ABILENE, Texas, Feb. 21 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- F. Scott Dueser, President and CEO of First Financial Bankshares, Inc. , announced the promotion of three senior executives. Gary S. Gragg and Robert S. Patterson were named Executive Vice Presidents while Michele P. Stevens was promoted to Senior Vice President.
Gragg, who joined the Company in 1990, is the Senior Lending Officer for First Financial Bankshares. He has oversight responsibilities for First Financial's Credit Administration, the Loan Review Department and the Compliance Audit Department. A graduate of Hardin-Simmons University, Gragg began his banking career in 1978.
Patterson, a Certified Trust and Financial Advisor, is President and Chief Executive Officer of First Financial Trust & Asset Management Co., N.A. He has 40 years of experience in the bank trust industry and joined First Financial in 1994. Patterson is a graduate of Towson University and the National Trust School at Northwestern University.
As Senior Vice President, Marketing, Stevens oversees marketing and advertising for First Financial's family of community banks. She has 28 years of experience in banking and has worked for First Financial and its banks for more than a decade. Stevens is a graduate of Angelo State University and earned a master's of business administration at Tarleton State University. She also graduated from the Bank Marketing Association Graduate School of Bank Marketing.
"These three executive officers have made invaluable contributions to the stability and growth of First Financial and its family of banks. We are pleased to honor them with these well-deserved promotions and thank them for their dedication and professionalism," said F. Scott Dueser, President and Chief Executive Officer.
Headquartered in Abilene, Texas, First Financial Bankshares is a financial holding company that operates ten separately chartered banks with 44 locations in Texas, a trust company and a technology operating company. These subsidiaries are First Financial Bank, N.A., Abilene, Clyde and Moran; First Financial Bank, N.A., Eastland, Ranger and Rising Star; First Financial Bank, N.A., Cleburne, Burleson, Alvarado and Midlothian; Hereford State Bank, Hereford; City National Bank, Mineral Wells; San Angelo National Bank, San Angelo; First Financial Bank, N.A., Southlake, Trophy Club, Keller, Bridgeport, Decatur and Boyd; First Financial Bank, N.A., Stephenville, Granbury and Glen Rose; First National Bank, Sweetwater, Roby and Trent; Weatherford National Bank, Weatherford, Willow Park and Aledo; First Financial Trust & Asset Management Company, N.A.; and First Technology Services, Inc.
The Company is listed on The Nasdaq Stock Market under the trading symbol FFIN. For more information about First Financial Bankshares, please visit our Web site at http://www.ffin.com/ .
Certain statements contained herein may be considered "forward-looking statements" as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are based upon the belief of the Company's management, as well as assumptions made beyond information currently available to the Company's management, and may be, but not necessarily are, identified by such words as "expect", "plan", "anticipate", "target", "forecast" and "goal". Because such "forward-looking statements" are subject to risks and uncertainties, actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the Company's expectations include competition from other financial institutions and financial holding companies; the effects of and changes in trade, monetary and fiscal policies and laws, including interest rate policies of the Federal Reserve Board; changes in the demand for loans; fluctuations in value of collateral and loan reserves; inflation, interest rate, market and monetary fluctuations; changes in consumer spending, borrowing and savings habits; and acquisitions and integration of acquired businesses, and similar variables. Other key risks are described in the Company's reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, which may be obtained under "Investor Relations-Documents/Filings" on the Company's Web site or by writing or calling the Company at 325.627.7155. Except as otherwise stated in this news announcement, the Company does not undertake any obligation to update publicly or revise any forward-looking statements because of new information, future events or otherwise.
