Business First’s b1BANK names Jon Heine Houston regional president, expanding private banking leadership in Texas

Leadership change targets Houston growth and private-banking buildout

b1BANK, the banking subsidiary of Business First Bancshares (Nasdaq: BFST), has appointed Jon Heine as Houston regional president and head of private banking, positioning him to lead market strategy, team development and private-banking expansion in the region.

Heine joins b1BANK after serving at Veritex Community Bank as senior executive vice president and Houston market president. In that role, he led banking and lending activities and participated on the bank’s executive leadership team. His background also includes nearly two decades at Comerica Bank in leadership roles spanning private banking, middle market banking and wealth management.

What the roles cover in a large, competitive banking market

The Houston regional president title typically signals responsibility for local business development and relationship management across commercial banking segments, while the head of private banking remit focuses on services for high-net-worth individuals, closely held business owners and professional services clients. Private banking commonly integrates customized credit, deposits, treasury and coordination with wealth-management affiliates.

Heine’s appointment comes as b1BANK continues building scale in Texas, where it operates banking centers and loan production offices alongside a larger Louisiana footprint. The company’s Texas presence expanded materially following its acquisition of Texas Citizens Bancorp in 2022, which added six Houston-area locations and introduced a Houston-region leadership structure.

How the move fits Business First’s recent corporate activity

Business First has recently emphasized organizational capacity and footprint growth. In early January 2026, the company completed its acquisition of Progressive Bank, increasing total assets to approximately $8.7 billion with more than $6.6 billion in total loans and $7.2 billion in deposits, and adding nine North Louisiana locations. Separately, b1BANK promoted Jerry Vascocu to bank president in October 2024, placing day-to-day operating coordination and cross-functional oversight under a dedicated executive.

As of Sept. 30, 2025, Business First reported $8.0 billion in assets and $5.7 billion in assets under management through its affiliate Smith Shellnut Wilson LLC, excluding $0.9 billion of b1BANK assets managed by that affiliate. The institution operates across Louisiana and Texas and offers commercial and personal banking, including treasury and lending products.

Implications for Houston clients and competitors

Houston’s banking market remains heavily contested by national banks, Texas-headquartered regionals and fast-growing entrants. Leadership hires with established local networks can influence recruiting, client acquisition and the pace of specialty-line development, including private banking and middle market lending.

• For clients: a single executive role spanning regional leadership and private banking can streamline decision-making for relationship-led banking and credit needs.
• For the bank: the appointment aligns Houston market leadership with private-banking expansion under one executive, potentially accelerating platform buildout and local team formation.
• For the market: continued executive movement among Texas regional banks underscores competition for experienced leaders with Houston-specific commercial relationships.

Heine’s responsibilities will center on expanding b1BANK’s Houston presence while building private-banking capabilities aimed at relationship-driven business and personal clients.