WESLACO, RGV – Arturo Ortega, CEO of Texas National Bank, has given a shout-out to the small business community of the Rio Grande Valley.
“Small business is the economic engine that drives the local community and to a big extent even the national economy. It employs a lot of the local people. We definitely believe small business is a big part of the community. Definitely,” Ortega said.
Ortega made his comments about the importance of small businesses for the Ron Whitlock Reports show during the Christmas in Lego Land 2015 Mid-Valley Lighted Christmas Parade, held on Texas Avenue in Weslaco on December 18. Texas National Bank sponsored the event. In August, 2015, the bank held a ribbon-cutting for its new Weslaco branch.
Whitlock said he had just visited Wells of Weslaco, a longtime ladies fashion store, and was pleased to see it is still going strong. He pointed out to Ortega that back in the 1950s and 1960s, when he was growing up, almost every business in the Valley was locally owned and operated. That has changed, with national chains coming to the region. However, locally run businesses are still the lifeblood of the community, Ortega said.
Ortega said Texas National Bank considers itself a small business. Known originally as First National Bank of Mercedes in 1920, the bank changed its name in 1985 to become Mercedes National Bank. Business continued under that name until early 2006. In May 2005, MNB Ventures, Inc. purchased Mercedes National Bank. It was this purchase that brought the name change to Texas National Bank.
“Texas National Bank believes in helping out the community. We are very involved in the local scene. This is our first year in Weslaco. We opened up a branch here earlier this year. We very much want to be part of the local events that are occurring in Weslaco,” Ortega said.
Whitlock said local parades are important to prevent a small town from simply being known as a bedroom community. Asked by Whitlock what other local parades, Texas National Bank sponsors, Ortega said: “We just want to get out here and let everybody know that we are he and that we support their (the Weslaco Chamber of Commerce) efforts and that they have a willing partner in joining up and investing and continuing to see the city of Weslaco grow.
“We are involved with the annual Livestock Show parade in Mercedes. We have been sponsoring that the last four or five years. To a lesser degree we participate in the Edinburg and McAllen parades. We also support and contribute to other local charities and organizations such as the American Cancer Society, the Make a Wish Foundation, the Edinburg Boys and Girls Club, etc.”
Edna Martinez, senior vice president of Texas National Bank for Mercedes and Weslaco, added that Texas National Bank partners with the City of Mercedes for its toy drives at Christmas.
Additionally, Mary Arce represents Texas National Bank on Weslaco Chamber of Commerce board of directors.
“Texas National Bank prides itself on knowing the community – not just the needs of the community but the people living within that community as well. Texas National Bank utilizes state-of-the-art equipment, but it’s the people we hire who are able to make each visit a positive experience. Our staff is committed to treating customers right and providing them with the highest quality customer service,” the bank’s website states.
