Business First Bank announced the bank’s formal expansion into Texas and the opening of a loan production office in the Dallas-Fort Worth metropolitan area.

“Business First’s particular model of banking — serving small and lower middle market businesses and their executives — is a region-wide need,” said Jude Melville, president and chief executive officer. “For more than a decade we have been serving our Louisiana clients as they do business in the high growth areas of Texas, and we now look forward to bringing that same level of consistency and partnership to clients in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. Our success depends on having the right bankers on our team, and we are pleased to announce Chris Shaw, a seasoned business banker and native of the Dallas-Fort Worth area, is leading our efforts on the ground.”

Shaw has more than 15 years of banking experience, most recently as executive vice president and Dallas commercial manager for a Dallas community bank.

Joining Shaw is a group of banking professionals — Scott Kelley, Karl Chiao, Scott Klor and Annabeth Dugger. The loan production office is located at Spring Valley Center in Dallas, Texas, just north of the 635 and Dallas North Tollway intersection.