EAST LOS ANGELES, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Pan American Bank (Los Angeles) today announced that its founder, Romana Acosta Banuelos, was the recipient of the Latino Business Awards’ Lifetime Achievement Award, presented by the Los Angeles Business Journal and the Latino Business Chamber of Greater Los Angeles. The Lifetime Achievement Award was presented on January 27, 2011.
According to the Los Angeles Business Journal, “the Lifetime Achievement Award this year goes to Romana Banuelos, whose storied career spans from being born into a family of poor Mexican-Americans to becoming the first Hispanic Treasurer of the United States to launching a wildly successful Gardena-headquartered business, Ramona’s Mexican Food Products. She was also the co-founder of Pan-American National Bank, which she helped form as a way to help struggling inner-city Latinos. Pan-American National Bank is credited with helping economically troubled East Los Angeles develop a sense of community and with being a vital factor in the economic improvement of its Latino population.”
“We are thrilled that Mrs. Banuelos was selected as this year’s Lifetime Achievement Award recipient. Mrs. Banuelos’ life has truly been an American rags-to-riches story. For a Mexican-American single mother to launch not one, but two successful businesses, is incredible and speaks to her vision and commitment to success,” said Pan American Bank CEO Jesse Torres. “Mrs. Banuelos is a role model not only for Latinas, but for every person who has had to overcome hurdles in life.”
About Pan American Bank
Established in 1964, Pan American Bank is California’s oldest Latino-owned bank. Headquartered in East Los Angeles, Pan American Bank serves the needs of the Latino communities in Los Angeles and Santa Ana. Founded by former U.S. Treasurer Romana Acosta Banuelos, the Bank has stayed true to its mission of transforming and empowering Latino communities through banking relationships built on trust, service, respect, communication, and guidance. Pan American Bank's Facebook page can be found at http://bit.ly/pab-facebook. The Bank’s blog is found at http://PanAmericanBank.blogspot.com. Pan American Bank can be followed on Twitter as @PanAmericanBank.