TransPecos banks sell Sierra Blanca branch

By MARK GLOVER

SIERRA BLANCA – The Sierra Blanca branch of TransPecos Banks changed hands last week with a sale to the Pecos County State Bank in Fort Stockton.

“It’s a good fit for everybody; fits their strategy, fits ours,” said Ron Reed, Chief Executive Officer of TransPecos Banks.

TransPecos Banks is a member of the San Antonio-based TransPecos Financial Corp., an organization of independent banks with locations Alpine, Marathon, and Pecos. The holding company employs 45 employees and has assets of $155 million.

Pecos County State Bank (PCSB) began its expansion from its Fort Stockton headquarters in 2008 with the purchase of the failed Sanderson State Bank.

“We’re real happy with the people of Sanderson,” said George Hansard, president of PCSB. “And we like the looks of Hudspeth County. Similar economics; a little ranching, a little oil and gas and some farming.”

PCSB was founded in 1929. It now has banks in Fort Stockton, Sanderson and Sierra Blanca. Holding company assets, according to Hansard, are about $145 million.

“We’re a small west Texas bank. Keep most of our loans in house,” Hansard said.