Our Market Characteristics

Over the past five years, we have concentrated on markets in Florida, Georgia, Nevada, and Texas — because we expect them to continue to grow faster than other areas of the country over the next five to ten years. We see the population growing with the influx of retirees, wealthy individuals, and corporate relocations. Shopping centers and other support businesses are springing up. This type of growth presents a tremendous opportunity for us not only to grow our lending business, but also to generate new revenue from our fee-income businesses, including wealth management, international banking, private banking, cash management services, and electronic banking.

Most importantly, we recognize that the demographics in those markets differ from market to market. To illustrate our divergent demographics, following are a few distinguishing characteristics:

• Atlanta is the financial hub of the Southeast, a distribution center and light manufacturing center, while the central part of Georgia is rural with agricultural interests.
  
• Orlando is considered a travel and entertainment destination, and is a growing area for service and support businesses. Miami, the “gateway to Latin and South America,” provides an opportunity to expand international banking services. Moreover, with the wealthy and retiree population growth in Miami Beach, Palm Beach, and West Palm Beach, there’s more diversity in the Miami market than in any other market. Naples is a target for retirees from the nation’s Midwest. Tampa is more industrialized than other areas of Florida, and is also experiencing considerable growth from retirees moving to surrounding areas.
  
• Las Vegas and Reno are both entertainment and travel destinations and fast becoming retiree destinations as well.
  
• Dallas is the financial hub of the Southwest and is the home of numerous corporate headquarters, which generate significant growth in infrastructure and support services and bring high-net-worth individuals into the community.
  

As market demographics change, we structure products and services to meet the needs of a particular region and customer. Market diversity is our strength.