Texas First Bank announced June 30 that it is welcoming Chris Kovatch to the team as Senior Vice President – Commercial Lending. In this new role, Chris will work with our Southeast Texas team to help businesses small and large in the Beaumont-Orange-Port Arthur area grow and thrive.
A native of Orange, Chris joins Texas First with over 15 years in banking on both the retail and lending sides. He holds a bachelor’s degree from Lamar University and lives in Orange with his wife of 20 years, Christi, and their six children.
Chris currently serves as Chairman of the Greater Orange Area Chamber of Commerce, Trustee for the Orangefield ISD School Board, President of the Orangefield Music Boosters and Second Vice District Governor for the local Lions Club district. He has been named Beaumont’s 40 under 40 by the Southeast Texas Young Professionals Organization (2014), voted Orange County’s Best Banker from 2016 to 2018 by the readers of The Orange Leader, and honored as the 2019 Orange Citizen of the Year by the Greater Orange Area Chamber of Commerce.
“We are excited to have Chris join the Texas First family,” said John Morrell, Southeast Texas Regional Loan President. “With his hiring and our new location at 6363 Phelan Boulevard under development, we are furthering our commitment to the Golden Triangle. Chris’s experience and community-focused attitude make him a great fit for this role. I look forward to working with him to better serve the people and businesses of our area.”
Chris began work at Texas First Bank on June 28.
About Texas First Bank
Texas Independent Bancshares is the parent company of Texas First Bank, a state-chartered community bank, serving individuals, small to medium-sized businesses and large corporations along the Texas Gulf Coast. Headquartered in Texas City, Texas First Bank has 26 locations throughout Galveston, Harris, Brazoria, Chambers, Liberty, Montgomery and Jefferson counties. It offers a wide range of personal and commercial banking, loan and investment products and services via a dedicated, local staff committed to providing superior service and treating customers like family. To learn more about Texas First Bank, visit www.texasfirst.bank. “Helping Texans Build Texas.”
