Texas deal forms $1 billion-asset Gulf Coast lender.
The merger will unite two community banks with deep regional ties and strengthen financial services across South Texas.
Coastal Bend Bancshares, the holding company for First Community Bank, has agreed to acquire First National Bank in Port Lavaca, a transaction that underscores continued consolidation among community banks along the Texas Gulf Coast.
The definitive agreement, announced Friday, is expected to close in the second quarter of 2026, pending shareholder and regulatory approval.
Financial terms were not disclosed.
The acquisition will bring together two locally rooted institutions with longstanding commitments to their communities. First Community Bank, headquartered in Corpus Christi, reported total assets of $661 million as of Dec. 31, 2025, while First National Bank in Port Lavaca held $368 million in assets at year-end. Upon completion, the combined franchise will deepen its presence across the Middle Texas Coast and enhance its ability to serve businesses and households throughout the region.
“Our roots along the Texas Gulf Coast run deep at First Community Bank,” said Wes Hoskins, president and chief executive of First Community Bank. “The acquisition of First National Bank in Port Lavaca brings together two like-minded community banks that share the same values: local decision-making by bankers who truly know and care about the individuals, families and businesses that make up our communities along the Texas Gulf Coast.”
Founded in 1957, First National Bank in Port Lavaca operates four branches serving Port Lavaca, Seadrift, Port O’Connor and Victoria. The institution has long been regarded as a cornerstone of the Middle Texas Coast, with a history of supporting local initiatives and prioritizing customer relationships.
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Terry Cullen, president and chief executive of First National Bank, said the transaction ensures continuity while providing access to broader resources.
“Becoming part of First Community Bank ensures that our customers will continue to be served by a locally owned and operated community bank for generations to come,” Cullen said. “Our customers can be confident they will be working with their same experienced and trusted local bankers, supported by expanded resources and modern technologies.”
Under the terms of the agreement, Cullen will remain in a leadership role as regional president and continue serving on the bank’s board. Bill Bauer, chairman of First National Bank, will assume the honorary role of chairman emeritus and continue to serve in an advisory capacity.
First Community Bank, founded in Alice, Texas, in 1983, operates 12 branches throughout the Gulf Coast, including locations in Corpus Christi, Kingsville, Padre Island, Pearland, Portland, Premont, Rockport and Victoria. Following the acquisition, customers of both institutions will ultimately have access to 16 branches across the region.
Both banks will continue to operate independently until the anticipated final integration in early 2027. During the transition, First National Bank customers will retain access to their existing online and mobile banking services, debit cards and checks, and no changes to branch locations or personnel are planned.
First National Bank in Port Lavaca earned $3.5 million last year, according to FDIC data, up slightly from 2024. First Community Bank reported $8.5 million in net income in 2025 compared to $7.3 million the year before.
The deal reflects broader consolidation trends in community banking as institutions seek scale, technology investments and deeper market reach while preserving their local identities.
“We are strengthening our ability to expand our services, invest in our people, and support the long-term economic vitality of South Texas.”
– Wes Hoskins
President & CEO
First Community Bank
Ken McCarthy is manager of marketing communications at Tyfone, where he monitors the credit union industry and contributes to conversations shaping its future. He previously covered credit unions and community banking for American Banker and S&P Global Market Intelligence. He holds a journalism degree from Point Park University and has more than 15 years of experience covering financial services. He is also the author of three literary fiction novels.
