Looking to follow in the footsteps of his adoptive great-grandfather, Frank Vanderlip, who served as the assistant secretary for the Treasury Department, Irvin Ashford Jr. knew early on that he wanted to become an investment banker. Not the type of banker that handled investments such as stocks and bonds, but one who invested in both people and the community. 

Today, he is living out his dream as the chief community officer at Comerica Bank in Dallas. He is responsible for community reinvestment nationally and all associated activities, including development, lending, community investments, volunteerism and data analysis. Ashford also leads Comerica’s diversity of business resource groups.

Path to success

A New York native, Ashford moved to Bell Buckle, Tennessee to attend The Webb School after winning a full academic scholarship to the south’s oldest continuous running private school.

From there, he attended Oberlin College in Ohio and later went on to receive dual master’s degrees in public affairs from the University of Texas and business administration from the University of Dallas. 

The 25-year banker got his start at Bank One, N.A. (now known as Chase) where he served as the assistant vice president and community development officer, responsible for community reinvestment performance.

In 2000, Ashford accepted a position with Comerica Bank. Since joining the Comerica team, he has continued to strengthen relationships with the communities served by the bank through various financial literacy and community development initiatives.

Ashford and his team have worked together to build community-based programs such as Money $ense, Business $ense and the Gift of Knowledge. Aimed to focus on empowering youth and adults to become good financial stewards, these hands-on financial education programs allow community members to feel more confident when it comes to their investments.

The interactive financial education program, Money $ense, equips students with critical money management skills that have proven to be a vital resource for young adults. In addition, many students have later gone on to take part in the Gift of Knowledge, a part of Comerica’s Money $ense program, in which students can receive high-end and engaging financial education training, the opportunity to open their first savings account and access to Comerica personnel and banking center tours.

Adults are also able to take part in Comerica’s business boot camp and workshop called Business $ense. Designed to provide financial education resources and technical assistance to small-business owners and entrepreneurs, adults can aim to achieve their goals of starting, growing and sustaining their personal businesses and ventures.

In January, Ashford was promoted to chief community officer, where he handles community reinvestment on a national level. As one of the highest priorities for the company, he continues to develop his lifelong aspirations to help people and businesses be successful. 

About Comerica Bank

Originally named Detroit Savings Fund Institute, Comerica Bank opened its doors Aug. 17, 1849. The bank relocated its headquarters to Dallas in March 2007 and prides itself on its relationships, as well as helping people and businesses to be successful. 

The move to Texas allowed Comerica to reside in a more central location within the United States and gain greater accessibility to all of its markets. In addition to Texas, Comerica has locations in Arizona, California, Florida and Michigan. 

“As a relationship bank, we work to grow stronger communities; partnering with our customers and helping them navigate these difficult times is why we are here,” Ashford said.

In the community

For more than 170 years and nearly 20 years for Ashford, Comerica has proven successful when it comes to giving back to the communities they serve. 

“Our goal is to help people thrive and become successful by creating economic opportunity and providing much-needed resources to under- served and under-resourced individuals and families,” Ashford said.

Overall, Comerica and the Charitable Foundation have invested $8 million in their five-state footprint in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Community service organizations that work with youth, seniors and other vulnerable populations are important to Comerica and have and will receive funds as a part of this effort. 

“We strive to raise expectations of what a bank can be. The impact of COVID-19 on the nonprofit organizations that care for and provide critical services to our communities is extraordinary. Serving and supporting our communities during this unique time in history is of critical importance,” Ashford added.

An emerging leader

In 2013, Ashford was honored with a LiFE Award from the Texas Bankers Foundation for his efforts in engineering, implementing and managing financial literacy projects that have helped to educate more than 50,000 children, adults and seniors in communities throughout Texas. 

Grateful for TBA’s consistent support, Ashford noted, “It’s important to publicize what resources are available to the community because they are created to help us all to become better financial stewards while closing the economic wealth gap.”

In August, Comerica Bank was recognized by TBA for their partnership with The EMPOWER Series, a free monthly financial education and self-development coaching and counseling program.

Outside of the bank

In his spare time, Ashford enjoys traveling and learning about new cultures. He also loves reading about black history and studying Eastern philosophy.