Gerald Schwebel

As a key resource to IBC Bank’s international customers, Mr. Schwebel offers special expertise in international trade and finance, industrial/economic development and transportation.

Widely regarded as a leading expert on international trade and finance, Mr. Schwebel frequently represents IBC Bank and its customers with top government and business leaders in the United States, Mexico, and Canada.  His knowledge and unique overview have led him to present expert testimony before Congress on issues regarding U.S.-Mexico trade including the United States, Mexico, Canada Trade Agreement (USMCA) and the former North America Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), transportation and logistics, international finance, and U.S. immigration reform.  Mr. Schwebel’s perspectives on various topics related to international trade, economics, and banking have been featured in some of the major business publications in the U.S., Canada and Mexico.

Mr. Schwebel joined IBC Bank after distinguished service in the United States Army where he served as an Artillery Officer in Germany and the Republic of Korea. Additionally, he held administrative positions in various fields including higher education, food services, media, and the securities industry. Mr. Schwebel became the Corporate International Division Head of the Bank in 1996 overseeing all of IBC Bank’s international banking services.  In addition, he directs the bank’s investments/wealth management program known as IBC Investments Services and serves as a Board Member for IBC Insurance Agency.

A regular speaker—in both English and Spanish— Mr. Schwebel is a valuable resource to the bank and its customers on trade, transportation and US-Mexico relations including the United States, Mexico, Canada Trade Agreement (USMCA/NAFTA). His many affiliations and leadership positions include the 1993 National Chairman of the Border Trade Alliance (BTA); 2011-14 Chairman of North America Strategy for Competitiveness (NASCO), a tri-national trade coalition that advocates for competitiveness through logistics, transportation infrastructure, security, energy and skilled workforce.;  Bi-National Director of the U.S.-Mexico Chamber of Commerce; Member of the Transportation, Logistics and Infrastructure Committee and International Relations Committee of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce (USCOC); Member of the Texas Secretary of State’s Border Trade Advisory Committee (BTAC) and  Member of the Texas Freight Mobility Committee.  Currently, he serves on the Executive Committee and Board of Directors of the I-69 Alliance of Texas; IH 27 Advisory Committee, as well as the Ports/Transportation Advisory Committee of Texas Lt. Governor Dan Patrick.

Most recently, Mr. Schwebel serves as a member of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s U.S.-Mexico Economic Council (USMXECO), an organization that serves as a platform for both the U.S. and Mexico private sectors to work together in the creation of innovative solutions for shared policy challenges, which leads to boosting growth and creating jobs across North America.  It stems from the U.S.-Mexico CEO Dialogue which was established in 2013 by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and Consejo Cordinador Empresarial of Mexico (CCE) as a bilateral private sector forum that fosters conversations on key economic and trade issues impacting the relationship of the United States and Mexico.  He is actively involved in the Trade Policy Working Group and the Customs and Trade Facilitation Working Group.

Mr. Schwebel is also actively involved in the U.S.-Mexico Foundation’s C26+ Working Group addressing key issues impacting North America’s competitiveness.

In addition to these achievements, he also serves as Chairman of the Regional Advisory Council of the University of Texas System Academic and Research Center at Laredo; Member of Board of Advisors of the Texas A&M International University A.R. Sanchez School of Business; and Member of the Webb County Area Health Education Council. Other past leadership positions include Past-President of the Laredo Development Foundation, the Laredo Country Club, and the Laredo Philharmonic Orchestra.

Furthermore, he has served as Board of Directors for local and state non-profit organizations such as United Way of Laredo, Laredo Chamber of Commerce, International Good Neighbor Council, Doctors Hospital of Laredo, American Red Cross and many others.  His extensive service and leadership in these areas of interest have earned him numerous awards and recognitions in both the U.S. and Mexico.  Most notably, he has been recognized for his service to the communities of Laredo, Texas and Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas as a Paul Harris Fellow by the Rotary International Foundation and the Gateway Rotary Club of Laredo in 2015 and the Club Rotario de Nuevo Laredo in 2009. 

In 2013, Mr. Schwebel was the recipient of the “Advancing International Trade Award” by the National Association of Small Business International Trade Educators (NASBITE) due to his efforts in promoting international trade.  In addition, Mr. Schwebel was bestowed the “Impact Award” by the Laredo Community College Economic Development Center in 2015 for his contribution to enhance the economic and social development of Laredo.  In 2019, Mr. Schwebel was the recipient of the Russell H. Perry Award from the Texas A&M Transportation Institute, Texas Department of Transportation and the Texas Good Roads/Transportation Association for his leadership in gaining public awareness of the need for and benefits of adequate highway transportation facilities in the State of Texas.   His most recent recognition was in December 2020 when he was presented with the Asociación de Empresarios Mexicanos (AEM) San Antonio Legacy Award for his continuous support and significant contributions to the international business environment.

Mr. Schwebel earned his undergraduate degree at Texas A&I University of Laredo (now Texas A&M International University) where he has been recognized as a “Portrait of Latino Achievement” by the Smithsonian Institute.   He has done graduate work in the fields of International Trade and Banking at Texas A&M International University, the University of Texas, Texas A&M University, and the Stonier Graduate School of Banking at the University of Delaware.

Mr. Schwebel and his wife, Olinda, enjoy traveling and spending time with their grandchildren in Texas.