Texas National Bank acquiring Citizens State in Starr County

The $78 million acquisition will put Texas National’s assets at about $1.1 billion and bring it to a total of 12 branches in the Valley

Texas National Bank announced it’s acquiring Citizens State Bank and expanding into Starr County.

Citizens has two locations, one in Rio Grande City and another in Roma, along with assets totalling over $78 million, according to a news release Texas National Bank issued last month.

The acquisition will put Texas National’s assets at about $1.1 billion and bring it to a total of 12 branches in Cameron, Hidalgo and Starr counties.

Boards of directors from both banks have approved the transaction, which is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2025.

Representatives from both institutions say the acquisition is good news for Citizens customers.

“It’s an opportunity for maybe a breath of fresh air from somebody from out of the area that still understands community,” Texas National Bank President Joe Quiroga said. “We’re bringing a lot of technology that the bank needs and giving them the opportunity to take a step back and be banked fully for the first time in a long time.”

Acquiring Citizens represents First National’s initial foray into Starr County.

“I think it’s a market that’s been ignored for a long time, and I think it’s an opportunity for us to go in there and show them that we care about them,” Quiroga said. “And that what we’ve done in the rest of the Rio Grande Valley, it’s an opportunity for us to do it over there. They’re gonna see us in the community. They’re gonna see us involved.”

Roma-based Citizens State was founded in 1977.

It was the only bank in Roma for almost two decades and is one of the only banks chartered in Starr County.

The possibility of encroachment from the east had Citizens considering expansion of its own as far back as 2006, though it ultimately wound up staying in Starr County.

Quiroga says First National is cognizant of the bank’s history and its significance to Starr County residents.

“It’s a unique market. There’s a lot of history there and we want to honor that history,” he said. “The bank itself had a lot of local shareholders that came together to form this bank. They did it because they felt neglected and they needed someone to take care of them. So we’re mindful of that and we want to make sure we continue to take care of that market.”