PHOTO Caption- Cougartropolis Ribbon Cutting- From Left to Right: IBC Financial Literacy Coordinator Dario Gutierrez, IBC Executive Vice President Nativido Lozano, Laredo Mayor Pete Saenz, Cougartropolis Mayor Humberto Bernal, D.D. Hachar Principal Cynthia Villareal, Cougartropolis IBC Bank President Sofia Garcia, D.D. Hachar Vice Principal Cynthia Villareal

 

(NOV. 13, 2019) LAREDO, TX - Today, students at D.D. Hachar Elementary School celebrated the grand opening of their first-ever "Cougartopolis," a mini city that provides students an opportunity to see how a community operates by giving them a variety of real-world positions. Minitropolis® was created by IBC Bank in 1996 and currently operates in more than 30 elementary schools across Texas.

The Minitropolis® program was created as a way for students to learn the significance of financial literacy, understand the importance of savings and credit rates as well as learning leadership skills in real life simulated scenarios.

"IBC Bank's community efforts focus particularly on inspiring future generations to ‘do more'," said IBC Bank Chairman and CEO Dennis E. Nixon.  "In addition to promoting financial literacy and good work ethic, the Minitropolis® program also encourages and rewards students for their scholastic performance, behavior, attendance and leadership."

Cougartropolis will continue through the rest of the school year. Students earn "salaries" by working in their respective roles throughout the "city." Students in pre-K through fifth grade will manage the mini city by working at IBC Bank, Cougar Mart, the U.S. Treasury, Border Patrol, Power Managers, the recycling center and the U.S. Post Office.

 

About IBC Bank- Laredo

 

IBC Bank-Laredo is a member of International Bancshares Corporation (NASDAQ: IBOC), a $12.2 billion multi-bank financial holding company headquartered in Laredo, Texas, with 189 facilities and 288 ATMs serving 89 communities in Texas and Oklahoma. IBC Bank's slogan "We Do More" reflects the bank's dedication to the growth and success of the customers and the communities it has been serving since 1966. International Bancshares Corporation was ranked 22^nd on Forbes' prestigious list of 100 Best Banks in America in 2019. IBC Bank-Laredo was selected as 2019 "Best Bank" by Laredo Morning Times readers. IBC Bank-Laredo serves the community with a retail branch network of 20 locations. MEMBER FDIC / INTERNATIONAL BANCSHARES CORPORATION. Follow our Facebook page, @IBCBankWeDoMore. More information is available at ibc.com.