Amegy Bank of Texas Appoints Debbie Innes to Manager of Retail Banking.

HOUSTON -- Southwest Bancorporation of Texas, Inc., parent of Amegy Bank of Texas (Nasdaq:ABNK), today announced that Executive Vice President Debbie Innes will lead Retail Banking in addition to her continued responsibilities for Treasury Management.

"When you look at our growth and the franchise that we have built over the last 15 years, much of our success is attributable to Debbie Innes and the business line that she has built from scratch," said Paul B. Murphy, Jr., CEO of Amegy Bank of Texas. "Like every member of our management team, Debbie is always focusing on the perfect blend of people, products and services on behalf of our clients. Her strengths and vision are a perfect fit for our Retail business line."

Innes, Executive Vice President and Manager of Treasury Management and Retail, assumed responsibility for Amegy Bank's Treasury Management division in 1994. The division has grown to one of the most profitable fee income generators for Amegy Bank, representing approximately 27 percent of the Bank's total deposits.

Innes has overseen the development of several innovative products including an automated data capture service for the healthcare industry, the first of its kind in the nation. This development was leveraged further for the energy and automotive industries and is currently used by Anadarko Petroleum, the largest independent oil and gas exploration company in the world.

"Individuals come to Amegy Bank of Texas because of the welcoming, can-do attitude of our employees and our 'no 1-800' approach to customer service," said Scott J. McLean, president. "Debbie's high energy form of leadership will add greatly to our retail banking activity."

Innes has 24 years of banking experience and joined the Bank in 1992 as a Vice President in the Treasury Management division. She is actively involved in several community organizations and currently serves as Secretary of the Board and Chair of Volunteer Services for "I Have a Dream"(R) -- Houston (IHAD) and as a board member for the ESCAPE Family Resource Center and Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation in Houston. Innes is also a member of the Executive Women's Partnership, a division of the Greater Houston Partnership.

"As an employee who has been with this Bank almost since its inception, I am excited to build on the early successes we have achieved in our Retail division," said Innes. "From our founding, Amegy Bank has fostered an attitude that everyone is a potential customer, regardless of their size. When everyone is working together to serve customers and add new ones, it just makes banking fun."

Southwest Bancorporation of Texas, Inc., the parent company of Amegy Bank N.A., is the largest independent bank holding company headquartered in Houston, Texas. The Company focuses on commercial lending, treasury management and investment services for businesses, private financial management and trust services for families and individuals, and retail and mortgage banking services. The Company, with $7.56 billion in assets, has more than 75 full-service branches located throughout the Houston and Dallas metropolitan areas.