BUFFALO, N.Y.—M&T Bank and the Hispanic College Fund are offering scholarships up to $5,000 to qualified Hispanic college students. This is the 12th year the Hispanic College Fund and the M&T Bank Scholars Program has offered the scholarships.

The M&T Bank program will award scholarships to undergraduate college students who are Hispanic or of Hispanic descent through the nationally recognized Hispanic College Fund (HCF). To be eligible, students must be pursuing degrees in business, finance, marketing, accounting, or another business-related field, and must have demonstrated a notable level of academic success.

“The Hispanic College Fund and the M&T Bank Scholars Program have awarded more than $150,000 in college scholarships since 1999,” said Idalia Fernandez, president of the Hispanic College Fund.

Students can apply online at http://scholarships.hispanicfund.org/applications. Complete eligibility requirements are available online and at local M&T bank branches. The deadline for application is Feb. 16, 2010.

Eight students from New York, Maryland, Pennsylvania and Washington, DC were recipients of the 2009 scholarships and are now attending college at Drexel University, Baruch College, Ithaca College, George Washington University, Syracuse University, Calvin College, and Mt. Saint Mary’s College.

“At a time when students, along with their parents, are concerned about lack of educational funding, this assistance is much needed,” said Janet Farrell, administrative vice president for M&T Bank’s Not-for-Profit Banking Group.

Since its founding in 1993, the Hispanic College Fund (HCF) has supported the education of over 5,000 financially disadvantaged Hispanic students with more than $9 million in grants. For more information on how to apply, visit www.hispanicfund.org or call 1-800-644-4223.