Office of Thrift Supervision

OTS APPROVES SOUTHWEST SECURITIES’ PURCHASE OF ARLINGTON, TEXAS, THRIFT

WASHINGTON, D.C., Jan. 19, 2000 – Southwest Securities Group, Inc., a Dallas-based brokerage and financial services firm, received approval of the Office of Thrift Supervision (OTS) to acquire First Savings Bank, an Arlington, Texas, federal thrift, and its holding company, ASBI Holdings, Inc. in a stock transaction.

Southwest Savings engages in a variety of investment and financial services through its subsidiaries. The principal subsidiary is Southwest Securities, Inc., a broker-dealer. Other subsidiaries provide financial advice, trust services and discount Internet brokerage service.

First Savings Bank, with assets of $264 million, will continue to operate as a full-service thrift.

The new owners expect to do limited cross-marketing of products, and any expansion of this activity requires the advance approval of OTS. Southwest, its affiliates and First Savings also must follow interagency guidelines covering the sale of uninsured products. The thrift and brokerage must operate as separate entities, comply with anti-tying restrictions and also adhere to conflict of interest, corporate opportunity and anti-tying regulations.

Any major change to the bank’s business plans requires OTS approval, and for the first three years, management must annually present an updated business plan to OTS for review. At least 40 percent of the bank’s directors must be individuals who are not officers or employees of the holding company or affiliates, and at least one member has to be independent of the thrift, holding company and affiliates.

Approval Order - Southwest Securities Group, Inc. <

The Office of Thrift Supervision (OTS), a bureau of the U.S. Treasury, regulates and supervises the nation's thrift industry. OTS's mission is to ensure the safety and soundness of thrift institutions and to support their role as home mortgage lenders and providers of other community credit and financial services. For copies of news releases or other documents visit the OTS web page at www.ots.treas.gov.

Created: Wednesday, 1/19/2000