Biography

Mr. Franklin serves as Executive Chairman of Stellar Bank, Chief Executive Officer of Stellar Bancorp, Inc. and serves as a director of the Company and Bank. He joined the Company in connection with the merger of equals with Allegiance Bancshares, Inc. and CBTX, Inc. in 2023. Mr. Franklin previously served as Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of CBTX, Inc. from 2013 until 2023. Mr. Franklin began his more than 40-year Houston banking career working for a small community bank in Houston upon graduation from the University of Texas. He then moved to a large, regional bank before gravitating back to his primary interest of community banking. He became President of American Bank in 1988, where he served until the bank was sold to Whitney Holding Corp. in early 2001. Mr. Franklin and his team then joined Horizon Capital Bank, where Mr. Franklin raised sufficient capital to match the bank’s existing capital and took the position of President of Horizon Capital Bank. He served as President until the bank was sold to Cullen/Frost Bankers, Inc. in 2005. Mr. Franklin then started VB Texas, Inc. in November of 2006 as Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, serving until a merger of equals between VB Texas, Inc. and the CBTX, Inc. in 2013. Mr. Franklin graduated from the University of Texas in 1977 with a B.B.A. in Finance. He is serves on the board of Junior Achievement of Southeast Texas and previously served on the Board of the Texas Bankers Association. Mr. Franklin has actively served various charitable organizations over the years, along with serving on the board of a Houston private school. Mr. Franklin adds financial services experience, especially lending, oil and gas expertise and asset liability management to the Company’s board of directors, as well as a deep understanding of the Company’s business and operations. Mr. Franklin also brings risk and operations management and strategic planning expertise to the board of directors, skills that are important as the Company continues to implement its business strategy and evaluate and integrate growth opportunities.