Recognizing the Need for Community Banking
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, the number of 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.
The Founders’ Key Objectives:
- 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. 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.
Launching with Community Support
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, TSBI 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, with its relationship style of banking articulated in the new tag line, “the people you know in the communities we serve.”
Growth through Strategic Acquisitions
TRB celebrated another milestone in November 2013, when Border Capital Bank was acquired. The merger added a trust department and four more locations in the Rio Grande Valley market. In February 2017, TRB completed the acquisition of Blanco National Bank expanding the bank’s footprint into the Texas Hill Country. In September 2021, TRB opened its first location in Houston in the Memorial City area. In July 2022, the bank expanded into the DFW market with the acquisition of AccessBank Texas.
Expanding the TRB Ecosystem
Along with an expanding footprint, TRB has continued to further position itself as a diversified financial services company by expanding its lines of business in the TRB divisions. TRB established TRB Insurance, through 2022 and 2023 acquisitions of Mission Duncan Insurance, and Smith-Reagan Insurance, respectively.
In 2024, TRB established a capital markets division, TRB Capital Markets, through an acquisition of Estrada Hinojosa & Co. Inc., while also establishing and expanding Commercial Banking Services.
TRB Today
The Board of Directors and Management of TRB remain committed to local communities 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.
As of December 31, 2024, Texas Regional Bank has assets of approximately $2.72 billion with 36 locations across South Texas, Central Texas, Houston, and North Texas.