ServisFirst Bancshares Expands into Texas
Alabama-based ServisFirst Bancshares is making a significant move by extending its reach into Texas, marking its first presence in the state. The Birmingham-based lender, with $18 billion in assets, announced on Monday that it’s opening a new office in Houston. This expansion follows a trend of banks making inroads into the Lone Star State, attracted by Texas’ fast-growing economy, business-friendly regulations, and favorable tax policies.
Focus on Commercial Lending
ServisFirst, a regional bank that primarily focuses on commercial lending, has already established offices in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia. The bank’s operations in Texas will be spearheaded by Christopher Dvorachek, the newly appointed regional CEO and executive vice president.
“We are thrilled to officially launch ServisFirst Bank in Texas under Chris’s leadership,” said ServisFirst CEO Tom Broughton in a recent statement. “His deep experience, strong business acumen, and proven ability to build successful markets make him the ideal person to establish our footprint in Texas.”
A Strong Leadership Team
Before joining ServisFirst in November, Dvorachek served as an executive vice president for nearly nine years at Woodforest National Bank in The Woodlands, Texas, near Houston. In response to his new appointment, Dvorachek said, “It is an honor to lead ServisFirst Bank’s Texas expansion. Texas has a remarkable economy with exceptional opportunity.”
The bank has also assembled a robust team of commercial banking officers, portfolio managers, a sales officer, and a commercial account manager to support its Texas operations. “We have assembled a highly talented team of commercial bankers, portfolio managers, and treasury professionals who are dedicated to delivering the efficiency, responsiveness, and client-centric approach that ServisFirst Bank is known for,” added Dvorachek.
The Texas Banking Landscape
ServisFirst joins a growing list of banks that have recently expanded into Texas. For instance, Ohio’s Huntington Bancshares initiated its business operations in Dallas in 2024 and has since acquired both Cadence Bank and Veritex Holdings. In addition, Cullen/Frost Bankers, based in San Antonio, has been opening dozens of branches in Dallas, Houston, and Austin.
Positive Investor Reaction
The announcement of ServisFirst’s Texas expansion was met with a positive response from investors, with the bank’s stock price rising by more than 1% as of Tuesday’s close. Stephen Scouten, an analyst for Piper Sandler, sees this development as a strong move. “We view this as a very positive development given the [bank’s] track record with expansions and team lift-outs into new [areas]. It should be viewed favorably by investors as well,” Scouten noted.
Scouten is hopeful for the bank’s future growth in Texas, stating, “Houston now represents another growth metro for this branch-light, commercially-focused bank. We like the Texas expansion … and believe we could see additional Texas-based [areas] targeted in the future, as several other markets fit with the bank’s commercial lending strategy.”
With its dedicated team and strategic approach, ServisFirst seems well-positioned to seize the opportunities offered by the Texas market. This expansion represents another key step in ServisFirst’s continuing growth and its commitment to serving businesses with top-tier commercial banking services.
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