First Financial Bankshares Names New CEO for Its Huntsville, Texas, Bank

ABILENE, Texas, March 11, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- First Financial Bankshares, Inc. (Nasdaq: FFIN) today announced that Robert Pate has been named Chief Executive Officer of First Financial Bank in Huntsville, Texas, to complete the executive team which includes Gaye Clements, President, and Michelle Murray, Cashier.

Pate, who has been with the First Financial organization since 1997, has nearly 30 years of experience in Texas banking.  He has served as Executive Vice President of First Financial Bank, N. A. in San Angelo, Texas, serving as senior lending officer for that bank and in charge of the Knickerbocker branch location. He was previously President of Texas Commerce Bank, San Angelo. Pate is a graduate of Texas A&M University and has been active in the San Angelo community in organizations including the Concho Valley Economic Development District, the West Angelo Kiwanis Club, YMCA of San Angelo, the ASU Athletic Foundation, the Texas A&M Foundation, Tom Green County Health Facilities Development and United Way of the Concho Valley.

"Robert has served our company well in key management positions, and we look forward to him joining Gaye and Michelle as the management team in our Huntsville bank," said F. Scott Dueser, Chairman, President and CEO of First Financial Bankshares.  "Robert will be an asset to the Huntsville community and, with his depth of experience as a Texas banker, will help our bank grow and continue to serve our customers and community well."

Headquartered in Abilene, Texas, First Financial Bankshares is a financial holding company that operates 11 separately chartered banks with 52 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 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, 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.

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.