Third Coast Bank Appoints Eva Pawelek to Lead $6B Houston Corporate Banking
Third Coast Bank named Eva Pawelek as Regional President and Head of Houston Corporate Banking, charging her with scaling its $6 billion-asset commercial bank’s middle-market franchise in beverages, waste and environmental services, and food distribution sectors. Pawelek’s appointment follows Third Coast’s October 2025 merger with Keystone Bancshares.
1. Eva Pawelek Appointed Regional President
Eva Pawelek joins Third Coast Bank as Regional President and Head of Houston Corporate Banking, marking a key leadership hire following the October 2025 merger with Keystone Bancshares that created a $6 billion-asset independent Texas bank.
2. Role in Houston Corporate Banking Growth
In her new role, Pawelek will spearhead expansion of the middle-market banking franchise in Houston’s beverages, waste and environmental services, and food distribution sectors, while recruiting seasoned bankers and deepening sponsor-finance relationships to broaden the bank’s corporate client base.
3. Professional Background
Pawelek brings over 16 years of corporate banking and private equity experience, including two years working directly with business owners on growth and capital strategies, and 14 years building expertise in credit, relationship management and middle-market lending.
4. Strategic Integration Post-Merger
Her appointment comes as Third Coast advances integration efforts post-merger, aiming to leverage greater scale and expanded product capabilities to accelerate corporate banking momentum and reinforce high-touch, capital-solutions-oriented services across key Texas markets.