With more than 20 years of experience, Aaron Shelby was destined to follow in the footsteps of his father. This third-generation banker has made a positive impact on both the banking industry and the community.
Today, Shelby serves as the Dallas-Fort Worth area president of Prosperity Bank. He is responsible for managing a large group of the bank’s commercial lenders and the single-family mortgage operation.
Building a legacy
A Dallas native, Shelby is the grandson of Texas racing legend Carroll Shelby. He graduated from Highland Park High School in 1990 and received his Bachelor of Science in commerce with an emphasis in finance from Santa Clara University in 1994.
After college, he returned to his hometown and kicked off his banking career as a credit analyst at Inwood National Bank. After five years, Shelby moved on to operate a business of his own, an automotive accessories distribution company that sold into automotive aftermarket retailers.
“After being in banking for a couple of years, I ventured out on my own to gain more experience and ultimately wound up back in banking,” Shelby said.
After selling his business in 2003, Shelby returned to banking to join the family enterprise, LegacyTexas Bank in Plano, where his father, Patrick Shelby, served as the chairman and his grandmother, Jeanne Fields Shelby, had been a shareholder since the 1960s. There, he represented the family’s interest in the bank on a day-to-day basis.
Shelby quickly worked his way up through the ranks. After a merger with ViewPoint Bank in 2015, maintaining the LegacyTexas Bank name, he went on to serve as the executive vice president to oversee commercial lending and operate as the subsidiary manager overseeing LegacyTexas Insurance, LegacyTexas Title and the LegacyTexas Mortgage.
In 2019, LegacyTexas Bank merged again, this time with Prosperity Bank.
Shelby currently serves as the Dallas-Fort Worth area president of Prosperity Bank. Through his role, he enjoys the opportunity to both lead and mentor young bankers.
History of Prosperity Bank
Founded in El Campo in 1983, Prosperity Bank believes in a community banking philosophy, taking care of customers, businesses and communities in the areas it serves by providing financial solutions to simplify everyday financial needs.
The 38-year-old community bank also offers digital banking solutions, credit and debit cards, mortgage services, retail brokerage services, trust and wealth management and cash management.
Through the years, Prosperity Bank has made over 40 acquisitions to grow to the $35 billion Houston, Texas-based regional financial holding company that is today. The institution currently operates over 275 full-service banking locations throughout Texas and Oklahoma.
“With over 275 locations in our footprint, we are able to focus on both the rural and urban markets,” added Shelby. “[We understand] the different needs of our different communities.”
Prosperity Bank features locations in the Houston area including The Woodlands; the South Texas area including Corpus Christi and Victoria; Dallas-Fort Worth; East Texas; the Central Texas area including Austin and San Antonio; the West Texas area including Lubbock, Midland-Odessa and Abilene; Bryan-College Station; and Central Oklahoma.
The community bank is committed to supporting the communities in which they serve and is dedicated to creating a better, stronger community and future for its neighbors. Employees from over 280 banking centers give their time, effort and money to many organizations such as the American Cancer Society, Easter Seals of Greater Houston, Golden Crescent Habitat for Humanity, March of Dimes, South Plains Food Bank and Susan G. Komen, to name a few.
“Prosperity is focused on supporting our local communities through both volunteering and community investment,” said Shelby. “We have a long history in the communities we serve and are proud to be a strong partner in supporting local organizations.”
Across Texas and Oklahoma, Prosperity Bank also provides financial education to low- and moderate-income individuals in hopes of increasing their financial understanding.
In addition, the community bank offers an ITIN (individual tax identification number) mortgage product which is overseen by Shelby and his team. The product has been a great tool in creating homeownership opportunities for an underbanked market.
“My favorite part of banking is seeing the impact we have on [our] communities,” added Shelby. “Whether it is helping someone purchase their first house or buy their first piece of equipment for their business, we strive to help our clients grow and succeed.”
Outside of the bank
Shelby and his wife, Brooke have been married for 23 years and have two children together: Pierce (17) and Larsen (15), who are each attending Highland Park High School.
Outside of spending time with his family, Shelby enjoys serving as a board member and brand ambassador for the Carroll Shelby Foundation, created by Carroll Shelby following a successful heart transplant. A lover of both cars and racing, Shelby is honored to help carry on his grandfather’s legacy.
The Foundation strives to help families with children going through transplant care and expand learning opportunities through the Carroll Shelby Automotive Program at Northeast Texas Community College in Mount Pleasant.
Shelby previously served on the boards of The Dallas Children’s Theater and Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship (NFTE) in Dallas.