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News Release
Texas Access to Justice Foundation Tyler Banks Recognized for Supporting Legal Services to the Poor Local banks receive the
Prime Partner Award from the Texas Access to Justice Foundation
AUSTIN, Texas The
Texas Access to Justice Foundation presented the Prime Partner Award
to the Bank of Tyler and BBVA Compass
on May 7 for their support of legal services to the poor as Prime
Partners in the state’s Interest on Lawyers’ Trust Accounts (IOLTA)
program. Prime Partner banks, which pay interest at higher rates
than other participating banks, have a direct, positive impact on the
amount of money available to help low-income Texans with their basic
civil legal issues.
Accepting the awards on behalf of their
financial institutions at the Law Day Luncheon of the Smith County Bar
Association were Seaborn M. Nesbett, executive vice president, of the Bank
of Tyler; and W. Hank Baker, senior vice president, of BBVA Compass in
Tyler. Texas Access to Justice Foundation Executive Director Betty Balli
Torres presented the awards to the bank executives at the luncheon.
“Being a local bank makes us aware of our
commitment to our community. The Bank of Tyler is delighted to pay
interest that is higher than other banks to help increase funding for legal
aid to low-income Texans in
“BBVA
Compass is proud to have received the Prime Partner Award from the Texas
Access to Justice Foundation. The mission and vision of BBVA Compass is to
work toward a better future for people. By supporting the Interest on
Lawyers’ Trust Accounts (IOLTA) program and others like it, we are able to
accomplish our goal,” said Hank Baker, BBVA Compass senior vice president
and trust manager.
The Texas Access to Justice Foundation receives
a significant amount of its funding from IOLTA accounts and uses this money
for grants to legal aid service providers across “We are
pleased to recognize the efforts of these local banks – that go above and
beyond the requirements – for helping increase funding for legal aid to
low-income citizens in the Smith County area who so desperately need help,”
said David Hudson, President, Smith County Bar Association.
Nearly 5.3
million Texans qualify for legal aid and resources continue to outpace
demand. Legal aid programs help those who desperately need assistance
for a wide range of legal issues, including domestic abuse, landlord-tenant
disputes, foreclosures, life-sustaining service denials and other civil
matters.
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The
Texas Access to Justice Foundation (www.teajf.org),
created by the Supreme Court of Texas in 1984, is the leading state-based
funding source for the provision of civil legal aid in Texas. The
organization is committed to the vision that all Texans will have equal
access to justice, regardless of their income. The Foundation administers a
variety of funding sources, which are earmarked to assist nonprofit
organizations in providing legal aid to approximately 100,000 Contact:
Kimberly Schmitt
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