Back to GetFilings.com

Table of Contents

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-K

(Mark One)

For The Fiscal Year Ended December 31, 2003

OR

For the transition period from             to             

Commission File Number 0-25051

PROSPERITY BANCSHARES, INC. ^SM

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Registrant’s Telephone Number, Including Area Code: (713) 693-9300

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act: None

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:

Common Stock, par value

$1.00 per share

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.    Yes  x    No  ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an accelerated filer (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act).     Yes  x    No  ¨

Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of registrant’s knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of the Form 10-K or any amendment of this Form 10-K.  ¨

The aggregate market value of the shares of Common Stock held by non-affiliates, based on the closing price of the Common Stock on the Nasdaq National Market System on June 30, 2003 was approximately $253.3 million.

As of March 8, 2004, the number of outstanding shares of Common Stock was 20,944,705.

Documents Incorporated by Reference:

Portions of the Company’s Proxy Statement relating to the 2004 Annual Meeting of Shareholders, which will be filed within 120 days after December 31, 2003, are incorporated by reference into Part III, Items 10-14 of this Form 10-K.

Table of Contents

PROSPERITY BANCSHARES, INC.^SM

2003 ANNUAL REPORT ON FORM 10-K

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Table of Contents

PART I

Special Cautionary Notice Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

Statements and financial discussion and analysis contained in this annual report on Form 10-K that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements are based on assumptions and involve a number of risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the Company’s control. Many possible events or factors could affect the future financial results and performance of the Company and could cause such results or performance to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements. These possible events or factors include, without limitation:

A forward-looking statement may include a statement of the assumptions or bases underlying the forward-looking statement. The Company believes it has chosen these assumptions or bases in good faith and that they are reasonable. However, the Company cautions you that assumptions or bases almost always vary from actual results, and the differences between assumptions or bases and actual results can be material.

The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or otherwise revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, unless the securities laws require the Company to do so.

1

Table of Contents

ITEM 1. BUSINESS

General

Prosperity Bancshares, Inc.^SM (the “Company”) was formed in 1983 as a vehicle to acquire the former Allied Bank in Edna, Texas which was chartered in 1949 as The First National Bank of Edna. The Company is a registered financial holding company that derives substantially all of its revenues and income from the operation of its bank subsidiary, Prosperity Bank^® (“Prosperity Bank^®” or the “Bank”). The Bank provides a broad line of financial products and services to small and medium-sized businesses and consumers. The Bank operates fifty-one (51) full-service banking locations; with twenty-nine (29) in the Greater Houston Consolidated Metropolitan Statistical Area (“CMSA”), eleven (11) in eight contiguous counties situated south and southwest of Houston and extending into South Texas and eleven (11) in the Dallas/Fort Worth area. The Greater Houston CMSA includes Brazoria, Chambers, Fort Bend, Galveston, Harris, Liberty, Montgomery and Waller counties. The Company’s headquarters are located at Prosperity Bank Plaza, 4295 San Felipe in Houston, Texas and its telephone number is (713) 693-9300. The Company’s website address is www.prosperitybanktx.com.

The Company’s market consists of the communities served by its locations in the Greater Houston CMSA, additional locations in eight contiguous counties located to the south and southwest of Houston and its eleven banking locations in the Dallas/Fort Worth area, Texas. US Highway 59 (scheduled to become Interstate Highway 69), which serves as the primary “NAFTA Highway” linking the interior United States and Mexico, runs directly through the center of the Company’s market area. The increased traffic along this NAFTA Highway has enhanced economic activity in the Company’s market area and created opportunities for growth. The diverse nature of the economies in each local market served by the Company provides the Company with a varied customer base and allows the Company to spread its lending risk throughout a number of different industries including farming, ranching, petrochemicals, manufacturing, tourism, recreation and professional service firms and their principals. The Company’s market areas outside of Houston and Dallas are dominated by either small community banks or branches of large regional banks. Management believes that the Company, as one of the few mid-sized financial institutions that combines responsive community banking with the sophistication of a regional bank holding company, has a competitive advantage in its market areas and excellent growth opportunities through acquisitions, new Banking Center locations and additional business development.

Operating under a community banking philosophy, the Company seeks to develop broad customer relationships based on service and convenience while maintaining its conservative approach to lending and strong asset quality. The Company has grown through a combination of internal growth, the acquisition of community banks, branches of banks and the opening of new banking centers. Utilizing a low cost of funds and employing stringent cost controls, the Company has been profitable in every full year of its existence, including the period of adverse economic conditions in Texas in the late 1980s. From 1988 to 1992, as a sound and profitable institution, the Company took advantage of this economic downturn and acquired the deposits and certain assets of failed banks in West Columbia, El Campo and Cuero, Texas and two failed banks in Houston, which diversified the Company’s franchise and increased its core deposits. The Company opened a full-service Banking Center in Victoria, Texas in 1993 and the following year established a Banking Center in Bay City, Texas. The Company expanded its Bay City presence in 1996 with the acquisition of an additional branch location from Norwest Bank Texas, and in 1997, the Company acquired the Angleton, Texas branch of Wells Fargo Bank. In 1998, the Company enhanced its West Columbia Banking Center with the purchase of a commercial bank branch located in West Columbia and acquired Union State Bank in East Bernard, Texas.

In 1999, the Company acquired South Texas Bancshares, Inc. and its wholly owned subsidiary, The Commercial National Bank of Beeville, with locations in Beeville, Mathis and Goliad, Texas. The Company acquired trust powers in connection with the South Texas Acquisition. Additionally, in September 2000, the Company purchased certain assets and assumed certain liabilities of five branches of Compass Bank located in El Campo, Hitchcock, Needville, Palacios and Sweeny, Texas. With the exception of the El Campo location, the former Compass branches are being operated as full-service Banking Centers. The El Campo location has been combined with the Company’s El Campo Banking Center. In February 2001, the Company completed a merger with Commercial Bancshares, Inc., (“Commercial”), whereby Commercial was merged with the Company and Heritage Bank, Commercial’s wholly owned subsidiary, was merged with the Bank. Heritage Bank had 12 full-service banking locations in the Houston metropolitan area and in three adjacent counties. The transaction was accounted for as a pooling of interests and therefore the historical financial data of the Company has been restated to include the accounts and operations of Commercial for all periods prior to the effective time of the Commercial merger. The Company incurred approximately $2.4 million in merger related expenses in connection with the Commercial merger.

In May 2002, the Company completed the acquisition of Texas Guaranty Bank, N.A. (the “Texas Guaranty Acquisition”). Texas Guaranty Bank operated three (3) offices in the western portion of Houston, Texas, all of which became full service banking centers of Prosperity Bank^®. In July 2002, the Company acquired The First State Bank, Needville, Texas (the “First State Acquisition”). Prosperity Bank’s^® existing Needville Banking Center relocated into the former First State Bank location effective July 15, 2002. In June 2003, the Needville Banking Center relocated into a newly constructed building on Highway 36. Additionally, in

2

Table of Contents

September 2002, the Company acquired Paradigm Bancorporation, Inc. (the “Paradigm Acquisition”) in a stock transaction for approximately 2.58 million shares of Prosperity common stock for all outstanding shares of Paradigm. Paradigm operated a total of eleven (11) banking offices - six (6) in the greater Houston metropolitan area and five (5) in the nearby Southeast Texas cities of Dayton, Galveston, Mont Belvieu, and Winnie. The Company subsequently closed three banking offices and consolidated them into existing Banking Centers. On October 1, 2002, the Company acquired Southwest Bank Holding Company, Dallas, Texas (the “Southwest Acquisition”) for approximately $19.6 million in cash. Southwest’s wholly owned subsidiary, Bank of the Southwest, Dallas, Texas, became a subsidiary of the Company but was merged into the Bank on January 2, 2003. Southwest was privately held and operated two (2) banking offices in Dallas, Texas. On November 1, 2002, the Company acquired First National Bank of Bay City, Bay City, Texas (the “FNB Acquisition”), through the merger of FNB with and into Prosperity Bank^® for approximately $5.1 million in cash. FNB operated one (1) location in Bay City, Texas, which was closed and consolidated with Prosperity Bank’s^® Bay City Banking Center.

2003 Mergers and Acquisitions

On December 9, 2003, the Company completed the merger of First State Bank of North Texas, Dallas, Texas (“FSBNT”) into the Bank. Under the terms of the agreement, the Company paid approximately $12.6 million in cash and issued approximately 393,074 shares of its common stock for all outstanding shares of First State. First State was privately held and operated four (4) banking offices in the Dallas, Texas area. One banking center was closed and consolidated with an existing banking center located nearby. As of September 30, 2003, First State had total assets of $100.7 million, loans of $20.1 million, deposits of $91.4 million and shareholders’ equity of $8.8 million.

On November 1, 2003, the Company completed the merger of MainBancorp, Inc., Austin, Texas (“MainBancorp”), into the Company. In connection with the transaction, MainBancorp’s wholly owned subsidiary, mainbank, n.a., Dallas, Texas, was merged into the Bank. Under the terms of the agreement, the Company issued approximately 1,500,000 shares of its Common Stock and paid approximately $9.1 million in cash for all outstanding shares of MainBancorp. In addition, the Company assumed options to acquire 100,851 shares of its Common Stock. MainBancorp was privately held and operated four (4) banking offices in Dallas, Texas area. As of September 30, 2003, MainBancorp had, on a consolidated basis, total assets of $177.1 million, loans of $90.8 million, deposits of $153.7 million and shareholders’ equity of $22.6 million.

On June 1, 2003, the Company completed the merger of Dallas Bancshares, Dallas, Texas (“Dallas Bancshares”), into the Company. In connection with the transaction, Dallas Bancshares’ wholly owned subsidiary, BankDallas, was merged into the Bank. Under the terms of the agreement, the Company paid approximately $7.0 million in cash. Dallas Bancshares operated one (1) banking office in Dallas, Texas. As of March 31, 2003, Dallas Bancshares had, on a consolidated basis, total assets of $42.0 million, loans of 28.3 million, deposits of $37.6 million and shareholders’ equity of $4.3 million.

On May 6, 2003, the Company completed the merger of Abrams Centre Bancshares, Dallas, Texas (“Abrams”), into the Company. In connection with the acquisition, Abrams’ wholly owned subsidiary, Abrams Centre National Bank, was merged into the Bank. Under the terms of the agreement, the Company paid approximately $16.3 million in cash. Abrams operated two (2) banking offices in Dallas, Texas. One banking center was closed and consolidated with an existing banking center located nearby in November 2003. As of March 31, 2003, Abrams had, on a consolidated basis, total assets of $96.5 million, loans of $31.7 million, deposits of $70.8 million and shareholders’ equity of $14.0 million.

Recent Developments

The Company completed the sale of all the trust assets managed by it to another financial institution on December 31, 2003. The transaction was accounted for as a purchase and assumption and did not have a material impact on 2003 results.

Available Information

The Company’s website address is www.prosperitybanktx.com. The Company makes available free of charge on or through its website its annual report on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K and all amendments to those reports filed or furnished pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, as soon as reasonably practicable after such material is electronically filed with or furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission. However, the information found on the Company’s website is not part of this or any other report.

Officers and Associates

The Company’s directors and officers are important to the Company’s success and play a key role in the Company’s business development efforts by actively participating in a number of civic and public service activities in the communities served by the Company, such as the Rotary Club, Lion’s Club, Pilot Club, United Way and Chamber of Commerce. In addition, the Company’s

3

Table of Contents

Banking Centers in Bay City, Clear Lake, Cleveland, Dayton, Galveston, Liberty, Mont Belvieu, and Wharton maintain Business Development Boards, whose function is to solicit new business, develop customer relations and provide valuable community knowledge to their respective Banking Center Presidents or Managers.

The Company has invested heavily in its officers and associates by recruiting talented officers in its market areas and providing them with economic incentive in the form of stock options and bonuses based on cross-selling performance. The senior management team has substantial experience in both the Houston and Dallas markets and the surrounding communities in which the Company has a presence. Each Banking Center location is administered by a local President or Manager with knowledge of the community and lending expertise in the specific industries found in the community. The Company entrusts its Banking Center Presidents and Managers with authority and flexibility within general parameters with respect to product pricing and decision making in order to avoid the bureaucratic structure of larger banks. The Company operates each Banking Center as a separate profit center, maintaining separate data with respect to each Banking Center’s net interest income, efficiency ratio, deposit growth, loan growth and overall profitability. Banking Center Presidents and Managers are accountable for performance in these areas and compensated accordingly. The Company has no 1-800 numbers. Each Banking Center has its own local business telephone number, which enables a customer to be served by a local banker with decision making authority.

As of December 31, 2003, the Company and the Bank had 629 full-time equivalent associates, 230 of whom were officers of the Bank. The Company provides medical and hospitalization insurance to its full-time associates. The Company considers its relations with associates to be excellent. Neither the Company nor the Bank is a party to any collective bargaining agreement.

Banking Activities

The Company, through the Bank, offers a variety of traditional loan and deposit products to its customers, which consist primarily of consumers and small and medium-sized businesses. The Bank tailors its products to the specific needs of customers in a given market. At December 31, 2003, the Bank maintained approximately 139,000 separate deposit accounts and 16,100 separate loan accounts and approximately 22.4% of the Bank’s total deposits were noninterest-bearing demand deposits. For the year ended December 31, 2003, the Company’s average cost of funds was 1.33%.

The Company has been an active mortgage lender, with commercial mortgage and 1-4 family residential loans comprising 64.7% of the Company’s total loans as of December 31, 2003. The Company also offers loans for automobiles and other consumer durables, home equity loans, debit cards, personal computer banking and other cash management services and telebanking. By offering certificates of deposit, checking with interest accounts, savings accounts and overdraft protection at competitive rates, the Company gives its depositors a full range of traditional deposit products. The Company has successfully introduced the Royal account, which for a monthly fee provides consumers with a package of benefits including unlimited free checking, free personalized checks, free travelers checks, free cashier’s checks, free money orders, free ATM or debit card, imaged statements, free Advantage Overdraft protection ranging from $200 to $1,000 on qualifying accounts, free Internet Banking, discounted Internet Bill Pay pricing and certain travel discounts.

The businesses targeted by the Company in its lending efforts are primarily those that require loans in the $100,000 to $4.0 million range. The Company offers these businesses a broad array of loan products including term loans, lines of credit and loans for working capital, business expansion and the purchase of equipment and machinery, interim construction loans for builders and owner-occupied commercial real estate loans. For its business customers, the Company has developed a specialized checking product called Small Business Checking which provides fixed discounted fees for checking.

Business Strategies

The Company’s main objective is to increase deposits and loans through additional expansion opportunities while maintaining efficiency, individualized customer service and maximizing profitability. To achieve this objective, the Company has employed the following strategic goals:

Continue Community Banking Emphasis. The Company intends to continue operating as a community banking organization focused on meeting the specific needs of consumers and small and medium-sized businesses in its market areas. The Company will continue to provide a high degree of responsiveness combined with a wide variety of banking products and services. The Company staffs its Banking Centers with experienced bankers with lending expertise in the specific industries found in the community, giving them authority to make certain pricing and credit decisions, thereby attempting to avoid the bureaucratic structure of larger banks.

Increase Loan Volume and Diversify Loan Portfolio. Historically, the Company has elected to sacrifice some earnings for the historically lower credit losses associated with home mortgage loans. While maintaining its conservative approach to lending, the Company has emphasized both new and existing loan products, focusing on growing its commercial mortgage and commercial loan portfolios. During the two-year period from December 31, 2001 to December 31, 2003, the Company’s commercial and industrial

4

Table of Contents

loans grew from $47.0 million to $94.0 million, or 100.0% and its commercial mortgages increased from $78.4 million to $260.9 million, or 232.6%. In addition, the Company targets professional service firms such as legal and medical practices for both loans secured by owner-occupied premises and personal loans to their principals.

Continue Strict Focus on Efficiency. The Company plans to maintain its stringent cost control practices and policies. The Company has invested significantly in the infrastructure required to centralize many of its critical operations, such as data processing and loan application processing. For its Banking Centers, which the Company operates as independent profit centers, the Company supplies complete support in the areas of loan review, internal audit, compliance and training. Management believes that this centralized infrastructure can accommodate substantial additional growth while enabling the Company to minimize operational costs through certain economies of scale.

Enhance Cross-Selling. The Company recognizes that its customer base provides significant opportunities to cross-sell various products and it seeks to develop broader customer relationships by identifying cross-selling opportunities. The Company uses incentives and friendly competition to encourage cross-selling efforts and increase cross-selling results. Officers and associates have access to each customer’s existing and related account relationships and are better able to inform customers of additional products when customers visit or call the various Banking Centers or use their drive-in facilities. In addition, the Company includes product information in monthly statements and other mailings.

Maintain Strong Asset Quality. The Company intends to maintain the strong asset quality that has been representative of its historical loan portfolio. As the Company diversifies and increases its lending activities, it may face higher risks of nonpayment and increased risks in the event of economic downturns. The Company intends, however, to continue to employ the strict underwriting guidelines and comprehensive loan review process that has contributed to its low incidence of nonperforming assets and its minimal charge-offs.

Expand Market Share Through Internal Growth and a Disciplined Acquisition Strategy. The Company intends to continue seeking opportunities, both inside and outside its existing markets, to expand either by acquiring existing banks or branches of banks or by establishing new Banking Centers. All of the Company’s acquisitions have been accretive to earnings within 12 months after acquisition date and have supplied the Company with relatively low-cost deposits which have been used to fund the Company’s lending and investing activities. However, the Company makes no guarantee that future acquisitions will be accretive to earnings within any particular time period. Factors used by the Company to evaluate expansion opportunities include the similarity in management and operating philosophies, whether the acquisition will be accretive to earnings and enhance shareholder value, the ability to achieve economies of scale to improve the efficiency ratio and the opportunity to enhance the Company’s market presence.

Competition

The banking business is highly competitive, and the profitability of the Company depends principally on its ability to compete in its market areas. The Company competes with other commercial banks, savings banks, savings and loan associations, credit unions, finance companies, mutual funds, insurance companies, brokerage and investment banking firms, asset-based nonbank lenders and certain other nonfinancial entities, including retail stores which may maintain their own credit programs and certain governmental organizations which may offer more favorable financing than the Company. The Company has been able to compete effectively with other financial institutions by emphasizing customer service, technology and responsive decision-making with respect to loans; by establishing long-term customer relationships and building customer loyalty; and by providing products and services designed to address the specific needs of its customers. Under the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act, securities firms and insurance companies that elect to become financial holding companies may acquire banks and other financial institutions.

Supervision and Regulation

The supervision and regulation of bank holding companies and their subsidiaries is intended primarily for the protection of depositors, the deposit insurance funds of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”) and the banking system as a whole, and not for the protection of the bank holding company shareholders or creditors. The banking agencies have broad enforcement power over bank holding companies and banks including the power to impose substantial fines and other penalties for violations of laws and regulations.

The following description summarizes some of the laws to which the Company and the Bank are subject. References herein to applicable statutes and regulations are brief summaries thereof, do not purport to be complete, and are qualified in their entirety by reference to such statutes and regulations. The Company believes that it is in compliance in all material respects with these laws and regulations.

5

Table of Contents

The Company

The Company is a financial holding company registered under the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act and a bank holding company registered under the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956, as amended (“BHCA”). Accordingly, the Company is subject to supervision, regulation and examination by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (“Federal Reserve Board”). The Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act, the BHCA and other federal laws subject financial and bank holding companies to particular restrictions on the types of activities in which they may engage, and to a range of supervisory requirements and activities, including regulatory enforcement actions for violations of laws and regulations.

Regulatory Restrictions on Dividends; Source of Strength. It is the policy of the Federal Reserve Board that bank holding companies should pay cash dividends on common stock only out of income available over the past year and only if prospective earnings retention is consistent with the organization’s expected future needs and financial condition. The policy provides that bank holding companies should not maintain a level of cash dividends that undermines the bank holding company’s ability to serve as a source of strength to its banking subsidiaries.

Under Federal Reserve Board policy, a bank holding company is expected to act as a source of financial strength to each of its banking subsidiaries and commit resources to their support. Such support may be required at times when, absent this Federal Reserve Board policy, a holding company may not be inclined to provide it. As discussed below, a bank holding company, in certain circumstances, could be required to guarantee the capital plan of an undercapitalized banking subsidiary.

In the event of a bank holding company’s bankruptcy under Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code, the trustee will be deemed to have assumed and is required to cure immediately any deficit under any commitment by the debtor holding company to any of the federal banking agencies to maintain the capital of an insured depository institution. Any claim for breach of such obligation will generally have priority over most other unsecured claims.

Scope of Permissible Activities. Under the BHCA, bank holding companies generally may not acquire a direct or indirect interest in or control of more than 5% of the voting shares of any company that is not a bank or bank holding company or from engaging in activities other than those of banking, managing or controlling banks or furnishing services to or performing services for its subsidiaries, except that it may engage in, directly or indirectly, certain activities that the Federal Reserve Board determined to be closely related to banking or managing and controlling banks as to be a proper incident thereto. In approving acquisitions or the addition of activities, the Federal Reserve considers whether the acquisition or the additional activities can reasonably be expected to produce benefits to the public, such as greater convenience, increased competition, or gains in efficiency, that outweigh such possible adverse effects as undue concentration of resources decreased or unfair competition, conflicts of interest or unsound banking practices.

However, the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act, effective March 11, 2000, eliminated the barriers to affiliations among banks, securities firms, insurance companies and other financial service providers and permits bank holding companies to become financial holding companies and thereby affiliate with securities firms and insurance companies and engage in other activities that are financial in nature. The Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act defines “financial in nature” to include securities underwriting, dealing and market making; sponsoring mutual funds and investment companies; insurance underwriting and agency; merchant banking activities; and activities that the Federal Reserve Board has determined to be closely related to banking. No regulatory approval will be required for a financial holding company to acquire a company, other than a bank or savings association, engaged in activities that are financial in nature or incidental to activities that are financial in nature, as determined by the Federal Reserve Board.

Under the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act, a bank holding company may become a financial holding company by filing a declaration with the Federal Reserve Board if each of its subsidiary banks is well capitalized under the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Improvement Act (“FDICIA”) prompt corrective action provisions, is well managed, and has at least a satisfactory rating under the Community Reinvestment Act of 1977 (“CRA”). The Company became a financial holding company on April 18, 2000.

While the Federal Reserve Board is the “umbrella” regulator for financial holding companies and has the power to examine banking organizations engaged in new activities, regulation and supervision of activities which are financial in nature or determined to be incidental to such financial activities will be handled along functional lines. Accordingly, activities of subsidiaries of a financial holding company will be regulated by the agency or authorities with the most experience regulating that activity as it is conducted in a financial holding company.

Safe and Sound Banking Practices. Bank holding companies are not permitted to engage in unsafe and unsound banking practices. The Federal Reserve Board’s Regulation Y, for example, generally requires a holding company to give the Federal Reserve Board prior notice of any redemption or repurchase of its own equity securities, if the consideration to be paid, together with the consideration paid for any repurchases or redemptions in the preceding year, is equal to 10% or more of the company’s consolidated net worth. The Federal Reserve Board may oppose the transaction if it believes that the transaction would constitute an unsafe or

6

Table of Contents

unsound practice or would violate any law or regulation. Depending upon the circumstances, the Federal Reserve Board could take the position that paying a dividend would constitute an unsafe or unsound banking practice.

The Federal Reserve Board has broad authority to prohibit activities of bank holding companies and their nonbanking subsidiaries which represent unsafe and unsound banking practices or which constitute violations of laws or regulations, and can assess civil money penalties for certain activities conducted on a knowing and reckless basis, if those activities caused a substantial loss to a depository institution. The penalties can be as high as $1.0 million for each day the activity continues.

Anti-Tying Restrictions. Bank holding companies and their affiliates are prohibited from tying the provision of certain services, such as extensions of credit, to other services offered by a holding company or its affiliates.

Capital Adequacy Requirements. The Federal Reserve Board has adopted a system using risk-based capital guidelines to evaluate the capital adequacy of bank holding companies. Under the guidelines, specific categories of assets are assigned different risk weights, based generally on the perceived credit risk of the asset. These risk weights are multiplied by corresponding asset balances to determine a “risk-weighted” asset base. The guidelines require a minimum total risk-based capital ratio of 8.0% (of which at least 4.0% is required to consist of Tier 1 capital elements). Total capital is the sum of Tier 1 and Tier 2 capital. As of December 31, 2003, the Company’s ratio of Tier 1 capital to total tangible risk-weighted assets was 15.82% and its ratio of total capital to total tangible risk-weighted assets was 16.90%. Tangible risk-weighted assets are calculated as total risk-weighted assets less intangible assets such as goodwill and core deposit intangibles. See “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations - Financial Condition - Capital Resources.”

In addition to the risk-based capital guidelines, the Federal Reserve Board uses a leverage ratio as an additional tool to evaluate the capital adequacy of bank holding companies. The leverage ratio is a company’s Tier 1 capital divided by its average total tangible consolidated assets. Certain highly rated bank holding companies may maintain a minimum leverage ratio of 3.0%, but other bank holding companies are required to maintain a leverage ratio of 4.0%. As of December 31, 2003, the Company’s leverage ratio was 7.10%.

The federal banking agencies’ risk-based and leverage ratios are minimum supervisory ratios generally applicable to banking organizations that meet certain specified criteria, assuming that they have the highest regulatory rating. Banking organizations not meeting these criteria are expected to operate with capital positions well above the minimum ratios. The federal bank regulatory agencies may set capital requirements for a particular banking organization that are higher than the minimum ratios when circumstances warrant. Federal Reserve Board guidelines also provide that banking organizations experiencing internal growth or making acquisitions will be expected to maintain strong capital positions substantially above the minimum supervisory levels, without significant reliance on intangible assets.

Imposition of Liability for Undercapitalized Subsidiaries. Bank regulators are required to take “prompt corrective action” to resolve problems associated with insured depository institutions whose capital declines below certain levels. In the event an institution becomes “undercapitalized,” it must submit a capital restoration plan. The capital restoration plan will not be accepted by the regulators unless each company having control of the undercapitalized institution guarantees the subsidiary’s compliance with the capital restoration plan up to a certain specified amount. Any such guarantee from a depository institution’s holding company is entitled to a priority of payment in bankruptcy.

The aggregate liability of the holding company of an undercapitalized bank is limited to the lesser of 5% of the institution’s assets at the time it became undercapitalized or the amount necessary to cause the institution to be “adequately capitalized.” The bank regulators have greater power in situations where an institution becomes “significantly” or “critically” undercapitalized or fails to submit a capital restoration plan. For example, a bank holding company controlling such an institution can be required to obtain prior Federal Reserve Board approval of proposed dividends, or might be required to consent to a consolidation or to divest the troubled institution or other affiliates.

Acquisitions by Bank Holding Companies. The BHCA requires every bank holding company to obtain the prior approval of the Federal Reserve Board before it may acquire all or substantially all of the assets of any bank, or ownership or control of any voting shares of any bank, if after such acquisition it would own or control, directly or indirectly, more than 5% of the voting shares of such bank. In approving bank acquisitions by bank holding companies, the Federal Reserve Board is required to consider the financial and managerial resources and future prospects of the bank holding company and the banks concerned, the convenience and needs of the communities to be served, and various competitive factors.

Control Acquisitions. The Change in Bank Control Act prohibits a person or group of persons from acquiring “control” of a bank holding company unless the Federal Reserve Board has been notified and has not objected to the transaction. Under a rebuttable presumption established by the Federal Reserve Board, the acquisition of 10% or more of a class of voting stock of a bank holding company with a class of securities registered under Section 12 of the Exchange Act, such as the Company, would, under the circumstances set forth in the presumption, constitute acquisition of control of the Company.

7

Table of Contents

In addition, any entity is required to obtain the approval of the Federal Reserve Board under the BHCA before acquiring 25% (5% in the case of an acquirer that is a bank holding company) or more of the outstanding Common Stock of the Company, or otherwise obtaining control or a “controlling influence” over the Company.

The Bank

The Bank is a Texas-chartered banking association, the deposits of which are insured by the Bank Insurance Fund (“BIF”). The Bank is not a member of the Federal Reserve System; therefore, the Bank is subject to supervision and regulation by the FDIC and the Texas Banking Department. Such supervision and regulation subject the Bank to special restrictions, requirements, potential enforcement actions and periodic examination by the FDIC and the Texas Banking Department. Because the Federal Reserve Board regulates the bank holding company parent of the Bank, the Federal Reserve Board also has supervisory authority which directly affects the Bank.

Equivalence to National Bank Powers. The Texas Constitution, as amended in 1986, provides that a Texas-chartered bank has the same rights and privileges that are or may be granted to national banks domiciled in Texas. To the extent that the Texas laws and regulations may have allowed state-chartered banks to engage in a broader range of activities than national banks, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Improvement Act of 1991 (“FDICIA”) has operated to limit this authority. FDICIA provides that no state bank or subsidiary thereof may engage as principal in any activity not permitted for national banks, unless the institution complies with applicable capital requirements and the FDIC determines that the activity poses no significant risk to the insurance fund. In general, statutory restrictions on the activities of banks are aimed at protecting the safety and soundness of depository institutions.

Financial Modernization. Under the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act, a national bank may establish a financial subsidiary and engage, subject to limitations on investment, in activities that are financial in nature, other than insurance underwriting as principal, insurance company portfolio investment, real estate development, real estate investment and annuity issuance. To do so, a bank must be well capitalized, well managed and have a CRA rating of satisfactory or better. Subsidiary banks of a financial holding company or national banks with financial subsidiaries must remain well capitalized and well managed in order to continue to engage in activities that are financial in nature without regulatory actions or restrictions, which could include divestiture of the financial in nature subsidiary or subsidiaries. In addition, a financial holding company or a bank may not acquire a company that is engaged in activities that are financial in nature unless each of the subsidiary banks of the financial holding company or the bank has a CRA rating of satisfactory of better.

Although the powers of state chartered banks are not specifically addressed in the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act, Texas-chartered banks such as the Bank, will have the same if not greater powers as national banks through the parity provision contained in the Texas Constitution.

Branching. Texas law provides that a Texas-chartered bank can establish a branch anywhere in Texas provided that the branch is approved in advance by the Texas Banking Department. The branch must also be approved by the FDIC, which considers a number of factors, including financial history, capital adequacy, earnings prospects, character of management, needs of the community and consistency with corporate powers.

Restrictions on Transactions with Affiliates and Insiders. Transactions between the Bank and its nonbanking subsidiaries, including the Company, are subject to Section 23A of the Federal Reserve Act. In general, Section 23A imposes limits on the amount of such transactions, and also requires certain levels of collateral for loans to affiliated parties. It also limits the amount of advances to third parties which are collateralized by the securities or obligations of the Company or its subsidiaries.

Affiliate transactions are also subject to Section 23B of the Federal Reserve Act which generally requires that certain transactions between the Bank and its affiliates be on terms substantially the same, or at least as favorable to the Bank, as those prevailing at the time for comparable transactions with or involving other nonaffiliated persons. The Federal Reserve has also issued Regulation W which codifies prior regulations under Sections 23A and 23B of the Federal Reserve Act and interpretive guidance with respect to affiliate transactions.

The restrictions on loans to directors, executive officers, principal shareholders and their related interests (collectively referred to herein as “insiders”) contained in the Federal Reserve Act and Regulation O apply to all insured institutions and their subsidiaries and holding companies. These restrictions include limits on loans to one borrower and conditions that must be met before such a loan can be made. There is also an aggregate limitation on all loans to insiders and their related interests. These loans cannot exceed the institution’s total unimpaired capital and surplus, and the FDIC may determine that a lesser amount is appropriate. Insiders are subject to enforcement actions for knowingly accepting loans in violation of applicable restrictions.

8

Table of Contents

Restrictions on Distribution of Subsidiary Bank Dividends and Assets. Dividends paid by the Bank have provided a substantial part of the Company’s operating funds and for the foreseeable future it is anticipated that dividends paid by the Bank to the Company will continue to be the Company’s principal source of operating funds. Capital adequacy requirements serve to limit the amount of dividends that may be paid by the Bank. Under federal law, the Bank cannot pay a dividend if, after paying the dividend, the Bank will be “undercapitalized.” The FDIC may declare a dividend payment to be unsafe and unsound even though the Bank would continue to meet its capital requirements after the dividend. Because the Company is a legal entity separate and distinct from its subsidiaries, its right to participate in the distribution of assets of any subsidiary upon the subsidiary’s liquidation or reorganization will be subject to the prior claims of the subsidiary’s creditors. In the event of a liquidation or other resolution of an insured depository institution, the claims of depositors and other general or subordinated creditors are entitled to a priority of payment over the claims of holders of any obligation of the institution to its shareholders, including any depository institution holding company (such as the Company) or any shareholder or creditor thereof.

Examinations. The FDIC periodically examines and evaluates insured banks. Based on such an evaluation, the FDIC may revalue the assets of the institution and require that it establish specific reserves to compensate for the difference between the FDIC-determined value and the book value of such assets. The Texas Banking Department also conducts examinations of state banks but may accept the results of a federal examination in lieu of conducting an independent examination.

Audit Reports. Insured institutions with total assets of $500 million or more must submit annual audit reports prepared by independent auditors to federal and state regulators. In some instances, the audit report of the institution’s holding company can be used to satisfy this requirement. Auditors must receive examination reports, supervisory agreements and reports of enforcement actions. In addition, financial statements prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, management’s certifications concerning responsibility for the financial statements, internal controls and compliance with legal requirements designated by the FDIC, and an attestation by the auditor regarding the statements of management relating to the internal controls must be submitted. For institutions with total assets of more than $3 billion, independent auditors may be required to review quarterly financial statements. FDICIA requires that independent audit committees be formed, consisting of outside directors only. The committees of such institutions must include members with experience in banking or financial management, must have access to outside counsel, and must not include representatives of large customers.

Capital Adequacy Requirements. The FDIC has adopted regulations establishing minimum requirements for the capital adequacy of insured institutions. The FDIC may establish higher minimum requirements if, for example, a bank has previously received special attention or has a high susceptibility to interest rate risk.

The FDIC’s risk-based capital guidelines generally require state banks to have a minimum ratio of Tier 1 capital to total tangible risk-weighted assets of 4.0% and a ratio of total capital to total tangible risk-weighted assets of 8.0%. The capital categories have the same definitions for the Bank as for the Company. As of December 31, 2003, the Bank’s ratio of Tier 1 capital to total tangible risk-weighted assets was 14.32% and its ratio of total capital to total tangible risk-weighted assets was 15.40%. See “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Result of Operation of the Company - Financial Condition - Capital Resources.”

The FDIC’s leverage guidelines require state banks to maintain Tier 1 capital of no less than 4.0% of average total tangible assets, except in the case of certain highly rated banks for which the requirement is 3.0% of average total assets. The Texas Banking Department has issued a policy which generally requires state chartered banks to maintain a leverage ratio (defined in accordance with federal capital guidelines) of 5.0%. As of December 31, 2003, the Bank’s ratio of Tier 1 capital to average total assets (leverage ratio) was 6.43%.

Corrective Measures for Capital Deficiencies. The federal banking regulators are required to take “prompt corrective action” with respect to capital-deficient institutions. Agency regulations define, for each capital category, the levels at which institutions are “well capitalized,” “adequately capitalized,” “under capitalized,” “significantly under capitalized” and “critically under capitalized.” A “well capitalized” bank has a total risk-based capital ratio of 10.0% or higher; a Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio of 6.0% or higher; a leverage ratio of 5.0% or higher; and is not subject to any written agreement, order or directive requiring it to maintain a specific capital level for any capital measure. An “adequately capitalized” bank has a total risk-based capital ratio of 8.0% or higher; a Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio of 4.0% or higher; a leverage ratio of 4.0% or higher (3.0% or higher if the bank was rated a composite 1 in its most recent examination report and is not experiencing significant growth); and does not meet the criteria for a well capitalized bank. A bank is “under capitalized” if it fails to meet any one of the ratios required to be adequately capitalized. The Bank is classified as “well capitalized” for purposes of the FDIC’s prompt corrective action regulations.

In addition to requiring undercapitalized institutions to submit a capital restoration plan, agency regulations contain broad restrictions on certain activities of undercapitalized institutions including asset growth, acquisitions, branch establishment and expansion into new lines of business. With certain exceptions, an insured depository institution is prohibited from making capital distributions, including dividends, and is prohibited from paying management fees to control persons if the institution would be undercapitalized after any such distribution or payment.

9

Table of Contents

As an institution’s capital decreases, the FDIC’s enforcement powers become more severe. A significantly undercapitalized institution is subject to mandated capital raising activities, restrictions on interest rates paid and transactions with affiliates, removal of management and other restrictions. The FDIC has only very limited discretion in dealing with a critically undercapitalized institution and is virtually required to appoint a receiver or conservator.

Banks with risk-based capital and leverage ratios below the required minimums may also be subject to certain administrative actions, including the termination of deposit insurance upon notice and hearing, or a temporary suspension of insurance without a hearing in the event the institution has no tangible capital.

Deposit Insurance Assessments. The Bank must pay assessments to the FDIC for federal deposit insurance protection. The FDIC has adopted a risk-based assessment system as required by FDICIA. Under this system, FDIC-insured depository institutions pay insurance premiums at rates based on their risk classification. Institutions assigned to higher risk classifications (that is, institutions that pose a greater risk of loss to their respective deposit insurance funds) pay assessments at higher rates than institutions that pose a lower risk. An institution’s risk classification is assigned based on its capital levels and the level of supervisory concern the institution poses to the regulators. In addition, the FDIC can impose special assessments in certain instances. The current range of BIF assessments is between 0% and 0.27% of deposits.

The FDIC established a process for raising or lowering all rates for insured institutions semi-annually if conditions warrant a change. Under this system, the FDIC has the flexibility to adjust the assessment rate schedule twice a year without seeking prior public comment, but only within a range of five cents per $100 above or below the premium schedule adopted. Changes in the rate schedule outside the five cent range above or below the current schedule can be made by the FDIC only after a full rulemaking with opportunity for public comment.

On September 30, 1996, President Clinton signed into law an act that contained a comprehensive approach to re-capitalizing the Savings Association Insurance Fund (“SAIF”) and to assure the payment of the Financing Corporation’s (“FICO”) bond obligations. Under this new act, banks insured under the BIF are required to pay a portion of the interest due on bonds that were issued by FICO to help shore up the ailing Federal Savings and Loan Insurance Corporation in 1987. The BIF-rate was required to equal one-fifth of the SAIF rate through year-end 1999, or until the insurance funds merged, whichever occurred first. Thereafter, BIF and SAIF payers will be assessed pro rata for the FICO bond obligations. With regard to the assessment for the FICO obligation, for the fourth quarter 2003, both the BIF and SAIF rates were .00152% of deposits.

Enforcement Powers. The FDIC and the other federal banking agencies have broad enforcement powers, including the power to terminate deposit insurance, impose substantial fines and other civil and criminal penalties and appoint a conservator or receiver. Failure to comply with applicable laws, regulations and supervisory agreements could subject the Company or its banking subsidiaries, as well as officers, directors and other institution-affiliated parties of these organizations, to administrative sanctions and potentially substantial civil money penalties. The appropriate federal banking agency may appoint the FDIC as conservator or receiver for a banking institution (or the FDIC may appoint itself, under certain circumstances) if any one or more of a number of circumstances exist, including, without limitation, the fact that the banking institution is undercapitalized and has no reasonable prospect of becoming adequately capitalized; fails to become adequately capitalized when required to do so; fails to submit a timely and acceptable capital restoration plan; or materially fails to implement an accepted capital restoration plan. The Texas Banking Department also has broad enforcement powers over the Bank, including the power to impose orders, remove officers and directors, impose fines and appoint supervisors and conservators.

Brokered Deposit Restrictions. Adequately capitalized institutions cannot accept, renew or roll over brokered deposits except with a waiver from the FDIC, and are subject to restrictions on the interest rates that can be paid on such deposits. Undercapitalized institutions may not accept, renew, or roll over brokered deposits.

Cross-Guarantee Provisions. The Financial Institutions Reform, Recovery and Enforcement Act of 1989 (“FIRREA”) contains a “cross-guarantee” provision which generally makes commonly controlled insured depository institutions liable to the FDIC for any losses incurred in connection with the failure of a commonly controlled depository institution.

Community Reinvestment Act. The CRA and the regulations issued thereunder are intended to encourage banks to help meet the credit needs of their service area, including low and moderate income neighborhoods, consistent with the safe and sound operations of the banks. These regulations also provide for regulatory assessment of a bank’s record in meeting the needs of its service area when considering applications to establish branches, merger applications and applications to acquire the assets and assume the liabilities of another bank. FIRREA requires federal banking agencies to make public a rating of a bank’s performance under the

10

Table of Contents

CRA. In the case of a bank holding company, the CRA performance record of the banks involved in the transaction are reviewed in connection with the filing of an application to acquire ownership or control of shares or assets of a bank or to merge with any other bank holding company. An unsatisfactory record can substantially delay or block the transaction.

Consumer Laws and Regulations. In addition to the laws and regulations discussed herein, the Bank is also subject to certain consumer laws and regulations that are designed to protect consumers in transactions with banks. While the list set forth herein is not exhaustive, these laws and regulations include the Truth in Lending Act, the Truth in Savings Act, the Electronic Funds Transfer Act, the Expedited Funds Availability Act, the Equal Credit Opportunity Act, and the Fair Housing Act, among others. These laws and regulations mandate certain disclosure requirements and regulate the manner in which financial institutions must deal with customers when taking deposits or making loans to such customers. The Bank must comply with the applicable provisions of these consumer protection laws and regulations as part of their ongoing customer relations.

The USA Patriot Act of 2001. The Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act of 2001 (“USA Patriot Act”) was enacted in October 2001. The USA Patriot Act is intended to strengthen U.S. law enforcement’s and the intelligence communities’ ability to work cohesively to combat terrorism on a variety of fronts. The potential impact of the USA Patriot Act on financial institutions of all kinds is significant and wide ranging. The USA Patriot Act contains sweeping anti-money laundering and financial transparency laws and requires various regulations, including: (i) due diligence requirements for financial institutions that administer, maintain, or manage private bank accounts or correspondent accounts for non-U.S. persons; (ii) standards for verifying customer identification at account opening; (iii) rules to promote cooperation among financial institutions, regulators and law enforcement entities in identifying parties that may be involved in terrorism or money laundering; (iv) reports by nonfinancial trades and business filed with the Treasury Department’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network for transactions exceeding $10,000; and (v) filing of suspicious activities reports involving securities by brokers and dealers if they believe a customer may be violating U.S. laws and regulations.

Privacy. In addition to expanding the activities in which banks and bank holding companies may engage, the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act also imposed new requirements on financial institutions with respect to customer privacy. The Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act generally prohibits disclosure of customer information to non-affiliated third parties unless the customer has been given the opportunity to object and has not objected to such disclosure. Financial institutions are further required to disclose their privacy policies to customers annually. Financial institutions, however, will be required to comply with state law if it is more protective of customer privacy than the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act.

Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. In June 2003, the Securities and Exchange Commission adopted final rules under Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. Commencing with its 2004 Annual Report on Form 10-K, the Company will be required to include a report of management on the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. The internal control report must include a statement of management’s responsibility for establishing and maintaining adequate control over financial reporting as of year-end; of the framework used by management to evaluate the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting; and that the Company’s independent accounting firm has issued an attestation report on management’s assessment of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting, which report is also required to be filed as part of the Annual Report.

Instability and Regulatory Structure

Various legislation, such as the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act which expanded the powers of banking institutions and bank holding companies, and proposals to overhaul the bank regulatory system and limit the investments that a depository institution may make with insured funds, is from time to time introduced in Congress. Such legislation may change banking statutes and the operating environment of the Company and its banking subsidiaries in substantial and unpredictable ways. The Company cannot determine the ultimate effect that the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act will have, or the effect that any potential legislation, if enacted, or implemented regulations with respect thereto, would have, upon the financial condition or results of operations of the Company or its subsidiaries.

Expanding Enforcement Authority

One of the major additional burdens imposed on the banking industry by FDICIA is the increased ability of banking regulators to monitor the activities of banks and their holding companies. In addition, the Federal Reserve Board and FDIC possess extensive authority to police unsafe or unsound practices and violations of applicable laws and regulations by depository institutions and their holding companies. For example, the FDIC may terminate the deposit insurance of any institution which it determines has engaged in an unsafe or unsound practice. The agencies can also assess civil money penalties, issue cease and desist or removal orders, seek injunctions, and publicly disclose such actions. FDICIA, FIRREA and other laws have expanded the agencies’ authority in recent years, and the agencies have not yet fully tested the limits of their powers.

11

Table of Contents

Effect on Economic Environment

The policies of regulatory authorities, including the monetary policy of the Federal Reserve Board, have a significant effect on the operating results of bank holding companies and their subsidiaries. Among the means available to the Federal Reserve Board to affect the money supply are open market operations in U.S. government securities, changes in the discount rate on member bank borrowings, and changes in reserve requirements against member bank deposits. These means are used in varying combinations to influence overall growth and distribution of bank loans, investments and deposits, and their use may affect interest rates charged on loans or paid for deposits.

Federal Reserve Board monetary policies have materially affected the operating results of commercial banks in the past and are expected to continue to do so in the future. The nature of future monetary policies and the effect of such policies on the business and earnings of the Company and its subsidiaries cannot be predicted.

ITEM 2. PROPERTIES

The Company conducts business at 51 full-service banking locations. The Company’s headquarters are located at Prosperity Bank Plaza, 4295 San Felipe, in the Galleria area in Houston, Texas. The Company owns all of the buildings in which its Banking Centers are located other than those listed below. The expiration dates of the leases listed below do not include renewal option periods which may be available.