Amarillo National Bank
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Banking, Financial services |
| Founded | 1892 |
| Founder | Benjamin Taliaferro Ware (leadership since 1895) |
| Headquarters | Amarillo , United States |
Area served | Texas (Texas Panhandle, South Plains, Bryan-College Station, Fort Worth, Austin suburbs) |
Key people | Richard Ware (Chairman), Patrick Ware (Vice Chairman), William Ware (President) |
| Products | Commercial and personal banking solutions |
Number of employees | 695 (2019) |
Amarillo National Bank (ANB) is a privately held financial institution headquartered in Amarillo, Texas, providing a range of commercial and personal banking solutions throughout Texas. In 2019, ANB broadened its footprint by acquiring Lubbock National Bank, thereby extending its reach beyond the Texas Panhandle into the South Plains region and additional areas. The bank operates under three distinct brands: ANB itself manages 19 branches located in Amarillo, Borger, and Canyon; Lubbock National Bank oversees six branches in Lubbock; and Commerce National Bank maintains seven offices across Bryan, College Station, Fort Worth, and the suburbs of Austin. Supporting this branch network are 116 ATMs branded locally. By the close of 2019, ANB reported assets exceeding $5.7 billion and employed a workforce of 695 individuals.
Established in 1892 and under continuous family ownership since 1909 by the Ware family, ANB holds the distinction of being the largest fully family-owned bank in the United States. The Ware family earned the title "bankers of the century" from Texas Monthly magazine in 1999.
The bank’s main offices consist of two prominent high-rise buildings in downtown Amarillo: the Amarillo National Bank Plaza One, a 16-story tower opened in 1971, and the 12-story Plaza Two completed in 1984.
ANB has been a trailblazer in banking innovations within Texas; it introduced the state’s inaugural drive-up window in 1950 and installed its first ATM in 1978 inside the downtown lobby. That same year marked the construction of what was then recognized as the largest drive-up banking facility nationwide.
As of 2019, Amarillo National Bank ranked as the nation’s 25th largest lender to agricultural clients, with farm loans making up approximately 15% of its total loan portfolio. It is also acknowledged as the leading mortgage lender within the Texas Panhandle and stands as the top independent cattle lender across Texas.
The bank donates over $2 million annually to community charities and actively promotes employee involvement in philanthropy through holiday giving programs. It invests heavily in financial literacy efforts via its ANB Smart initiative and supports national educational campaigns such as Teach Children to Save and Get Smart About Credit, sponsored by the American Bankers Association.
ANB holds naming rights for the Amarillo National Center, a versatile arena with seating for 10,000 spectators that opened in 2000.
History
Originally founded as First National Bank of Amarillo in 1892, leadership soon passed to local rancher Benjamin Taliaferro (B.T.) Ware who became vice president in 1895. After briefly divesting his shares and leaving in 1906, Ware reacquired control by merging with Western Bank and Trust in 1909, thus forming Amarillo National Bank. Since that time, ownership and management have remained within the Ware family.
In 1986, ANB grew through its acquisition of Borger's Bank located in Borger, Texas. Additional expansion occurred with the purchases of Lubbock National Bank and Commerce National Bank announced in October 2018 and finalized by March 2019.
Owners
The Ware family continues to guide Amarillo National Bank through its fourth and fifth generations. In 2017, Richard Ware II received recognition as "Banker of the Year" from American Banker. Leadership transitioned in 2018 when Richard Ware’s triplet sons assumed key roles: Patrick Ware became vice chairman while William Ware took on the presidency; Richard remains chairman. Both Patrick and William joined the board of directors in 2008, with other family members occupying significant executive positions within the institution.