The value of relationships runs deep at Southwest Bank of Texas. Relationships with our customers. With our community at large. And within our own Southwest Bank of Texas family.

We build these relationships with open ears and open minds. Listening carefully to our customers and to the community. And to our colleagues. Taking a little extra time to consider what we’ve heard.

And responding. With ideas. With solutions.

Solutions that, in many cases, might be considered “outside of the box” for a financial institution.

And that’s how we build trust. The cornerstone of any relationship.

Inspiring customers to turn to us—to rely on us—more and more.

This is particularly evident in the ongoing growth of Southwest Bank of Texas Investment Services which includes:

Personal investment advisors located in our network of retail branches
Institutional services for fixed-income and cash management
Retirement services helping commercial customers introduce 401k and retirement-related
  benefits into their businesses

In a related area, we have continued to expand and invest in Private Client Financial Services. This is a direct result of an increasing number of individuals who in their personal financial management partner, seek the service, attention to detail and trustworthy advice they receive every day in business from our Private Bankers and Investment Advisors. That’s true relationship extension. True relationship banking.

Also this year, we’ve increased our retail presence with the addition of seven full-service branches—continuing our ambitious retail development strategy that we began last year.

Our customers enjoy the convenience of the branch experience. And we enjoy the benefits of an additional broad base of deposits, loans and fee-based service income.

This is how we grow. Through value. Through trust.

Through relationships. Built one at a time.

1 CONSOLIDATED EFFORT The Dubose Model Home Company is a lessor and re-seller of model homes—and a customer of Southwest Bank of Texas. The Dubose Company buys model homes built by developers and then leases the home back to the builder until the time that the subdivision has sold out and the builder no longer needs a model home. Dubose, in turn, sells them to consumers. It’s good business all around. Except that Dubose may carry an inventory of 300 homes at any one time through various partnerships. And that has meant 300 individual mortgages in the company system. We suggested—and helped implement—a simple solution. We recommended that Dubose self-finance its inventory purchases by setting up an in-house finance company. We helped with the financial structuring and consolidation of outstanding mortgages. Dubose not only saves money, the company can also track and manage its finances more efficiently. And they couldn’t be more pleased. Not a typical bank solution. But then, we’re not a typical bank.

2 BRICKS AND MORTAR While so many global banks seem to be driving customers out of their branch facilities, Southwest Bank of Texas, this year, quietly initiated a unique plan to invite more customers into ours. It’s a key component in “our way” of building real relationships with our customers. And a key component of our way of extending and solidifying our brand. By extending the “portal” concept of our Internet-enabled e-banking products, the new Southwest Bank of Texas branch facilities are a carefully designed and arranged mix of electronic and people-assisted banking services. (Even special computer kiosks for kids in our Woodlands branch, where families comprise the majority of branch traffic.) Everything in place to allow customers to access what they’ve told us they want. Everything created to encourage customer participation in developing the relationship. Call in. Click in. Or come by. At Southwest Bank of Texas, we’re here for our customers.

3 BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS The Houston-based Sueba Company is the U. S. subsidiary of one of the largest residential developers in Western Europe. Southwest Bank of Texas, aware of the Company’ss ongoing activity in the Houston market, kept local Sueba representatives informed of our desire to work with them. In spite of Sueba’s traditional and almost exclusive reliance upon German-based institutions. However, this year, recognizing a need to move faster and smarter in the dynamic U. S. market, Sueba began the process of choosing a U. S. banking institution to serve its business. In Houston, Southwest Bank of Texas competed with the largest names in national banking. And won. Based on our demonstrated interest in their business over time. Based on our ability to move faster than the rest. And based on our ability to bring creative solutions to the relationship. We’re proud of our new relationship with such a fine company. And we anticipate a long and mutually rewarding future together. This is just the beginning.

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