Vidal Gonzalez 2nd, a senior vice president with Jourdanton State Bank in San Antonio, says he never wanted to be a banker. After nearly 30 years as one, he's now been selected to help Texas navigate finance issues.
Gov. Rick Perry's office announced Mr. Gonzalez' appointment as the banking representative to the Finance Commission of Texas on Sept. 8.
Mr. Gonzalez met Gov. Perry before he started in banking, when the two were studying animal science as freshmen at Texas A&M University. Mr. Gonzalez said ranching was always his dream, but he was roped into working at Frontier State Bank of Eagle Pass after college in 1978 , and eventually served as the bank's president from 1987 to 1993. His family was a part owner of Frontier State.
Before joining Jourdanton, Mr. Gonzalez was the president of Del Rio National Bank from 1993 through 2001.
This isn't the first time Mr. Gonzalez has been appointed to a post by Mr. Perry. The governor also named him to the Texas Housing and Community Affairs Board, and he has held that seat since 2001. From 1995 to 1997 he was on the Texas Appraiser Licensing and Certification Board; he was appointed to that post by then-Gov. George W. Bush.
The Finance Commission appointment is subject to Senate approval, and the term would last until 2012. The nine-member commission oversees and coordinates the Texas Department of Banking, the Department of Savings and Mortgage Lending, and the Office of the Consumer Credit Commissioner.
One big concern Mr. Gonzalez is expecting to tackle sometime after he joins the Commission in October is cleaning up Texas' home equity regulations for the state.
American Banker took the opportunity to ask Mr. Gonzalez some questions about his experiences as a banker and working with the state government.
How long have you been in your current role, and why did you leave your last job?
Since September 2003. And I left because Del Rio National Bank sold to Laredo Bancshares, and I had a daughter going to school in San Antonio. So it was an opportunity to move to San Antonio and continue in the banking field.
What's been your biggest challenge as a banker?
Keeping up with change, regulations, and staying current on events. To be a banker, you have to be a lifelong learner. You have to embrace change instead of resist it.
What is your bank's line of business?
Commercial lending, mortgages, student loans, and small-business loans.
As someone who has worked on regulatory bodies in the past, have you faced any tough decisions?
With the appraisal board it was fairly black and white. But the Housing Board on the other hand, you have to put human factor into the decisions you make. We faced funding issues with different housing projects, etc. We had to pick the most viable ones. We had to try and be as fair as we could and make sure different areas of the state were covered and receiving funds.
But basically, it wasn't one person making a decision; the whole board made a decision. So we had to build some type of consensus.
You win some, you lose some, and you go forward.
What are you most proud of?
Being a bank president, ranching, and completing my master's degree all at once. After that I was able to catch up on my sleep, and when I got through, that was one of my best moments.
What has been your best moment in banking?
My best moment in banking was when John Weston, chief executive officer, and Tuffy Whitehead, chairman of the board, invited me to join them at Del Rio National Bank as their bank president and chief administrative officer in 1993. What a great group of people to work with.
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