Hurricane Celia hit Corpus Christi soon after Al Jones arrived in town to start his new job as a founding officer and operations manager of American Bank. Jones weathered the 1970’s storm, one of the worst in Texas history, and then he reached out to the community, helping it recoup, recover and rebuild.

He has been reaching out ever since.

“My aim, American’s aim, is to be a good neighbor—there when needed,” says Jones, who now holds the prestigious position of bank president and CEO. “Our goal is to be an effective partner in bettering the community and its residents’ lives. Then everyone, including the bank, can prosper.”

These days American–FDIC insured, backed by local stockholders and directed by a board of local businesspeople and civic leaders—isn’t just prospering. It’s setting an enviable example for other financial institutions to follow. Holding the distinction of being the biggest independent bank in town, with assets totaling more than $800 million last quarter, American also is looking beyond its home base with an aggressive expansion program. There are 13 offices in six cities now and plans to open more branches in Central Texas soon; maybe even move into the San Antonio market in the not-too-distant future.

Much of this expansion has taken place despite the shaky national economy. So, how has American been able to do it?

Jones attributes his bank’s healthy condition to being prudent, making the right management decisions and being in the right place at the right time. Maybe luck figured into the picture, too—he’s not discounting that. Regardless, his bank has weathered the economic storm going on elsewhere and is taking pride in being, if anything, mightier than when the national downturn began.

“We’re standing strong,” Jones declares. “In fact, I can safely tell you we’re one of the strongest banks anywhere in Texas and the nation.”

Still, having seen so many mergers and so many once-viable companies go belly up across the country, the CEO is taking no chances. An extra-cautious eye is being kept on operations as American, like financial institutions and investors everywhere, waits for an upswing. Encouragingly, Jones sees signs of that. Make no mistake; he’s not saying recovery is imminent. But he’s willing to pass along the promise that “… we’re right on the cusp of better things to come.”

A banking pro for more than 40 years and fascinated by finance even longer, he has the credentials to make such predictions.

Jones was born in Austin, spent his boyhood in the tiny town of Hallsville in East Texas and hung around the little savings-and-loan his dad, also named Al, opened after retiring from the military. When it came time for young Al to attend college at the University of Texas at Austin, business courses just naturally beckoned. Then he landed a job at a local bank to help pay his living expenses and the minute a customer said those magic words, “thanks for helping,” he knew he’d found his future.

But there’s one regret: “I didn’t complete my business degree and left school one course shy of graduating,” he says. “That was a mistake … I thought I’d go back, but the longer I was away from college, the older I got and the more responsibilities that came my way, the harder that seemed. It’s a lot better to stick with your studies while you’re young and on campus–that would be my advice to students.”

Something very wonderful did happen during those college days, though. Jones met the pretty coed who was to become his wife and helpmate. He and Janet have been married for 43 years, the CEO announces with pride—and, because they’ve invested plenty of time and effort in the relationship and have similar values, goals and dreams, it’s a happy marriage.

The couple moved to Corpus Christi from Austin when George Hawn, a financial colleague and investment expert, started recruiting talent to open an independent bank in the coastal community. Hawn, now chairman emeritus of American Bank’s board of directors, praises the expertise that his friend Al brought to the fledgling financial business. Hawn also praises Jones’ commitment to the community.

“One of Al’s favorite phrases is ‘a rising tide lifts all boats,’ and I am personally appreciative of all he has done to make Corpus Christi rise and be a better place,” Hawn says.

Adds Bruce Holstien, president and CEO of the CHRISTUS Spohn Health System: “Al and Janet are two of the most gracious and giving people I’ve ever met. Al is determined to make a difference in the community he dearly loves—and he does.”

Janet also gives generously of her time and talents as part of the volunteer group, Clowns Who Care, regularly brightening the days of little patients at Driscoll Children’s Hospital.

Their own little grandkids, Elizabeth, 11, and George, 8, are, of course, a constant source of delight. And visiting Granny and Grandpa is easy because the Jones’ daughter Allison and her physician husband, Dr. Robert Webster, the kids’ parents, live and work nearby and serve on American’s board of directors.

Granted, it can sometimes get hectic with so much going on. And job stress sometimes can escalate for Al, even though he loves the banking business. So, to unwind he likes to join his biking buddies—Al’s Bike Group, he calls it—and go cycling on weekends over long distances in the scenic coastal community, often covering 40 miles or more.

Would he ever want to live anywhere else? Would he ever consider leaving American behind and working for a megabank with national/international connections?

The answer to those questions is a resounding “No!” He’s convinced there isn’t anywhere in the world prettier or more conducive to comfortable living than Corpus Christi. And there are many advantages to community banking over mega banking, in his opinion, with flexibility being the primary one. With a smaller home-owned, home-run bank, he explains, the customer doesn’t have to fit a formula or a cookie-cutter mold. A smaller community institution can take a variety of things into consideration when making decisions about loans and such, customizing its service to suit the individual.

“Our banking motto is yes, we can,” says Jones. “We adhere to the policy of yes, we can make that happen … yes, we can find a way. And for me, there’s great personal satisfaction when we can work things out for a customer. It makes my day.”

Ruben Bonilla, a Corpus Christi attorney, admires this caring attitude, and calls Jones a true visionary and says the city needs more like him. Not tucked away in some corporate ivory tower, Jones is out there in the community every day shaking hands and taking an active interest in his city’s future and potential to be a powerhouse and major urban center, Bonilla points out.

To list all that Jones has done and is doing to put Corpus Christi on the map would take volumes. Among current positions:
--Member of the Governor’s Business Council
-- Chairman of Texas A&M’s Corpus Christi Foundation
-- Chairman of the Christus Spohn Health System
-- Director and immediate past president of the Independent Bankers Association of Texas

He also has been director of the YMCA in Corpus Christi, chairman of the Convention and Visitors Bureau, chairman of the Chamber of Commerce and Business Alliance and chairman of the Art Museum of South Texas. And that’s just a small sampling of the areas in which his influence and guiding hand have been felt.

Naturally, awards and honors for such outstanding leadership have come his way. But the CEO always gives a lot of credit to his employees and associates for the success. He also is constantly urging them to get out there, get involved and carry on the tradition.

Sam L. Susser of Susser Holdings Corp. admires this trait and the contributions in cash, time, energy and forward-thinking ideas that are being made by American Bank. “I don’t know of any other organization that has more leaders or members on our local boards trying to improve the quality of life,” Susser says.

If Jones, age 67, ever decides to retire, the idea of community involvement that he has set in motion among businesspeople will certainly be a fitting legacy. But he doesn’t like to even think about the “R word.” Still eagerly anticipating each day at the CEO office or at the American Bank Holding Company which oversees a broad range of financial services and where he’s president—well, Jones is in his element.

“I will stick around as long as they’ll let me,” he promises. “Too much fly-fishing or bird-hunting (among his favorite hobbies) aren’t for me.”

The man at the helm of American Bank would rather be working. And, in addition to keeping his “day job,” he hopes to soon start working hard on that long-languishing college degree, taking the course in statistics needed for graduation at UT Austin.

Maybe it won’t be easy, but just as it was back in the ‘70s when he and the bank helped the city rebuild after Hurricane Celia, he’s ready to face the challenge.