Sterling Bancshares (SBIB)

Competition

The financial services industry is highly competitive. There are a number of new banking competitors who have entered, or greatly expanded their presence in Texas—particularly in the Houston, San Antonio, Dallas and Fort Worth, Texas markets in which we operate. We experience significant competition in attracting and retaining deposits and making loans, as well as in providing other financial services in each of our markets. Product pricing, customer convenience and service capabilities, and breadth of product lines are significant competitive factors. We also experience significant competition in attracting and retaining qualified banking professionals.

Our most direct competition for loans comes from other banks. Our most direct competition for deposits comes from other banks, savings institutions and credit unions doing business in our markets. We also experience competition from nonbanking sources, including mutual funds, corporate and governmental debt securities and other investment alternatives offered within and outside of our primary markets. Many of our competitors are much larger in total assets and capitalization, have greater access to capital markets and offer a broader range of financial products and services.

Competition

The financial services industry is highly competitive. There are a number of new banking competitors who have entered, or greatly expanded their presence in Texas—particularly in the Houston, San Antonio and Dallas markets in which we operate. We experience significant competition in attracting and retaining deposits and making loans, as well as in providing other financial services in each of our markets. Product pricing, customer convenience and service capabilities, and breadth of product lines are significant competitive factors. We also experience significant competition in attracting and retaining qualified banking professionals.

Our most direct competition for loans comes from other banks. Our most direct competition for deposits comes from other banks, savings institutions and credit unions doing business in our markets. We also experience competition from nonbanking sources, including mutual funds, corporate and governmental debt securities and other investment alternatives offered within and outside of our primary markets. Many of our competitors are much larger in total assets and capitalization, have greater access to capital markets and offer a broader range of financial products and services.

Competition

The financial services industry is highly competitive. There are a number of new banking competitors who have entered, or greatly expanded their presence in Texas—particularly in the Houston, San Antonio and Dallas markets in which we operate. We experience significant competition in attracting and retaining deposits and making loans, as well as in providing other financial services in each of our markets. Product pricing, customer convenience and service capabilities, and breadth of product lines are significant competitive factors. We also experience significant competition in attracting and retaining qualified banking professionals.

Our most direct competition for loans comes from other banks. Our most direct competition for deposits comes from other banks, savings institutions and credit unions doing business in our markets. We also experience competition from nonbanking sources, including mutual funds, corporate and governmental debt securities and other investment alternatives offered within and outside of our primary markets. Many of our competitors are much larger in total assets and capitalization, have greater access to capital markets and offer a broader range of financial products and services.

Competition

The financial services industry is highly competitive. There are a number of new banking competitors who have entered, or greatly expanded their presence in Texas—particularly in the Houston, San Antonio and Dallas markets in which we operate. We experience significant competition in attracting and retaining deposits and making loans, as well as in providing other financial services in each of our markets. Product pricing, customer convenience and service capabilities, and breadth of product lines are significant competitive factors. We also experience significant competition in attracting and retaining qualified banking professionals.

Our most direct competition for loans comes from other banks. Our most direct competition for deposits comes from other banks, savings institutions and credit unions doing business in our markets. We also experience competition from nonbanking sources, including mutual funds, corporate and governmental debt securities and other investment alternatives offered within and outside of our primary markets. Many of our competitors are much larger in total assets and capitalization, have greater access to capital markets and offer a broader range of financial products and services, in particular on the retail side of our business.