I am gratified and honored that Bank of Fort Bend, located near Houston, is now a part of the Capitol Bancorp family and the first affiliate bank in Texas. We are very excited about this business model which we believe combines the best advantages of local, community bank customer service with the product and technological support that is similar to those offered at the larger regional and national banks operating in our Fort Bend County market.
| I am gratified and honored that Bank of Fort Bend is the first Capitol Bancorp bank in Texas. |
We have been very fortunate to have built a veteran, experienced staff of friendly faces. These individuals are well known in our community and have a loyal following of business and consumer customers who are also joining us. Our staff members are actively involved in our community as volunteers for churches, youth sports organizations and as directors on the boards of local nonprofits.
Fort Bend County has been one of the fastest growing marketplaces in the U.S. in recent years. Fort Bend’s population growth from 1990 to 2000 was an astounding 57 percent compared to the national average of 13 percent. Household income in 2000 for the area was also very strong, averaging $77,861 compared to $50,248 nationally.
We found an opportune location on one of the main entryways to the 900-acre Sugar Land Business Park, which is home to approximately 100 distribution, light manufacturing and service companies. We are the only banking facility in the business park so we offer convenience plus personalized community bank service with customized financial solutions that can be as sophisticated or as simple as our customers need.
Our contacts in this market and the advantages in our business model have allowed us to attract a first-class, highly visible and active board of directors. They have all expressed a strong desire to help us grow in this marketplace through their personal businesses, with a continued stream of referrals and by acting as “cheerleaders” for our bank whenever possible.
We are truly blessed with this opportunity and we are tremendously excited about our future. We look forward to working with folks from our previous relationships and with the new friends we are meeting!
— R. Bruce Mercer, President