The new Chief Executive Officer of the First National Bank of Albany/Breckenridge was the recipient of the ‘2021 Distinguished Banking Service Award' at the 48th Annual Bankers Agricultural Credit Conference. Longtime, regional banking executive Tim Cooper received the honor on Friday (Nov. 19) during an awards presentation at Texas Tech's International Cultural Center.

“Tim Cooper's service to the regional agricultural banking industry has been significant,” said Phillip Johnson, chair of Tech's Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics and director of the university's Thornton Agricultural Finance Institute. “This award recognizes his contributions to agriculture and the communities he has served.”

The service award is given by the Bankers Agricultural Credit Conference to recognize individuals in the banking industry who have made significant contributions to society and whose accomplishments and careers have brought distinctive credit to the financial profession, Johnson said.

Prior to taking his current position in November, Cooper served as Chairman, President and CEO of First State Bank Spearman for more than 17 years. Spearman is located about 90 miles northeast of Amarillo, Texas. In that position, banking officials noted that Cooper established a clear strategy and vision across the company's portfolio of products and services, and spearheaded several new initiatives including the opening of a loan production office which later became a full-service branch in downtown Amarillo, Texas.

Cooper received his bachelor's degree in finance from Texas Tech (1980) and is a graduate of Southern Methodist University's Southwestern Graduate School of Banking (1988).  During his banking career he served as a member of several community groups and organizations, including the Spearman City Council and Spearman Lions Club.

Johnson, who also holds Texas Tech's Charles C. Thompson Endowed Chair in Agricultural Finance, noted that annual bankers agricultural conference addresses issues and topics related to agricultural lending, agricultural economy, legal and regulatory issues, commodity outlook and other issues of interest to rural bankers and lenders. The conference is directed by a board of directors made up of representatives from area banks. 

CONTACT: Phillip Johnson, chairman and director of the university's Thornton Agricultural Finance Institute, Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics, Texas Tech University at (806) 834-0474 or phil.johnson@ttu.edu

1208NM21