texas border operations
Harlingen, Texas—The Independent Bankers Association of Texas (IBAT), the nation’s largest association of state community banks, recently awarded Texas Regional Banks (TRBs) with the Best of Community Banking (BOCB) Award, which recognizes community service. TRB received the Community Spirit Award and Gold Eagle for its community service initiative, TRB Signature Shrimp Boil.
IBAT presents service awards to member banks that identify and meet community needs. Applications in this category were accepted across the state for community banking service initiatives, civic programs, food banks, adoption programs, crisis management, senior support, and more.
Gold Eagle Award: TRB special shrimp boil
The TRB Signature Shrimp Boil Program began 10 years ago as a community service initiative, but has since evolved into a cornerstone of TRB’s core mission to be “The People You Know” in the communities we serve. did. The program was born as a way to foster community relationships through community service while creating opportunities to invest in local businesses and nonprofits.
Through this program, the bank donates shrimp boils (for at least 30 people each) to nonprofit organizations as in-kind auction items. This allows nonprofits to raise large amounts of money by auctioning off their events to various community stakeholders, small businesses, and locals. organization. So did the Make-A-Wish Foundation, which granted two children’s wishes in 2023 by auctioning off shrimp boils. True to its mission to help communities thrive across Texas, TRB also sources and purchases locally as much of its supplies as possible. Fresh Gulf shrimp from a local merchant in Port Isabel.
Michael Scaife, TRB Chairman and CEO, said the importance of this program is rooted in TRB’s mission and values, and that community banks like TRB serve the entire community. demonstrated how they foster meaningful relationships. “Our Signature Shrimp Boils are based on strategic partnerships with local non-profits, where not only do local TRB teams boil and serve the shrimp themselves, but the nonprofits also auction off these events. This creates opportunities for local businesses to purchase shrimp and for small businesses to support local nonprofit organizations. This synergy in our approach to service is fundamental to Ebiboil’s continued success and truly demonstrates how collective engagement strengthens both our organization and the broader community.” Skaev said.
“Watch a video showcasing TRB’s Signature Shrimp Boil initiative.” Password for external viewers: “trb”.
The impact of the program boils over.
In 2023, TRB hosted 30 shrimp boils, serving 600 pounds of shrimp to more than 1,000 participants and raising more than $85,000 for local nonprofits. The program highlights TRB’s commitment to community engagement, supporting local causes and fostering employee engagement beyond traditional banking. Shrimp boils typically fetch an average of $2,500 at auction, with some reaching up to $7,000. Over the past 10 years, TRB has hosted over 100 Shrimp Boils and has built significant credibility across multiple market sectors.
The success of this initiative is driven by word of mouth, with many repeat buyers contributing to its growing popularity. This program embodies TRB’s ethos of being “the people you know” in the communities we serve. “The state’s Signature Shrimp Boil is a great way to support local businesses, nonprofits, employees and a cause we all share,” said Jamie Brown Rosas, TRB’s chief business development officer. It provides an opportunity to come together as members of one group.” -This is our community. ” This boil confirms one of the Bank’s core beliefs: “When our community succeeds, we succeed.” “When nonprofits win, our community wins and we feel like we’ve won,” Brown Rosas said. Through this initiative, TRB continues to strengthen its role as an important community partner while making a tangible difference in the lives of local residents.