson, Senior Vice President, has been with Austin Bank since 1999 where she served in the loan department, and is now responsible for overseeing Loan Operations. Sampson came to Austin Bank with previous banking experience having worked at Texas Bank and Trust as a loan assistant, teller supervisor and supervisor of Loan and Credit Administration.

A longtime resident of Kilgore, Sampson graduated from Kilgore High School, and attended Kilgore College. She is also a graduate of Austin Bank Leadership Class III.

Sampson has been very dedicated to Austin Bank by serving on the Stakeholder Council, the IT Steering Committee, and currently serves as Chairman of the IT User’s Group.
Austin Bank is a community bank with more than $1 billion in assets. Headquartered in Jacksonville, Austin Bank serves the needs of East Texas families and businesses in 27 locations and nine counties. More information about Austin Bank can be found on the bank’s website at www.austinbank.com.

Austin Bank Kilgore Employee Receive Promotion

Jeff Austin, III, Vice Chairman of the Board, recently announced the promotion of two Kilgore employees, Treasury Management Officer Michael Simpson and Loan Officer Julie Taylor.

The promotions were approved at the March 9, 2010 Board of Directors meeting in Jacksonville.

“Each of these employees is a true professional who is dedicated to giving our customers exceptional service,” said Austin. “We are proud to have them as members of the Austin Bank team.”

Michael Simpson, Assistant Vice President, became a part of the Austin Bank team in February 2008 when City National Bank merged with Austin Bank. At that time, he had been working as a Personal Banker and then Credit Analyst with City National since December 2004. He now works from the Austin Bank Kilgore office supporting the bank’s Treasury Management products, services, and customers.

Simpson was recently awarded the Accredited ACH Professional (AAP) designation. To be accredited, Mike had to acquire a thorough knowledge of the ACH Rule Book and of the various Federal laws that govern its operation, and then achieve a passing score on the AAP exam.

Simpson is a graduate of the Alliance Academy in Quito, Ecuador, South America and LeTourneau University with a Bachelor’s of Business Administration, and was a recipient of the 2009 Austin Bank Community Involvement Award for his volunteer work with Junior Achievement and Friends of Scouts. He also volunteers his time as an Ambassador for the Kilgore Chamber of Commerce, and as a Sunday school teacher at First Baptist Church Liberty City.

Simpson and his wife, Kristi, have five children: Wesley, Halé, Emma, Nathan, and Evie.

Julie Taylor, Assistant Vice President, also joined Austin Bank during the merge with City National Bank in 2008. With 10 years banking experience, Taylor has played several roles including teller supervisor, Customer Service Representative, loan assistant and loan officer.

Taylor is a graduate of Kilgore High School, and attended Kilgore College, as well as Sam Houston State University. She is active in the community serving on the board at East Texas Treatment Center, involved in Beta Gamma Psi, and is a member of Forest Home Baptist Church.

Taylor’s family includes husband, Rusty, and two children, Kade and Gracie.
Austin Bank is a community bank with more than $1 billion in assets. Headquartered in Jacksonville, Austin Bank serves the needs of East Texas families and businesses in 27 locations and nine counties. More information about Austin Bank can be found on the bank’s website at www.austinbank.com.

Austin Bank Jacksonville Employees Receive Promotion

Jeff Austin, III, Vice Chairman of the board, recently announced the career promotions of two Jacksonville employees – Nathan Jones to Executive Vice President and Crystal Bateman to Banking Officer.

The promotions were approved at the March 9, 2010 Board of Directors meeting in Jacksonville.

“Each of these employees is a true professional who is dedicated to giving our customers exceptional service,” said Austin. “We are proud to have them as members of the Austin Bank team.”

Nathan Jones, Executive Vice President, is the Regional President for the Cherokee County Region supervising two offices in Jacksonville and others in Rusk, Troup and Bullard. Jones joined Austin Bank in 1990 as a commercial lender.

Jones graduated from Bryan High School, and earned a BBA from Texas A&M. He is a graduate of the Austin Bank Leadership Class III, as well as the Southwest Graduate School of Banking. Previous banking experience includes having worked for First Interstate Bank of Marble Falls and Allied Bank of Texas in Houston.

Jones was recognized in 2009 as Jacksonville’s Outstanding Businessman of the Year, 2009-2010 Drive Chairman for Cherokee County United Fund, and has contributed to his community by being involved in several groups such as Jacksonville Chamber of Commerce, JEDCO, Rotary Club, Boy Scouts, First United Methodist Church, Crisis Center, and a host of other civic endeavors.

A resident of Jacksonville, Jones and his wife, Lisa, have two sons, Jonathan and Christopher.

Crystal Bateman, Banking Officer, is a portfolio manager in the Austin Bank Jacksonville Main office. Bateman began her career in banking with Austin Bank in 2004 as a teller for the Whitehouse office. From there she transferred to Jacksonville to the position of loan assistant working with Regional President, Nathan Jones. Prior to joining the bank she was employed with a CPA firm in Tyler.

Bateman is a graduate of Rusk High School, and earned a BBA from UT Tyler with a degree in finance. She is a graduate of the Austin Bank Community Lending School as well as the Jacksonville Leadership Program.

Crystal and her husband, Jarrod, have two children, Brilyn and Walker.

Austin Bank, a community bank with headquarters in Jacksonville, Texas, has in excess of $1 billion in assets with 27 offices in nine counties throughout East Texas. More information about the bank can be found at www.austinbank.com.

Released March 2010