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IBC BANK-AUSTIN AND BLACKSHEAR ELEMENTARY SCHOOL CELEBRATED GRAND OPENING OF THE FIRST-EVER MINITROPOLIS® PROGRAM IN AUSTINIBC BANK-AUSTIN AND BLACKSHEAR ELEMENTARY SCHOOL CELEBRATED GRAND OPENING

Thursday, May 03, 2018
Blackshear Elementary School
Pictured from left to right: Valerie Johnson, Branch Administrator; Josue Limon, Small Business Lender; Shawn Stewart, Vice President & Retail Manager; Robert Barnes, IBC Bank-Austin President & CEO; Dennesha Johnson, Area Sales Manager; Abril Sifuentes, Bank Officer & Branch Manager; Will Shipp, Vice President Mortgage.
 
AUSTIN, Texas - IBC Bank - Austin and Blackshear Elementary School, celebrated the grand opening of their Minitropolis® program with a ribbon-cutting ceremony. IBC Bank-Austin CEO and President Robert Barnes commemorated the occasion, along with the students, city and county officials.
 
IBC Bank-Austin worked diligently with school officials to develop the concept for the Blackshear Minitropolis® program, a first for Austin. The IBC Bank Minitropolis® program, which functions as a mini city within a school, was created by IBC Bank more than two decades ago and runs in several markets throughout Texas and Oklahoma.
 
"We're proud to join forces with Blackshear Elementary School," said Barnes. "The Minitropolis® program prepares these children with financial lessons that will position them for success as adults. The goal is to build up our financial literacy initiatives so that we can provide a Minitropolis® to every elementary school around Austin."
 
The citizens (students) performed various adult responsibilities, such as writing checks, making deposits and withdrawing money. The goal of the program is to provide students with the social, academic, real-life skills they need to be successful and responsible citizens while introducing them to different career opportunities.
 
During the ceremony, Barnes and other local officials addressed the students, faculty and visitors and commended them for their hard work and dedication to launch such an important program.