Our management team meets weekly to share information from the departments, divisions, and people that make up Texas Regional Bank. Below are a few of the highlights from our March meetings that you may find helpful:
Response to Silicon Valley Bank (SVB)
Much of the month’s meeting centered around SVB. Michael Scaief, CEO & Chairman, emphasized the value of community banks and how our business practices differ from SVB. Mr. Scaief produced an initial response to the SVB situation and a follow-up letter for our employees, customers, and community to clarify our position.
Wear Turquoise or Blue in April
Cambrea Merriwether, Chief Human Resources Officer, shared that April is Sexual Assault Awareness & Child Abuse Prevention Month. Employees are encouraged to wear a blue or turquoise ribbon or shirt on Tuesdays throughout April to increase awareness.
Volunteering Everywhere, All the Time
Brent Baldree, President of Commercial Banking, reported on the bank’s success with community involvement. TRB bankers served 660 hours, 238 different activities, in February, for 102 organizations. Through March 31, TRB employees have served over 1,300 volunteer hours!
Wealth Management Expands into DFW
John Tippit, SVP, reported on growing wealth management in DFW by hiring two advisors; Mimi Tran, who will also serve as Southlake Market President, and Stacy Wells. Both will be in TRB’s soon-to-open Southlake banking center.
Double Down in Houston
Jason Leal, CLO, reported that Cypress successfully opened on March 20. Representatives from several teams, like IT and Branch Admin, were on site to help with the opening. The banking center will host a grand opening & ribbon cutting on April 25.
Teamwork for the Win
All regions reported on their pipeline, and customer wins. Erin Needham, Hill Country Region President, shared a big win: TRB won a $12 million deposit relationship for a city government! Mr. Needham emphasized teamwork’s importance in submitting and presenting the proposal.
Stay Alert: Fraud isn’t Going Anywhere
Cesar Suarez, Chief Banking Officer, reported on the rampant fraud throughout the country, with most of the scams centered around counterfeit check and ACH fraud. Using specialized software, our fraud prevention team averages $400,000 monthly in loss avoidance! It’s a reminder to stay vigilant in avoiding and detecting fraud.
The Value of Teamwork Rolando Carrasco, Chief Compliance Officer, shared how teamwork positively impacted bank compliance. He was able to submit HMDA reports successfully well ahead of the March 1 due date. Mr. Carrasco attributed the success to collaboration across credit, loan administration, & loan operations departments.
