The Company is a financial holding company with its principal corporate offices in Laredo, Texas. Four bank subsidiaries provide commercial and retail banking services through over 100 main banking and branch facilities located in 35 communities in South, Central and Southeast Texas. The Company was originally incorporated under the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware in 1979. Effective June 7, 1995, the Company's state of incorporation was changed from Delaware to Texas. The Company was organized for the purpose of operating as a bank holding company within the meaning of the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956, as amended, and as such, is subject to supervision and regulation by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (the "FRB"). As a registered bank holding company, the Company may own one or more banks and may engage directly, or through subsidiary corporations, in those activities closely related to banking which are specifically permitted under the Bank Holding Company Act and by the FRB. Effective March 13, 2000, the Company became certified as a financial holding company. As a financial holding company, the company may engage in a broad list of financial and non-financial activities. The Company's principal assets at December 31, 2003 consisted of all the outstanding capital stock of four Texas state banking associations (the "Banks" or "bank subsidiaries"). All of the Company's bank subsidiaries are members of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation.

        The bank subsidiaries are in the business of gathering funds from various sources and investing these funds in order to earn a return. Funds gathering primarily takes the form of accepting demand and time deposits from individuals, partnerships, corporations and public entities. Investments principally are made in loans to various individuals and entities as well as in debt securities of the U.S. Government and various other entities whose payments are guaranteed by the U.S. Government. Historically, the bank subsidiaries have primarily focused on providing commercial banking services to small and medium sized businesses located in its trade area and international banking services. In recent years, the bank subsidiaries have also emphasized consumer and retail banking, including mortgage lending, as well as branches situated in retail locations and shopping malls.

        The Company's philosophy focuses on customer service as represented by its motto, "We Do More." The Banks maintain a strong commitment to their local communities by, among other things, appointing selected members of the communities in which the Banks branches are located to local advisory boards (the "local boards"). The local boards direct the operations of the branches, with the supervision of the lead Bank's board of directors, and assist in introducing prospective customers to the Banks as well as developing or modifying products and services to meet customer needs. The Banks function largely on a decentralized basis and the Company believes that such decentralized structure enhances the commitment of the Banks to the communities in which their branches are located. In contrast to many of its principal competitors, the credit decisions of the Banks are made locally and promptly. The Company believes that the knowledge and expertise afforded by the local boards are key components to sound credit decisions. Expense control is an essential element in the Company's profitability. The Company has centralized virtually all of the Banks' back office support and investment functions in order to achieve consistency and cost efficiencies in the delivery of products and services.

        On July 28, 1980, the Company acquired all of the outstanding shares of its predecessor, International Bank of Commerce ("IBC"), which is today the flagship bank of the Company, representing 80% of the Company's banking assets. IBC was chartered under the banking laws of Texas in 1966 and has its principal place of business at 1200 San Bernardo Avenue, Laredo, Webb County, Texas. It is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company. Since the acquisition of the flagship bank in 1980, the Company has formed three banks: (i) Commerce Bank, a Texas state banking association which commenced operations in 1982, located in Laredo, Texas ("Commerce Bank"); (ii) International

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Bank of Commerce, Brownsville, a Texas state banking association which commenced operations in 1984, located in Brownsville, Texas ("IBC-Brownsville"); and (iii) International Bank of Commerce, Zapata, a Texas state banking association which commenced operations in 1984, located in Zapata, Texas ("IBC-Zapata").

        During the last several years, the Company has acquired various financial institutions and banking assets in its trade area. The community-focus of the subsidiary banks and the involvement of the local boards has resulted in the Company becoming aware of acquisition possibilities in the ordinary course of its business and in many instances before other potential purchasers. The Company's decision to pursue an acquisition is based on a multitude of factors, including the ability to efficiently assimilate the operations and assets of the acquired entity, the cost efficiencies to be attained and the growth potential of the market.

        On January 22, 2004, the Company entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Local Financial Corporation ("LFIN"), an Oklahoma based bank holding company with $2.9 billion in assets. The transaction is subject to regulatory approvals, approval by the shareholders of LFIN and certain other conditions set forth in the definitive agreement. It is anticipated that the transaction will close in the summer of 2004. Once the LFIN transaction is consummated, the Company believes it will be immediately accretive to its earnings per share.

        The Company also has four direct non-banking subsidiaries. They are (i) IBC Life Insurance Company, a Texas chartered subsidiary which reinsures a small percentage of credit life and accident and health risks related to loans made by bank subsidiaries, (ii) IBC Trading Company, an export trading company which is currently inactive, (iii) IBC Subsidiary Corporation, a second-tier bank holding company incorporated in the State of Delaware, and (iv) IBC Capital Corporation, a company incorporated in the State of Delaware for the purpose of holding certain investments of the Company. The Company also owns a controlling interest in Gulfstar Group I, Ltd. and related entities, which are involved in investment banking and merchant banking activities.

Website Access to Reports

        The Company makes its annual report on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K, Form 3, 4, and 5 and amendments to those reports, filed or furnished pursuant to section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 available free of charge on or through the Company's internet website, www.ibc.com , as soon as reasonably practicable after such materials are electronically filed with, or furnished to, the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") with the exception of the filings on Form 3, 4 and 5, which will be posted to the website by the end of the business day after the form is filed. Additionally, the Company has posted on its website a code of ethics that applies to its directors and executive officers (including the Company's chief executive officer and financial officer). The Company's website also includes the charter for its Audit Committee.

Services and Employees

        The Company, through its bank subsidiaries, IBC, Commerce Bank, IBC Zapata and IBC Brownsville, is engaged in the business of banking, including the acceptance of checking and savings deposits and the making of commercial, real estate, personal, home improvement, automobile and other installment and term loans. Certain of the bank subsidiaries are very active in facilitating international trade along the United States border with Mexico and elsewhere. The international banking business of the Company includes providing letters of credit, making commercial and industrial loans, and a nominal amount of currency exchange. Each bank subsidiary also offers other related services, such as credit cards, travelers' checks, safety deposit, collection, notary public, escrow, drive-up and walk-up facilities and other customary banking services. Additionally, each bank subsidiary makes available certain securities products through third party providers. The bank subsidiaries also make

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banking services available during traditional and nontraditional banking hours through their network of over 200 automated teller machines, and through their over 100 branches situated in retail locations and shopping malls. In addition, IBC provides IBC Bank Online, an Internet banking product, in order to provide customers online access to banking information and services 24 hours a day.

        The Company owns U.S. service mark registrations for "INTERNATIONAL BANK OF COMMERCE," "WALL STREET INTERNATIONAL," "INTERNATIONAL BANK OF COMMERCE CENTRE," "OVERDRAFT COURTESY," "IBC," "IBC CONNECTION," "IBC ELITE," "IBC ELITE ADVANTAGE," "IBC BANK," "IBC OVERDRAFT COURTESY," "BIZ RITE CHECKING," "GOT YOU COVERED," "OVERDRAFT COURTESY GOT YOU COVERED," and "IT'S A BRIGHTER CHRISTMAS" as well as a design mark depicting the United States and Mexico and a design mark depicting "WALL STREET INTERNATIONAL." In addition, the Company owns Texas service mark registrations for "RITE CHECK," "THE CLUB," "WALL STREET INTERNATIONAL," "INTERNATIONAL BANK OF COMMERCE" and design marks depicting "CHECK'N SAVE" and "WALL STREET INTERNATIONAL," as well as a design mark depicting the United States and Mexico. Also, IBC owns certain pending applications for federal registrations of other proprietary service marks and is regularly investigating the availability of service mark registrations related to certain proprietary products.

        No material portion of the business of the Company may be deemed seasonal and the deposit and loan base of the Company's bank subsidiaries is diverse in nature. There has been no material effect upon the Company's capital expenditures, earnings or competitive position as a result of Federal, State or local environmental regulation.

        As of December 31, 2003, the Company and its subsidiaries employed approximately 1,667 persons full-time and 318 persons part-time.

Competition

        The Company is the largest minority-owned bank holding company in the United States, with more than a majority of its common stock being held by Hispanic shareholders. The Company is the second largest independent Texas bank holding company. The primary market area of the Company is South, Central and Southeast Texas, an area bordered on the east by the Houston area, to the northwest by Austin, to the southwest by Del Rio and to the southeast by Brownsville. The Company has increased its market share in its primary market area over the last seven years through strategic acquisitions. The Company, through its bank subsidiaries, competes for deposits and loans with other commercial banks, savings and loan associations, credit unions and non-bank entities, which non-bank entities serve as an alternative to traditional financial institutions and are considered to be formidable competitors. The percentage of bank-related services being provided by non-bank entities has increased dramatically during the last several years.

        The Company and its bank subsidiaries do a significant amount of business for customers domiciled in Mexico, with an emphasis in Northern Mexico. Deposits from persons and entities domiciled in Mexico comprise a significant and stable portion of the deposit base of the Company's bank subsidiaries. Such deposits comprised approximately 39%, 41% and 40% of the bank subsidiaries' total deposits as of December 31, 2003, 2002 and 2001, respectively.

        Under the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act ("GLBA"), effective March 11, 2000, banks, securities firms and insurance companies may affiliate under an entity known as a financial holding company which may then serve its customers' varied financial needs through a single corporate structure. The GLBA has significantly changed the competitive environment in which the Company and its subsidiaries conduct business. The financial services industry is also likely to become even more competitive as further technological advances enable more companies to provide financial services. These

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technological advances may diminish the importance of depository institutions and other financial intermediaries in the transfer of funds between parties.

Supervision and Regulation

        GENERAL-THE COMPANY. In addition to the generally applicable state and Federal laws governing businesses and employers, the Company and its bank subsidiaries are further extensively regulated by special Federal and state laws governing financial institutions. These laws comprehensively regulate the operations of the Company's bank subsidiaries and include, among other matters, requirements to maintain reserves against deposits; restrictions on the nature and amount of loans that may be made and the interest that may be charged thereon; restrictions on the amounts, terms and conditions of loans to directors, officers, large shareholders and their affiliates; restrictions related to investments in activities other than banking; and minimum capital requirements. With few exceptions, state and Federal banking laws have as their principal objective either the maintenance of the safety and soundness of the Federal deposit insurance system or the protection of consumers, rather than the specific protection of shareholders of the Company. Further, the earnings of the Company are affected by the fiscal and monetary policies of the Federal Reserve System, which regulates the national money supply in order to mitigate recessionary and inflationary pressures. These monetary policies influence to a significant extent the overall growth of bank loans, investments and deposits and the interest rates charged on loans or paid on time and savings deposits. The nature of future monetary policies and the effect of such policies on the future earnings and business of the Company cannot be predicted.

        FRB APPROVALS. The Company is a registered bank holding company within the meaning of the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956, as amended ("BHCA"), and is subject to supervision by the FRB and to a certain extent the Texas Department of Banking (the "DOB"). The Company is required to file with the FRB annual reports and other information regarding the business operations of itself and its subsidiaries. It is also subject to examination by the FRB. Under the BHCA, a bank holding company is, with limited exceptions, prohibited from acquiring direct or indirect ownership or control of any voting stock of any company which is not a bank or bank holding company, and must engage only in the business of banking, managing, controlling banks, and furnishing services to or performing services for its subsidiary banks. One of the exceptions to this prohibition is the ownership of shares of any company provided such shares do not constitute more than 5% of the outstanding voting shares of the company and so long as the FRB does not disapprove such ownership. Another exception to this prohibition is the ownership of shares of a company the activities of which the FRB has specifically determined to be so closely related to banking, managing or controlling banks as to be a proper incident thereto.

        The BHCA and the Change in Bank Control Act of 1978 require that, depending on the circumstances, either FRB approval must be obtained or notice must be furnished to the FRB and not disapproved prior to any person or company acquiring "control" of a bank holding company, such as the Company, subject to certain exceptions for certain transactions. Control is conclusively presumed to exist if an individual or company acquires 25% or more of any class of voting securities of the bank holding company. Control is rebuttably presumed to exist if a person acquires 10% or more but less than 25% of any class of voting securities where the bank holding company, such as the Company, has registered Securities under Section 12 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Exchange Act").

        As a bank holding company, the Company is required to obtain approval prior to merging or consolidating with any other bank holding company, acquiring all or substantially all of the assets of any bank or acquiring ownership or control of shares of a bank or bank holding company if, after the acquisition, the Company would directly or indirectly own or control 5% or more of the voting shares of such bank or bank holding company.

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        THE USA PATRIOT ACT. On October 26, 2001, the President signed into law a comprehensive anti-terrorism legislation entitled Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism (USA PATRIOT) Act of 2001 (the "Act"). Title III of the Act constitutes the USA PATRIOT ACT. The USA PATRIOT ACT substantially expands and changes the responsibilities of U.S. financial institutions with respect to countering money laundering and terrorist activities. Among its provisions, the Act requires each financial institution to: (i) establish and maintain an anti-money laundering program; (ii) establish due diligence policies, procedures and controls with respect to its private banking accounts and correspondent banking accounts involving foreign individuals and certain foreign banks; and (iii) avoid establishing, maintaining, administering, or managing correspondent accounts in the United States for, or on behalf of, a foreign bank that does not have a physical presence in any country. In addition, the Act contains a provision encouraging cooperation among financial institutions, regulatory authorities and law enforcement authorities with respect to individuals, entities and organizations engaged in, or reasonably suspected of engaging in, terrorist acts or money laundering activities. Also, the Act requires the bank regulatory agencies to consider the record of a bank or bank holding company in combating money laundering activities in their evaluation of bank and bank holding company merger or acquisition transactions. In November 2001, the Department of the Treasury issued interim guidance concerning compliance by covered financial institutions with the new statutory anti-money laundering requirement regarding correspondent accounts established or maintained for foreign banking institutions. On October 28, 2002, the Department of Treasury's final rule codifying the interim guidance became effective. The Act also required the Secretary of the Treasury to adopt regulations requiring financial institutions to implement reasonable procedures relating to customer identification. Each bank was required to comply with the rule by October 1, 2003.

        FINANCIAL MODERNIZATION. On November 12, 1999, the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act of 1999 ("GLBA") was enacted. This comprehensive legislation eliminates the barriers to affiliations among banks, securities firms, insurance companies and other financial service providers. GLBA provides for a new type of financial holding company structure under which affiliations among these entities may occur. Under GLBA, a financial holding company may engage in a broad list of financial activities and any non-financial activity that the FRB determines is complementary to a financial activity and poses no substantial risk to the safety and soundness of depository institutions or the financial system. In addition, GLBA permits certain non-banking financial and financially related activities to be conducted by financial subsidiaries of a national bank.

        Under the GLBA, a bank holding company may become certified as a financial holding company by filing a declaration with the FRB, together with a certification that each of its subsidiary banks is well capitalized, is well managed, and has at least a satisfactory rating under the Community Reinvestment Act of 1977 ("CRA"). The Company has elected to become a financial holding company under GLBA and the election was made effective by the FRB as of March 13, 2000. During the second quarter of 2000, IBC established an insurance agency subsidiary which acquired two insurance agencies. During the second quarter of 2001, the insurance agency subsidiary acquired another insurance agency. As a result of GLBA, the Texas Department of Insurance issued Commissioner's Bulletin No. B-0005-00 indicating that bank insurance agency activities could be conducted without geographic limitations. Effective October 2, 2000, the Company acquired a controlling interest in GulfStar Group, a Houston-based investment banking firm with a securities affiliate registered under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. A financial holding company that has a securities affiliate registered under the Securities Act of 1934 or a qualified insurance affiliate may make permissible merchant banking investments. As of December 31, 2003, the Company has made two merchant banking investments.

        Additionally under the GLBA, federal banking regulators adopted rules that limit the ability of banks and other financial institutions to disclose non-public information about consumers to non-affiliated third parties. Pursuant to the rules, financial institutions must provide: (i) initial notices

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to customers about their privacy policies, describing the conditions under which they may disclose non-public personal information to non-affiliated third parties and affiliates; (ii) annual notices of their privacy policies to current customers; and (iii) a reasonable method for customers to "opt out" of disclosures to non-affiliated third parties. These privacy provisions will affect how customer information is transmitted through diversified financial companies and conveyed to outside vendors.

        In January 2001, the Federal Reserve Board and the Secretary of the Treasury promulgated final regulations governing the scope of permissible merchant banking investments. The investments that may be made under this new authority are substantially broader in scope than the investment activities otherwise permissible for bank holding companies, and are referred to as "merchant banking investments" in "portfolio companies." Before making a merchant banking investment, a financial holding company must either be or have a securities affiliate registered under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 or a qualified insurance affiliate. The merchant banking investments may be made by the financial holding company or any of its subsidiaries, other than a depository institution or subsidiary of a depository institution. The regulation places restrictions on the ability of a financial holding company to become involved in the routine management or operation of any of its portfolio companies. The regulation also generally limits the ownership period of merchant banking investments to no more than ten years.

        The Federal Reserve Board, the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (the "OCC"), and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (the "FDIC") have adopted final rules governing the regulatory capital treatment of equity investments in non-financial companies held by banks, bank holding companies and financial holding companies. The final rule was effective April 1, 2002 and applies a graduated capital charge on covered equity investments which would increase as the proportion of such investments to Tier 1 Capital increases.

        On January 7, 2004, the OCC issued final rules clarifying when federal law overrides state law for national banks and their operating subsidiaries and confirming that only the OCC has the right to examine and take enforcement action against those institutions. The impact of the new rules is not known at this time; however, commentators anticipate that the new rules will shield national banks from certain state consumer protection laws which will continue to be applicable to state banks.

        SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002. On July 30, 2002, President Bush signed into law the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. The Sarbanes-Oxley Act represents a comprehensive revision of laws affecting corporate governance, accounting obligations and corporate reporting. The Sarbanes-Oxley Act is applicable to all companies with equity securities registered or that file reports under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. In particular, the Sarbanes-Oxley Act establishes: (i) new requirements for audit committees, including independence, expertise, and responsibilities; (ii) additional responsibilities regarding certification of financial statements by the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer of the reporting company; (iii) new standards for auditors and regulation of audits; (iv) increased disclosure and reporting obligations for the reporting company and its directors and executive officers; and (v) new and increased civil and criminal penalties for violations of the securities laws.

        NASDAQ LISTING STANDARDS. The Company is traded on the NASDAQ Stock Market. On November 4, 2003, the Securities and Exchange Commission approved the revised listing standards of the NASDAQ Stock Market. The new listing standards address disclosure requirements and standards relating to board independence and other corporate governance matters. NASDAQ companies must comply with the new standards, with certain exceptions, for their first annual meeting after January 15, 2004.

        INTERSTATE BANKING. In 1994, Congress enacted the Riegle-Neal Interstate Banking and Branching Efficiency Act of 1994 ("Interstate Banking Act"), which rewrote federal law governing the interstate expansion of banks in the United States. Effective as of September 29, 1995, adequately

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capitalized, well managed bank holding companies with FRB approval may acquire banks located in any State in the United States, provided that the target bank meets the minimum age (up to a maximum of five years, which is the maximum Texas has adopted) established by the host State. Under the Interstate Banking Act, an anti-concentration limit will bar interstate acquisitions that would give a bank holding company control of more than ten percent (10%) of all deposits nationwide or thirty percent (30%) of any one State's deposits, or such higher or lower percentage established by the host State. The anti-concentration limit in Texas has been set at twenty percent (20%) of all federally insured deposits in Texas.

        In addition to providing for interstate acquisitions of banks by bank holding companies, the Interstate Banking Act provides for interstate branching by permitting mergers between banks domiciled in different States beginning June 1, 1997. The Interstate Banking Act provides that States may opt out of interstate branching by enacting non-discriminatory legislation prohibiting interstate bank mergers before June 1, 1997. In 1995, Texas passed legislation opting out of the interstate branching provisions of The Interstate Banking Act until September 1999. In May 1998, the Texas DOB determined that the Texas opt-out statute was not effective and the Texas DOB began accepting applications for interstate branching transactions. During 1999, legislation implementing interstate branching was adopted by the Texas legislature.

        FRB ENFORCEMENT POWERS. The FRB has certain cease-and-desist and divestiture powers over bank holding companies and non-banking subsidiaries where their actions would constitute a serious threat to the safety, soundness or stability of a subsidiary bank. These powers may be exercised through the issuance of cease-and-desist orders or other actions. In the event a bank subsidiary experiences either a significant loan loss or rapid growth of loans or deposits, the Company may be compelled by the FRB to invest additional capital in the bank subsidiary. Further, the Company would be required to guaranty performance of the capital restoration plan of any undercapitalized bank subsidiary. The FRB is also empowered to assess civil money penalties against companies or individuals who violate the BHCA in amounts up to $1,000,000 per day, to order termination of non-banking activities of non-banking subsidiaries of bank holding companies and to order termination of ownership and control of a non-banking subsidiary. Under certain circumstances the Texas Banking Commissioner may bring enforcement proceedings against a bank holding company in Texas.

        COMPANY DIVIDENDS. The FRB's policy discourages the payment of dividends from borrowed funds and discourages payments that would affect capital adequacy. The FRB has issued policy statements which generally state that bank holding companies should serve as a source of financial and managerial strength to their bank subsidiaries, and generally should not pay dividends except out of current earnings, and should not borrow to pay dividends if the bank holding company is experiencing capital or other financial problems.

        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.

        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 and examination related correspondence. In addition, financial statements prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America, 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 to federal and state regulators. For institutions with total assets of more than $3 billion, independent

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auditors may be required to review quarterly financial statements. The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Improvement Act of 1991 ("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.

        During 1999, the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") and the National Association of Securities Dealers adopted new rules, which became effective during 2000, to improve the function of corporate audit committees. The new rules require, among other things, that the audit committee review and assess the adequacy of its charter on an annual basis, that independent auditors review public companies' interim financial information prior to filing with the SEC and that companies include in their proxy statements certain information about their audit committees. The bank subsidiaries of the Company satisfy the annual audit requirement by relying on the audit of the Company. The Company is subject to the enhanced audit committee requirements set forth in the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

        GENERAL—BANK SUBSIDIARIES. All of the bank subsidiaries of the Company are state banks subject to regulation by, and supervision of, the Texas DOB and the FDIC. All of the bank subsidiaries of the Company are members of the FDIC, which currently insures the deposits of each member bank to a maximum of $100,000 per depositor. For this protection, each member bank pays a statutory assessment and is subject to the rules and regulations of the FDIC. The assessments increase incrementally based on the rating of the member bank.

        DEPOSIT INSURANCE. The deposits of the Bank are insured by the FDIC through the Bank Insurance Fund ("BIF") to the extent provided by law. Under the FDIC's risk-based insurance system, BIF-insured institutions are currently assessed premiums of between zero and twenty seven cents per $100 of eligible deposits, depending upon the institution's capital position and other supervisory factors. During 1996, Congress enacted legislation that, among other things, provides for assessments against BIF-insured institutions that will be used to pay certain Financing Corporation ("FICO") obligations. BIF and Savings Association Insurance Fund payers are assessed pro rata for the FICO bond obligations.

        CAPITAL ADEQUACY. The Company and its bank subsidiaries are currently required to meet certain minimum regulatory capital guidelines utilizing total capital-to-risk-weighted assets and Tier 1 Capital elements. At December 31, 2003, the Company's ratio of total capital-to-risk-weighted assets was 19.33%. The guidelines make regulatory capital requirements more sensitive to differences in risk profiles among banking organizations, consider off-balance sheet exposure in assessing capital adequacy, and encourage the holding of liquid, low-risk assets. At least one-half of the minimum total capital must be comprised of Tier 1 Capital elements. Tier 1 Capital of the Company is comprised of common shareholders' equity and permissible amounts related to the trust preferred securities. The deductible core deposit intangibles and goodwill of $73,334,000 booked in connection with all the financial institution acquisitions of the Company after February 1992 are deducted from the sum of core capital elements when determining the capital ratios of the Company.

        In addition, the FRB has established minimum leverage ratio guidelines for bank holding companies. These guidelines provide for a minimum leverage ratio of Tier 1 capital to adjusted average quarterly assets ("leverage ratio") equal to three percent for bank holding companies that meet certain specified criteria, including having the highest regulatory rating. All other bank holding companies will generally be required to maintain a leverage ratio of at least four to five percent. The Company's leverage ratio at December 31, 2003 was 8.75%. The guidelines also provide that bank holding companies 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. Furthermore, the guidelines indicate that the FRB will continue to consider a "tangible tier 1 leverage ratio" (deducting all intangibles) in evaluating proposals for expansion or new

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activity. The FRB has not advised the Company of any specific minimum leverage ratio or tangible Tier 1 leverage ratio applicable to it.

        Each of the Company's bank subsidiaries is subject to similar capital requirements adopted by the FDIC. Each of the Company's bank subsidiaries had a leverage ratio in excess of five percent as of December 31, 2003. As of that date, the federal banking agencies had not advised any of the bank subsidiaries of any specific minimum leverage ratio applicable to it.

        Effective December 19, 1992, the federal bank regulatory agencies adopted regulations which mandate a five-tier scheme of capital requirements and corresponding supervisory actions to implement the prompt corrective action provisions of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Improvement Act of 1991 ("FDICIA"). The regulations include requirements for the capital categories that will serve as benchmarks for mandatory supervisory actions. Under the regulations, the highest of the five categories would be a well capitalized institution with a total risk-based capital ratio of 10%, a Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio of 6% and a Tier 1 leverage ratio of 5%. An institution would be prohibited from declaring any dividends, making any other capital distribution or paying a management fee if the capital ratios drop below the levels for an adequately capitalized institution, which are 8%, 4% and 4%, respectively. The corresponding provisions of FDICIA mandate corrective actions are taken if a bank is undercapitalized. Based on the Company and each of the bank subsidiaries capital ratios as of December 31, 2003, the Company and each of the bank subsidiaries were classified as "well capitalized" under the applicable regulations.

        In 1995, in accordance with FDICIA, the FDIC modified its risk-based capital adequacy guidelines to explicitly include a bank's exposure to declines in the economic value of its capital due to changes in interest rates as a factor that it will consider in evaluating a bank's capital adequacy. In 1996 the bank regulatory agencies introduced risk-based examination procedures. Effective January 1, 1997, the federal banking agencies jointly adopted regulations that amend the risk-based capital standards to incorporate measures for market risk. Applicable banking institutions will be required to adjust their risk-based capital ratio to reflect market risk. On December 19, 1996, the Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council (the "FFIEC") revised the Uniform Financial Institutions Rating System commonly referred to as the CAMEL rating system. A sixth component addressing sensitivity to market risk was added. Sensitivity to market risk reflects the degree to which changes in interest rates, foreign exchange rates, commodity prices or equity prices can adversely affect a financial institution's earnings or economic capital.

        The federal regulatory authorities' risk-based capital guidelines are based upon the 1988 capital accord of the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision (the "BIS"). The BIS is a committee of central banks and bank supervisors/regulators from the major industrialized countries that develops broad policy guidelines for use by each country's supervisors in determining the supervisory policies they apply. In January 2001, the BIS released a proposal to replace the 1998 capital accord with a new capital accord that would set capital requirements for operational risk, which is not covered in the existing guidelines, and refine the existing capital requirements for credit risk and market risk exposures. The BIS has stated that its objective is to finalize a new capital accord by mid-year 2004 and for member countries to implement the accord by year-end 2006. The ultimate timing for a new accord, and the specifics of capital assessments for addressing operational risk, are uncertain at this time.

        STATE ENFORCEMENT POWERS. The Banking Commissioner of Texas may determine to close a Texas state bank when he finds that the interests of depositors and creditors of a state bank are jeopardized through its insolvency or imminent insolvency and that it is in the best interest of such depositors and creditors that the bank be closed. The Texas DOB 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.

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        DEPOSITOR PREFERENCE. Because the Company is a legal entity separate and distinct from its bank 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 a subsidiary bank, the claims of depositors and other general or subordinated creditors of the bank 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.

        TEXAS LAW. Effective September 1, 1995, the new Texas Banking Act ("Act") became effective and the Texas Banking Code of 1943 was repealed. The purpose of the Act was to modernize and streamline the Texas banking laws. One of the many significant provisions of the Act adopts by reference the Texas Business Corporation Act, subject to modification by the Banking Commissioner. Among other matters, these corporate provisions will permit Texas state banks to merge with non-banking business entities, while national banks are only permitted to merge with banking entities. During 1997, the Texas Constitution was amended to permit home equity lending in Texas effective January 1, 1998 and the Company's bank subsidiaries are currently offering home equity loans.

        CRA. Under the Community Reinvestment Act ("CRA"), the FDIC is required to assess the record of each bank subsidiary to determine if the bank meets the credit needs of its entire community, including low and moderate-income neighborhoods served by the institution, and to take that record into account in its evaluation of any application made by the bank for, among other things, approval of the acquisition or establishment of a branch or other deposit facility, an office relocation, a merger, or the acquisition of shares of capital stock of another financial institution. The FDIC prepares a written evaluation of an institution's record of meeting the credit needs of its entire community and assigns a rating. The Financial Institutions Reform, Recovery and Enforcement Act of 1989 ("FIRREA") requires federal banking agencies to make public a rating of a bank's performance under the CRA. Each bank subsidiary received a "satisfactory" CRA rating in its most recently completed examination. Further, there are fair lending laws which prohibit discrimination in connection with lending decisions.

        CONSUMER LAWS. 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, the Fair Housing Act, and the Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act of 2003, 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.

        AFFILIATE TRANSACTIONS. The Company, IBC and the other bank subsidiaries of the Company are "affiliates" within the meaning of Section 23A of the Federal Reserve Act which sets forth certain restrictions on loans and extensions of credit between a bank subsidiary and affiliates, on investments in an affiliate's stock or other securities, and on acceptance of such stock or other securities as collateral for loans. Such restrictions prevent a bank holding company from borrowing from any of its bank subsidiaries unless the loans are secured by specific obligations. Further, such secured loans and investments by a bank subsidiary are limited in amount, as to a bank holding company or any other affiliate, to 10% of such bank subsidiary's capital and surplus and, as to the bank holding company and its affiliates, to an aggregate of 20% of such bank subsidiary's capital and surplus. Certain restrictions do not apply to 80% or more owned sister banks of bank holding companies. Each bank subsidiary of the Company is wholly-owned by the Company. Section 23B of the Federal Reserve Act requires that the terms of affiliate transactions be comparable to terms of similar non-affiliate transactions. On October 31, 2002, the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System adopted a

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final rule (Regulation W) to implement comprehensively sections 23A and 23B of the Federal Reserve Act and provides several new exemptions consistent with the purposes of the statute. The final rule combines statutory restrictions on transactions between a member bank and its affiliates with numerous Board interpretations and exemptions in an effort to simplify compliance with sections 23A and 23B. The final rule was effective April 1, 2003.

        INSIDER LOANS. 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.

        LENDING RESTRICTIONS. The operations of the Banks are also subject to lending limit restrictions pertaining to the extension of credit and making of loans to one borrower. Further, under the BHCA and the regulations of the FRB there under, the Company and its subsidiaries are prohibited from engaging in certain tie-in arrangements with respect to any extension of credit or provision of property or services; however, the FRB adopted a rule relaxing tying restrictions by permitting a bank holding company to offer a discount on products or services if a customer obtains other products or services from such company.

        DIVIDENDS. The ability of the Company to pay dividends is largely dependent on the amount of cash derived from dividends declared by its bank subsidiaries. The payment of dividends by any bank or bank holding company is affected by the requirement to maintain adequate capital as discussed above. The ability of the Banks, as Texas banking associations, to pay dividends is restricted under Texas law. A Texas bank generally may not pay a dividend reducing its capital and surplus without the prior approval of the Texas Banking Commissioner. Dividends may not be paid from "certified surplus," which is designated by the Board of Directors of Texas banking associations from undivided profits in connection with the establishment of the bank's lending limit. Additionally, the FDIC has the right to prohibit the payment of dividends by a bank where the payment is deemed to be an unsafe and unsound banking practice. At December 31, 2003 there was an aggregate of approximately $250,000,000 available for the payment of dividends to the Company by IBC, Commerce Bank, IBC Zapata and IBC Brownsville under the applicable restrictions, assuming that each of such banks continues to be classified as "well capitalized," and not including the certified surplus of each bank. Further, the Company could expend the entire $250,000,000 and continue to be classified as "well capitalized". Note 20 of notes to Consolidated Financial Statements of the Company located on page 65 of the 2003 Annual Report is incorporated herein by reference.

        POWERS. As a result of FDICIA, the authority of the FDIC over state-chartered banks was expanded. FDICIA limits state-chartered banks to only those principal activities permissible for national banks, except for other activities specifically approved by the FDIC. The new Texas Banking Act includes a parity provision which establishes procedures for state banks to notify the Banking Commissioner if the bank intends to conduct any activity permitted for a national bank that is otherwise denied to a state bank. The Banking Commissioner has thirty (30) days to prohibit the activity. During 1999, a super parity provision was added to the Texas Finance Code which established procedures for state banks to notify the Banking Commissioner if the bank intends to conduct any activity permitted for any depository institution in the United States. The Banking Commissioner has thirty (30) days to prohibit the activity.

        FINANCIAL SUBSIDIARIES. Under GLBA, a national bank may establish a financial subsidiary and engage, subject to limitations on investment, in activities that are financial in nature, other than

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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 subsidiary or subsidiaries. In addition, a bank may not acquire a company that is engaged in activities that are financial in nature unless the bank and each affiliated bank has a CRA rating of satisfactory or better.

        The powers of state-chartered banks that are not members of the Federal Reserve System were not directly addressed by GLBA. However, Texas state nonmember banks should indirectly benefit from the enhanced powers made available to financial subsidiaries of national banks by GLBA through the Texas parity statute, which authorizes state-chartered banks to engage in powers available for national banks, subject to certain state and federal law restrictions.

        INSTABILITY OF REGULATORY STRUCTURE. New legislation could be adopted which would change banking statutes and the operating environment of the Company and the bank subsidiaries in substantial and unpredictable ways. The Company cannot determine the ultimate effect that GLBA will have or the effect that potential legislation, if enacted, or implementing regulations with respect thereto, would have upon the financial condition or results of operations of the Company or its subsidiaries.