Neil Ferguson

O n July 17, Future Financial Bankshares Inc. , a recently formed Texas corporation, announced that it has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Palmer Bancshares Inc. and its wholly owned subsidiary, Palmer-based Commercial State Bank

F ort Worth-based Bank of Texas has donated $10,000 to CASA of Tarrant County, a nonprofit organization that advocates for children in foster care. CASA of Tarrant County was selected through Guide the Giving, a Bank of Texas annual program that allows employees to nominate local nonprofit organizations and vote for a recipient in their market.

On July 20, Houston-based Agility Bank NA , a women-owned and led financial institution, announced that Donette T. Stubblefield has been appointed chief executive officer. She brings 20 years of executive experience in commercial and private banking, wealth management and enterprise strategy.

On July 16, The Woodlands-based Woodforest National Bank announced the appointment of Julie V. Mayrant as chief executive officer. A banking executive with more than 30 years of experience at the bank, she has played a defining role in its growth, operational excellence and customer-focused culture.

On July 22, Lubbock-based Victory Bank announced the promotion of Chad Hill to executive vice president and chief lending officer. He has also been appointed to the bank's board as an advisory director.

Choudrant, Louisiana-based Origin Bank has hired three banking professionals to join its team in North Texas.

Austin Wills has joined Dallas-based Susser Bank as senior vice president/relationship manager on its technology banking team. Based in the bank's Austin office, he will partner with technology and technology-enabled companies across Texas and throughout the U.S. Susser Bank's technology banking team serves venture-backed and founder-led businesses across B2B SaaS, fintech, marketplaces and other high-growth technology sectors.

T he Texas Bankers Foundation , the charitable arm of the Texas Bankers Association , has reopened its Flood Relief Fund to support Texas communities affected by the severe storms and flooding unfolding across the state this summer. The foundation is coordinating its efforts with the Texas Division of Emergency Management, local bank leaders and community organizations throughout the affected areas.

O ur organization sends out IRA beneficiary designation reminders every few years. Some IRA owners respond and inform us that they have divorced, which leads us to ask whether divorce itself can impact IRA beneficiary elections?

In the last decade, beloved rock and roll scenesters The Hold Steady have swapped out years of extensive touring for brief runs in single locations. Perhaps this was timed with the return of keyboardist Franz Nicolay, or frontman Craig Finn’s focus on his solo career. Whatever it may be, the pivot has turned every performance into a party that the fans – or members of the Unified Scene as they refer to themselves – seem to savor each show even more. Such was the case when The Hold Steady returned to Portland, Oregon this weekend for the first time in over three years. While night two of their run in the Rose City would take place the next evening at Pioneer Courthouse Square as a large outdoor co-headlining gig with The Mountain Goats, their show on Friday, August 7th at the 300-person Mississippi Studios was an intimate affair that, unsurprisingly, sold out instantly.