First Guaranty Bancshares in Hammond, La., has agreed to buy Lone Star Bank in Houston. The $3.1 billion-asset First Guaranty said in a press release that it will pay $78.7 million in stock for the $151 million-asset Lone Star. The deal priced Lone Star at 150% of its tangible book value. “First Guaranty Bank’s philosophy and goal is to have a strong presence in the communities we serve and to

Mark Vitner, retired chief economist for Wells Fargo, has created his own business. Vitner announced on his LinkedIn page that he had formed Piedmont Crescent Capital, an independent economic consulting firm. Piedmont Crescent aims to provide economic analysis to businesses, state and local governments, and industry trade groups. Vitner, a mainstay at conferences and academic gatherings, retired last year as a managing director and senior economist at Wells Fargo. He

Independent Bank in Rockland, Mass., has selected its next CEO. The $20 billion-asset company said in a press release that Jeffrey Tengel will succeed Christopher Oddleifson on Feb. 6. Tengel, who also joined Independent’s board, previously served as head of commercial specialty banking at M&T Bank. Before that, he was president of People’s United Financial, which was sold to M&T. Oddleifson, who has been the bank’s CEO since 2003, is

Hope Bancorp in Los Angeles is bringing back one of its retired executives on an interim basis. The $19.1 billion-asset company said that David Malone is returning to serve as interim chief financial officer. He will succeed Alex Ko, who resigned “to pursue other opportunities” but will serve as a consultant through March 31. Hope said it has begun a formal search for a permanent CFO. Malone retired as president

Parkway Acquisition in Independence, Va., has changed its name to match its bank brand. The parent of the $1 billion-asset Skyline National Bank disclosed in a regulatory filing that it amended its articles of incorporation to become Skyline Bankshares. Parkway was created in July 2016 when Grayson Bankshares and Cardinal Bankshares merged. The surviving bank was rebranded as Skyline National Bank in March 2017.

HNB Bancorp in Hannibal, Mo., has agreed to buy Northeast Missouri Bancshares in Louisiana, Mo. The parent of the $649.9 million-asset HNB National Bank said in a press release that it expects to complete the purchase of Northeast Missouri in the second quarter. The price wasn’t disclosed. Northeast Missouri is the holding company for the $137.2 million-asset Mercantile Bank of Louisiana, Mo. "We view this as a tremendous opportunity for

Encore Bancshares in Little Rock, Ark., has added a Florida banker to its bank’s board. The company said in a press release that Rita Lowman is one of three new directors at the $2.8 billion-asset Encore Bank. Lowman was president of Pilot Bank in Tampa, Fla., which was sold last year to Lake Michigan Credit Union. She subsequently joined the board of Caldwell Trust, a wealth manager in Venice, Fla.

Mid Minnesota Federal Credit Union in Baxter, Minn., has hired a banking veteran as its president and CEO. The $661 million-asset credit union said in a press release that Bob Gerads succeeded Chuck Albrecht, who retired last year. Gerads was the chief deposit officer at Falcon National Bank in Foley, Minn. "I know I speak for the rest of the board when I say we are overjoyed to welcome Bob