Preeminent Financial Institutions Practice
Bracewell has one of the preeminent financial institutions practices in the United States. We consistently play a leading role in mergers and acquisitions, capital markets transactions and other strategic matters in the financial services industry. Over the past 10 years, we have acted on more initial public offerings for Texas bank holding companies than any other law firm. We also rank at the top of league tables for the number and value of transactions in the Southwest.
Our work has not gone unnoticed. In 2020, Bracewell recognized for its role in Prosperity Bancshares’ $2.1 acquisition of LegacyTexas Financial Group. The transaction, which is the second largest bank merger in Texas history, was named M&A Transaction of the Year at the Houston Outstanding Corporate Counsel Awards.
Our capital markets team represents financial institutions in various debt and equity offerings, largely within the energy industry. For 2020, S&P Global ranked us #6 by number of deal and #12 by volume as underwriter’s counsel in energy and utilities offerings. We also ranked #22 for straight debt offerings in Refinitiv’s year-end analysis for 2020
Areas of Focus
Banking Compliance & Enforcement
We help banks and financial institutions ensure compliance with the complex mix of state and federal regulations that govern their day-to-day operations. We regularly represent clients across the United States in their dealings with regulators, examiners and agencies at both the state and federal levels.
In enforcement actions, we balance an effective, aggressive defense of our clients with short- and long-term business goals, to achieve constructive and favorable resolutions. We provide guidance on a broad range of consumer lending, non-discrimination, privacy and credit-related laws.
Market-Leading Engagements
- Allegiance Bank in various regulatory compliance matters, including matters pertaining to the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) and the Texas Department of Banking
- Kentucky Bankers Association in an amicus brief support Republic Bank’s position in both the FDIC’s enforcement action and Republic Bank’s lawsuit against the FDIC
- Main Street Bank in various regulatory compliance matters, including legal lending limit issues
- Metro United Bank in negotiating a consent with the FDIC and the California Department of Financial Institutions (CDFI)
- Park Cities Bank in various regulatory compliance matters, including Regulation O and affiliated transactions issues
- Pioneer Bank on various regulatory compliance matters, including matters before the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency
- Texas Capital Bank, N.A. in various regulatory compliance matters, including matters before the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency
- Woodforest National Bank in various regulatory compliance matters, including matters before the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency
Bank Mergers & Acquisitions
We consistently rank among the top law firms for merger and acquisition transactions in the financial services industry. We have facilitated acquisitions, sales, mergers and roll-up transactions for major banks and financial institutions across the United States, including Golden Bank’s recent acquisition of a First Choice Bank affiliate in California and Prosperity Bancshares in its $2.1 billion acquisition of LegacyTexas Financial Group.
Our lawyers provide solutions grounded in real-world business strategy. We are familiar with the key concerns of a prospective buyer or seller of a financial institution, including tax, labor and employment, employee benefits, real estate, environmental and antitrust concerns.
Market-Leading Engagements
- Allegiance Bancshares, Inc. in a $359 million acquisition of Post Oak Bancshares, Inc.
- BancorpSouth, Inc. in its acquisition of Central Community Corporation, the holding company of First State Bank Central Texas, a Texas state bank headquartered in Central Texas, for cash and stock consideration valued at $210 million
- BancorpSouth, Inc. in its acquisition of Ouachita Bancshares Corp., the holding company of Ouachita Independent Bank, a Louisiana state bank headquartered in Monroe, Louisiana, for cash and stock consideration valued at $114 million
- Community Bancorporation of New Mexico, Inc. in its sale to Heartland Financial USA Inc.
- CommunityBank of Texas, N.A. in its holding company’s acquisition of MC Bancshares, Inc. and its wholly owned subsidiary, Memorial City Bank
- Delta Card Services, Inc. in the $470 million acquisition of substantially all the assets of its subsidiary, Merchants’ Choice Payment Solutions, by Paysafe Group plc.
- Golden Bank, N.A. in the acquisition of Rowland Heights, California, branch of First Choice Bank
- Metro Bancorp., Inc. in its $273 million sale to East West Bank
- Pioneer Bancshares, Inc. in its merger with FirstSun Capital Bancorp in all-stock transaction
- Post Oak Bancshares, Inc. in the acquisition of The State Bank of Texas in a stock and cash transaction
- Prosperity Bancshares, Inc. in its $2.1 billion acquisition of LegacyTexas Financial Group, Inc., which is the second largest bank merger in the history of Texas – M&A Transaction of the Year, 2020 Houston Corporate Counsel Awards
- Prosperity Bancshares, Inc. in a $532 million cash and stock acquisition of American State Financial Corporation
- Veritex Holdings Inc. in its $20.5 million cash and stock acquisition of IBT Bancorp Inc.
- Woodforest National Bank in the sale of its asset-based and equipment finance lending businesses, including the $495 million loan portfolio, to Sterling National Bank
We help banks and financial institutions ensure compliance with the complex mix of state and federal regulations that govern their day-to-day operations. We regularly represent clients across the United States in their dealings with regulators, examiners and agencies at both the state and federal levels.
In enforcement actions, we balance an effective, aggressive defense of our clients with short- and long-term business goals, to achieve constructive and favorable resolutions. We provide guidance on a broad range of consumer lending, non-discrimination, privacy and credit-related laws.
Market-Leading Engagements
- Allegiance Bank in various regulatory compliance matters, including matters pertaining to the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) and the Texas Department of Banking
- Kentucky Bankers Association in an amicus brief support Republic Bank’s position in both the FDIC’s enforcement action and Republic Bank’s lawsuit against the FDIC
- Main Street Bank in various regulatory compliance matters, including legal lending limit issues
- Metro United Bank in negotiating a consent with the FDIC and the California Department of Financial Institutions (CDFI)
- Park Cities Bank in various regulatory compliance matters, including Regulation O and affiliated transactions issues
- Pioneer Bank on various regulatory compliance matters, including matters before the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency
- Texas Capital Bank, N.A. in various regulatory compliance matters, including matters before the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency
- Woodforest National Bank in various regulatory compliance matters, including matters before the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency
We consistently rank among the top law firms for merger and acquisition transactions in the financial services industry. We have facilitated acquisitions, sales, mergers and roll-up transactions for major banks and financial institutions across the United States, including Golden Bank’s recent acquisition of a First Choice Bank affiliate in California and Prosperity Bancshares in its $2.1 billion acquisition of LegacyTexas Financial Group.
Our lawyers provide solutions grounded in real-world business strategy. We are familiar with the key concerns of a prospective buyer or seller of a financial institution, including tax, labor and employment, employee benefits, real estate, environmental and antitrust concerns.
Market-Leading Engagements
- Allegiance Bancshares, Inc. in a $359 million acquisition of Post Oak Bancshares, Inc.
- BancorpSouth, Inc. in its acquisition of Central Community Corporation, the holding company of First State Bank Central Texas, a Texas state bank headquartered in Central Texas, for cash and stock consideration valued at $210 million
- BancorpSouth, Inc. in its acquisition of Ouachita Bancshares Corp., the holding company of Ouachita Independent Bank, a Louisiana state bank headquartered in Monroe, Louisiana, for cash and stock consideration valued at $114 million
- Community Bancorporation of New Mexico, Inc. in its sale to Heartland Financial USA Inc.
- CommunityBank of Texas, N.A. in its holding company’s acquisition of MC Bancshares, Inc. and its wholly owned subsidiary, Memorial City Bank
- Delta Card Services, Inc. in the $470 million acquisition of substantially all the assets of its subsidiary, Merchants’ Choice Payment Solutions, by Paysafe Group plc.
- Golden Bank, N.A. in the acquisition of Rowland Heights, California, branch of First Choice Bank
- Metro Bancorp., Inc. in its $273 million sale to East West Bank
- Pioneer Bancshares, Inc. in its merger with FirstSun Capital Bancorp in all-stock transaction
- Post Oak Bancshares, Inc. in the acquisition of The State Bank of Texas in a stock and cash transaction
- Prosperity Bancshares, Inc. in its $2.1 billion acquisition of LegacyTexas Financial Group, Inc., which is the second largest bank merger in the history of Texas – M&A Transaction of the Year, 2020 Houston Corporate Counsel Awards
- Prosperity Bancshares, Inc. in a $532 million cash and stock acquisition of American State Financial Corporation
- Veritex Holdings Inc. in its $20.5 million cash and stock acquisition of IBT Bancorp Inc.
- Woodforest National Bank in the sale of its asset-based and equipment finance lending businesses, including the $495 million loan portfolio, to Sterling National Bank
Recognition of Excellence
Our practices and its lawyers consistent earn top rankings in Chambers USA, IFLR1000 and Legal 500 US.
- Chambers USA – Texas Banking & Finance (Band 1); Texas Capital Markets: Debt & Equity; Texas Corporate/M&A
- IFLR1000 – US Banking; US M&A; Texas Banking (Tier 1); Texas Capital Markets (Tier 1); Texas M&A
- Legal 500 US – Capital Markets Debt: Advice to Issuers; Corporate
- U.S. News – Best Lawyers – National Banking & Finance Law (Tier 1); National Corporate Law (Tier 1); National Securities/Capital Markets Law (Tier 1); Houston Banking and Finance Law (Tier 1); Houston Corporate Law (Tier 1); Houston Securities/Capital Markets Law (Tier 1)
Market-Leading Engagements
We represent financial institutions on a broad range of transactions.
- Allegiance Bancshares, Inc. in a $60 million public offering of subordinated debt securities
- Allegiance Bancshares, Inc. in a $40 million offering in fixed-to-floating rate subordinated notes due 2027
- Allegiance Bancshares, Inc. in a $359 million acquisition of Post Oak Bancshares, Inc.
- Allegiance Bancshares, Inc. in a $60 million initial public offering of common stock
- BancorpSouth, Inc. in its acquisition of Central Community Corporation, the holding company of First State Bank Central Texas, a Texas state bank headquartered in Central Texas, for cash and stock consideration valued at $210 million
- BancorpSouth, Inc. in its acquisition of Ouachita Bancshares Corp., the holding company of Ouachita Independent Bank, a Louisiana state bank headquartered in Monroe, Louisiana, for cash and stock consideration valued at $114 million
- Underwriters of Bank7 Corp in a $65 million initial public offering of common stock
- Community Bancorporation of New Mexico, Inc. in its sale to Heartland Financial USA Inc.