TBA honors four banks with Cornerstone and LiFE Awards

The Texas Bankers Foundation, the philanthropic arm of the Texas Bankers Association, presented the annual Cornerstone and Leaders in Financial Education (LiFE) awards to four banks at a luncheon May 2 at the Texas Bankers Association’s 135th Annual Convention held at the Fairmont in Austin.

The Cornerstone Award recognizes excellence in community involvement by Texas banks. This is the 17th year the Texas Bankers Foundation has recognized Texas banks for their outstanding community involvement through the Cornerstone Award competition. Projects have included neighborhood and housing development, small business and industrial development, main street revitalization, community celebrations and support of music or theater programs.

The Leaders in Financial Education (LiFE) Award honors Texas banks that are dedicated leaders in promoting financial education in their communities.

CORNERSTONE WINNERS

Comerica Bank, Dallas

Dallas-based Comerica Bank received a Cornerstone Award for its Comerica Bank Gift of Knowledge project. The Gift of Knowledge, a part of Comerica’s Money Sense program, is an initiative that allows students to receive high-end and engaging financial education training, the opportunity to open their first savings account and access to Comerica Bank personnel and banking center tours. Upon successfully completing Comerica’s Money Sense program, scholars receive seed money to start a savings account at Comerica Bank.

Commercial Bank of Texas, Nacogdoches

Nacogdoches-based Commercial Bank of Texas, N.A. received a Cornerstone Award for its BBQ for Badges event. For the third year in a row, Commercial Bank of Texas honored first responders serving Nacogdoches with a BBQ for Badges event. This year, in addition to feeding first responders barbecue and donating proceeds from their employees who paid to attend the barbecue, Commercial Bank of Texas sold First Respondent Support bracelets to raise additional funds to donate at the end of the event. With the donations raised, 39 smoke detectors were donated to the local fire department.

Southside Bank, Tyler

Tyler-based Southside Bank received a Cornerstone Award for its Reverse JA in a Day project. In a partnership between Southside Bank and Junior Achievement, Reverse JA in a Day events offered students a day at the bank with lessons on career success, a bank tour and roundtable discussions. In addition, they heard from panelists of bank executives and board members, who shared their career experience and discussed networking and continuing education.

LiFE WINNERS

FirstCapital Bank of Texas, Midland

Midland-based FirstCapital Bank of Texas was recognized for its Reverse JA in a Day Project. As a community bank, FirstCapital Bank of Texas recognizes that education is a vital cornerstone of the communities it serves. In 2018, FirstCapital Bank partnered with Junior Achievement to bring the first Reverse JA in a Day in the Permian Basin region. The bank hosted 24 local high school students to learn about the banking industry, including career development.