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ADA, Okla. – East Central University announces the appointment of Craig Scheef, founder, chairman and chief executive officer of Texas Security Bank and ³ÉÈËBÕ¾ alumnus as campaign co-chair for the ³ÉÈËBÕ¾ Forward capital campaign.

³ÉÈËBÕ¾ Forward is a comprehensive $36.3 million capital campaign dedicated to advancing ³ÉÈËBվ’s future. This initiative will enhance the ³ÉÈËBÕ¾ campus, strengthen academic programs and ensure that ³ÉÈËBÕ¾ students will continue to be provided with life-changing educational opportunities at an affordable cost.

Scheef, a 1981 graduate of Plano Senior High School, joined ³ÉÈËBÕ¾ on a football scholarship. After four successful years as a Tiger, he earned a Bachelor of Business Administration in marketing in 1985. He went on to receive a Master of Business Administration in finance from the University of North Texas in 1988, graduating in the top 5 percent of his class.

In June of 1988, Scheef accepted a commercial credit training position with First Interstate Bank, predecessor to Wells Fargo Bank. During his last five years at Wells Fargo, he managed a team of middle market lenders.

In 2003, Scheef accepted a position with Bank of Texas, a subsidiary of BOK Financial, where he served in multiple positions including President of Business Banking, where he was responsible for managing seven community banks in Dallas and Houston, as well as Community Bank President of the Swiss Avenue location.

In April 2007, Scheef left Bank of Texas to begin the process of obtaining regulatory approval and raising capital for an independent bank focused on the needs of people who exercise their right to free enterprise – the independent business owner.

Texas Security Bank began operations with $26.5 million in new capital in 2008, which included Scheef’s life savings. Today, Texas Security Bank is a profitable independent bank with four locations and assets totaling $1.3 billion.

Texas Security Bank’s support during the PPP loan application process resulted in recognition as a 2021 Silver Stevie Award Winner for Sales and Customer Service, as well as a 2021 All-Star Winner from the National Customer Service Association. The bank has also been recognized as a five-year certified best workplace by the Best Workplace Institute, a Best Places to work by the Dallas Business Journal, voted three-year Dallas Morning News Best Bank, DCEO Outstanding Finance Team, has a 5-Star Bauer Rating, and has a Net Promoter Score of 86.7 (banking benchmark average is 30).

Scheef was the recipient of the 2004 Milam Award at ³ÉÈËBÕ¾, presented to a distinguished football alumnus who has excelled in their chosen field. In 2016, he was named the recipient of ³ÉÈËBվ’s Distinguished Service Award as well as the Entrepreneur of the Year by ³ÉÈËBվ’s Harland C. Stonecipher School of Business and in 2018, he was named an ³ÉÈËBÕ¾ Distinguished Alumni.

Scheef has also been featured in the Dallas Business Journal and Dallas Innovates for Texas Security Bank’s efforts with PPP lending and he was featured in D Magazine as a 2021 Innovation in Finance honoree.

He is married to his wife Christy of 36 years.

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