How discipline, faith, and fearless work ethic built a career that changed institutions and inspired a community.  

Story by Joycelyne Fadojutimi 

Photos by Michaela Cavazos Photography 

At precisely 8 a.m., the doors opened at Texas Bank and Trust branch on McCann Road, and they kept opening and people kept trooping in. 

Bankers in tailored suits and dresses, longtime customers with stories to tell, friends, former colleagues, and well-wishers from across  east Texas filled the room for a retirement breakfast honoring Breneda Mathis. Some had driven in from out of town. Others rearranged packed schedules. All came for the same reason: to celebrate a woman whose 44-year banking career quietly shaped both balance sheets and lives. 

And it was her last official day in the industry. But to those gathered, it felt less like an ending and more like the close of a remarkable chapter in a business story defined by discipline, faith, and grit. 

Early Lessons in East Texas 

It is important to note, Breneda’s work ethic was not born in a boardroom, it was forged early in east Texas. 

Her parents emphasized honesty, integrity, and respect. Hence,  she absorbed principles that would later define her leadership style.  And that leadership started exceedingly early. For example, at age 12, she delivered crime prevention booklets door-to-door. By 15, she was working in Seattle. At 16, she was helping support her family financially, an uncommon responsibility for a teenager, but one she embraced without hesitation. 

Those early years did more than pay bills. They built independence. They instilled discipline. They planted the belief that no job was too small if done with excellence. 

Education: Investing in Herself 

Breneda attended Longview High School before continuing her education at Kilgore College and East Texas State University. College was not simply an academic pursuit; it was a financial balancing act. She applied for grants, paid her own tuition, purchased textbooks, and all at the same time continued helping her family. 

During that time, she found guidance in mentors like LISD principal Charles Lee Jr., who helped shape her understanding of professional standards and financial literacy. She learned how to reconcile bank statements, skills that would soon become foundational. 

Importantly, education for Breneda was never theoretical. It was practical. Purposeful and a steppingstone. 

Climbing the Banking Ladder 

Her banking career began at Kilgore First National Bank in bookkeeping. From there, she moved methodically to teller, loan processor, secretary, administrative assistant. Breneda mastered each role before moving on to the next one.  

Therefore, when the bank was acquired and transitioned into Longview National Bank, Breneda adapted seamlessly and her hard work paid off beautifully.  She rose to Assistant Vice President and Loan Officer, demonstrating both technical expertise and a calm, solutions-driven presence that customers trusted. 

Her remarkable 26-year tenure at Regions Bank would mark a period of high performance and historical significance. She became the first African American officer at the institution, an achievement that reflected both her competence and quiet determination. Along the way, she earned Rookie of the Year honors, the Bravo Award, and multiple Chairman’s Club sales recognitions. 

For the past 19 years, Breneda has served as Vice President and Branch Manager at Texas Bank and Trust, capping a 44-year career in banking, 19 of those years with the organization. Colleagues describe her as a problem-solver. Customers call her dependable. Staff members know her as a leader who expects excellence because she models it. 

Leadership Beyond the Bank 

Breneda’s influence extends far beyond financial institutions. 

She serves on boards including Wellness Pointe and Arts Longview and remains deeply committed to community service. Retirement, she insists, will not slow her civic involvement. If anything, it will expand it. 

For her, business success and community responsibility are not separate callings: they are intertwined. 

Faith, Family, and the Next Chapter 

At the center of her life is faith. Breneda often says her daily prayer is to reflect Christ’s light in every interaction. That spiritual compass guided her through challenges, opportunities, and decisions across four decades. 

She is the proud mother of two children, Christopher Jeremy Sanders, and grandmother to Christopher Jr., Jeremy Jr., Melanie, and Jett. If her professional life was built on disciplined growth, her retirement will be devoted to presence: traveling, spending time with family, and creating memories with her grandchildren. 

When asked if she has regrets about her career, her answer is immediate: none. 

A Philosophy Built to Last 

Breneda believes banking is more than a job—it is a career with longevity, purpose, and impact. Her advice to young professionals is simple but powerful: 

!. Master the role you’re in before reaching for the next one. 

2. Learn from mistakes. 

3. Value mentorship. 

4. Work hard when no one is watching. 

Additionally, she credits her success to God’s grace, family support, mentors who invested in her, and her own diligence. 

As the breakfast concluded, hugs, lauder and applause filled the room, one truth stood clear: Breneda Mathis did more than work in banking for 44 years. She built trust. She opened doors. She demonstrated that integrity and ambition can coexist. 

Hence, as she steps away from the teller lines and executive offices, she leaves behind more than a legacy. 

Breneda leaves a blueprint.