IBW FINANCIAL CORP
DEF 14A, 1997-04-03
NATIONAL COMMERCIAL BANKS
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                            SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION

           PROXY STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 14(A) OF THE SECURITIES
                      EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 (AMENDMENT NO.)

Filed by the Registrant        [ x ]

Filed by a Party other than the Registrant   [  ]

Check the appropriate box:

[ ] Preliminary Proxy Statement            

[ ] Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted  by 
    Rule 14a-6(e)(2))           

[x] Definitive Proxy Statement             

[ ] Definitive Additional Materials        

[ ] Soliciting Material Pursuant to Rule 14a-11(c) or Rule 14a-12

                            IBW FINANCIAL CORPORATION
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                (Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)


- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    (Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant)

Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):
     
[x]     No fee required.

[ ]     Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(4) and 0-11.

         1.    Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies:

               -----------------------------------------------------------------

         2.    Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies:

               -----------------------------------------------------------------

         3.    Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction  computed
               pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 0-11 (Set forth the amount on which
               the filing fee is calculated and state how it was determined):

               -----------------------------------------------------------------

         4.    Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction:

               -----------------------------------------------------------------

         5.    Total Fee Paid:

               -----------------------------------------------------------------


[ ]     Fee paid previously with preliminary materials:

[ ]     Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided  by Exchange  Act
        Rule 0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing for which the offsetting fee was
        paid previously.  Identify the previous filing by registration statement
        number, or the Form or Schedule and the date of its filing.

         1.       Amount Previously Paid:

                  -------------------------------------
         2.       Form, Schedule or Registration Statement No.:

                  -------------------------------------
         3        Filing Party:

                  -------------------------------------
         4.       Date Filed:

                  -------------------------------------
                 
<PAGE>












                            IBW FINANCIAL CORPORATION

                            NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING

                                       AND

                                 PROXY STATEMENT

                         ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
                                 APRIL 22, 1997
















<PAGE>



                            IBW FINANCIAL CORPORATION
                               4812 GEORGIA AVENUE
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20011

                    NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
                            TO BE HELD APRIL 22, 1997

TO THE SHAREHOLDERS OF IBW FINANCIAL CORPORATION:

         NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Annual Meeting of  Shareholders  of IBW
Financial Corporation, a District of Columbia corporation (the "Company"),  will
be held in the Board Room at the Company's  executive  offices,  located at 4812
Georgia Avenue, Washington,  D.C., on Tuesday, April 22, 1997 at 5:00 pm for the
following purposes:

         1.       To elect ten (10)  directors  to serve  until the next  Annual
                  Meeting of  Shareholders  and until their  successors are duly
                  elected and qualified;

         2.       To transact  such other  business as may properly  come before
                  the meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof.

         Shareholders  of record as of the close of  business  on March 31, 1997
are entitled to notice of and to vote at the Annual  Meeting or any  adjournment
or postponement thereof.

                                              By Order of the Board of Directors



                                              Clinton W. Chapman, Chairman



April 7, 1997












         PLEASE SIGN, DATE AND RETURN YOUR PROXY  PROMPTLY,  WHETHER OR
         NOT YOU PLAN TO ATTEND THE  MEETING  IN PERSON.  NO POSTAGE IS
         REQUIRED  IF  MAILED  IN THE  UNITED  STATES  IN THE  ENCLOSED
         ENVELOPE.  IF YOU ATTEND THE MEETING,  YOU MAY, IF YOU DESIRE,
         REVOKE YOUR PROXY AND VOTE IN PERSON.


<PAGE>



                            IBW FINANCIAL CORPORATION
                               4812 GEORGIA AVENUE
                              WASHINGTON, DC 20011

              -----------------------------------------------------

                         ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
                                 PROXY STATEMENT
              -----------------------------------------------------


                                  INTRODUCTION

         This Proxy  Statement  is furnished to  shareholders  of IBW  Financial
Corporation,  a District of Columbia corporation (the "Company"),  in connection
with the  solicitation  of proxies by the Board of  Directors of the Company for
use at the Annual Meeting of  Shareholders  to be held at 5:00 p.m. on April 22,
1997 (the "Annual Meeting"), and at any adjournment or postponement thereof, for
the purposes of (1)  electing ten (10)  directors to serve until the next Annual
Meeting  of  Shareholders  and  until  their  successors  are duly  elected  and
qualified;  and (2) transacting  such other business as may properly come before
the Annual Meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof.

         The  Annual  Meeting  will be held in the Board  Room at the  executive
offices of the Company, located at 4812 Georgia Avenue, Washington D.C.

         This Proxy Statement and the accompanying  form of proxy are being sent
to  shareholders  of the Company on or about April 7, 1997. A copy of the Annual
Report to Shareholders of IBW Financial  Corporation for the year ended December
31, 1996, also accompanies this Proxy Statement.

         The cost of this proxy  solicitation is being borne by the Company.  In
addition  to the use of the mail,  proxies  may be  solicited  personally  or by
telephone  by  officers,  regular  employees  or directors of the Company or the
Bank,  who will not be compensated  for any such services.  The Company may also
reimburse  brokers,  custodians,   nominees  and  other  fiduciaries  for  their
reasonable  out-of-pocket  and clerical costs for forwarding  proxy materials to
their principals.

                            VOTING RIGHTS AND PROXIES

VOTING RIGHTS

         Only shareholders of record at the close of business on March 31, 1997,
will  be  entitled  to  notice  of and to  vote  at the  Annual  Meeting  or any
adjournment or postponement  thereof.  On that date, the Company had outstanding
637,160 shares of common stock,  par value $1.00 per share (the "Common Stock"),
constituting the only class of stock outstanding,  and held by approximately 559
shareholders.  Each share of Common Stock is entitled to one vote on all matters
submitted to a vote of the  shareholders.  Shareholders do not have the right to
cumulate votes in the election of directors.  Nominees  receiving a plurality of
the votes  cast at the Annual  Meeting  in the  election  of  directors  will be
elected as director, in the order of the number of votes received. The presence,
in person  or by  proxy,  of not less  than a  majority  of the total  number of
outstanding  shares of Common Stock is  necessary to  constitute a quorum at the
Annual Meeting.  Members of the Board of Directors,  and family members thereof,
having the power to vote or direct  the voting of in excess of fifty  percent of
the outstanding shares of Common Stock have indicated their intention to vote in
favor of the election of all of the nominees for election as director.

PROXIES

         Shares  represented by proxies received by the Company will be voted in
accordance  with the  instructions  contained  therein.  Shares  represented  by
proxies for which no  instruction is given will be voted FOR the election of the
directors  specified herein, and in the discretion of the holders of the proxies
on all other matters  properly brought before the meeting and any adjournment or
postponement thereof. The judges of election appointed by the


<PAGE>



Board of  Directors  for the Annual  Meeting  will  determine  the presence of a
quorum and will tabulate the votes cast at the Annual Meeting.  Abstentions will
be treated as present for purposes of  determining a quorum,  but as unvoted for
purposes of  determining  the  approval of any matter  submitted  to the vote of
shareholders.  If a broker indicates that he or she does not have  discretionary
authority  to vote any shares of Common Stock as to a  particular  matter,  such
shares will be treated as present for general quorum  purposes,  but will not be
considered as present or voted with respect to such matter.

         Shareholders  are requested to sign, date, mark and return promptly the
enclosed  proxy in the postage paid envelope  provided for this purpose in order
to assure that their shares are voted.  A proxy may be revoked at any time prior
to the voting  thereof at the Annual  Meeting  through  the  granting of a later
proxy with respect to the same shares,  by written notice to B. Doyle  Mitchell,
Jr., President of the Company,  at the address noted above, at any time prior to
the voting thereof, or by voting in person at the Annual Meeting.  Attendance at
the Annual Meeting will not, in itself, revoke a proxy.



                                       -2-

<PAGE>



                 VOTING SECURITIES AND PRINCIPAL HOLDERS THEREOF

SECURITIES OWNERSHIP OF DIRECTORS, OFFICERS AND CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS

         The following  table sets forth certain  information as of February 28,
1997  concerning  the number and  percentage of shares of the  Company's  Common
Stock  beneficially  owned by its  directors,  nominees for director,  executive
officers the compensation of which is disclosed herein, and by its directors and
all executive  officers as a group, as well as information  regarding each other
person  known by the  Company to own in excess of 5% of the  outstanding  Common
Stock.  Except as otherwise  indicated,  all shares are owned directly,  and the
named person possesses sole voting and sole investment power with respect to all
such shares.  Except as set forth below, the Company knows of no other person or
persons,  who beneficially own in excess of five percent of the Company's Common
Stock.  Further,  the  Company  is not  aware  of  any  arrangement  which  at a
subsequent date may result in a change of control of the Company.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

Name                                                    Number of Shares(1)                    Percent of Class
- ----                                                    -------------------                    ----------------

<S>                                                          <C>                                    <C>  
Clinton W. Chapman, Esquire                                  11,121(2)                              1.75%

George H. Windsor, Esquire                                   16,340(3)                              2.56%

Benjamin L. King, CPA                                         1,176(4)                                 *

B. Doyle Mitchell, Jr.                                       75,813(5)                              11.90%
4812 Georgia Avenue, NW
Washington,  DC  20011

Massie S. Fleming                                             5,533(6)                                *

Cynthia T. Mitchell                                          100,763(7)                             15.81%
2029 Trumbull Terrace, NW
Washington, DC  20011

Patricia Mitchell                                            77,407(8)                              12.15%
4812 Georgia Avenue, NW
Washington, DC  20011

Marjorie H. Parker, Ph.D                                       7,521                                1.18%

Margaret B. Stewart                                            19,833                               3.11%

Robert L. White                                               1,000(9)                                *

Emerson A. Williams, M.D.                                      3,646                                  *

Industrial Bank, National Association                          54,720                               8.59%
Employee Stock Ownership Plan
4812 Georgia Avenue, NW
Washington, DC  20011

All directors and executive                                 298,046(10)                           46.77%(10)
officers as a group (14 persons)

- ----------------------------------------------
</TABLE>

*        Less than one percent

(1)      For purposes  hereof,  a person is deemed to be the beneficial owner of
         securities  with respect to which he has or shares voting or investment
         power.  Except as otherwise  indicated,  the named beneficial owner has
         sole  voting  and   investment   power  with   respect  to  all  shares
         beneficially owned by such person.

(Footnotes continued on following page)


                                       -3-

<PAGE>



(Footnotes continued from prior page)

(2)      Does  not  include  54,720  shares  held  by  the  Industrial  Bank  of
         Washington  Employee  Stock  Ownership  Plan  ("ESOP")  as to which Mr.
         Chapman is a  co-trustee.  Includes  4,200  shares  held  jointly  with
         spouse, as to which Mr. Chapman shares voting and investment power.

(3)      Includes  16,340  shares  held by a trust of which Mr.  Windsor and his
         spouse  are  trustees.  Does  not  include  2,000  shares  held  by Mr.
         Windsor's  daughter,  and as to which Mr. Windsor disclaims  beneficial
         ownership.

(4)      Does not include  54,720  shares held by ESOP as to which Mr. King is a
         co-trustee.

(5)      Includes  73,813 shares held in a revocable trust of which Mr. Mitchell
         is the trustee,  and Mr. Mitchell's  spouse and son are  beneficiaries.
         Does not include  shares held by Mrs.  Cynthia  Mitchell as trustee for
         Mr. Mitchell and Ms. Mitchell.  Does not include 500 shares held by Mr.
         Mitchell's  spouse.  Does not include  54,720 shares held by ESOP as to
         which Mr. Mitchell is a co-trustee.

(6)      Includes 533 shares held jointly with son and as to which Mrs.  Fleming
         shares voting and investment power.

(7)      Includes shares held by three trusts of which Mrs. Mitchell is trustee,
         and with  respect to one of which Mr.  Mitchell  and Ms.  Mitchell  are
         beneficiaries.

(8)      Includes  shares held in a revocable trust of which Ms. Mitchell is the
         trustee, and of which Mr. Mitchell is the beneficiary. Does not include
         shares held by Mrs.  Cynthia  Mitchell as trustee for Mr.  Mitchell and
         Ms. Mitchell. Ms. Mitchell is an employee of the Bank.

(9)      Includes  800 shares held jointly with spouse and as to which Mr. White
         shares voting and investment power.

(10)     Includes 54,720 shares held by ESOP as to which Messrs.  Chapman,  King
         and  Mitchell are  trustees.  If these  shares were not  included,  the
         directors  and  executive  officers as a group would  beneficially  own
         243,326 shares,  or 38.19% of the  outstanding  shares of Common Stock.
         Does not include shares held by Ms. Mitchell.

                              ELECTION OF DIRECTORS

         Ten (10) directors will be elected at the Annual Meeting for a one-year
period until the 1998 Annual Meeting of Shareholders  and until their successors
have been elected and qualified. Each of the nominees for election as a director
currently  serves as a member of the Board of  Directors.  Unless  authority  is
withheld,  all proxies in response  to this  solicitation  will be voted for the
election of the nominees listed below.  Each nominee has indicated a willingness
to serve if  elected.  However,  if any  nominee  becomes  unable to serve,  the
proxies  received  in  response  to  this  solicitation  will  be  voted  for  a
replacement  nominee  selected in accordance with the best judgment of the proxy
holders named therein.

         The Board of Directors  recommends that  shareholders  vote FOR each of
the nominees to the Company's Board of Directors.

NOMINEES FOR ELECTION AS DIRECTORS

         Set forth below is certain information as of the Record Date concerning
the  nominees  for  election  as director of the  Company.  Except as  otherwise
indicated, the occupation listed has been such person's principal occupation for
at least the last five years.  Each of the members of the Board of  Directors of
the  Company  has served  since the  organization  of the  Company in 1994.  The
longevity of service listed below reflects  service on the Board of Directors of
Industrial  Bank,  National   Association  (the  "Bank"),   the  Company's  sole
subsidiary,  including service prior to the conversion of the Bank to a national
banking association.  Each of the directors of the Company also currently serves
as a director of the Bank.

         CLINTON W. CHAPMAN, 71, Chairman of the Board of Directors,  has served
as a director since 1984. Mr. Chapman, an attorney with Chapman & Chapman,  P.C.
has been engaged in the private practice of law for more than thirty years.


                                       -4-

<PAGE>



         GEORGE H. WINDSOR,  78, Vice  Chairman of the Board of  Directors,  has
served as a director since 1969.  Mr.  Windsor,  an attorney with Cobb,  Howard,
Hayes and Windsor, has been in private law practice for twenty-six years.

         BENJAMIN L. KING, C.P.A., 69 is Secretary of the Company and has served
as a director  since 1972.  Mr. King is a certified  public  accountant,  and is
self-employed as a management and tax consultant.

         B. DOYLE MITCHELL,  JR., 35, President of the Company,  has served as a
director  since 1990.  Mr.  Mitchell  has served as  President of the Bank since
March  1993.   Prior  to  that  date,   he  served  in  various   executive  and
administrative   positions   at  the  Bank  since   1983,   including   as  Vice
President-Commercial   Lending   from   1991  to   1993   and   Assistant   Vice
President-Commercial  Lending from 1989 to 1991. Mr. Mitchell is the son of Mrs.
Cynthia  Mitchell,  a director of the Bank,  and the late B. Doyle  Mitchell,  a
founder of the Bank. Mr. Mitchell's sister,  Patricia Mitchell, is a significant
shareholder and an employee of the Bank.

         MASSIE S. FLEMING,  69,  Executive Vice  President and Chief  Executive
Officer of the Company,  has served as a director since 1985.  Mrs.  Fleming has
served as Executive Vice President and Chief Executive Officer of the Bank since
1985.  Prior to that date,  she served in various  executive and  administrative
positions at the Bank since 1959.

         CYNTHIA T.  MITCHELL,  70, has served as a director  since  1993.  Mrs.
Mitchell  is retired.  Until 1982 she was a teacher in the  District of Columbia
public schools system.  Mrs.  Mitchell's late husband was a founder of the Bank.
Mrs. Mitchell's son is B. Doyle Mitchell Jr., the President of the Bank, and her
daughter Patricia Mitchell, is a significant  shareholder and an employee of the
Bank.

         MARJORIE H. PARKER,  PhD., 80, has served as a director since 1975. Dr.
Parker is a retired  educator.  Until 1975 she was the  Chairman of the Board of
Trustees of the University of the District of Columbia.

         MARGARET B.  STEWART,  77, has served as a director  since  1982.  Mrs.
Stewart is the owner and President of Stewart  Funeral Home,  Inc., and is owner
and President of Stanton Road  Associates,  a real estate  development/brokerage
concern.

         ROBERT L. WHITE,  80, has served as a director since 1982. Mr. White is
retired.  Until 1989 he served as  President  of NAPFE,  a national  labor union
representing postal and federal workers.

         EMERSON A. WILLIAMS, M.D., 79, has served as a director since 1975. Mr.
Williams  is retired  from the active  practice of  medicine.  For many years he
served as an instructor at Howard University School of Medicine.

COMMITTEES AND MEETINGS OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

         The Board of  Directors  of the Company  met twelve  (12) times  during
1996.  All  members  of the  Board of  Directors,  attended  at least 75% of the
meetings  held by the Board of  Directors  and by all  committees  on which such
member served during the 1996 fiscal year or any portion thereof.

         The Board of Directors has a standing Audit Committee and  Compensation
Committee. The Board of Directors does not have a standing Nominating Committee.

         The Audit Committee,  presently composed of Mrs. Fleming, Mrs. Mitchell
and Messrs. Chapman, King, Mitchell and White, is responsible for the review and
evaluation of the Company's/Bank's  internal controls and accounting procedures.
It also  periodically  reviews  audit  reports  with the  Company's  independent
auditors,  and  recommends the annual  appointment of such auditors.  During the
1996 fiscal year, the Audit Committee met five (5) times.


                                       -5-

<PAGE>



         The  Compensation  Committee,  presently  composed of Dr. Parker,  Mrs.
Stewart and Messrs.  Chapman,  King,  Mitchell  and  Williams,  is  responsible,
together with management,  for the adoption of the Bank's personnel policies and
establishing  salary and  compensation  guidelines  and  levels for all  Company
officers  and  personnel.   The  Committee  is  also  responsible  for  annually
nominating  the officers of the Bank and  evaluating  the  performance  thereof.
During the 1996 fiscal year, the Compensation Committee met once.

DIRECTORS' COMPENSATION

         Each  director of the Company,  including  directors  who are full time
employees of the Company or the Bank,  receives $600 for each regular meeting of
the Board of Directors attended, with the exception of Mr. Chapman,  Chairman of
the Board  who  receives  $1,500  for each  regular  meeting  which he  attends.
Additionally,  directors  who are not  employees,  serving on  committees of the
Board,  receive  $400 for each  meeting  attended,  except if such service is as
chairman of any  committee,  in which case such director  receives $500 for each
meeting.  Total fees paid to directors in 1996 for Board and  committee  meeting
attendance was $144,200.

EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

         The  following  table  sets  forth a  summary  of  certain  information
relating to the  compensation of the President and the Executive  Vice-President
and  Chief  Executive  Officer  of the  Company.  All  compensation  paid to Mr.
Mitchell  and Mrs.  Fleming was for  services  rendered in their  capacities  as
officers of the Bank.  Except as disclosed  below,  no executive  officer of the
Company or the Bank received salary and bonus in excess of $100,000 in 1996.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                      ANNUAL COMPENSATION(1)

                                                                                                       Other
Name and Principal Position       Year Ended December 31          Salary          Bonus           Compensation(2)
- ---------------------------       ----------------------          ------          -----           ------------   
<S>                                        <C>                   <C>             <C>                   <C>   
B. Doyle Mitchell                          1996                  $113,400        $17,955               $7,800
President & Director                       1995                    90,000          2,360                7,800
                                           1994                    90,000          8,075                9,600

Massie S. Fleming                          1996                   $91,160         $5,729               $7,800
Executive Vice President                   1995                    86,000          2,590                7,800
CEO, Director                              1994                    86,000          9,600                9,600

- ----------------------------
</TABLE>

(1)      The Company does not maintain any long-term or stock-based compensation
         plans.

(2)      Represents  fees paid for  attendance at meetings of Board of Directors
         and committees thereof.  Does not include vehicle allowances of $4,100,
         $3,842 and $3,475 in 1996, 1995 and 1994  respectively,  in the case of
         Mr. Mitchell,  and of $5,600, $5,600 and $2,306 paid to Mrs. Fleming in
         1996,  1995 and  1994,  respectively.  Also does not  include  value of
         contributions  to the Bank's employee stock ownership plan estimated at
         $900,  $1,762 and $2,501 and $885,  $1,736 and $2,555 for Mr.  Mitchell
         and Mrs.  Fleming,  respectively,  in 1996,  1995  and  1993.  Does not
         include  Bank  paid  membership  fees  of  approximately  $350  for Mr.
         Mitchell.

         Employment Agreements As of December 31, 1996, neither the Bank nor the
Company had any employment  agreements or other compensation  contracts or other
arrangements  in  existence.  Under the terms of the  Company's  loan  agreement
relating to the interim  capital  assistance  incurred  in  connection  with the
Bank's 1994 deposit assumption transaction with the Resolution Trust Corporation
(the "RTC"), the Bank may not grant any salary increase,  or pay any bonuses to,
its directors,  officers or key  employees,  except that it may do so during and
after the second year of the interim capital  assistance with the prior approval
of the RTC.

                                       -6-

<PAGE>



EXECUTIVE OFFICERS WHO ARE NOT DIRECTORS

         Set  forth  below is  certain  information  regarding  persons  who are
executive  officers of the Company or the Bank.  Except as otherwise  indicated,
the occupation listed has been such person's  principal  occupation for at least
the last five years.

         Lester Johnson, 50, was promoted to Chief Credit Officer of the Bank in
April 1995, and to Senior Vice President in January 1996. Mr. Johnson joined the
Bank as a Vice President and Commercial Loan Officer in January 1988.

         David G. Poole, 60, has served as Senior Vice  President-Operations  of
the Bank since 1983.

         Richard Williams, 37, has served as Senior Vice President-Chief Lending
Officer since July 1995.  Mr.  Williams  joined the Bank as a Vice President and
Commercial Loan Officer in October 1988.

         Thomas A. Wilson, 45, has served as Senior Vice President-Controller of
the Bank since January 1992.  Prior to serving in this position he served (since
April 1986) at various times as Commercial  Loan Manager and Loan Review Officer
of the Bank.  Prior to joining  the Bank in 1986,  he served as a National  Bank
Examiner with the OCC from 1974 to 1986.

CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS.

         The  Bank  has  had,  and  expects  to  have  in  the  future,  banking
transactions  in the  ordinary  course  of  business  with  some  of its and the
Company's directors,  officers, and employees and their associates. In the past,
substantially all of such  transactions  have been on the same terms,  including
interest rates,  maturities and collateral  requirements as those  prevailing at
the time for comparable  transactions  with  non-affiliated  persons and did not
involve more than the normal risk of collectibility or present other unfavorable
features.

         The  maximum  aggregate  amount  of loans to  officers,  directors  and
affiliates  of the  Company  during  1996  amounted  to  $778,000,  representing
approximately 4.5% of the Company's total  shareholders'  equity at December 31,
1996. In the opinion of the Board of Directors,  the terms of these loans are no
less favorable to the Bank than terms of the loans from the Bank to unaffiliated
parties.  On December 31, 1996, no loans were  outstanding to  individuals  who,
during 1996, were officers,  directors or affiliates of the Company. At the time
each loan was made,  management believed that the loan involved no more than the
normal risk of collectibility  and did not present other  unfavorable  features.
None of such loans were classified as Substandard,  Doubtful or Loss.  Under the
terms of the interim capital assistance agreement,  the Bank may not, during the
term of the interim  capital  assistance  loan,  make any loan or advance to the
Company or any affiliate of the Bank or Company,  or enter into any  transaction
(other  than  arm's  length  deposit  transactions  in the  ordinary  course  of
business) with such persons.

COMPLIANCE WITH SECTION 16(A) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934.

         Section  16(a) of the  Securities  Exchange  Act of 1934  requires  the
Company's  directors and executive  officers,  and persons who own more than ten
percent  of the  Common  Stock,  to file  reports of  ownership  and  changes in
ownership on Forms 3, 4 and 5 with the Securities and Exchange  Commission,  and
to provide the Company with copies of all Forms 3, 4, and 5 they file.

         Based solely upon the Company's review of the copies of the forms which
it has  received  and  written  representations  from the  Company's  directors,
executive officers and ten percent shareholders, the Company is not aware of any
failure of any such person to comply with the requirements of Section 16(a).



                                       -7-

<PAGE>



                         INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS

         The  Board  of  Directors  has  selected  Deloitte  &  Touche,  L.L.P.,
independent public accountants,  to audit the Company's financial statements for
the fiscal year ending December 31, 1997.  Deloitte and Touche,  L.L.P.  (or its
predecessor firm, Touche Ross & Company) has audited the financial statements of
the Company since its organization  and of the Bank since 1977.  Representatives
of Deloitte & Touche,  L.L.P.  are expected to be present at the Annual  Meeting
and available to respond to appropriate questions/are not expected to be present
at the  Annual  Meeting.  The  representatives  also  will be  provided  with an
opportunity to make a statement, if they desire.

                            FORM 10-KSB ANNUAL REPORT

         THE COMPANY WILL PROVIDE,  WITHOUT CHARGE, TO ANY SHAREHOLDER OF RECORD
ENTITLED  TO VOTE  AT THE  MEETING  OR ANY  BENEFICIAL  OWNER  OF  COMMON  STOCK
SOLICITED HEREBY, A COPY OF ITS 1996 ANNUAL REPORT ON FORM 10-KSB FILED WITH THE
SECURITIES  AND  EXCHANGE   COMMISSION,   UPON  THE  WRITTEN   REQUEST  OF  SUCH
SHAREHOLDER.  REQUESTS SHOULD BE DIRECTED TO THOMAS A. WILSON,  JR., SENIOR VICE
PRESIDENT AND CONTROLLER,  IBW FINANCIAL  CORPORATION,  4812 GEORGIA AVENUE, NW,
WASHINGTON, DC 20011.

                                  OTHER MATTERS

         The Board of Directors of the Company is not aware of any other matters
to be presented for action by shareholders  at the Annual Meeting.  If, however,
any other matters not now known are properly  brought  before the meeting or any
adjournment  thereof, the persons named in the accompanying proxy will vote such
proxy in accordance with their judgment on such matters.

                              SHAREHOLDER PROPOSALS

         All proposals or nominations for election as directors by shareholders,
to be presented for consideration at the next annual meeting must be received by
the Company no later than December 5, 1997.

                                              By Order of the Board of Directors




                                              Clinton W. Chapman, Chairman

April 7, 1997


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FRONT                            REVOCABLE PROXY
                            IBW FINANCIAL CORPORATION

           THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

         The  undersigned  hereby  makes,  constitutes  and  appoints  Mervin O.
Parker,  Sr.,  Ernestine G. Mann and Frances S. Wash, and each of them (with the
power of substitution), proxies for the undersigned to represent and to vote, as
designated  below, all shares of common stock of IBW Financial  Corporation (the
"Company  ") which  the  undersigned  would be  entitled  to vote if  personally
present at the Company's  Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held on April 22,
1997 and at any adjournment or postponement thereof.

ELECTION OF DIRECTORS

           FOR all nominees listed below (except as noted to the contrary below)
     ---
           WITHHOLD AUTHORITY to vote for all nominees listed below
     ---

     Nominees:      Clinton W. Chapman,  Esquire;  George H.  Windsor,  Esquire;
                    Benjamin L. King, C.P.A.; B. Doyle Mitchell,  Jr.; Massie S.
                    Fleming;  Cynthia T.  Mitchell;  Marjorie H. Parker,  Ph.D.;
                    Margaret B. Stewart;  Robert L. White;  Emerson A. Williams,
                    M.D.

     (Instructions:  To withhold  authority to vote for any individual  nominee,
     write that nominee's name in the space provided below.)

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This proxy, when properly executed,  will be voted in the manner directed herein
by the  undersigned  shareholder.  If no direction  is made,  this proxy will be
voted FOR all of the nominees set forth above.  In addition,  this proxy will be
voted at the  discretion of the proxy  holder(s) upon any other matter which may
properly  come  before the Annual  Meeting or any  adjournment  or  postponement
thereof.

BACK

Important: Please date and sign your name as addressed, and return this proxy in
the  enclosed  envelope.  When  signing  as  executor,  administrator,  trustee,
guardian,  etc.,  please  give  full  title as  such.  If the  shareholder  is a
corporation,  the proxy  should be signed in the full  corporate  name by a duly
authorized officer whose title is stated.



                                              ----------------------------------
                                              Signature of Shareholder


                                              ----------------------------------
                                              Signature of Shareholder

                                              Dated:_________________, 1997

    PLEASE COMPLETE, DATE, SIGN AND MAIL THIS PROXY PROMPTLY IN THE ENCLOSED
                             POSTAGE-PAID ENVELOPE.



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