Credit Suisse To Open Private Banking USA Office in Houston; Hires O'Neil to Lead Office.

NEW YORK -- Credit Suisse announced today that it will open an office of its Private Banking USA business in Houston, the fourth largest city in the U.S. and home to an increasing number of high-net worth and ultra-high net worth individuals. The office, which will open in the first quarter of 2008, is another example of Credit Suisse's strategy to expand into the nation's leading wealth markets. Private Banking USA now operates 16 offices across the US, having added locations in Irvine, CA and Rye Brook, NY in 2006, and Greenwich, CT and Philadelphia, PA earlier this year.

Credit Suisse also announced that Jay O'Neil will join the firm as Head of the Houston office, effective November 2. Mr. O'Neil comes to Credit Suisse from Merrill Lynch, where he was most recently the market leader for the Private Banking & Investment Group in the New England and Mid-Atlantic regions. Prior to that role, he was Sales Manager of the Merrill Lynch Silicon Valley Complex in San Jose, California, where he managed more than 150 employees in five offices.

"We are excited to be coming to Houston, a city where Credit Suisse already has a significant Investment Banking presence," said Peter Skoglund, Managing Director and Head of the Central Region of Private Banking USA. "Jay O'Neil is an outstanding addition to our team. He has both the industry knowledge and leadership skills to lead the growth and development of the Houston office."

Mr. O'Neil holds a Bachelor of Science from the United States Military Academy and is a former US Army Ranger.

Credit Suisse Private Banking USA combines the benefits of a boutique with access to professionals and product breadth of Credit Suisse, which is one of the world's leading private banks, a world class global firm with a 150 year heritage of serving the unique needs of wealthy individuals.

Private Banking USA operates out of 16 offices across the United States and works with a select number of wealthy individuals and family groups to provide a high degree of personalized service. Private Banking USA works closely with all areas of Credit Suisse, providing clients with many of the same resources and services offered to the Bank's largest and most sophisticated institutional investors.

Credit Suisse

As one of the world's leading banks, Credit Suisse provides its clients with investment banking, private banking and asset management services worldwide. Credit Suisse offers advisory services, comprehensive solutions and innovative products to companies, institutional clients and high-net-worth private clients globally, as well as retail clients in Switzerland. Credit Suisse is active in over 50 countries and employs approximately 45,000 people. Credit Suisse's parent company, Credit Suisse Group, is a leading global financial services company headquartered in Zurich. Credit Suisse Group's registered shares (CSGN) are listed in Switzerland and, in the form of American Depositary Shares (CS), in New York. Further information about Credit Suisse can be found at www.credit-suisse.com.

Private Banking

In Private Banking, Credit Suisse provides comprehensive advice and a broad range of investment products and services tailored to the complex needs of high-net-worth individuals globally. Wealth management solutions include tax planning; pension planning; life insurance solutions; wealth and inheritance advice, trusts and foundations. In Switzerland, Credit Suisse supplies banking products and services to private banking clients as well as to business and retail clients.

Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC is an indirect subsidiary of Credit Suisse. The Private Banking USA business in Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC is a U.S. regulated broker dealer. It is not a chartered bank, trust company or depository institution. It is not authorized to accept deposits or provide corporate trust services and it is not licensed or regulated by any federal banking authority.