October 4, 2004 www.bankersdiigest.com Volume 125, No. 14

BancorpSouth Buys The Business Bank of Ba- Spain’s BBVA to Buy ton Rouge, , and Expands in Nash- Laredo National Bank BancorpSouth Inc., Tupelo, MS, and 2002 to resume his job as the University Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria SA, The Business Bank of Baton Rouge, LA, of ’s athletic director. Madrid, Spain, aka BBVA, has agreed announced merger plans September 17 The Business Bank, whose parent to acquire Laredo National Bankshares in a deal that gives the regional bank a company is Business Holding Corp. Inc., Laredo, , for $850 million presence in south Louisiana. Inc., had assets of $163.7 million as of from a group of Mexican and U.S. BancorpSouth, which has nearly July 30, 2004. The bank provides primar- businessmen, as part of its plan to 250 branches across six states and as- ily commercial banking services in East serve the growing U.S. Hispanic bank- sets of nearly $11 billion, is acquiring Baton Rouge Parish and contiguous ing market. The Business Bank for an undisclosed communities. BBVA, Spain’s second largest bank, amount of cash and stock. BancorpSouth Inc., which operates owns Mexico’s largest bank, BBVA Buddy Roemer, president/CEO of BancorpSouth Bank, has 13 branches Bancomer. In its acquisition an- The Business Bank, and Aubrey Pat- in northern Louisiana with $468 million nouncement, BBVA said that it wants terson, CEO of BancorpSouth, said in deposits. It entered Louisiana four to capitalize on its strong position in the deal will serve as a spring board for years ago after it completed a merger the immigrant money transfer corri- BancorpSouth to open branches across with First United Bancshares. It bought dor between the U.S. and Mexico. Its Baton Rouge market. Baton Rouge-based Wright & Percy Bancomer money transfer business The Business Bank opened as a de Insurance in May 2003. handles about 40% of the money trans- novo in October 1998. It was founded BancorpSouth also announced it fer remittances to Mexico. by a group of community leaders, signed a definitive agreement to merge The Laredo holding company, which including Roemer, who served as LA with Premier Bancorp Inc., Brentwood, owns The Laredo National Bank, found- governor from 1988 to 1992; Rolfe TN. The merger would give Bancorp- ed in 1892, and South Texas National McCollister Jr., publisher of The Greater South an expanded banking presence Bank, Laredo, reports $3.4 billion in Baton Rouge Business Report, and James in the Nashville suburb. assets and 35 branches in South Texas, T. “Pete” Boone, former president of The mergers are expected to be , Austin, San Antonio, and one Sunburst Bank of Louisiana and the completed by the end of the year or branch in Dallas. bank’s founding president who left in early 2005, subject to necessary ap- The transaction is subject to neces- sary approvals, and if approved, the

Ormiston Elected President and CEO, Please route this issue to: Grapeland State Bank, Grapeland, Texas Norman L. Ormiston has been elected Polk County, he returned to Henderson president and CEO of the Grapeland County and joined The First State Bank State Bank in Grapeland, Texas. Car- of Brownsboro, where he served for 14 In This Issue... men Richberg, chairman of the board, years. Most recently, he was executive made the announcement. vice president. Supreme Court Upholds Ormiston joins Grapeland State A native of Sullivan, Indiana, Orm- Bank’s Right to Collect Debt Bank following a 20 -year banking iston received a BS degree in finance career mostly in Henderson County, from Murray State University in Mur- Legal Phases...... 3 Texas. He moved to East Texas in 1984 ray, Kentucky. He has been active in to serve as executive vice president and various civic and community activities Charter Activity...... 12 cashier of the First State Bank in Eu- during his career. stace. After having served as senior vice Grapeland State Bank, a $14 million- Classified...... 13 president at the Bank of Livingston in asset bank, was founded in 1911 Q p e o p l e TEXAS Milton Appointed SVP ager of Comerica’s Stemmons middle market banking group in Dallas. Danelo Tapped EVP, Comerica Bank has named David Mil- Milton previously served 15 years Texas Capital Bank ton senior vice president/group man- with Bank of America, most recently as Texas Capital Bank, Dallas, has senior vice president of middle market announced that Dan M. Danelo has banking. joined Texas Capital Bank’s San Antonio Milton holds a office as executive vice president, BBA degree in fi- corporate banking. Mark Johnson, nance and a BS de- president of Texas Capital Bank San gree in economics, Antonio, made the announcement. ABC COIN both from SMU. Danelo is a 20-year banking veteran, He serves on the including time with J.P. Morgan Chase board of directors and Bank of America, and for the past and the executive nine years has been a chief financial committee for Ju- officer and financial consultant for nior Achievement businesses throughout San Antonio. of Dallas and is chairman of its develop- He received an MBA and BS degrees from State University ment committee Q Q Teague Promoted to Wahl Joins FCB-SA SVP at Cuero State As Senior Vice Pres Cuero State Bank s.s.b.has announced First Community Bank-San Antonio the promotion of Sara Teague to senior announced that Sara B. Wahl has vice president of information technology joined the bank as senior vice president and human resource operations. Bill at 3305 Wurzbach Road branch. Howard, president and CEO, made the Wahl has over 34 years of banking announcement. experience in the San Antonio area. Since joining the bank in 1997 as as- She actually came out of retirement to sistant vice president of IT operations, join First Community Bank. Previously, Teague has helped to build a secure she served with Bank of America as technical infrastructure. She has been vice president of Premier Banking, instrumental in developing customer MedCentre Bank N.A. as senior vice banking services including online bank- president, and Colonial Frost Bank ing, commercial check processing, check as vice president. Her main focus ankers i imaging, and telephone banking. She continues to be providing financial B Established 1942 D - has served as vice president of informa- services to the medical profession in A Weekly Bank News Magazine tion technology and human resources the San Antonio area. (USPS 041180) since 2000. First Community Bank-San Antonio Published every Monday at Dallas, Texas Prior to joining Cuero State Bank, operates two locations in San Antonio: Copyright 2004 Bankers Digest® Teague was an assistant vice president 14100 San Pedro and 3305 Wurzbach BONNIE JAMISON BLACKMAN, Publisher/Editor and network services manager for Nor- Road. The bank has announced plans to R. GILBERT BLACKMAN, Managing Editor 9550 Forest Lane, Suite 125 west Bank in Austin. She has served open two more locations in the future; Dallas, Texas 75243-5928 in the financial industry for over 20 one will be located in the medical Phone 214/221-4544 years Q center area Q Fax 214/221-4546 E-mail: [email protected] website: www.bankersdigest.com Subscription rate: One year $29.00, single copy $1.00 Opinions expressed by columnists and writ- ers of bylined articles are not necessarily BD COUPON those of Bankers Digest. Editorial guidelines may be obtained upon request. Articles and photos may be submitted to above address or sent via e-mail. Periodical postage paid at Dallas, Texas POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Bankers Digest®, 9550 Forest Lane, Suite 125, Dallas, Texas 75243-5928.

Page  BANKERS DIGEST October 4, 2004 l e g a l p h a s e s L E N D I N G Bank of Texas, and Wells Fargo Bank (Texas), note without notice, as the security 2004 WL 1966865 (Tex. 2004), provides agreement provided it could do. Martin an interesting overview of the legal then deposited approximately $1500.00 Supreme Court Upholds remedies banks and other creditors in his account, but the Bank immediately Bank’s Right to Collect Debt may employ in dealing with wayward offset it against his outstanding loan, debtors. in accordance with its rights under the By Beginning in the early 1990s, Sam security agreement. Patrick J. Neligan Martin (“Martin”), a rancher, entered As the trial testimony later showed, Neligan, Tarpley, Stricklin, Andrews into a series of loan agreements with Martin angrily informed the Bank that Dallas, Texas First Valley Bank of Los Fresnos (the “I’m going to leave the bank and you “Bank”). In exchange for the loans, the will not hear from me again until that Banks and lending institutions Bank took several security interests in money is put back into my account.” WL enter into loan cattle owned by Martin in a large area 1966865 at 1. Martin carried through on agreements of land in South Texas. The security his threat and ceased all communication with customers agreements contained provisions with the Bank. on a daily prohibiting Martin from selling or Thereafter, the Bank sought to take basis. Ideally, transferring the collateral without capture and sell Martin’s collateral, his both parties obtaining the written consent of the livestock, to satisfy his outstanding t o a l o a n Bank. obligations. The Bank succeeded in agreement abide by its terms and enjoy In March 1996, Martin renewed a rounding up and selling twenty of a productive financial relationship. loan with the Bank, in which he agreed Martin’s cattle. However, the Bank was However, as every banker and lawyer can to pay principal of approximately unable to round up the remaining fifty likely attest, there are always instances $30,000.00 and pledge all of his or so cattle, due to the expansive ranch where a customer does not abide by livestock as collateral. The loan came land upon which they roamed. The Bank the terms of the loan agreement and due in September 1996, and the also suspected that Martin had sold the bank is forced to take action. A very Bank demanded payment. Martin some of the cattle, which served as recent Texas Supreme Court case, First attempted to renegotiate, but the Bank Valley Bank of Los Fresnos v. Martin, Norwest refused and, instead, accelerated the (continued on Page 15)

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October 4, 2004 BANKERS DIGEST Page  p e o p l e TEXAS Navarro Upped to SVP, Commerce Bank, Lar- Retired Dalhart Fed S&L Commerce Bank, Laredo, has announcement. Executive Wells Dies at 74 promoted Jesse Navarro serves as a member of the W. Joe Wells, 74, died August 28. He Navarro to senior bank’s executive management team, was born March 29, 1930, in Noma, vice president as the secrecy and security officer, FL, and was raised in Amarillo. He and cashier. He and plays an integral role in the attended Amarillo College and Texas has served within administration of the cash management A&M University where he majored in the IBC family program by serving as a liaison to the business. for over 20 years, bank’s processing center. After college he was drafted into the previously as first He is involved in organizations U.S. Army, served from 1950 to 1953, vice president and and activities that seek to better the and was discharged as a captain. cashier. Commerce Laredo community. He is currently Wells also attended Eastern Ken- Bank president and vice president of the United Way’s tucky University and Dodge City Col- CEO Ignacio Urrabazo made the local charitable campaign and a board lege. In 1972, Wells helped establish the ValueBank, Corpus Christi, Names Three Assistant VPs first branch office of North Plains Sav- Peggy Ramos and Ben Thompson served for two years as a credit analyst ings & Loan of Stratford. He moved to of ValueBank Texas, Corpus Christi, and holds bachelors and masters de- Dalhart in 1977, joining Dalhart Fed- have been promoted to assistant vice grees in accounting from Texas A&M eral Savings & Loan as vice president. president, and Marie Garza has been University-Corpus Christi. He serves at During his 18-plus years with Dalhart appointed an assistant vice president. the 7110 South Staples St. location. Federal, he held the offices of vice Ramos, lobby supervisor, has been Garza also has joined as an assistant president, senior vice president, and with ValueBank for five years and serves vice president and lobby supervisor at executive vice president. at the Port Aransas location. the South Staples location. She has 10 He retired from the bank in 1995 but continued to serve as a director Thompson, a commercial lender, has years banking experience Q Q

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Page  BANKERS DIGEST October 4, 2004 STRUNK-4 COLOR

October 4, 2004 BANKERS DIGEST Page  p e o p l e LOUISIANA American Gateway Jordan Upped to SVP, Taps Judice, Blom SVP First Guaranty Bank Paul Judice has joined American Gate- Phillip Jordan has been promoted to way Bank, Port Allen, as senior vice senior vice president of commercial president and commercial loan officer. lending at the Homer branch of First He previously served as senior vice Guaranty Bank, Hammond. president, corporate business services, In 2000, he was named vice president for The Business Bank of Baton Rouge. of consumer lending at the bank. With American Gateway has also announced this promotion, he will head the bank’s that Gary Blom has been promoted to North Louisiana commercial lending senior vice president. He was previously division based in Homer Q a vice president and loan officer Q Liberty Bank & Trust, New Orleans, Appoints Officers Hibernia National Bank Liberty Bank & Trust, New Orleans, has Names Four Vice Presidents announced the appointment of the fol- CUMMINS ALLISON Hibernia National Bank, New Orleans, lowing new officers:Stephanie Duck- has named four vice presidents: Lou- sworth, bank officer;Kathy Matranga, ise Jacobsen, who manages the Baton assistant vice president, mortgage Rouge main office;Myra Holland, who lending, and Kelly Schello, assistant manages the Highland Road banking vice president, human resources. office; Jessie Jones, who manages the The bank has also appointed Willie Hammond banking office, and Julie Z. Campbell assistant vice president, Hart, who manages the Jefferson High- sales. He is responsible for sales and business development, and manage- way banking officeQ ment and oversight of operations at the Greenwell Springs office OKLAHOMA Q

First National Sallisaw NEW MEXICO Promotes Cox to SVP Sabrina Cox has been promoted to First Nat’l Bank of Santa Fe senior vice president and cashier. Her Announces Appointments office is in Roland at the administra- First National Bank of Santa Fe has tion location, where she manages announced that three officers have the technology center, datacenter, and been named to the senior manage- accounting area. ment team. Cox has served with First National Bank Aimee Abby serves as vice president for 18 years. She graduated magna cum and human resources director. She has laude in December 2003 from John Brown served in the human resources depart- University with a BS degree in business ment since 1999 and joined the bank information systems. The bank has also announced that in 1997. She was promoted to vice Jay Creekkiller has been appointed president in 1999. loan officer at the main Roland branch Kathleen Gonzales serves as vice at 100 E. Ray Fine Blvd. president and assistant to the chairman The Roland native is a graduate of of the bank. the University of Central Oklahoma Matthew Moon serves as vice presi- with a bachelors degree in management dent and chief information officer. He has served in the information services information systems Q department since 1996 and was pro- moted to vice president in 1999. He www.bankersdigest.com holds a BS degree in mathematics from Whittier College in CA Q Page  BANKERS DIGEST October 4, 2004 ABA COMPLIANCE

October 4, 2004 BANKERS DIGEST Page  p e o p l e Franklin Joins American Arkansas State Bank First Federal Bank Harrison State Jonesboro as SVP Department Promotes Four Announces Two New Offi- American State Bank of Jonesboro has The Arkansas State Bank Department Larry J. Brandt, president/CEO of First announced the appointment of Jimmy has announced the promotion of Trent Federal Bank, Harrison, announced Franklin as senior vice president of Brown to bank senior examiner. He that Fred Le Grand was hired as vice commercial lending. The veteran com- serves in the Jonesboro region office. president and branch manager at the mercial lender most recently served The bank department has also an- Mountain Home branch. He has 13 with another local bank. nounced the promotion of Chris Dillon, years of banking experience, primarily The announcement was made by Steve Jarad Manatt, and Shanna Raper to in bank management and lending. McFerron, executive vice president Q junior bank examiners Q He attended Columbia University and then attended the Bank- ers Association School of Lending and Graduate School of Lending. He also attended the College for Financial Planning-Foundations in Financial Planning. He worked for an SBA lender ranked #1 in small business lending for 2003 in Missouri. Alan Koizumi was hired as loan of- ficer at the Mountain Home branch. He has been a banker for 15 years, with experience as a commercial loan officer and branch manager. He joins First Federal Bank after serving as a processing and storage vice president at First State Bank of Northwest Arkansas, Huntsville, and with Hawaii National Bank. Koizumi is a graduate of Chaminade University of Honolulu with a degree in business administration. He was the recipient of the 1999 State of Hawaii Small Business Administration’s Top Ten Lenders recognition Q Jessup Elected to DeWitt Bank Board of Directors David Jessup, vice president and trust officer for DeWitt Bank & Trust Co., has been elected to the bank’s board of directors Q First Security of Springdale VP Guldi Dies at Age 55 Ruth Ellen Guldi, 55, of Springdale, died September 16 at Northwest Medi- cal Center in Springdale. She was born October 7, 1948, in Fayetteville. Guidi most recently served as vice president of commercial lending at the Springdale branch of First Security Bank of Searcy. She previously served for 32 years with the bank’s predecessor in Springdale, the former First National Bank of Springdale Q Page  BANKERS DIGEST October 4, 2004