AUSTIN, Sept. 21, 2020 - The Texas Bankers Foundation, the philanthropic arm of the Texas Bankers Association, will honor Ignacio Urrabazo of Laredo with the 50-Year Banker Award during Virtual Texas Economic Resilience Summit on Sept. 23. This prestigious award honors bankers with a half century or more of service and dedication to the banking industry.

Urrabazo began his banking career at State National Bank in El Paso, where he was first hired to work in the International Department. He completed the bank's year-long training program, and he realized that his passion lay more in commercial lending. He now serves as president and CEO of Commerce Bank in Laredo.

Urrabazo has established himself as a small business-banking expert. Since taking the leadership role in the creation of Commerce Bank in 1983, he has been involved in U.S.- Mexico border financial services and relationships. He has testified before the U.S. Congress on two occasions on the passage of NAFTA and the impact of the Dodd-Frank Act on community banking.

He is a past chairman of the National Bankers Association, the Texas Bankers Association, the MinBanc Foundation, and the Laredo Chamber of Commerce. He was also one of the original board members for the FDIC Advisory Board for Community Banking. Urrabazo has received numerous awards for his banking and community involvement.

Urrabazo earned his bachelor's degree at the University of Texas-El Paso and his MBA degree at the University of Texas-San Antonio, and a graduate banking degree at Southern Methodist University.