Howe Barnes Forms Alliance With Community Bank Group

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Chicago Sun-Times Wednesday, August 24, 2005

"It's a pretty exciting growth trajectory," said Daniel E. Coughlin, president and CEO of Howe Barnes. "It's a big initiative for Howe Barnes."
Howe Barnes was a good match for ICBA, because it has focused on community banks with assets of between $200 million to $5 billion since 1992, said Coughlin, a former Federal Reserve bank examiner. "It's become the largest profit center for the firm," Coughlin said.

Coughlin said Howe Barnes will be a "preferred provider" for the ICBA."It's a service element that they want to provide their members- someone can come to us with a higher degree of comfort that we'll follow through and do a good job because we have this affiliation," Coughlin said.

ICBA Securities will receive a share of what its members pay Howe Barnes. Most of what ICBA Securities earns will be returned to the national and state ICBA associations.Services Howe Barnes can provide to ICBA banks include market making, research, valuations, educational seminars and merger and acquisition advice, as well as the underwriting and private placement of equity, debt, and preferred offerings. About 600 ICBA members are publicly traded.

"Our members have grown in sophistication and size and have needed to maximize their franchise value," said Jim Reber, ICBA Securities president and CEO, who said Howe Barnes was chosen after a due diligence search. "We decided Howe Barnes was absolutely the best fit by virtue of the fact that they have a strong foothold in the community banking community already."

The affiliation with ICBA should raise Howe Barnes' exposure nation-wide, said Allen Koranda, CEO of MidAmerica Bank, which is not an ICBA member but has done business with Howe Barnes.Leading the ICBA effort for Howe Barnes is Bill Sammon. Sammon was an institutional salesman with Howe Barnes for 10 years, dealing exclusively with community bank stocks and telling the banks' stories to institutional and individual investors. Howe Barnes currently trades 275 community bank stocks.Coughlin said that despite consolidation in the banking industry, community banks continue to do well against big players, because of their focus on the community and better service.

"They know their customers so they're doing well in terms of building market share against that 1-800 mentality those megabanks have," Coughlin said.

©2005 Chicago Sun-Times All rights reserved.

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Independent Banker Reports HB Exclusive
Capital Markets Provider for ICBA Members

"I've worked with several investment banking firms in the past," he says. "I'm absolutely planning to work with Howe Barnes and the ICBA capital markets group in the future. They're now an important weapon in my arsenal."
- Rusty Cloutier, President & CEO
  MidSouth Bank, N.A.
  Lafayette, LA

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Howe Barnes and ICBA Securities Ratify Contract –
Opens Door For Community Banks Nationwide

Chicago, IL. (July 8, 2005) - ICBA Securities, the portfolio management investment services corporation of the Independent Community Bankers of America (ICBA) has ratified its contract with leading investment firm Howe Barnes Hoefer & Arnett, Inc. . The relationship has opened the door for a growing number of community banks that have long been ignored by traditional investment bankers.

Howe Barnes and ICBA Securities agreement provides capital market services such as market making, bank valuations, and merger and acquisition advice as well as underwriting and private placement of equity, debt, preferred or convertible preferred offerings.

Dan Coughlin, president and CEO of Howe Barnes stated "We are now teamed with an organization that has a vision-a vision of strength and opportunity as community banks seek expansion and profitability." Howe Barnes has specialized in raising both public and private capital, financial advisory work and providing equity research for community-based financial institutions, making it a natural fit for ICBA Securities.

"Community banks are the backbone of the nation, providing local investment to help communities prosper; with Capital Markets we can now increase the banks' ability to strengthen itself and reach further into the community," said ICBA President and CEO Camden R. Fine.

"Our commitment to community banks goes beyond offering quality products and services, it is about integrity and offering solutions that banks need to succeed," said Jim Reber, ICBA Securities President and CEO. "Our relationship with Howe Barnes will now give virtually all of our members, whether public or private, access to the capital markets. This in turn will provide the fuel for growth that so many community banks have been asking for."

In addition to offering capital market services, Howe Barnes and ICBA Securities will also launch a series of nationwide seminars for community bankers and sponsor capital market conferences to gain greater exposure for community bank stocks, said ICBA Securities Chairman Marti Tomson Rodamaker, the president of First Citizens National Bank, Mason City, Iowa.

Founded in 1915, Howe Barnes is a full-service investment firm that currently makes markets in over 250 community bank stocks. ICBA Securities provides sophisticated investment portfolio management assistance to more than 1,500 community banks through 10 offices nationwide. (Visit www.icbasecurities.com)

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Howe Barnes CEO Announces
Important New Strategic Initiative

March 15, 2005, Chicago, IL- Howe Barnes Hoefer & Arnett, Inc. announces the formation of a strategic initiative with Vining Sparks IBG, Memphis, TN. This initiative will offer each company an opportunity to capitalize on their core strengths. Howe Barnes will deliver fixed income services to their banking customers and private clients utilizing Vining Sparks resources, products and services. Howe Barnes will provide equity capital market products and investment banking services to Vining Sparks national client base. This will offer Howe Barnes a nationwide platform for its highly regarded bank sales, trading, research and corporate finance practice.

In making the announcement, Daniel E. Coughlin, President and CEO of Howe Barnes stated “This alliance gives us access to a much wider, truly national base of clients for our equity capital markets effort and is a key association for Howe Barnes. In addition, we’re excited to refer our existing clients to the wide array of excellent fixed income products and services provided by Vining Sparks.”

Established in 1915, Howe Barnes Hoefer & Arnett, Inc. is a Chicago based, full service brokerage firm. Its banking departments specialize in sales, trading, research and corporate finance services for community banks and thrifts and middle market companies. Through its private client services department, the firm provides investment advice and products to both individual and institutional customers.

Vining-Sparks IBG is nationally recognized as a leading broker/dealer in serving the investment needs of institutional investors. It has offices throughout the United States and an international office in London with headquarters in Memphis, Tennessee. Vining Sparks employs 160 registered representatives and 25 traders who serve over 4,400 customers. This customer base consists of depository institutions, insurance companies and money managers internationally, as well as municipalities across the United States.

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Howe Barnes' Corporate Headquarters

Howe Barnes' corporate headquarters was designed by Eastlake Studios. HB Corporate Headquarters is located at:
222 South Riverside Plaza, 7th Floor
Chicago, Illinois 60606

View Howe Barnes Corporate Headquarters

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Howe Barnes Hoefer & Arnett, Inc. ©2006 All Rights Reserved.