The Texas House approved interstate banking.

The measure to allow out-of-state banks to buy Texas banks moved within one step of final passage. The sponsor of the bill predicted that the state Senate, which approved a version of the bill last week, would approve House changes in the measure and send it to Gov. Mark White. The bill is seen by supporters as a way of attracting capital for the troubled Texas banking industry, which has been battered by loan losses stemming from the slump in the Southwest’s energy, agriculture and real estate sectors. The bill would prohibit an out-of-state bank company from controlling more than 25% of the total deposits in the state.