MCGREGOR, TX, August 13, 2026 (EZ Newswire) -- In the early 1930s, as she traveled internationally with students from across the U.S., 16-year-old Jeanette McGinnis needed money. While students from larger cities struggled to reach their banks abroad, McGinnis contacted her family’s community bank in McGregor, Texas, where bankers she had known since childhood worked through international obstacles to wire her funds.

She was not treated like an account number. She was treated like someone they knew.

That moment became the beginning of a lifelong relationship. For decades, TFNB remained her bank, serving not just McGinnis, but her family across generations.

“Our goal has never been to be the biggest bank; it’s to be the most trusted bank for families who depend on us,” says David Littlewood, chairman and CEO. “I’ve had the privilege of serving as a community banker in Central Texas for over 40 years and have come to believe that banking is not about transactions. It’s about relationships, responsibility, and a genuine commitment to serve others.”

That same approach still defines TFNB today. Whether someone has banked there for 90 years or just walked through the door for the first time, the experience is meant to feel the same: personal, familiar, and built on trust.

“We can talk numbers, but the quality of our service is experienced on an individual level with people like Jeanette,” says Christy De Leon, president and CFO. “Her family reminds me why I’m passionate about who we are and what we do as a bank. Before her passing at 103, she became our longest-tenured customer, and her son still banks with us today.”

Supporting the Backbone of Community

The same long-term mindset extends to local businesses across Central Texas. For entrepreneurs, consistency matters. So does having a banker who understands the realities behind the numbers.

“Local businesses are the backbone of our communities,” Littlewood explains. “Our role is to understand their strategy, risks, and the cycles of their business. We take a disciplined, long-term approach to commercial banking, structuring credit thoughtfully, ensuring consistent access to capital, and providing candid guidance through both growth and uncertainty.”

In many cases, those conversations do not happen across a desk. They happen across a table.

“In many cases, we’re sitting at a customer’s table as a trusted advisor, not a lender,” says Littlewood. “We help business owners think through expansion, succession, cash flow, and the realities of navigating changing economic conditions. We see people at their best and walk alongside them through their most challenging moments.”

A Promise for Life

“Your Bank for Life” goes beyond a slogan. It reflects the role TFNB plays across every stage of a customer’s life.

“Our values are faith, family, and finances in that order,” says Jason Lavender, executive vice president and director of strategic initiatives. “We believe in the families and entrepreneurs who dream of how they want their lives to look, and they believe in us as their trusted financial institution to help their dreams come true.”

From first savings accounts to long-term planning, TFNB approaches each relationship with the understanding that trust is built over time and reinforced through every interaction.

“Faith is a foundational element of our culture,” says De Leon. “Regardless of spiritual beliefs, we are all guided by kindness, humility, and compassion. The intentionality in our interactions creates a ripple effect that benefits our communities.”

The Bank Without Branches

At TFNB, the word “branch” does not quite fit.

“The word ‘branch’ suggests separation from the main bank,” says Lavender. “We don’t build branches. We build communities. Each TFNB location is equally important, with a unique ecosystem and identity shaped by its setting, but all are united by the bank’s overarching history, values, and morals.”

Each location reflects the people and neighborhoods around it. Whether serving businesses in downtown Waco, students near Baylor University, or families across the region, the goal remains the same.

“People, employees, and customers shape a location’s personality,” says De Leon. “Our location in East Waco has different needs than a location near Baylor University where students define the culture. We identify what’s going on around the community and use that knowledge to offer products and services that create lasting financial security.”

Banking to Build Central Texas

Independent, locally owned financial institutions like TFNB play an essential role in the economic health of a community. When deposits stay local, they are reinvested into neighborhood businesses, families, and opportunities that create a cycle of growth, stability, and shared prosperity.

“When decisions are made locally, they reflect what is actually happening in the community,” says Littlewood. “That allows us to respond with clarity and consistency, even in uncertain times.”

Relationship-driven banking takes time to build, but once established, it creates a level of trust that cannot be replicated.

“Your Bank for Life means showing up consistently, serving with care, operating with integrity, and staying grounded in the values that have guided us for generations,” says Littlewood. “Our success is measured not only in financial performance, but in the strength of the businesses we help grow, the communities we serve, and the lasting impact we have on the lives of the people who trust us to do what’s right.”

Charity Champions

To celebrate TFNB’s 125th anniversary in 2014, the team created Charity Champions, a nonprofit helping Central Texas prosper by empowering the leaders making a difference.

“Charity Champions reflects our mission to help those who help others,” says Lavender. “Some nonprofit leaders have good ideas but lack the means or skill set to execute their mission. We use our connections to community leaders and colleges to connect resources with those nonprofits and help them do more good in our communities.”

Since 2014, Charity Champions has supported more than 70 nonprofits throughout Central Texas, including animal shelters, food banks, and community centers. Each organization receives marketing support, leadership development, and access to Baylor University interns for grant writing and strategic planning. They are also recognized at Baylor University sporting events, helping expand awareness and support for their mission.

The result is a program designed not only to support organizations, but to strengthen the communities they serve for generations to come.

About TFNB

TFNB Your Bank for Life was established in 1889 and is the seventh-oldest bank in Texas under its original charter. TFNB offers a full range of business and consumer loan/deposit products and services, trust services, and is a preferred lender with the Small Business Administration. TFNB delivers a high level of service to our customers with a philosophy of meeting people where they are and providing personal access to key decision-makers. TFNB is passionate about taking care of our customers and the communities we serve. For more information, visit tfnbtx.com.

Disclaimer

The information, statements, and opinions contained herein were provided by TFNB and are for informational purposes only. Nothing in this release constitutes financial, investment, legal, or tax advice, nor should it be construed as an offer, solicitation, or recommendation regarding any financial product or service. Banking products and services are subject to applicable terms, conditions, eligibility requirements, and regulatory requirements.

Media Contact

Jason Lavender
jlavender@tfnbtx.com

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SOURCE: TFNB

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