Larger than ourselves

The Texas Bankers Association takes great pride in its mission to be the voice and champion for Texas bankers. At the top of the priority list is combating regulatory issues that may challenge our members’ way of life, well-being and standing as the economic pillars to local communities.

But there are times when something larger than ourselves happens that shakes up our world, reminds us of what is truly important and moves us to action. 

The tragic school shooting on May 24 that took the lives of 19 children and two teachers at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde shook this beautiful Hill Country town to its core. The scars of this tragedy will be with the community for years, but the need to offer immediate help and comfort was clear. 

Once again, the Texas banking family responded, coming first from their own community. First State Bank of Uvalde has played a leading community role in helping public and private sector organizations come together to support victims and their families.  

Through their inspiration, neighboring banking communities and the statewide banking family took action. The Texas Bankers Foundation and the Independent Bankers Association of Texas came together to create the Uvalde Community Response Fund to rally colleagues in support of our friends in Uvalde. You responded generously. To date, these efforts have resulted in $250,000 in contributions from community banks, state banking associations and individual bankers in Texas and across the nation. We are deeply grateful.  

The TBF/IBAT Uvalde Community Response Fund also attracted contributions from groups as diverse as Major League Baseball Charities, Shake Shack and Harley Davidson. Collectively, these funds will support the Uvalde Together We Rise Fund, ensuring the families impacted on that tragic day will receive direct support.

We cannot forget that the healing process will continue for some time in Uvalde. Banks and individual bankers still wishing to contribute may do so by visiting www.texasbankers.com/Uvalde.

Deep care for our communities is in the DNA of Texas banks. But when a major crisis strikes, Texas banks truly demonstrate that they are there for their communities and are there for one another.