Question 1

What is FirstBank Southwest?

Accepted Answer

FirstBank Southwest is a state-chartered community bank headquartered in Amarillo, Texas. With approximately $1.86 billion in total assets and 12 offices, the bank serves communities across the Texas Panhandle and has expanded its presence to major metropolitan markets including the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, Austin, and San Antonio through loan and deposit production offices.

FirstBank Southwest specializes in providing focused financial services for both commercial and retail customers, emphasizing personalized community banking relationships. As a family-owned institution, the bank has maintained its commitment to local decision-making and customer service for over a century.

Question 2

When was FirstBank Southwest founded?

Accepted Answer

FirstBank Southwest was originally chartered as First National Bank of Ochiltree in 1907 with $30,000 in capital. The bank relocated eight miles north by steam engine when the Santa Fe Railway announced a line expansion, and the town of Perryton, Texas was established on August 22, 1919. The bank changed its name to First National Bank of Perryton shortly thereafter.

In 1919, Benjamin Smith Ellis joined the bank as Senior Vice President and Director. His son, Carl Ellis, purchased controlling interest in the bank in 1934 during the Great Depression, saving it from closure. A member of the Ellis family has been continuously involved in the bank's leadership ever since, making it a multi-generational family banking institution.

The bank expanded through strategic acquisitions in the 1980s and 1990s, purchasing banks in Booker (1986), Hereford (1988), Pampa (1990), and Amarillo (1993). In 1995, the institution consolidated its five separate banks under branch banking regulations and adopted the name FirstBank Southwest, National Association. The bank converted from a national charter to a state charter in 2005, becoming simply FirstBank Southwest.

Question 3

Where is FirstBank Southwest headquartered?

Accepted Answer

FirstBank Southwest is headquartered at 2401 South Georgia Street in Amarillo, Texas (zip code 79109), located in Potter County. The bank's main headquarters building serves as its flagship location in the Texas Panhandle region. In 2019, FirstBank Southwest also secured naming rights to the iconic FirstBank Southwest Tower, the tallest building in Amarillo and the West Texas region at 374 feet and 31 stories.

Question 4

Where does FirstBank Southwest operate?

Accepted Answer

FirstBank Southwest operates 12 banking centers across five Texas Panhandle communities:
• Amarillo (multiple locations in Potter and Randall Counties)
• Booker (Lipscomb County)
• Hereford (Deaf Smith County)
• Pampa (Gray County)
• Perryton (Ochiltree County)

Beyond its traditional Texas Panhandle footprint, the bank has expanded its reach through Loan and Deposit Production Offices in three major metropolitan markets: the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, Austin, and San Antonio. This expansion strategy allows FirstBank Southwest to serve commercial and retail customers across multiple Texas markets while maintaining its community banking focus.

Question 5

What services does FirstBank Southwest offer?

Accepted Answer

FirstBank Southwest provides comprehensive banking services for both personal and business customers:

Personal Banking Services:
• Checking and savings accounts
• Mortgage loans and consumer loans
• Wealth management and financial planning
• School spirit-themed debit cards

Commercial Banking Services:
• Business checking and savings accounts
• Commercial real estate loans
• Business lines of credit
• Construction lending

Digital Banking Platforms:
• Mobile banking app with remote deposit capture
• Online banking with 24/7 account access
• Bill pay services
• Digital wallet integration (Apple Pay, Google Pay, Samsung Pay)
• Biometric login (fingerprint and Face ID)

Treasury Management Services:
• ACH origination for electronic payments
• Online wire transfers
• Positive Pay fraud prevention
• Remote deposit capture for businesses
• Zero balance accounts and loan sweeps
• Merchant services for credit/debit card processing

Wealth Management:
• 401(k) plan administration
• Employee retirement plan services
• Investment management
• Trust services

Question 6

What makes FirstBank Southwest unique?

Accepted Answer

FirstBank Southwest distinguishes itself through 90 years of continuous family ownership and leadership by the Ellis family since 1934, providing exceptional stability and commitment to community banking values. This multi-generational involvement ensures consistent leadership philosophy and deep roots in Texas Panhandle communities.

The bank's rich history includes a remarkable achievement during World War II: the small Perryton bank sold more war bonds than any other bank in the state of Texas, demonstrating its community engagement and patriotic commitment.

FirstBank Southwest maintains a strong community focus while embracing modern banking technology. The bank offers comprehensive digital banking solutions alongside traditional relationship banking, positioning itself as "the preferred community bank in the great state of Texas."

The institution's expansion strategy is notably measured and strategic, growing from $30,000 in capital at founding to $1.86 billion in assets through organic growth and strategic acquisitions, while maintaining its family-owned, community-focused identity.

Question 7

What type of financial institution is FirstBank Southwest?

Accepted Answer

FirstBank Southwest is a state-chartered community bank regulated by the Texas Department of Banking and insured by the FDIC (Certificate #3387). The bank converted from a national bank charter to a state charter in 2005, operating under Texas state banking regulations.

As a community bank, FirstBank Southwest emphasizes local decision-making, personalized service, and reinvestment in the communities it serves. The bank operates as a commercial and retail banking institution, serving both business and consumer customers with a full range of deposit, lending, and wealth management services. Its state charter allows flexibility in operations while maintaining strong regulatory oversight and FDIC insurance protection for depositors.

Question 8

What is FirstBank Southwest's financial performance?

Accepted Answer

FirstBank Southwest demonstrates strong financial performance with approximately $1.86 billion in total assets and $1.65 billion in deposits as of its most recent FDIC reporting period. The bank reported annual net income of approximately $19.9 million, reflecting solid profitability.

The institution maintains healthy financial ratios, including a Return on Assets (ROA) of 1.43% and a Return on Equity (ROE) of 16.91%, both indicating strong operational efficiency and profitability relative to industry benchmarks. These metrics demonstrate the bank's effective management and successful business model in serving Texas Panhandle communities and expanded markets.

The bank's growth trajectory has been impressive, expanding from approximately $336 million in assets in 1995 to nearly $2 billion today, while maintaining strong capital ratios and financial stability throughout multiple economic cycles.

FirstBank Southwest

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About FirstBank Southwest in the United States