Texas' two banking trade groups apparently will not be joining forces anytime soon.
The boards of the Texas Bankers Association and the Independent Bankers Association of Texas met separately last week to discuss whether to pursue a merger of the two groups.
The Texas Bankers' board voted to hold additional talks, but the IBAT's board voted against further discussions, said Fredrick M. "Rick" Smith, the Texas Bankers' president and chief executive officer.
The two longtime adversaries had been in informal merger talks since last summer, when the IBAT's executive committee approached the Texas Bankers' top officers.
Though the IBAT's executive committee supported a merger, the rest of the board did not. In an interview with American Banker last week, one IBAT member said its members generally oppose a merger, because they believe that the Texas Bankers Association largely represents big banks.
Mr. Smith said he suspects that many Texas bankers would be disappointed that the merger talks have stalled.
Of the 713 banks doing business in Texas, about 67% belong to both groups, he said.
The IBAT said Chris Williston, its president and CEO, was traveling and not available for comment.
