ViewPoint Financial Group appointed Mark Williamson to the newly created position of chief credit officer of its wholly owned subsidiary, ViewPoint Bank, the firm announced today. Williamson will head the bank’s credit administration group, including loan operations, credit analysis and loss mitigation, and oversee all credit policy matters. As a 30-year veteran of the industry, Williamson previously served as executive vice president and chief credit officer for PlainsCapital Bank in the Dallas and Lubbock markets. He also worked in both lending and risk management with Guaranty Bank and Chase Bank of Texas. “It’s never been more important to maintain our strong credit quality while serving the financing needs of our consumers and local businesses,” said Gary Base, president and CEO of ViewPoint. “Mark’s solid track record in both the lending and credit arenas, his first-hand knowledge of our markets, and his leadership skills are sure to be assets to the company.” Write to Christine Ricciardi.