FirstBank Southwest (FBSW) had two pieces of good news to share this week.
On Tuesday, June 3, FBSW will celebrate the graduation of its second Banking Advisory Council (BAC) class at the Amarillo Country Club.
Launched in 2023, the innovative program brings together student leaders from across the Texas Panhandle to explore careers in community banking and develop skills that will serve them well into the future. The company also said the BAC program offers high school seniors and college underclassmen a behind-the-scenes look at the financial industry, pairing them with FBSW leadership for mentorship, networking, and career development.
Students were selected for BAC through a competitive application process involving essays, academic requirements, and in-person interviews.
The June 3 graduation ceremony will feature remarks from FBSW President and CEO Andy Marshall, FBSW Board Chairman Mark Shaffer, and student representative Miguel Quinonez. Each graduating student will be awarded a certificate of completion and a $3,000 scholarship to the school of their choice.
"This group has truly risen to the challenge," said Kelly Preston, BAC program director and senior vice president, human resources director at FBSW. "They've shown curiosity, leadership, and professionalism beyond their years -- and we're excited to see where they go from here."
The 2024-25 BAC graduates include:
In addition, this spring, the BAC received statewide recognition as a 2025 Texas Bankers Association Cornerstone Award recipient.
"The prestigious Cornerstone Award honors Texas banks that go above and beyond in their service to communities across the state," a news release states. "These banks are recognized for their dedication, innovation, and impact. FirstBank Southwest joins this distinguished group for exemplifying what it means to serve and invest in the next generation."
The BAC includes high school seniors from Amarillo ISD, Canyon ISD, and Bushland ISD, along with freshmen and sophomores from Amarillo College.
"We want to expose these students to the world of banking -- and hopefully inspire a new generation of bankers. At the same time, we're learning from them what their generation values in a financial relationship. This helps us evolve into the community bank of the future," Marshall said.