For 135 years, Texas Republic Bank has served the North Texas area, starting as the oldest bank charter in Collin County.
For going on three of those 135 years, Texas Republic has been part of the Pilot Point community.
“It’s fun that you can work for a bank with the stability and the long-standing customer service,” Executive Vice President Brett Kuhn said. “That is basically what banking is all about. There’s plenty of banks that do the same thing, but what gets you more and more customers is just the ability to take care of their needs, and that’s the fun part about banking.”
Kuhn said he’s grateful for the local decision- making.
“It’s not a corporate atmosphere,” he said. “It’s just a down-to-earth, friendly bank.”
Many customers and long-time friends came into the bank throughout the day to celebrate with the staff.
Mildred Boerner, who worked with Kuhn during her 35 years in banking, stopped by.
“I know what it’s like to do this every day—a lot of work,” she said. “So, it brings back a lot of memories, and I’m glad to see him here and hope they can continue.”
Shelly Pelzel also came in with her husband.
“I love these people,” she said.
It’s their personal relationships that help her feel secure as their customer.
“It just gives you a sense of … security knowing that they’re not just keepers of your money, they’re keepers of your friendship, too,” Pelzel said. “And so, it just makes you feel like they’re … going to look out for your best interests.”
Pilot Point Mayor Chad Major and his wife Kate Major also stopped in.
“I love the way they support the community,” he said. “That’s the whole point. … They support the school, they support the chamber, they support all of these functions, but they also do this type of thing, so it’s part of the whole community participation, and this is a community bank.”
It’s that focus on community that makes Branch Operations Supervisor Julie Holloway, who has called Pilot Point home for 24 years, grateful to work for Texas Republic Bank.
“This is what I love doing, is doing things for the community,” she said. “I wouldn’t be at a bank that wouldn’t let us do that.”
Having people come by to say congratulations had her beaming.
“I’m loving all the hugs and the pictures taken and how happy people are to come sit down and just share with us for a little while,” Holloway said. “… We’re not going anywhere.”
Texas Republic Bank Operations Manager Sharon Pudenz spent the day in Pilot Point.
“As a bank as a whole, we love our people—our customers, our staff,” she said. “Our main goal is customer service, and Pilot Point exemplifies everything we talk about in customer service.”
The branch, which shares a building with Haughton Law Group and Healthy Gait, will eventually have a standalone building, although no specifi c site has been identified yet.
“We are definitely planning to make a permanent spot here and a standalone building,” Pudenz said. “And as the timing becomes right, we will go ahead with those plans, and we are looking for a long future of banking in Pilot Point and the surrounding area.”
