Texas Border Business
By Roberto Hugo González / Texas Border Business
EDINBURG, Texas — Edinburg Mayor Omar Ochoa emphasized workforce development and local career opportunities during the June 5, 2026, signing of a memorandum of understanding launching the second year of the Bank On INT paid internship program.
The ceremony, held at Edinburg City Council Chambers, brought together the City of Edinburg, the Edinburg Economic Development Corporation (EEDC), the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV), and regional banking partners to support undergraduate students seeking careers in the financial sector.
Ochoa thanked participating banks, sponsors, and community partners for investing in students through paid internships that provide real-world experience in the banking industry.
“This is a wonderful opportunity for all of our young students to be able to get a real-world education at a competitive salary so that they can see what it’s like to do business here in the Rio Grande Valley,” Ochoa said.
Addressing the student interns, Ochoa said they are entering the workforce during a period of significant growth in the region.
“To all the students who are here, you are entering the workforce at a transcendent time,” Ochoa said. “There is so much going on right now in the Rio Grande Valley and particularly in Edinburg.”
Ochoa reflected on his own experience of leaving the region to pursue education and professional opportunities before returning to South Texas. He encouraged students to consider building their careers locally, citing the opportunities available in the Valley and the value of working within their home communities.
“I love my hometown. I love my area. I love the people down here,” Ochoa said. “I knew that the efforts of my career would be that much more fulfilling if I did it with the people that I love.”
The mayor also expressed confidence in the next generation of professionals entering the workforce through programs such as Bank On INT.
“You’re going to learn a lot, and I personally can’t wait to see the contributions that you all make to our area today and going forward into the future,” Ochoa said.
The internship initiative is designed to connect students with hands-on experience in banking while helping employers identify and retain local talent. During the ceremony, EEDC Executive Director Raudel Garza said workforce development remains central to economic development efforts across the region.
“This program just drives it home in terms of the need to keep our brain trust here,” Garza said. “Internships like this are really what drives that.”
Following remarks from city leaders, university representatives, and banking executives, Ochoa joined other partners in signing the memorandum of understanding, formally launching the second cohort of the Bank On INT program.
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