IBC Bank-Brownsville recently announced the promotions of key employees in various departments.
Richard Eric Abete was promoted to senior vice president in the commercial lending department. He has been with IBC Bank since 2003. Abete received his BBA degree from the University of Texas–Brownsville. His community involvement includes serving as first vice chairman of the Brownsville Chamber of Commerce and as a board member of the Episcopal Day School. He has also been active in the Boy Scouts of America, Brownsville Heritage Council, Rio Grande Valley Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Leadership Brownsville, City of Brownsville charter review committee and North Brownsville Rotary Club. In 2019, Abete was voted “Banker of the Year” by the Brownsville Herald Reader’s Choice.
Graciela Balli has been promoted to assistant vice president in the credit department. She has been with IBC Bank for nine years. Balli is a graduate of the University of Texas–Brownsville.
Claudia Vianney Celvera is now first vice president in the retail banking department. She has been with IBC Bank since 1999. Celvera currently serves as treasurer for CAFAV in Brownsville.
Francisco J. Lopez was promoted to first vice president in the commercial lending department. He has been with IBC Bank since 2006. Lopez received his BBA degree in finance from the University of Texas–Brownsville. His community work includes serving as vice chair of United Way of Southern Cameron County, vice chair of finance for the Boy Scouts of America and as EAB officer liaison for the IBC employee advisory board.
Denise Michelle Novigrod has been promoted to first vice president. She has been with IBC Bank since 2001. Her leadership role as head teller in the retail banking department has strengthened her knowledge and experience in this aspect of the banking business.
Liliana Peña is now assistant vice president in the international department. She has been with IBC Bank since 1999. She earned an associate degree in accounting from Texas Southmost College. Peña’s community service work includes membership in the Brownsville Junior Service League.
Claudia San Miguel was promoted to bank officer in the commercial lending department. She has been with IBC Bank since 2015. San Miguel obtained her BBA degree in accounting from the University of Texas–Rio Grande Valley.
Cesar Augusto Valdez has been promoted to senior vice president in the credit department. He has been with IBC Bank since 2005. He obtained his BBA degree in finance from the University of Texas–Brownsville. Valdez’s community work includes service on the board of the Brownsville Museum of Fine Art and as a member of the fair and responsible committee with the Consumer Bankers Association.
IBC Bank–Brownsville is a member of International Bancshares Corp., based in Laredo. The company operates 186 facilities serving 87 communities in Texas and Oklahoma. IBC Bank–Brownsville has been serving the area since 1984 and has a retail branch network of 12 locations.
