The idea for Texas Regional Bank emerged in 2008 when four businessmen recognized the community banking void in their local region caused by the consolidation of privately-held community and regional banks. Over the years, locally-owned banks had decreased, reducing the banking choices in many parts of Texas.
Michael Scaief, Bobby Farris, Tudor Uhlhorn and Bill Elliff, leaders in business and the community, set out to develop a regional banking franchise committed to the success of the community. The group identified what had worked among regional banks in the past and adopted these strategies as operating principles.
Key objectives in their business plan were to:
- Hire top bankers who know their customers, and can make decisions
- Build a broad shareholder base and ownership structure, so no one family could control more than 10% of the bank
- Raise enough capital to be effective in the market
- Embrace technological advances to accommodate emerging and future banking trends
Initially, the group intended to establish a brand new banking operation in the Rio Grande Valley of Texas. But, as their planning came together in mid-2009, the strategy changed, from chartering a new bank to acquiring an existing franchise. In September 2009, a revised business plan was submitted to regulators and Texas State Bankshares, Inc. (TSBI) was organized to serve as the bank’s holding company, in anticipation of an acquisition.
The TSBI board soon was charged with raising capital to acquire Falfurrias State Bank. In February 2010, the capital raise began, with a goal of $20 million. The community response was overwhelming and, in less than six weeks, the holding company closed its capital raise with nearly $24 million from approximately 160 different families.
On May 4, 2010, Texas State Bankshares, Inc. acquired 100% of the stock of Falfurrias State Bank. Ninety days into the acquisition, the charter was relocated to Harlingen, Texas. The bank was renamed Texas Regional Bank, and its relationship style of banking articulated in the new tag line, The People You Know. Texas Regional Bank celebrated another milestone on November 18, 2013, when Border Capital Bank was acquired. The merger added a trust department and four more locations in the Rio Grande Valley market. Texas Regional Bank continues to find opportunities to grow and be a leader in community banking. In February 2017, Texas Regional Bank completed the acquisition of Blanco National Bank.
The Board of Directors and Management of Texas Regional Bank remain committed the communities we serve through high touch banking relationships, advanced technology solutions, diverse ownership and community involvement. Each year team members contribute thousands of hours to community service projects.
Today, Texas Regional Bank has assets of approximately $1.03 billion and 20 locations across the Rio Grande Valley and the Texas Hill Country. Texas Regional Bank is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Texas State Bankshares, Inc. with equity more than $80 million and more than 500 shareholders across Texas. Without a doubt, the influence of its broad shareholder base and team of well-known and seasoned bankers has made Texas Regional the “Bank of Choice” in the Texas markets.