METROCORP BANCSHARES INC
DEF 14A, 1999-03-31
STATE COMMERCIAL BANKS
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<PAGE>
                            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 Section 240.14a-11(c) or Section 
         240.14a-12

                            MetroCorp Bancshares, Inc.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                (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)(1) 
     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:

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<PAGE>

                           METROCORP BANCSHARES, INC.

                       9600 BELLAIRE BOULEVARD, SUITE 252
                             HOUSTON, TEXAS  77036

               NOTICE OF THE 1999 ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
                     TO BE HELD ON THURSDAY, APRIL 29, 1999


Shareholders of MetroCorp Bancshares, Inc.:

     The 1999 Annual Meeting of Shareholders (the "Meeting") of MetroCorp 
Bancshares, Inc. (the "Company") will be held at The Houstonian, 111 North 
Post Oak Lane, Houston Texas 77024, on Thursday, April 29, 1999, beginning at 
10:00 a.m. (local time), for the following purposes:

     1.   To elect three directors of Class I to serve on the Board of 
Directors of the Company until the Company's 2002 Annual Meeting of 
Shareholders and until their successors are duly elected and qualified;

     2.   To consider and act upon a proposal to ratify the appointment of 
Deloitte & Touche LLP as the independent auditors of the books and accounts 
of the Company for the year ending December 31, 1999; and

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

     The close of business on March 22, 1999 has been fixed as the record 
date for the determination of shareholders entitled to notice of and to vote 
at the Meeting or at any adjournments thereof.  A list of shareholders 
entitled to vote at the Meeting will be available for inspection by any 
shareholder at the offices of the Company during ordinary business hours for 
a period of at least ten days prior to the Meeting.

     You are cordially invited and urged to attend the Meeting.  IF YOU ARE 
UNABLE TO ATTEND THE MEETING, YOU ARE REQUESTED TO SIGN AND DATE THE ENCLOSED 
PROXY AND RETURN IT PROMPTLY IN THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE.  If you attend the 
Meeting, you may vote in person, regardless of whether you have given your 
proxy.  Your proxy may be revoked at any time before it is voted.


                              By order of the Board of Directors,

                              /s/ Don J. Wang

                              Don J. Wang
                              Chairman of the Board, President and 
                              Chief Executive Officer

Houston, Texas
April 1, 1999


                            YOUR VOTE IS IMPORTANT.

     TO ENSURE YOUR REPRESENTATION AT THE MEETING, PLEASE COMPLETE, DATE, AND
SIGN THE ENCLOSED PROXY AND RETURN IT IN THE ACCOMPANYING ENVELOPE AT YOUR
EARLIEST CONVENIENCE, REGARDLESS OF WHETHER YOU PLAN TO ATTEND THE MEETING.  NO
ADDITIONAL POSTAGE IS NECESSARY IF THE PROXY IS MAILED IN THE UNITED STATES. 
THE PROXY IS REVOCABLE AT ANY TIME BEFORE IT IS VOTED AT THE MEETING.

<PAGE>

                           METROCORP BANCSHARES, INC.
                       9600 BELLAIRE BOULEVARD, SUITE 252
                            HOUSTON, TEXAS  77036
                                       
                                       
                                APRIL 1, 1999
                                       
                           ________________________
                                       
                               PROXY STATEMENT
                                     FOR
                   THE 1999 ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
                    TO BE HELD ON THURSDAY, APRIL 29, 1999
                                       
                           ________________________


                                  INTRODUCTION

     This Proxy Statement is being furnished in connection with the 
solicitation of proxies by the Board of Directors of MetroCorp Bancshares, 
Inc. (the "Company") for use at the 1999 Annual Meeting of Shareholders of 
the Company to be held at The Houstonian, 111 North Post Oak Lane, Houston, 
Texas 77024, on Thursday, April 29, 1999, beginning at 10:00 a.m. (local 
time), and any adjournment thereof (the "Meeting") for the purposes set forth 
in this Proxy Statement and the accompanying Notice of 1999 Annual Meeting of 
Shareholders ("Notice of Meeting").  This Proxy Statement, the Notice of 
Meeting and the enclosed form of proxy will first be sent to shareholders on 
or about April 1, 1999.

PROXIES

     This Proxy Statement is furnished to the shareholders of the Company for 
solicitation of proxies on behalf of the Board of Directors of the Company 
for use at the Meeting, and at any and all adjournments thereof.  The purpose 
of the Meeting and the matters to be acted upon are set forth herein and in 
the accompanying Notice of Meeting.

     Shares represented at the Meeting by an executed and unrevoked proxy in 
the form enclosed will be voted in accordance with the instructions contained 
therein.  If no instructions are given on an executed and returned form of 
proxy, the proxies intend to vote the shares represented thereby in favor of 
each of the proposals to be presented to and voted upon by the shareholders 
as set forth herein.

     The Board of Directors knows of no other matters to be presented at the 
Meeting.  If any other matter should be presented at the Meeting upon which a 
vote may be properly taken, shares represented by an executed and unrevoked 
proxy received by the Board of Directors may be voted with respect thereto in 
accordance with the judgment of the proxies.  The proxy also confers on the 
proxies the discretionary authority to vote with respect to any matter 
presented at the Meeting for which advance notice was not received by the 
Company in accordance with the Company's Bylaws.

<PAGE>

     Any proxy given by a shareholder may be revoked by such shareholder at 
any time before it is exercised by submitting to the Secretary of the Company 
a duly executed proxy bearing a later date, delivering to the Secretary of 
the Company a written notice of revocation, or attending the Meeting and 
voting in person.

     The cost of this solicitation of proxies is being borne by the Company. 
Solicitations will be made only by the use of the mail, except that, if 
deemed desirable, officers and regular employees of the Company may solicit 
proxies by telephone, telegraph or personal calls, without being paid 
additional compensation for such services.  Brokerage houses, custodians, 
nominees and fiduciaries will be requested to forward the proxy soliciting 
material to the beneficial owners of the common stock, par value $1.00 per 
share, of the Company (the "Common Stock") held of record by such persons, 
and the Company will reimburse them for their reasonable expenses incurred in 
this connection.

     The Company's Annual Report to Shareholders, including financial 
statements, for the year ended December 31, 1998, accompanies but does not 
constitute part of this proxy statement.


                        VOTING SHARES AND VOTING RIGHTS

     Only holders of record of Common Stock at the close of business on March 
22, 1999 (the "Record Date"), are entitled to notice of and to vote at the 
Meeting and any adjournments or postponements thereof.  At that time, there 
were outstanding 7,104,560 shares of Common Stock, which is the only 
outstanding class of voting securities of the Company.  A majority of the 
outstanding shares of Common Stock must be represented at the Meeting in 
person or by proxy in order to constitute a quorum for the transaction of 
business.  Each holder of Common Stock shall have one vote for each share of 
Common Stock registered, on the Record Date, in such holder's name on the 
books of the Company.

     The affirmative vote of the holders of a plurality of the outstanding 
shares of Common Stock represented at the Meeting is required to elect the 
Class I nominees to the Board of Directors.  There will be no cumulative 
voting in the election of directors.  Abstentions and shares held of record 
by a broker or nominee that are voted on any matter are included in 
determining whether a quorum exists.  An abstention, a non-vote or a 
withholding of authority to vote with respect to one or more nominees for 
director will not have the effect of a vote against such nominee or nominees.

     The affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding 
shares of Common Stock represented at the Meeting is required to ratify the 
appointment of the auditors.  An abstention or a non-vote will have the 
effect of a vote against the appointment.


                             ELECTION OF DIRECTORS

ELECTION PROCEDURES; TERM OF OFFICE

     The Board of Directors currently consists of nine directors.  In 
accordance with the Company's Amended and Restated Bylaws, members of the 
Board of Directors are divided into three classes, Class I, Class II and 
Class III.  The members of each class are elected for a term of office to 
expire at the third succeeding annual meeting of shareholders following their 
election.  The term of office of the current Class I directors expires at the 
Meeting.  The terms of the current Class II and Class III directors expire at 
the annual meeting of shareholders in 2000 and 2001, respectively.  The three 
Class I nominees, if elected at the Meeting, will serve until the annual 
meeting of shareholders in 2002.


                                      2
<PAGE>

     The Board of Directors has nominated Helen F. Chen, George M. Lee and 
David Tai for election as Class I directors at the Meeting.  Ms. Chen and 
Messrs. George Lee and Tai are currently serving as Class I directors.  Mr. 
George Lee was appointed to the Board of Directors on March 19, 1999.

     The Class I nominees receiving the affirmative vote of the holders of a 
plurality of the shares of Common Stock represented at the Meeting will be 
elected.  Unless the authority to vote for the election of directors is 
withheld as to one or more of the nominees, all shares of Common Stock 
represented by proxy will be voted FOR the election of the nominees.  If the 
authority to vote for the election of directors is withheld as to one or two 
but not all of the nominees, all shares of Common Stock represented by any 
such proxy will be voted FOR the election of the nominee or nominees, as the 
case may be, as to whom such authority is not withheld.  If a nominee becomes 
unavailable to serve as a director for any reason before the election, the 
shares represented by proxy will be voted for such other person, if any, as 
may be designated by the Board of Directors.  The Board of Directors, 
however, has no reason to believe that any nominee will be unavailable to 
serve as a director.

     Any director vacancy occurring after the election may be filled only by 
a majority of the remaining directors, even if less than a quorum of the 
Board of Directors.  A director elected to fill a vacancy will be elected for 
the unexpired portion of the term of his predecessor in office.

NOMINEES FOR ELECTION

     The following table sets forth certain information with respect to each 
nominee for election as a director of the Company:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
NAME                         AGE                      POSITIONS
- ----                         ---                      ---------
<S>                          <C>     <C>
Helen F. Chen . . . . .       51     Class I Director of the Company; Director
                                     of MetroBank, N.A. (the "Bank")

George M. Lee . . . . .       49     Class I Director of the Company; Director
                                     of the Bank

David Tai . . . . . . .       47     Class I Director, Executive Vice President
                                     and Secretary of the Company; President
                                     and Vice Chairman of the Board of the Bank
</TABLE>

     HELEN F. CHEN.  Ms. Chen is a director of the Company and was elected as 
a member of the Board of Directors of the Bank in 1989.  She is the President 
of Metro Investment Group, Inc., an investment company that holds shares of 
Common Stock of the Company as its principal asset.  She is the 
President-elect of the Houston Chinese Schools Association and the Principal 
of the Houston Northwest Chinese School, where she served as Chairman of the 
Board from 1991 to 1997.  A member of various civic organizations in Houston, 
Ms. Chen focuses her volunteer efforts in the Chinese community.  Ms. Chen is 
the sister of Don J. Wang.  Ms. Chen is not related to Mr. Tommy F. Chen.

     GEORGE M. LEE.  Mr. Lee was appointed as a Class I director of the 
Company and a director of the Bank in March 1999.  Mr. Lee is the Senior Vice 
President of Marketing and Sales for Higher Dimensions Research in St. Paul, 
Minnesota where he is responsible for marketing and sales strategy.  Prior to 
this, he served as the Chief Operating Officer of the Noel Group Companies, a 
travel insurance company, from 1995 to 1997.  From 1991 to 1994, Mr. Lee was 
a Senior Vice President of Fingerhut Companies and concurrently 


                                      3
<PAGE>

served as the President and Chief Operating Officer of its largest 
subsidiary, Comb Corporation.  From 1987 to 1990, Mr. Lee was a Group Vice 
President of Hanover Direct, where he was responsible for four divisions and 
new business development.  He received a Bachelors of Science in Econometrics 
from the University of Wisconsin.  Mr. Lee is a resident of Minnesota.  Mr. 
Lee is not related to Mr. John Lee.

     DAVID TAI.  David Tai is a director of the Company and was elected as a 
member of the Board of Directors of the Bank in 1988.  Mr. Tai is the 
Executive Vice President and Secretary of the Company and the President and 
Vice Chairman of the Board of the Bank, where he serves on the Directors 
Credit Committee. Mr. Tai was elected as President of the Bank in March 1999. 
 Mr. Tai is a leader in the Asian-American community through his active 
involvement in several organizations.  He is currently the President of the 
Taiwanese Chamber of Commerce of Greater Houston.  He is the Executive 
Advisor of the Taiwanese Chamber of Commerce of North America, an 
organization that has members in 25 cities across the United States, Canada 
and Mexico.  He is also active in the World Taiwanese Chamber of Commerce and 
serves as its Executive Consular.  He received a Bachelors of Business 
Administration degree from Fu-Jen Catholic University in Taiwan in 1974 and a 
Masters in Business Administration degree from Murray State University in 
1977.  Mr. Tai is a member of the Asian Realtors Association, the Asian 
Chamber of Commerce and the United Way. He is a Counselor at the Taiwanese 
Cultural Center.  Mr. Tai is the brother-in-law of Mr. John Lee.

     THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE FOR THE ELECTION OF EACH OF THE 
NOMINEES FOR ELECTION TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS.


                  CONTINUING DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS

     The following table sets forth certain information with respect to the 
Company's Class II and Class III directors, whose terms of office do not 
expire at the Meeting, and certain officers of the Company (other than Mr. 
David Tai):


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
           NAME                  POSITION                                  AGE
           ----                  --------                                  ---
      <S>                   <C>                                            <C>
      May P. Chu  . . . .   Class II Director of the Company; Director     51
                            of the Bank

      John Lee  . . . . .   Class II Director of the Company; Director     54
                            of the Bank

      Don J. Wang . . . .   Chairman of the Board, Class II Director,      55
                            President and Chief Executive Officer of the
                            Company; Chairman of the Board and Chief
                            Executive Officer of the Bank

      Tommy F. Chen . . .   Class III Director of the Company; Director    61
                            of the Bank

      Jane W. Kwan  . . .   Class III Director of the Company; Director    46
                            of the Bank 
</TABLE>


                                      4
<PAGE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
           NAME                  POSITION                                  AGE
           ----                  --------                                  ---
      <S>                   <C>                                            <C>
      Joe Ting  . . . . .   Class III Director of the Company; Director    46
                            of the Bank

      Attilio F. Galli  .   Senior Vice President and Chief Financial      49
                            Officer of the Company and the Bank
</TABLE>

     MAY P. CHU.  Ms. Chu is a director of the Company and an organizing 
director of the Bank.  Ms. Chu serves on the Executive Committee, Asset 
Liability Committee and Directors Credit Committee of the Bank.  She is the 
President and founder of Signet Consulting, a bank management consulting firm 
specializing in regulatory issues.  She received a Bachelors degree in 
Physics from the University of California at Berkeley and a Ph.D. in 
Economics from Case Western Reserve University.  Ms. Chu was employed at 
Texas Commerce Bank and Texas Commerce Bancshares, Inc. for more than five 
years, first in the Economics Division and subsequently in 
Mergers/Acquisitions.

     JOHN LEE.  Mr. Lee is a director of the Company and an organizing 
director of the of the Bank.  He is an Executive Vice President of Alpha 
Seafood Enterprises, Inc. and serves as the Treasurer, Director and 
co-founder of United Oriental Capital Corporation, a Specialized Small 
Business Investment Company. For six years, Mr. Lee served as President and 
manager for numerous motels in the Houston area.  Mr. Lee received a 
Bachelors degree in Economics from National Chung Hsing University.  He is a 
member of the Taiwanese Chamber of Commerce of North America.  Mr. Lee is the 
brother-in-law of Mr. David Tai.  Mr. Lee is related to Mr. George M. Lee.

     DON J. WANG.  Mr. Wang is a director of the Company and an organizing 
director of the Bank.  Mr. Wang serves as Chairman of the Board, President 
and Chief Executive Officer of the Company and Chairman of the Board and 
Chief Executive Officer of the Bank.  Mr. Wang has also been Chairman of the 
Board of New Era Life Insurance Company since 1989.  Mr. Wang served as 
President of the Taiwanese Chamber of Commerce of North America in 1992 and 
currently sits on the Advisory Board.  He has served as a Board member of the 
Greater Houston Partnership since 1994.  Mr. Wang serves on the Harris County 
Hospital District Board of Managers, the Board of Directors of the Hope 
Shelter/Abused Children Program and the Advisory Board of the Chinese 
Community Center.  He is Chairman of the Chinese Senior Estates/Senior 
Housing Project and Co-Chairman of the Asian and Pacific Island Division of 
the United Way.  Mr. Wang also served on the Advisory Committee of the Ex-Im 
Bank in 1998 and is active in the Houston Image Group.  On April 29, 1993, 
Mayor Bob Lanier proclaimed "Don J. Wang Day" in Houston in honor of Mr. 
Wang's abundant achievements in the realm of Asian community relations.  He 
received a Bachelors of Science degree from National Chung Hsing University 
and a Masters in Science degree from Utah State University.  Mr. Wang is the 
brother of Ms. Helen F. Chen.

     TOMMY F. CHEN.  Mr. Chen is a director of the Company and an organizing 
director of the Bank.  Mr. Chen serves on the Executive Committee, Asset 
Liability Committee and Directors Credit Committee of the Bank.  Since 1983, 
he has been the owner of the Downtown Texaco (Subway) Station.  He was an 
aerospace engineer at NASA for three years and worked for Chevron Oil Company 
and Amoco Oil Company for six years.  Mr. Chen has held a real estate brokers 
license in Texas since 1981.  He received a Masters degree in Physics from 
Clark University in Worcester, Massachusetts and a Masters degree and a Ph.D. 
in Electrical Engineering from the University of Oklahoma.  Mr. Chen serves 
as a director on the Chinatown Community Development Board and is a member of 
the Taiwanese Chamber of Commerce of North America.  Mr. Chen is not related 
to Ms. Helen F. Chen.

     JANE W. KWAN.  Ms. Kwan is a director of the Company and was elected a 
member of the Board of Directors of the Bank in 1993.  She is the Supervisor 
of Purchasing and Inventory-Financial Management at the University of Texas 
M.D. Anderson Cancer Center.  During her 27 year tenure at the University of 
Texas 

                                      5
<PAGE>

M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, she has held various positions including staff 
pharmacist, Outpatient Pharmacy Supervisor and Coordinator of Pharmacy 
Alternate Delivery Programs.  She is licensed as a Registered Pharmacist in 
Georgia and Texas and is also a licensed real estate broker in Texas.  She 
received a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Georgia and a 
Masters degree in Public Health from the University of Texas School of Public 
Health.  Ms. Kwan is involved in the Health Education for Asians League of 
Houston and is a Coordinator for the Chinese Community Health Fair.

     JOE TING.  Mr. Ting is a director of the Company and was elected as a 
member of the Board of Directors of the Bank in 1989.  Mr. Ting serves on the 
Executive Committee, Asset Liability Committee and the Directors Credit 
Committee of the Bank.  He is the President of West Plaza Management, Inc., a 
real estate management company.  Mr. Ting has extensive knowledge in the 
plastic manufacturing industry and real estate investments.  Mr. Ting is a 
member of the Taiwanese Chamber of Commerce of North America.  He received a 
Masters in Business Administration degree from the Florida Institute of 
Technology.   

     ATTILIO F. GALLI.  Mr. Galli joined the Company in July 1998 as Senior 
Vice President and Chief Financial Officer for both the Company and the Bank. 
From May 1993 to July 1998, Mr. Galli was President and Chief Executive 
Officer of Alliance Financial of Houston, a venture capital management 
company focusing on women and minority-owned businesses.  Before joining 
Alliance Financial of Houston, Mr. Galli was an Executive Vice President of 
the Bank, where he was in charge of the Loan Administration Department.  
Prior to his first association with the Bank, Mr. Galli was Managing Director 
and founding partner of McKenna & Company, an investment bank providing 
middle market companies with merger, acquisition and private placement 
services.  From 1974 to 1989, Mr. Galli worked for Citicorp/Citibank in 
successive promotional assignments including Western U.S. Department Head for 
Financial Institutions Corporate Finance, Southwest Regional Manager, 
Wholesale Mortgage Bank, and Western U.S. Regional Manager-Oil and Gas 
Department.  Mr. Galli currently serves as a member of the Houston Venture 
Capital Association and a member of the Steering Committee of the Houston 
Technology Incubator.  Mr. Galli holds a Bachelors degree in Management from 
Louisiana State University in New Orleans.

     Each officer of the Company is elected by the Board of Directors of the 
Company and holds office until his successor is duly elected and qualified or 
until his or her earlier death, resignation or removal.

OPERATION OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

     The Company was formed in October 1998 and the Board of Directors of the 
Company held two meetings during 1998.  There was no director who attended 
less than 75% of the aggregate of the (i) total number of meetings of the 
Board and (ii) total number of meetings held by committees on which he served.

     The Board of Directors has established Audit and Compensation 
Committees. The Audit Committee reviews the general scope of the audit 
conducted by the Company's independent auditors and matters relating to the 
Company's internal control systems. In performing its function, the Audit 
Committee meets separately with representatives of the Company's independent 
auditors and with representatives of senior management.  During 1998, the 
Audit Committee held one meeting.  The Audit Committee is comprised of Ms. 
Chu and Messrs. George Lee and John Lee, each of whom is an outside director.

     The Compensation Committee is responsible for making recommendations to 
the Board of Directors with respect to the compensation of the Company's 
executive officers and is responsible for the establishment of policies 
dealing with various compensation and employee benefit matters. The 
Compensation Committee also administers the Company's stock option plans and 
makes recommendations to the Board of Directors as to option grants to 
Company employees under such plans.  During 1998, the Compensation Committee 
held 


                                      6
<PAGE>

one meeting.  The Compensation Committee is comprised of Ms. Chu and Messrs. 
Chen and Ting, each of whom is an outside director.  No officers of the 
Company participate in Compensation Committee deliberations concerning their 
compensation or other matters.

COMPENSATION COMMITTEE INTERLOCKS AND INSIDER PARTICIPATION

     Prior to the formation of the Compensation Committee in 1998, matters 
related to compensation, employee benefit matters and stock options were 
considered by the Executive Committee of the Bank, which included David Tai 
and Don J. Wang.  As members of this committee, Messrs. Tai and Wang 
participated in determinations as to compensation of and grants of stock 
options to executive officers, including themselves. Final determination 
regarding compensation and stock options was made by the Board of Directors 
of the Bank.

DIRECTOR COMPENSATION

     Directors of the Company receive fees for attending quarterly meetings 
of the Company's Board of Directors.  Outside directors receive a fee of $500 
for each meeting attended.  The Board of Directors of the Bank meets monthly. 
Outside directors of the Bank receive a fee of $500 for each meeting of the 
Bank's Board of Directors attended and a fee of $300 for each Board Committee 
meeting attended.  In addition, Mr. Tommy F. Chen receives a fee of $3,000 
per month for analysis and evaluation of proposed loans secured by real 
estate.

     Historically, the Company paid its directors, including directors who 
were officers of the Company, an annual bonus based on the Company's 
performance during the previous year.  In February 1998, based on the 
Company's 1997 performance, the Company paid its directors, including 
directors who were officers of the Company, a stock bonus with an aggregate 
value of $253,664.  The Company has replaced this director bonus policy with 
the Non-Employee Director Stock Bonus Plan.  The Company does not plan to pay 
cash bonuses to directors in the future and will only pay stock bonuses to 
directors pursuant to the Non-Employee Director Stock Bonus Plan.


                                      7
<PAGE>

                    EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION AND OTHER MATTERS

SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE

     The following table provides certain summary information concerning 
compensation paid or accrued by the Company to or on behalf of the Company's 
Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer and each of the 
other two most highly compensated executive officers of the Company 
(determined as of the end of the last fiscal year) for each of the two fiscal 
years ended December 31, 1998:


                             ANNUAL COMPENSATION

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                      NAME AND                                                                  OTHER ANNUAL        ALL OTHER
                 PRINCIPAL POSITION                     YEAR           SALARY         BONUS     COMPENSATION     COMPENSATION(1)
- ----------------------------------------------------    ----           ------         -----     -------------    ---------------
<S>                                                     <C>           <C>           <C>           <C>               <C>
Don J. Wang . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .     1998          $126,670      $  5,417      $ 6,000(2)        $  5,524
   Chairman of the Board, President and Chief           1997           105,000            --       22,308(3)          57,667(4)
   Executive Officer of the Company; Chairman
   of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of
   the Bank

David Tai . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .     1998           116,667        5,000         6,000(2)           5,107
   Executive Vice President and Secretary of the        1997            98,750           --        10,465(3)          56,944(4)
   Company; President and Vice  Chairman of the
   Board of the Bank

Attilio F. Galli  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .     1998            40,771(5)     3,958           --                 --
   Senior Vice President and Chief Financial            1997                --           --           --                 --
   Officer of the Company and the Bank                                   

</TABLE>
__________

(1)  Includes contributions by the Company to the 401(k) plan.

(2)  Represents the amount paid to compensate such officers for car allowance.

(3)  Represents the amount paid to compensate such officers for car allowance 
     and sick pay.  Upon adoption of a new sick pay policy in 1997, the Company 
     paid all employees their cumulative sick pay balances.

(4)  In February 1998, 6,848 shares of common stock with an aggregate value 
     of $52,575 were issued to each of Mr. Wang and Mr. Tai as 1997 director 
     performance bonuses.  See "-- Director Compensation."

(5)  Mr. Galli joined the Company on July 29, 1998.

STOCK PLANS

     The Company has four stock plans which were originally developed and 
instituted by the Bank and assumed by the Company in the holding company 
formation in 1998.  Except for a non-qualified stock option plan for the 
founding directors of the Bank,  each of  plans was approved by the 
shareholders of the Bank in 1998.

     The Company has outstanding options issued to five of the six founding 
directors of the Bank to purchase 100,000 shares of Common Stock pursuant to 
the 1998 Director Stock Option Agreement ("Founding Director Plan").  
Pursuant to the Founding Director Plan, each of the five participants were 
granted non-qualified options to purchase 20,000 shares of Common Stock at a 
price of $11.00 per share.  A total of 20,000 options which were initially 
granted to one of the founding directors were cancelled upon his resignation 
as a director. The options must be exercised by July 24, 2003.  Of the six 
founding directors of the Bank, the five participants (Tommy F. Chen, May P. 
Chu, John Lee, David Tai and Don J. Wang) currently serve as directors of the 
Bank and the Company.

                                      8
<PAGE>

     The Company's Non-Employee Director Stock Bonus Plan ("Director Plan")
authorizes the issuance of up to 60,000 shares of Common Stock to the directors
of the Company who do not serve as an officer of the Company.  Under the
Director Plan, up to 12,000 shares of Common Stock may be issued each year for a
five year period if the Company achieves certain return on equity ratios with no
shares to be issued if the Company's return on equity is below 13.0%. Shares
will be allocated among the non-employee directors by the Company's Compensation
Committee with preference given to those directors who also serve on one or more
committees of the Board of Directors.  There are currently no shares issued
under the Director Plan.

     The Company's 1998 Stock Incentive Plan ("Incentive Plan") authorizes 
the issuance of up to 200,000 shares of Common Stock under both 
"non-qualified" and "incentive" stock options and performance shares of 
Common Stock.  Non-qualified options and incentive stock options will be 
granted at no less than the fair market value of the Common Stock and must be 
exercised within ten years. Performance shares are certificates representing 
the right to acquire shares of Common Stock upon the satisfaction of 
performance goals established by the Company.  Holders of performance shares 
have all of the voting, dividend and other rights of shareholders of the 
Company, subject to the terms of the award agreement relating to such shares. 
If the performance goals are achieved, the performance shares will vest and 
may be exchanged for shares of Common Stock. If the performance goals are not 
achieved, the performance shares may be forfeited. There are currently no 
options granted under the Incentive Plan.

     The Company's 1998 Employee Stock Purchase Plan ("Purchase Plan") 
authorizes the offer and sale of up to 200,000 shares of Common Stock to 
employees of the Company and its subsidiaries.  The Purchase Plan will be 
implemented through ten annual offerings.  Each year the Board of Directors 
will determine the number of shares to be offered under the Purchase Plan; 
provided that in any one year the offering may not exceed 20,000 shares plus 
any unsubscribed shares from prior years.  The offering price per share will 
be an amount equal to 90% of the closing trading price of a share of Common 
Stock on the business day immediately prior to the commencement of such 
offering.  In each offering, each employee may purchase a number of whole 
shares of Common Stock that are equal to 20% of the employee's base salary 
divided by the offering price.  Pursuant to the Purchase Plan, the employee 
pays for the Common Stock either immediately or through a payroll deduction 
program over a period of up to one year, at the employee's option.  The first 
annual offering under the Purchase Plan will begin in the second quarter of 
1999.

     In October 1995, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued 
Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 123, ACCOUNTING FOR 
STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION ("SFAS 123"). This statement established fair value 
based accounting and reporting standards for all transactions in which a 
company acquires goods or services by issuing its equity investments, which 
includes stock-based compensation plans. Under SFAS 123, compensation cost is 
measured at the grant date based on the value of the award and is recognized 
over the service period, which is usually the vesting period. Fair value of 
stock options is determined using an option- pricing model. This statement 
encourages companies to adopt as prescribed the fair value based method of 
accounting to recognize compensation expense for employee stock compensation 
plans. Although it does not require the fair value based method to be 
adopted, a company must comply with the disclosure requirements set forth in 
the statement. The Company has continued to apply accounting in Accounting 
Principles Board Opinion No. 25, ACCOUNTING FOR STOCK ISSUED TO EMPLOYEES, 
("APB 25") and related Interpretations, and, accordingly, provides the pro 
forma disclosures of net income and earnings per share.


                                      9
<PAGE>

OPTION GRANTS DURING 1998

     The following table sets forth certain information concerning stock 
options granted during fiscal 1998:


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                     OPTION GRANTS IN LAST FISCAL YEAR
                      -----------------------------------------------------------
                                             INDIVIDUAL GRANTS

                                                                                          POTENTIAL REALIZABLE 
                                        PERCENT OF                                          VALUE AT ASSUMED     
                       NUMBER OF      TOTAL OPTIONS                                       ANNUAL RATES OF STOCK  
                       SECURITIES       GRANTED TO                                       PRICE APPRECIATION FOR  
                      UNDERLYING        EMPLOYEES         EXERCISE                             OPTION TERM       
                        OPTIONS         IN FISCAL         PRICE PER     EXPIRATION      -------------------------
     NAME               GRANTED            YEAR             SHARE          DATE           5%               10%   
     ----             -----------     -------------       ---------     ----------        --               ---   
<S>                   <C>             <C>                 <C>          <C>              <C>             <C>      
David Tai . . . . .      20,000           20.00%           $11.00      July 24, 2003    $60,782         $134,312 

Don J. Wang . . . .      20,000           20.00%            11.00      July 24, 2003    $60,782         $134,312 
</TABLE>


STOCK OPTION EXERCISES

     There were no stock option exercises during fiscal year 1998.

BENEFIT PLAN

     The Company has established a defined contributory profit sharing plan 
pursuant to Internal Revenue Code Section 401(k) covering substantially all 
employees (the "Plan").  The Plan provides for pretax employee contributions 
of up to 6% of annual compensation plus any additional discretionary 
after-tax employee contributions.  The Company matches each participant's 
contributions to the Plan of up to 4% of such participant's salary.  The 
Company made contributions before expenses to the Plan of $235,000, $248,000 
and $173,000 in 1998, 1997 and 1996, respectively.

            BOARD COMPENSATION COMMITTEE REPORT ON EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

     Prior to the formation of the Company and its Compensation Committee in 
1998, the Executive Committee of the Bank considered all matters related to 
compensation, employee benefits and stock options of executive officers of 
the Company and the Bank.  The members of the Company's Compensation 
Committee, May P. Chu, Tommy F. Chen and Joe Ting, also served on the Bank's 
Executive Committee. 

     The Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors is responsible for 
developing and making recommendations to the Board with respect to the 
Company's executive compensation policies.  The following is a report from 
the Compensation Committee which sets forth the components of the Company's 
executive officer compensation program and describes the basis on which the 
1998 compensation determinations were made with respect to the executive 
officers of the Company and the Bank.


                                      10


<PAGE>

COMPENSATION POLICY

     The Company's executive compensation policy incorporates the basic 
principle that executive compensation should be related directly to corporate 
performance and increases in shareholder value, while ensuring that key 
employees are motivated and retained.  The following objectives guide the 
decision-making for the Compensation Committee:

     -    The Company must provide a competitive total compensation package to
          attract and retain key executives;

     -    The compensation packages and programs must be strategically aligned
          with the annual budget as well as the Company's long-term business
          objectives; and

     -    There must be a variable or performance component in the compensation
          package to ensure a link between executive remuneration and the
          Company's overall performance, thereby aligning executive compensation
          with the interest of shareholders.

EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

     The Company's basic compensation programs are comprised of four parts as
follows:

     (1)  BASE PAY.  Base salary levels are determined mainly through 
comparison with banking organizations of a size similar to the Company's with 
some attention given to the geographic location of such banking 
organizations. Surveys are utilized to assist in determining the base salary 
ranges of those persons having similar responsibilities at other financial 
institutions. Individual performance evaluations are considered, including a 
perception of the executive's potential to increase responsibilities.  
Changes in the cost of living are also taken into account.  All executive 
base salary levels, which are generally reviewed annually, are considered by 
the Compensation Committee to be competitive within a reasonable range of 
salaries in the Company's market areas.

     (2)  CASH BONUS.  For the year ended December 31, 1998, the Bank's 
Executive Committee, and subsequently the Company's Compensation Committee, 
awarded each of the Company's executive officers a bonus equal to two weeks 
salary and also paid each executive officer a cash bonus in varying amounts 
based on the Committee's evaluation of such officer's individual performance.

     (3)  CONTRIBUTORY SAVINGS 401(k) PLAN.  The Company provides for a 
401(k) tax-deferred profit sharing plan for all employees, including 
executive officers, pursuant to which the Company matches each participant's 
contributions up to a maximum of 4% of such employee's annual compensation.

     (4)  STOCK OPTIONS.  During 1998, the shareholders of the Company 
approved the 1998 Stock Incentive Plan which authorizes the issuance of up to 
200,000 shares of Common Stock under "non-qualified" and "incentive" stock 
options and performance shares of Common Stock to certain key officers.  Such 
options will be exercisable based on a vesting schedule.  Generally, no 
option may be exercised during the first two years of the option term; and 
thereafter, 50% may be exercised during the third year of the option term, 
another 25% during the fourth year and the remaining 25% during the fifth 
year of the option term.  The Compensation Committee believes that these key 
officers will carry the main responsibility for increased growth, asset 
quality and profitability of the Company into the future.  No options were 
granted under the stock option plan in 1998.

     Through the above mentioned programs, the Compensation Committee 
believes that a significant portion of the remuneration packages of executive 
officers are linked to the Company's performance and 


                                      11
<PAGE>

shareholder interests.  The Compensation Committee will continue to review 
the elements of the plans in place and adjust these plans as needed to ensure 
that the total compensation program meets the Company's objectives and 
philosophy as described above.

1998 COMPENSATION OF THE PRESIDENT AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

     During 1998, Mr. Don Wang served as the Chairman of the Board, President 
and Chief Executive Officer for the Company and the Bank.  Mr. Wang's base 
salary for 1998 of $126,670 was determined by the Executive Committee of the 
Bank after reviewing the salary levels of persons in similar positions at 
banks of comparable size in the Houston and Gulf Coast areas.  Mr. Wang was 
also paid a cash bonus of $5,417, a car allowance of $6,000 and $5,524 as a 
matching 401(k) contribution.  In addition, Mr. Wang was granted a 
non-qualified stock option to purchase 20,000 shares of the Company's Common 
Stock pursuant to the Company's  Founding Directors' Stock Option Plan.


                                        The Compensation Committee


                                        Tommy F. Chen
                                        May P. Chu
                                        Joe Ting



           INTERESTS OF MANAGEMENT AND OTHERS IN CERTAIN TRANSACTIONS

     Many of the directors, executive officers and principal shareholders of the
Company (i.e., those who own 10% or more of the Common Stock) and their
associates, which include corporations, partnerships and other organizations in
which they are officers or partners or in which they and their immediate
families have at least a 5% interest, are customers of the Company.  During
1998, the Company made loans in the ordinary course of business to many of the
directors, executive officers and principal shareholders of the Company and
their associates, all of which were on substantially the same terms, including
interest rates and collateral, as those prevailing at the time for comparable
transactions with persons unaffiliated with the Company and did not involve more
than the normal risk of collectibility or present other unfavorable features.
Loans to directors, executive officers and principal shareholders of the Company
are subject to limitations contained in the Federal Reserve Act, the principal
effect of which is to require that extensions of credit by the Company to
executive officers, directors and principal shareholders satisfy the foregoing
standards. On December 31, 1998, all of such loans aggregated $2.1 million which
was approximately 4.36% of the Company's Tier 1 capital at such date. The
Company expects to have such transactions or transactions on a similar basis
with its directors, executive officers and principal shareholders and their
associates in the future.


                                      12
<PAGE>

                    BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF COMMON STOCK BY
              MANAGEMENT OF THE COMPANY AND PRINCIPAL SHAREHOLDERS

     The following table sets forth certain information regarding the 
beneficial ownership of the Company Common Stock as of the date hereof, by 
(i) directors and executive officers of the Company, (ii) each person who is 
known by the Company to own beneficially 5% or more of the Common Stock and 
(iii) all directors and executive officers as a group. Unless otherwise 
indicated, each person has sole voting and dispositive power over the shares 
indicated as owned by such person and the address of each shareholder is the 
same as the address of the Company. 


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                   NUMBER               PERCENTAGE
                            NAME                                 OF SHARES         BENEFICIALLY OWNED
                            ----                                 ---------         ------------------
          <S>                                                    <C>               <C>
          PRINCIPAL SHAREHOLDERS
          ----------------------
          Metro Investment Group, Inc.(1).  . . . . . . . .        484,128                6.81%
          Siam Chin Leong(2)  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .        460,000                6.47%
          Leslie Looi Meng(3) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .        385,992                5.43%
          Shou Chiun Ting(4)  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .        371,768                5.23%

          DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS                  
          -------------------------------
          Helen F. Chen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .        555,784(5)             7.82%
          Tommy F. Chen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .        178,200(6)             2.50%
          May P. Chu  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .        108,064(7)             1.52%
          Attilio F. Galli  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .          1,500(8)                 *
          Jane W. Kwan  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .         20,436                    *
          George M. Lee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .            100                    *
          John Lee  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .        146,052(9)             2.05%
          David Tai . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .        226,388(10)            3.18%
          Joe Ting  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .         66,028(11)                *
          Don J. Wang . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .        526,592(12)            7.39%
          Directors and Executive Officers as a              
             Group (10) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .        1,829,144              25.39%
</TABLE>

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

*    Indicates ownership which does not exceed 1.0%.

(1)  Metro Investment Group, Inc.'s address is 16607 Southern Oaks Drive,
     Houston, Texas 77068.  Director Helen F. Chen is the controlling
     shareholder and President of Metro Investment Group, Inc. and has voting
     and investment control of the shares.

(2)  Siam Chin Leong's address is 701-703 Asia Life Building, Jalan Seggett,
     80000 Johor Bahru, Johor Darul Takzim, Malaysia.

(3)  Leslie Looi Meng's address is Aloha Towers, No. 05-02, Block A, 1 Jalan
     Kolam Air, 80100 Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia.


                                      13
<PAGE>

(4)  Mr. Shou Chiun Ting's address is P.O. Box 96906, Houston, Texas 77213. 
     Includes 168,076 held of record by Luxor Holding Corporation over which Mr.
     Shou Chiun Ting has voting and investment control.  Shou Chiun Ting is the
     father of Director Joe Ting.

(5)  Includes 484,128 shares held of record by Metro Investment Group, Inc. of
     which Ms. Chen is the President and has voting and investment control.

(6)  Includes 20,000 shares which may be acquired under the Founding Director
     Plan and 75,480 shares held of record by Veronica W. Chen, the wife of Mr.
     Chen.

(7)  Includes 20,000 shares which may be acquired under the Founding Director
     Plan. 

(8)  Consists of 1,500 shares held of record by an IRA account for the benefit
     of Attilio F. Galli.

(9)  Includes 20,000 shares which may be acquired under the Founding Director
     Plan, 25,456 shares held of record by Lee Su Huang, the sister of Mr. Lee,
     13,312 shares held of record by Flora Yi Fang Lee, the daughter of Mr. Lee,
     and 13,312 shares held of record by Roger Chiche Lee,  the son of Mr. Lee.

(10) Includes 20,000 shares which may be acquired under the Founding Director
     Plan.

(11) Includes 2,200 shares held of record by Candace Ting, the daughter of Mr.
     Ting, 2,200 shares held of record by Joseph Ting, the son of Mr. Ting, and
     2,200 shares held of record by Regina Ting, the daughter of Mr. Ting.

(12) Includes 20,000 shares which may be acquired under the Founding Director
     Plan, 211,024 shares held of record by the Emily Wang Trust, 211,024 shares
     held of record by the Michael Wang Trust, 2,092 shares held of record by
     Ming Wang, the wife of Mr. Wang and 9,407 shares held of record by the 
     E&M Foundation, Inc., a non-profit corporation over which Mr. Wang has 
     voting and investment control.




                                      14

<PAGE>
                              PERFORMANCE GRAPH

     The following Performance Graph compares the cumulative total shareholder
return on the Company's Common Stock for the period from December 16, 1998, when
the Common Stock was first listed on the Nasdaq National Market, to December 31,
1998, with the cumulative total return of the Nasdaq Stock Market (US) Index and
the Nasdaq Bank Index for the same period.  Dividend reinvestment has been
assumed.  The Performance Graph assumes $100 invested on December 16, 1998 in
the Company's Common Stock, the Nasdaq Stock Market (US) Index and the Nasdaq
Bank Index.  The historical stock price performance for the Company's stock
shown on the graph below is not necessarily indicative of future stock
performance.

              COMPOSITE OF PARTIAL PERIOD CUMULATIVE TOTAL RETURN
                    THE NASDAQ STOCK MARKET (US) INDEX, THE
                NASDAQ BANK INDEX AND METROCORP BANCSHARES, INC.

                          MetroCorp Bancshares, Inc.
                            Plot Points for Graph

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                      12/16/98               12/31/98
                      --------               --------
<S>                   <C>                    <C>
MCBI                  $100.00                $ 95.56

Nasdaq Bank            100.00                 104.96

Nasdaq                 100.00                 109.13

</TABLE>


                                      15
<PAGE>

          SECTION 16(a) BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP REPORTING COMPLIANCE

     Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the 
"Exchange Act"), requires the Company's directors and executive officers and 
persons who own more than ten percent of the outstanding Common Stock to file 
with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission") initial 
reports of ownership and reports of changes in ownership of Common Stock and 
other equity securities of the Company.  Officers, directors and greater than 
ten-percent shareholders are required by regulation to furnish the Company 
with copies of all Section 16(a) forms they file.

     To the Company's knowledge, based solely on review of the copies of such 
reports furnished to the Company, during the year ended December 31, 1998, 
all Section 16(a) reporting requirements applicable to the Company's 
officers, directors and greater than ten-percent shareholders were complied 
with, except that Mr. Wang was late in reporting his initial holdings on Form 
3 and in filing one report on Form 4 covering one transaction. After 
discovery of the inadvertant omissions in reporting such transactions, the 
necessary filings have been made with the Commission.

             PROPOSAL TO RATIFY APPOINTMENT OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS

     The Board of Directors has appointed Deloitte & Touche LLP as the 
independent auditors of the books and accounts of the Company for the year 
ending December 31, 1999.  PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP served as the Company's 
independent audit firm during fiscal year 1998, however, on March 8, 1999, 
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP was notified that they will be dismissed as 
independent auditors upon the issuance of their report on the Company's 1998 
financial statements and their review of the Company's 1998 Form 10-K.  The 
decision to change accountants was recommended by the Audit Committee and was 
approved by the Company's Board of Directors.

     None of the reports of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP for the past two years 
ended December 31, 1998 contained any adverse opinion or disclaimer of 
opinion, or was qualified or modified as to uncertainty, audit scope or 
accounting principles.  In addition, in connection with the audits of the 
Company's financial statements during the two most recent fiscal years ended 
December 31, 1998 and subsequent interim period prior to March 8, 1999, there 
were no disagreements between the Company and PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP on 
any matters of accounting principles or practices, financial statement 
disclosure or auditing scope and procedures which, if not resolved to the 
satisfaction of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, would have caused 
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP to make reference to the matter in their reports.

     In accordance with the rules of the Commission, the Company provided 
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP a copy of the disclosures filed with the 
Commission on Form 8-K and requested PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP to furnish it 
with a letter addressed to the Commission stating whether or not 
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP agreed with the statements made by the Company in 
such filing and, if not, stating the respects in which it did not agree.  A 
copy of this letter is attached as Exhibit 16.1 to the Company's Form 8-K 
filed on March 15, 1999 and to the Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 
1998.

     Effective March 12, 1999, the Board of Directors appointed Deloitte & 
Touche LLP as its principal accountant to audit the Company's 1999 financial 
statements.  During the Company's two most recent fiscal years ended December 
31, 1998 and subsequent interim period prior to the engagement of Deloitte & 
Touche LLP, neither the Company, nor anyone on its behalf, consulted Deloitte 
& Touche LLP regarding (i) the application of accounting principles to a 
specified completed or proposed transaction or the type of opinion that 
Deloitte & Touche LLP might render on the Company's financial statements or 
(ii) any matter that was the subject of a disagreement between the Company 
and PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as defined in Item 304(a)(1)(iv) of Regulation 
S-K or a reportable event as described in Item 304(a)(1)(v).


                                      16
<PAGE>

     At the Meeting, the shareholders will be asked to consider and act upon 
a proposal to ratify the appointment of Deloitte & Touche LLP.  The 
ratification of such appointment will require the affirmative vote of the 
holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of Common Stock entitled to 
vote and present in person or represented by proxy at the Meeting.  
Representatives of Deloitte & Touche LLP will be present at the Meeting, will 
be given an opportunity to make a statement (if they desire to do so) and 
will be available to respond to appropriate questions.

     THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE FOR THE PROPOSAL TO RATIFY SUCH 
APPOINTMENT. 


                  DATE FOR SUBMISSION OF SHAREHOLDER PROPOSALS

     In order for shareholder proposals submitted pursuant to the 
Commission's Rule 14a-8 to be included in the Company's proxy statement and 
form of proxy relating to the Company's 2000 Annual Meeting of Shareholders, 
such proposals must be submitted to the Secretary of the Company at the 
Company's principal executive offices not later than November 30, 1999.  A 
shareholder choosing not to use the procedures established in Commission Rule 
14a-8 to submit a proposal for action at the Company's 2000 Annual Meeting of 
Shareholders must deliver the proposal to the Secretary of the Company not 
later than the close of business on February 28, 2000.


                                 OTHER MATTERS

     The Board of Directors does not intend to bring any other matter before 
the Meeting.  Additionally, no shareholder of the Company has complied with 
the advance notice provisions contained in the Company's Bylaws, which 
preclude the bringing of matters before a meeting of shareholders unless such 
provisions are complied with.  Accordingly, no other matter is expected to be 
brought before the Meeting.  However, if any other matter does properly come 
before the Meeting, the proxies will be voted in accordance with the 
discretion of the person or persons voting the proxies.

     You are cordially invited to attend the Meeting.  Regardless of whether 
you plan to attend the Meeting, you are urged to complete, date, sign and 
return the enclosed proxy in the accompanying envelope at your earliest 
convenience.

                                       By order of the Board of Directors,

                                       /s/ Don J. Wang

                                       Don J. Wang
                                       Chairman of the Board, President and 
                                         Chief Executive Officer



                                      17
<PAGE>
                        __
/X/ PLEASE MARK YOUR    |                                                   |
    VOTE AS IN THIS                                                         ---
    EXAMPLE USING 
    DARK INK ONLY.


    THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE COMPANY
AND WILL BE VOTED FOR THE FOLLOWING PROPOSALS UNLESS OTHERWISE INDICATED.

<TABLE>
<S>                                 <C>
                                             FOR                   WITHHOLD 
                                     all nominees listed          AUTHORITY
                                          (except as           for all nominees
                                    otherwise indicated*)           listed.
1.  ELECTION OF DIRECTORS 
    to serve until the                       / /                     / /             * Instruction: To withhold authority to vote 
    2002 Annual Meeting of                                                             for any nominee, draw a line through the name
    Shareholders and until                                                             of such nominee in the list below.
    their successors are                                                               
    duly elected and qualified.                                                        Helen F. Chen     George M. Lee    David Tai
</TABLE>

                                               FOR     AGAINST     ABSTAIN
2.  RATIFICATION OF THE APPOINTMENT            / /       / /         / /
    OF DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP as the 
    independent auditors of the books 
    and accounts of the Company for 
    the year ending December 31, 1999.


                                                 Date:                    , 1999
- ------------------------------------------------       -------------------
         Signature(s) of Shareholder(s)

Please sign your name exactly as it appears below. If shares are held jointly, 
all joint owners should sign. If shares are held by a corporation, please sign
the full corporate name by the president or any other authorized corporate 
officer. If shares are held by a partnership, please sign the full partnership 
name by an authorized person. If you are signing as attorney, executor, 
administrator, trustee or guardian, please set forth your full title as such.

<PAGE>
                                       
                                     PROXY
                          METROCORP BANCSHARES, INC.

  1999 ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS TO BE HELD ON THURSDAY, APRIL 29, 1999

         THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS.

     The 1999 Annual Meeting of Shareholders of MetroCorp Bancshares, Inc. (the
"Company") will be held at The Houstonian, 111 North Post Oak Lane, Houston,
Texas 77024, on Thursday, April 29, 1999, beginning at 10:00 a.m. (local time).
The undersigned hereby acknowledges receipt of the related Notice of 1999 Annual
Meeting of Shareholders and Proxy Statement dated April 1, 1999 accompanying
this proxy.

     The undersigned hereby appoints Don J. Wang and Attilio F. Galli and each
of them, attorneys and agents, with full power of substitution, to vote as proxy
all shares of Common Stock, par value $1.00 per share, of the Company owned of
record by the undersigned and otherwise to act on behalf of the undersigned at
the 1999 Annual Meeting of Shareholders and any adjournment thereof in
accordance with the directions set forth herein and with discretionary authority
with respect to such other matters, as may properly come before such meeting or
any adjournment thereof, including any matter presented by a shareholder at such
meeting for which advance notice was not received by the Company in accordance
with the Company's Bylaws.

     This proxy is solicited by the Board of Directors and will be voted in
accordance with the undersigned's directions set forth herein. If no direction
is made, this proxy will be voted FOR the election of all nominees for director
named herein to serve on the Board of Directors until the 2002 Annual Meeting of
Shareholders and until their successors are duly elected and qualified and FOR
the ratification of the appointment of Deloitte & Touche LLP as the independent
auditors of the books and accounts of the Company for the year ending December
31, 1999.



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