First Financial Bankshares Announces Selection of New CEOs for First Financial Bank, Cleburne and First Financial Bank, Eastland

ABILENE, Texas, March 29, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- First Financial Bankshares, Inc. (NASDAQ: FFIN) today announced the election of Tom O'Neil as CEO of First Financial Bank, N.A., Cleburne.  He will be joining the existing management team comprised of Matt Reynolds, President and Craig Beskow, Executive Vice President and Cashier. Trent Swearengin was promoted to CEO and President of First Financial Bank, N.A., Eastland, replacing O'Neil.

"We are extremely pleased to announce Tom's new executive responsibilities," said F. Scott Dueser, Chairman, CEO and President of First Financial Bankshares. "The Cleburne, Alvarado, Midlothian, Burleson and Crowley area is one of our fastest-growing markets and we have far more potential in those markets than we have been able to tap. With this additional management strength, we will be better poised to take on additional growth and acquisitions."

"We are also excited to welcome Trent to our team of well qualified Presidents and CEOs.  We know that he will continue the tradition of good leadership," Dueser added. "He is the third graduate of First Financial University who has moved into a President's position."

O'Neil has been President of First Financial Bank, Eastland since 2009. He entered banking in 1980 as an Assistant National Bank Examiner with the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency in Wichita Falls and then became market president for First State Bank in Archer City.  He joined First Financial as a commercial lender and Senior Vice President in 1998 and was named Executive Vice President and branch manager of the River Oaks bank location in Abilene in June 2002. O'Neil, who holds a bachelor of business administration degree from Midwestern State University, is also a 1996 graduate of Southwestern Graduate School of Banking at Southern Methodist University and a First Financial University graduate in 2008. He previously served as chairman of the United Way of Abilene, was a member of the Expo Center of Taylor County executive committee and was a past president of the Abilene Founder Lions Club.  In Eastland, he served as a director and chairman of the Eastland Chamber of Commerce and was a board member and vice chairman of Eastland Assisted Living, Inc.

Swearengin, a graduate of Wylie High School in Abilene, holds a bachelor of business administration degree in accounting from Texas A&M University.  He is also a 2011 Graduate of the Southwest Graduate School of Banking at Southern Methodist University and a First Financial University graduate in 2008.  He joined First Financial Bank of Abilene as a management trainee in 1999 and was promoted to assistant branch manager in 2000.  He then became a credit analyst for the parent company and was promoted to Vice President of commercial loans with First Financial Bank, N.A., Southlake in 2001.  Swearengin was promoted to Senior Vice President of the Southlake bank in 2007 and was elected Executive Vice President of the Eastland bank earlier this year.  He has served as a Keller Rotary Club member since 2006, serving as a board member since 2008, as club president in 2010-2011 and as foundation president since 2011. Swearengin also served as a board member and past chairman of Christ's Haven for Children. 

About First Financial Bankshares

Headquartered in Abilene, Texas, First Financial Bankshares is a financial holding company that operates 11 separately chartered banks with 53 locations in Texas. The bank subsidiaries are First Financial Bank, N.A., Abilene, Albany, Clyde, Moran and Odessa; First Financial Bank, N.A., Eastland, Ranger, Cisco and Rising Star; First Financial Bank, N.A., Cleburne, Burleson, Alvarado, Midlothian and Crowley; First Financial Bank, Hereford; First Financial Bank, Huntsville; First Financial Bank, N.A., Mineral Wells; First Financial Bank, N.A., San Angelo; First Financial Bank, N.A., Southlake, Bridgeport, Boyd, Decatur, Grapevine, Keller and Trophy Club; First Financial Bank, N.A., Stephenville, Granbury, Glen Rose and Acton; First Financial Bank, N.A., Sweetwater, Roby, Trent and Merkel; and First Financial Bank, N.A., Weatherford, Willow Park, Aledo, Brock and Fort Worth. The Company also operates First Financial Trust & Asset Management Company, N.A., with six locations and First Technology Services, Inc., a technology operating company.

The Company is listed on The NASDAQ Global Select Market under the trading symbol FFIN.  For more information about First Financial Bankshares, please visit our website at http://www.ffin.com and follow us on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/First_Financial.

Certain statements contained herein may be considered "forward-looking statements" as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.  These statements are based upon the belief of the Company's management, as well as assumptions made beyond information currently available to the Company's management, and may be, but not necessarily are, identified by such words as "expect", "plan", "anticipate", "target", "forecast" and "goal".  Because such "forward-looking statements" are subject to risks and uncertainties, actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements.  Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the Company's expectations include competition from other financial institutions and financial holding companies; the effects of and changes in trade, monetary and fiscal policies and laws, including interest rate policies of the  Federal Reserve Board; changes in the demand for loans; fluctuations in value of collateral and loan reserves; inflation, interest rate, market and monetary fluctuations; changes in consumer spending, borrowing and savings habits; and acquisitions and integration of acquired businesses, and similar variables.  Other key risks are described in the Company's reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, which may be obtained under "Investor Relations-Documents/Filings" on the Company's Web site or by writing or calling the Company at 325.627.7155.  Except as otherwise stated in this news announcement, the Company does not undertake any obligation to update publicly or revise any forward-looking statements because of new information, future events or otherwise.

SOURCE First Financial Bankshares, Inc.