BRENEDA MATHIS:

Mathis, Executive Vice President/Branch Manager, Texas Bank and Trust

By JOYCELYNE FADOJUTIMI www.infinitieplusmag.com

Like so many others who have achieved boundless career success, local banking executive Breneda Mathis gives credit to God, her family, and mentors for steering her down the straight and narrow route.

"My father passed away in 2016, but both he and my mother were very instrumental in my life and career," she says. "I learned honesty, work ethics, integrity and to respect others as well as myself."

She has spent the past 42 year in the banking industry and sixteen of her forty-two years in banking as an employee of Texas Bank and Trust. Following college, she applied for work with financial institutions. Kilgore First National Bank was first to contact her. She has spent the following decades learning the nuances of banking and the financial needs of others. She listens carefully to customers as they share with her their personal and economic concerns. Helping others is her passion. When asked what she loves most about her career, she replies simply, "My customers and co-workers."

Despite her passion for what she does for a living, her Christian faith is first in her long list of priorities.

"I am a Christian who prays that my light is always shining for others to see Christ in me."

Her mother is an example of everything that determination can accomplish. She would have been the first in her family to attend college. However, a house fire that destroyed their family home also burned her dream of becoming a nurse through Texas College's nursing program.

Hence, as a single parent she worked two jobs to support her children, telling them: "I will supply your needs, but you will have to work for your wants."

Breneda’s strong work ethic started incredibly early at age 12. Her family spent the summer months in Seattle, Washington with their grandmother, aunts, and cousins.

Even though she was 12, she landed a job for 15 years old. “I worked with a group of teens and a Sponsor delivering Stop Crime booklets in the Seattle neighborhoods,” she said. “All I knew is that I was going to get paid.” Excitedly, she mad a call to Texas.