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News Release
Program Boosts Funding for Legal Aid in Texas
AUSTIN, Texas
––Texas
Access to Justice Foundation,
the largest
state-based funding source for civil legal aid, announced today
Cendera Bank is the newest bank to join the Foundation’s Prime Partner
program, an ongoing initiative allowing thousands of Texans to receive more
accessible legal assistance. Cendera Bank has locations in Bells, Dallas,
Fort Worth and Tyler.
Prime Partner banks and credit unions voluntarily pay higher interest rates
for Interest on Lawyers’ Trust Accounts (IOLTA), a method of raising money
for civil legal aid and to support improvements to the justice system. Prime
Partner financial institutions pay 75% of the Federal Funds Target Rate on
IOLTA accounts, which is well above the eligibility requirements for banks
participating in the IOLTA program.
“When faced with evictions, domestic violence situations and other economic
hardships that require legal
assistance to navigate, many Texans do not always have the financial
resources to hire a lawyer,” Deborah Hankinson, chair of the board of
directors for the Texas Access to Justice Foundation, said. “The Prime
Partner program is vital in helping the Foundation provide essential legal
aid services to more than 100,000 Texans across the state each year. We look
forward to making a difference with Cendera Bank as a Prime Partner bank.”
Approximately five million Texans qualify for legal aid, the second-highest
number in the nation. Legal aid organizations help Texas families each year,
but due to a lack of resources, many continue to suffer or unsuccessfully
attempt to represent themselves in the complex court system.
“Cendera Bank is proud to partner with the Texas Access to Justice
Foundation by joining the Texas IOLTA Prime Partner program, which funds
legal services for thousands of Texans,” Sheri Auker, Vice President and
Deposit & Treasury Services Manager at Cendera Bank said. “We are
dedicated to serving our community and are delighted that the additional
funds generated will directly impact and improve upon the lives of Texans in
need of legal help.” For more information on becoming a Prime Partner, visit: www.teajf.org
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Contact: Kimberly Schmitt512-320-0099, ext. 104 kschmitt@teajf.org
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