Hurricane Rita spared it last year, but American Bank in Corpus Christi isn't taking chances.
The $715 million-asset bank has bought more satellite phones. It has arranged for shipment of a portable branch in case a branch is destroyed. And it is working on giving evacuated employees more paid days off before they lose vacation time.
"We are a lot better prepared than we have ever been before," said chief information officer Jim Avery, who is in charge of disaster preparation at the American Bank Holding Corp. subsidiary. "Each year, I think, we get a little better and make it a little easier on ourselves."
Other banks in hurricane-prone states are also beefing up their contingency planning.
On Monday the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration warned that the Atlantic and Gulf coasts should prepare for another above-average season.
But many banks did not wait for that warning to spring into action. Since Hurricane Katrina leveled much of the Gulf Coast last summer, disaster preparedness has been at the top of many bankers' minds.
A number of banks, for example, have signed on with Agility Recovery Solutions, a Charlotte company that can set up a mobile branch - complete with satellite communications and computers - within 48 hours of a disaster.
Indeed, bankers view disaster preparedness as such a crucial issue that members of the American Bankers Association established a task force last fall.
The ABA plans to have a disaster-preparedness "toolbox" online June 1, and members are to get a printed version toward the end of the month. Doug Johnson, the trade group's senior policy analyst, said there will be tips on planning for such disasters as an outbreak of avian flu and terrorist attacks, as well as tornados and hurricanes. The ABA is also selling satellite phones to members at a discounted $500.
Many banks' contingency plans emphasize staying in touch.
Last year, though Rita missed much of the Texas coast, many coastal cities were evacuated, and the resulting chaos challenged banks' communication plans. In addition to buying more satellite phones, banks are setting up toll-free phone numbers for displaced employees, planning to provide more timely information on Web sites, and compiling lists of emergency contact numbers.
The $960 million-asset Moody National Bank in Galveston has reserved rooms at inland hotels for employees and their pets, said president Victor Pierson, a member of the ABA's task force.
The Moody Bancshares Inc. subsidiary also bought six satellite phones so managers can stay in touch with one another - and with those updating its Web site. Last year Moody found that it was not updating the site often enough for customers and employees.
Jay Rogers is the Houston market president and chief executive at International Bank of Commerce, which is based in Laredo. A hurricane could affect about 35 International branches from Brownsville and Houston, he said.
Last year's evacuation taught some lessons, Mr. Rogers said. "We spent a lot of man-hours on each facility, in terms of removing computers and in some cases taking art off the walls. We won't do that next time; we'll be sensible. Everyone scrambled and did more of some things they didn't need to do - and didn't do enough of things that needed to be done."
This year the bank has already lined up contractors with precut lumber to add a layer of protection to its buildings as a storm approaches. It also plans to have automated teller machines filled well before a storm hits; last year it cleaned out ATMs, Mr. Rogers said, and the result was that many customers had little access to their cash.
The International Bancshares Corp. subsidiary has also backed up its backup data system. It now has backups in Laredo and San Antonio.
"I am sure we are much better prepared going into this year," Mr. Rogers said. "We learn lessons every time we go through an event like that."
