East Texas Business

Fort Worth National Bank on Monday officially became Southside Bank as the final step in the acquisition by Tyler-based Southside Bancshares Inc.

“It is our pleasure to welcome Fort Worth National Bank customers to the Southside Bank family,” said B.G. Hartley, Southside Bancshares Chairman and CEO. “We are excited about expanding the Southside name and franchise in the growing and dynamic Tarrant and Travis County markets.”

Last year Southside announced it had acquired Worth Bancshares Inc. and its wholly-owned subsidiary, Fort Worth National Bank, in a $36.5 million transaction based on a purchase price of $52 per share of Fort Worth Bancshares common stock.

Fort Worth National Bank had two banking centers in Fort Worth, one in Arlington and one in Austin, company statements show.

“Now that we have completed the merger process, we will be able to provide Fort Worth, Arlington and Austin customers with the full range of financial services and expanded resources Southside Bank offers,” Hartley’s statement said.

Other than the name change and access to Southside banking centers and ATMs, Fort Worth National Bank customers would not see changes or disruption in service, said a statement from Southside.

Southside Bancshares reports $2.3 billion in assets and a network of 44 banking centers and 47 ATMs.