First Financial Bankshares Named Number One Bank In Nation By Bank Director Magazine

Company Release – 08/12/2014 11:00

ABILENE, Texas, Aug. 12, 2014 /PRNewswire/ — First Financial Bankshares, Inc. (NASDAQ: FFIN) has been selected as the #1 top-performing publicly traded bank in the nation in the $5 to $50 billion asset category by Bank Director magazine. The magazine’s annual scorecard rates all publicly traded banks in four asset size categories on the basis of profitability, capital adequacy and asset quality.

“We are very honored to be selected as the best publicly traded bank in the country in the $5 to $50 billion asset category by Bank Director magazine, which is one of the most recognized publications in the industry,” said F. Scott Dueser, Chairman, President and CEO.  “We are very humbled to receive this honor for the second time, and it is a direct result of the tireless dedication of our team, including our board, officers and employees who execute our strategy every day to make sure that our customers receive superior service and that we reward our shareholders.  We thank our customers and shareholders for their loyalty and support, which has allowed us to receive this great honor.  This marks the sixth consecutive year that First Financial has been recognized as either #1, #2 or #3 in the nation.”

For its scorecard, Bank Director magazine looked at profitability measures including return on average assets and return on average equity; capital strength metrics including the ratio of tangible common equity to tangible assets; asset quality measures including the ratio of nonperforming assets to total loans and other real estate owned, and the ratio of net charge offs to average total loans.

About First Financial Bankshares:

Headquartered in Abilene, Texas, First Financial Bankshares is a financial holding company that operates 12 banking regions with 62 locations in Texas including Abilene, Acton, Albany, Aledo, Alvarado, Beaumont, Boyd, Bridgeport, Brock, Burleson, Cisco, Cleburne, Clyde, Decatur, Eastland, Fort Worth, Glen Rose, Granbury, Grapevine, Hereford, Huntsville, Keller, Mauriceville, Merkel, Midlothian, Mineral Wells, Moran, Newton, New Waverly, Odessa, Orange, Port Arthur, Ranger, Rising Star, Roby, San Angelo, Southlake, Stephenville, Sweetwater, Trent, Trophy Club, Vidor, Waxahachie, Weatherford and Willow Park. The Company also operates First Financial Trust & Asset Management Company, N.A., with seven locations and First Technology Services, Inc., a technology operating company.

The Company is listed on The NASDAQ Global Select Market under the trading symbol FFIN.  For more information about First Financial Bankshares, please visit our website at http://www.ffin.com.

Certain statements contained herein may be considered “forward-looking statements” as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.  These statements are based upon the belief of the Company’s management, as well as assumptions made beyond information currently available to the Company’s management, and may be, but not necessarily are, identified by such words as “expect”, “plan”, “anticipate”, “target”, “forecast” and “goal”.  Because such “forward-looking statements” are subject to risks and uncertainties, actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements.  Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the Company’s expectations include competition from other financial institutions and financial holding companies; the effects of and changes in trade, monetary and fiscal policies and laws, including interest rate policies of the Federal Reserve Board; changes in the demand for loans; fluctuations in value of collateral and loan reserves; inflation, interest rate, market and monetary fluctuations; changes in consumer spending, borrowing and savings habits; and acquisitions and integration of acquired businesses, and similar variables.  Other key risks are described in the Company’s reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, which may be obtained under “Investor Relations-Documents/Filings” on the Company’s Web site or by writing or calling the Company at 325.627.7155.  Except as otherwise stated in this news announcement, the Company does not undertake any obligation to update publicly or revise any forward-looking statements because of new information, future events or otherwise.

SOURCE First Financial Bankshares, Inc.

West Austin spa named No. 21 best resort in the world

By Nicole Raney , Culturemap Austin

10.22.14 | 2:04 pm

If you’re looking to treat yourself to some luxury R&R, you won’t have to travel far to find a lush, award-winning spa. Lake Austin Spa Resort is the No. 21 best hotel and resort in the world according to Condé Nast Traveler. In the U.S., the spa was ranked No. 8 and was one of only two Texas resorts to make the coveted list.

The lifestyle and travel magazine hosts its Readers Choice Awards poll every year to determine the best luxury destinations and services around the globe. Having been selected for the past five years, Lake Austin Spa Resort now has an esteemed place on the Condé Nast Traveler’s “Platinum Circle,” which chronicle’s the magazine’s favorite destination resorts.

“This destination spa resort, the site of a former rodeo training camp, is a little piece of heaven in Texas Hill Country,” writes the magazine.

Nestled in a quiet bend of the Colorado River in West Austin, the spa offers traditional treatments such as massages, facials and nail therapy as well as a variety of innovative sessions involving energy point cleansing, acupuncture and meditation. If more than a full day of spa treatment is needed, the resort has 40 rooms that are ready to turn your little escape into a full-blown getaway.

Lake Austin Spa Resort was the only Texas establishment to make the top 25, but Houston’s Hotel Sorella CityCentre did claim a spot on the list at No. 74.

Avalanche Media Group Becomes WBENC and HUB-Certified

Austin (July 11, 2014) – Avalanche Media Group, a woman-owned media buying and planning agency, today announced its certification as a majority-owned women’s business by the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC) and as a Historically Underutilized Business (HUB).

Accepted by hundreds of U.S. corporations and a number of federal, state and local government agencies, WBENC certification is an important tool for expanding a company’s visibility among decision-makers in corporate supply chain diversity and procurement organizations, according to WBENC’s website.

HUB Certification is an esteemed accomplishment for small businesses that creates opportunities for expanded state-based work. The certification allows Avalanche Media Group to:

  • Register with the Centralized Master Bidders List in Texas to receive bid invitations
  • Search the online Electronic State Business Daily for contract opportunities with state entities valued at more than $25,000
  • Explore HUB Subcontracting Plan Opportunities that are available when a state contract’s expected value is $100,000 or more, positioning the firm as a subcontracting partner

In addition, Avalanche Media Group will be listed in the online Texas HUB Directory. “While we’ve been ‘self-certified’ since Avalanche Media Group was founded in 2012, we wanted to formalize our standing,” said Kalyn Asher, founder and president of Avalanche Media Group.  “Both certifications are widely recognized and respected and will open new doors, helping us continue to grow as we gain new access to government contracts.  We’ll now officially qualify to partner with vendors looking for certified WBENCs and HUBs to include in their subcontracting plans for large projects.”

Avalanche Media can smell the Onions!

Well, we can see Onion Creek out our new office windows. A great location near downtown Austin and the airport with quick access South to San Marcos, San Antonio, etc. Or a traffic-free ride north to Round Rock, Georgetown and beyond since 45/130 is out our back door!