By Joel Langton
The 830 Times
Tony Hernandez, president of Amistad Bank, delivered a 20-minute presentation rooted in faith, gratitude and hard-earned experience during a recent Men’s Empowerment event.
The event was hosted by Gilbert Mercado of Money Concepts Wealth Management and Financial Planning and held at Sojo Cellars, located at 2413 Veterans Blvd, Suite 7.
About 75 people attended the 90-minute event that included dinner and remarks by both Hernandez and guest speaker Lupe Buenrostro.
A respected member of the Del Rio business and faith communities, Hernandez was raised in El Paso and shared personal and professional lessons drawn from his 37-year career.
His message centered on purpose-driven leadership and the importance of giving back.
- Appreciate your employer
Hernandez encouraged attendees not to take their jobs or employers for granted.
“Your employer is helping feed your family,” he said. “That deserves your best.”
Though now a bank president, he drew much of his message from his early years working entry-level positions.
“What are they really doing? They’re paying your bills. They’re giving you a living, they’re putting food on your table,” he said. “We always discount that, take that for granted. That’s something I never did.”
Hernandez shared how he started at one of the lowest entry-level jobs at the bank, but through hard work, leadership recognized his work ethic and helped his career along.
- Own and address your weaknesses
Early in his career, Hernandez turned down a promotion because he recognized a personal weakness of his in financial analysis.
“One day, the executive vice president of the bank asked me to lunch and said they wanted to make me a loan officer,” Hernandez recalled. “I told him I wasn’t ready.”
Instead of hiding his shortcomings, he was honest—and it paid off.
“I explained where I needed to grow, and they created a position to train me under one of the best financial analysts I’ve ever known,” he said. “It ended up being one of the most valuable experiences of my career.”
- Learn from everyone — especially the difficult ones
Not all lessons come from positive mentors, Hernandez said, recalling a toxic former boss.
“The boss would walk right by his team in the hallway and not say a word,” Hernandez said. Hernandez said even though he worked two doors down the hall from him, he often wouldn’t speak.
Hernandez’s team members often say he’s just the opposite, understanding them and working alongside them and yes, always speaking.
“You learn from everyone you work with,” he said. “Not everyone is like the mentor who taught me financial analysis. Sometimes, it’s a boss that you say, ‘”I never want to be like that.”’
- Give back and embrace your community
After moving to Del Rio, Hernandez joined the Del Rio Chamber of Commerce and Rotary Club, eventually serving as president of both.
“You get out of a community what you put in,” he said.
In addition to leading local organizations, he’s organized numerous fundraisers, remained active in his church, and frequently emcees community events like the Del Rio Chamber of Commerce’s Wild Game Dinners, to name a few.
He also spearheaded the chamber of commerce’s Leadership Del Rio program, designed to bring up the next generation of leaders.
- Lead with faith and integrity
Faith, he said, has always been the cornerstone of his life.
“Be strong, be courageous, and do the right thing—especially when no one is watching,” he told attendees.
Hernandez’s faith is a cornerstone of his life. You can find more posts on his Facebook page about the Catholic Church’s saints than his favorite football team (the Cowboys).
“Everything we do in our life leads to our final judgment and final destination,” Hernandez said. “Treating people with common decency shouldn’t be a work thing—it should be a life goal.”
At the conclusion of the event, Mercado presented Hernandez with the Footprint Award, calling it “a well-deserved recognition for his dedication and impact on our community.”
Mercado has already started planning next year’s event, 5:30 to 7 p.m., March 26th, 2026 at a location to be determined and people can register by calling 830-775-4800.
