Who Owns Frost Bank?
Frost Bank is the operating brand of Cullen/Frost Bankers, Inc., a publicly traded financial holding company headquartered in San Antonio, Texas, that trades on the New York Stock Exchange under ticker CFR. Founded in 1868, Frost is one of the 50 largest banks in the United States, with $53 billion in assets at the end of 2025, and provides banking, investments, and insurance exclusively in Texas.
Parent Company
Founded
1868
Status
Publicly Traded
Headquarters
Who Owns Frost Bank?
- Parent Company: Cullen/Frost Bankers, Inc.
- Ownership Type: Brand division
- Company Type: Publicly Traded
- Stock Ticker: NYSE: CFR
| Brand | Parent Company | Ownership Type |
|---|---|---|
| Frost Bank | Cullen/Frost Bankers, Inc. | Brand division |
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History of Frost Bank
- Founded: 1868
- Founders: Thomas Claiborne Frost
Thomas Claiborne Frost, a former Confederate colonel and merchant, founded the bank in San Antonio in 1868, three years after the end of the Civil War. It began as a private bank handling the finances of Texas ranchers and merchants rebuilding a devastated economy, and it is one of the oldest continuously operating banks in Texas.
Frost received a national bank charter in 1899, becoming Frost National Bank, and spent the twentieth century as a San Antonio and South Texas institution. The company survived the 1980s Texas banking collapse that destroyed most of the state's largest banks, emerging as one of the few major Texas institutions to remain independent through that decade's oil bust and savings and loan crisis.
The modern holding company formed in 1977 through the merger of Frost Bank Corp. and Houston-based Cullen Bankers, Inc., creating Cullen/Frost Bankers, Inc. The combined company was listed on Nasdaq, then moved to the New York Stock Exchange in 1997 under the ticker CFR, where it trades today. Frost converted to a state bank charter in 2012.
Under Phil Green, who became CEO in 2016, the bank pursued organic Texas expansion rather than the acquisition strategy common to regional banks, building a new financial center model and expanding aggressively in Dallas-Fort Worth, Houston, and the Permian Basin. Assets grew to $53 billion by the end of 2025 and $54.5 billion by September 2026, with the bank's trust, brokerage, and advisory assets exceeding $68 billion.
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About Cullen/Frost Bankers, Inc.
What does Cullen/Frost Bankers own?
The company owns Frost Bank, Frost Insurance Agency, and Frost Wealth Management operations including investment advisory, all operating under the unified Frost brand across Texas.
Is Cullen/Frost Bankers publicly traded?
Yes. Cullen/Frost Bankers trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker CFR. It has been public since 1977 and listed on the NYSE since 1997.
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Who founded Cullen/Frost Bankers?
The company traces to Thomas Claiborne Frost, who founded the bank in San Antonio in 1868. The modern holding company formed in 1977 through the merger of Frost Bank Corp. and Cullen Bankers, Inc.
Where is Cullen/Frost Bankers headquartered?
The company is headquartered at Frost Tower in downtown San Antonio, Texas, at 111 West Houston Street. It has been based in San Antonio for its entire history.
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How many brands does Cullen/Frost Bankers own?
The company operates essentially one brand, Frost, across its banking, insurance, and wealth management businesses. Its subsidiaries carry the Frost name rather than separate brand identities.
Who owns Cullen/Frost Bankers?
The company is owned by public shareholders with no controlling holder. Phil Green has served as chairman and CEO since 2016, having joined the company in 1980.
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Why does Frost only operate in Texas?
The Texas-only strategy is deliberate: the company positions itself as the dedicated relationship bank for Texans, concentrating its franchise in the state's major markets rather than competing nationally. It maintains no branches outside Texas.
- Founded: 1868
- Headquarters: San Antonio, Texas, USA
- Company Type: Publicly Traded
- Stock: NYSE: CFR
- Revenue: $2.19 billion (FY2025)
- Employees: 6,000
Where Is Frost Bank Made / Based?
- Headquarters: San Antonio, Texas, USA
Frost Bank Categories & Tags
Frost Bank Sustainability & Ethics
Frost operates a corporate citizenship program centered on Texas communities, including financial literacy education, small business support, and philanthropy administered through the Frost Charitable Foundation. As a financial services company, no consumer-facing third-party sustainability certifications apply; its ESG posture is described in company reporting rather than independent certification.
Awards & Recognition
Frost has been named the number one bank in customer satisfaction in Texas and the Southwest by J.D. Power retail banking studies in multiple years, a distinction it cites as core to its identity. It has also appeared on Forbes' lists of America's Best Banks and has been recognized as a top workplace in Texas by local business publications. Its trust and wealth management operation regularly receives industry recognition for performance and client service.
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Frost Bank Recalls & Controversies
Frost carries no defining public scandal. Its record through Texas banking crises is a point of identity: it was one of the only major Texas banks to survive the 1980s collapse without failure or forced sale, a history it invokes in marketing. Routine regulatory examinations and consumer compliance matters occur at the level common to all banks its size. The bank has faced periodic local criticism over redevelopment impacts of its downtown San Antonio expansion, a municipal rather than legal matter.
Frost Bank Ownership: Pros & Cons
Advantages
- +NYSE listing provides capital access with a 158-year brand legacy
- +Texas-only strategy produces deep local relationships and loyalty
- +Top-tier customer satisfaction rankings support premium positioning
- +Diversified fee income from wealth and insurance reduces rate sensitivity
- +Organic growth model avoided acquisition integration and credit risks
Considerations
- -Single-state concentration makes it fully dependent on the Texas economy
- -Energy sector exposure ties performance to oil and gas cycles
- -Organic-only growth is slower than acquisition-driven competitors
- -Limited national presence caps scale against money-center rivals
- -Premium service model carries higher cost structure than digital-first rivals
Frequently Asked Questions About Frost Bank
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Sources & Further Reading
Competitors to Frost Bank
These competing brands operate in the same categories and provide similar products or services. Compare key attributes to understand market positioning and competitive landscape.
| Brand | Parent Company | Country | Founded | Market Position | Primary Market | Gender Target |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| First Citizens | USA | 1898 | Mass market | United states | All Genders | |
| Bank Ozk | USA | 1903 | Mass market | United states | All Genders | |
| Charles Schwab | USA | 1971 | Mass market | United states | All Genders | |
| Citi | USA | 1812 | Mass market | United states | All Genders | |
| Royal Bank Of Canada | USA | 1954 | Premium | United states | All Genders | |
| Dbs Group | Singapore | 1968 | Premium | Asia pacific | All Genders |
Learn More About Competitors
Finance FintechFirst Citizens Bank
Owned by First Citizens BancShares, Inc.
Consumer banking brand of First Citizens BancShares, Inc., the Raleigh bank that acquired Silicon Valley Bank in 2023 and operates across the Southeast and national innovation banking.
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Finance FintechBank OZK
Owned by Bank OZK
Regional bank brand of Bank OZK, a Nasdaq-listed institution founded in 1903 and headquartered in Little Rock, Arkansas, with $40.8 billion in assets.
bankingregional-bankcommercial-real-estate
Finance FintechCharles Schwab
Owned by The Charles Schwab Corporation
American brokerage and wealth management brand serving 38.5 million active accounts and $11.90 trillion in client assets, flagship of The Charles Schwab Corporation.
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Finance FintechCitibank
Owned by Citigroup Inc.
American consumer banking brand providing retail banking, credit cards, mortgages, and wealth management services through Citigroup.
bankingconsumer-bankingcredit-cards
Finance FintechCity National Bank
Owned by Royal Bank of Canada
Los Angeles private and entertainment banking brand owned by Royal Bank of Canada since 2015, with approximately $98 billion in assets.
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Finance FintechDBS Bank
Owned by DBS Group Holdings Ltd
DBS Bank is the consumer and institutional banking brand of DBS Group Holdings, Southeast Asia's largest bank by assets, listed on the Singapore Exchange.
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Competitive Analysis
Market Positioning: Frost Bank competes with 6 brands in the same categories, ranging from mass market to luxury positioning.
Geographic Distribution: Competitors are headquartered across multiple regions, indicating global competition in this market segment.
Brand Heritage: Competitor brands range from established heritage brands to newer market entrants, with founding years spanning several decades.
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Independent Alternatives to Frost Bank
Looking for brands with different ownership structures? These similar brands are not owned by Cullen/Frost Bankers, Inc., giving you alternative choices that support different corporate structures.
Finance FintechBetterment
Owned by Betterment LLC
Digital investing and wealth brand of Betterment LLC, the pioneering robo-advisor founded in 2008 with more than $70 billion in assets under management.
robo-advisorinvestingwealth-management
Privately Owned
Betterment is privately owned, unlike Frost Bank which is under a publicly traded parent company.
Finance FintechTD Bank
Owned by TD Bank, N.A.
TD Bank is the U.S. retail banking brand of Toronto-Dominion Bank, operating about 1,100 East Coast branches as "America's Most Convenient Bank" under a federal asset cap since 2024.
bankingretail-bankfinancial-services
Privately Owned
TD Bank is privately owned, unlike Frost Bank which is under a publicly traded parent company.
Finance FintechBank OZK
Owned by Bank OZK
Regional bank brand of Bank OZK, a Nasdaq-listed institution founded in 1903 and headquartered in Little Rock, Arkansas, with $40.8 billion in assets.
bankingregional-bankcommercial-real-estate
Publicly Traded
Bank OZK operates independently without a large parent corporation.
Finance FintechCharles Schwab
Owned by The Charles Schwab Corporation
American brokerage and wealth management brand serving 38.5 million active accounts and $11.90 trillion in client assets, flagship of The Charles Schwab Corporation.
brokerageinvestingwealth-management
Publicly Traded
Charles Schwab operates independently without a large parent corporation.
Finance FintechKraken
Owned by Payward, Inc. (Kraken)
Cryptocurrency exchange brand of Payward, Inc., the Cheyenne-based platform founded by Jesse Powell in 2011 that confidentially filed for a U.S. IPO in November 2025.
cryptocurrencyexchangefintech
Privately Owned
Kraken is privately owned, unlike Frost Bank which is under a publicly traded parent company.
Finance FintechRamsey Solutions
Owned by The Lampo Group, LLC (Ramsey Solutions)
Personal finance education and media brand founded by Dave Ramsey in 1992, producing The Ramsey Show, Financial Peace University, and the EveryDollar budgeting app.
personal-financefinancial-educationmedia
Privately Owned
Ramsey Solutions is privately owned, unlike Frost Bank which is under a publicly traded parent company.
Cullen/Frost Bankers, Inc. Stock Information
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