PlainsCapital Bank added Jorge Vernaza to its Houston lending team as senior vice president, senior commercial loan officer. He will be based at the bank’s Richmond Avenue location at 2925 Richmond Avenue, Suite 100.

In this role, Vernaza will focus on building and managing relationships with commercial clients to address their business and financial needs. He will work to expand existing client relationships, develop new relationships and enhance commercial portfolios.

Vernaza has a background in both commercial real estate (CRE) and commercial and industrial (C&I) with former clients across various sectors and sub-sectors of the economy. In the C&I space, he has specialized in industries such as transportation and logistics, manufacturing and healthcare, focusing on businesses with annual revenues of up to $200 million.

“Jorge’s impressive background and deep understanding of the Houston market make him a valuable addition to our team,” Danny Schroder, chairman of the bank’s Houston region, said. “His commitment to building strong client relationships and his proactive approach will greatly benefit our clients as we work together to achieve their goals.”

Vernaza has more than 24 years of experience in financial services. Most recently, he served as senior vice president, senior commercial lending officer at Bank OZK, where he focused on business development and managed a diverse commercial portfolio. His career also includes roles in commercial lending and relationship management at Independent Financial, First Citizens Bank, Mercantil Commercebank, BB&T, Wells Fargo and The Vanguard Group.

“I’m excited to join PlainsCapital Bank and work with such a dedicated team,” Vernaza said. “I look forward to helping our clients navigate their financial needs and grow their businesses.”

Active in the Houston community, Vernaza has been involved with several organizations, including the Latin American Chamber of Commerce, the Houston Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, the Italian Cultural & Community Center of Houston and the Harris County Medical Society. He earned his BA in management and international business from the University of South Carolina.