Philosophy & History

We believe that whatever is in our customer's best interest will be in our best interest. This is true because we seek only long-term customer relationships that build on mutual trust and respect.

Vista Bank was founded by W. E. McLaughlin in 1912 as an unincorporated bank,
"W. E. McLaughlin, Banker." His son, J. Edd McLaughlin, ran the bank. Another son, Marvin helped him. In 1918 they obtained a state charter and in 1921 renamed the bank, "Security State Bank & Trust Co." The bank was one of the few banks to survive the Great Depression and remains one of the few banks still owned by the founding family after so many years.

In 1958, Gene McLaughlin, one of Marvin's sons, came to work in the bank. He was named President in 1974. In 1982, Gene's son, Kirk McLaughlin, came to work in the bank. He was named President in 1989. So, Kirk is one of the very few fourth generation bankers still in the family's bank in the nation today. In 2000, Kirk was made CEO.

McLaughlin Bancshares was formed as a bank holding company in 1984 and the Idalou State Bank was purchased. In 1987, the branch in Lorenzo was opened. In 1992, the branches in Crosbyton and Abernathy were opened. In 1998, the First State Bank, Petersburg, Texas was purchased, merged, and became a branch of the Ralls bank. In 2000, the Idalou bank was merged into the Ralls bank. In 2008 the bank’s name was changed to Vista Bank. In 2009 the bank will begin opening branches in Lubbock.

In 2003 Vista Bank acquired EmpaSys, an electronic bill payment business which offers people without bank accounts a better way to pay their bills than mailing paper money orders, pre-paid debit card loading, and inexpensive small dollar international money transfers.  The bank has nearly 2,000 EmpaSys agent locations across the U.S. today.