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UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
September 27, 2000
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Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported)
Independent Bankshares, Inc.
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(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)
Texas 0-10196 75-1717279
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(State or other (Commission File (IRS Employer
jurisdiction of Number) Identification No.)
incorporation)
547 Chestnut Street
P. O. Box 3296
Abilene, Texas 79604 79604
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(Address of principal (Zip Code)
executive offices)
(915) 677-5550
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(Registrant's telephone number, including area code)
Not Applicable
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(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)
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ITEM 4. CHANGES IN REGISTRANT'S CERTIFYING ACCOUNTANTS
Effective September 27, 2000, the Registrant dismissed
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP ("PWC") as its independent accountant and
engaged the firm of Ernst & Young LLP ("EY") as the Registrant's
independent accountant to audit the Registrant's financial
statements for the year ending December 31, 2000. The
Registrant's Board of Directors recommended and approved the
change in the Registrant's certifying accountants. PWC audited
the Registrant's financial statements for its two most recent
fiscal years ended December 31, 1998 and 1999.
The change in certifying accountants was made by the
Registrant following the acquisition of control of the Registrant
by State National Bancshares, Inc., a Texas corporation ("State
National"), effective August 11, 2000.
PWC's reports with respect to the Registrant's financial
statements for each of the two most recent fiscal years did not
contain an adverse opinion or a disclaimer of opinion, and were
not qualified or modified as to uncertainty, audit scope or
accounting principles. During the Registrant's two most recent
fiscal years and from January 1, 2000 through September 27, 2000,
there were no disagreements with PWC on any matters of accounting
principles or practices, financial statement disclosure, or
auditing scope or procedure which, if not resolved to the
satisfaction of PWC, would have caused it to make reference to
the subject matter of the disagreement in any of its reports on
the Registrant's financial statements, except as described in
the following paragraph.
In connection with the preparation and original filing of
the Registrant's Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2000
("First Quarter Form 10-Q"), the Registrant capitalized costs
related to its then pending merger with State National. PWC
maintained that such costs should be expensed and discussed this
disagreement with the audit committee of the Registrant's board
of directors prior to the filing of the First Quarter Form 10-Q.
In August 2000, the Registrant prepared and filed an amendment
to the First Quarter Form 10-Q to restate its financial statements
for the first quarter. In the restatement, costs related to the
pending merger of the Registrant with State National that had been
capitalized through March 31, 2000 ($209,000), were expensed.
In preparing and filing its Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June
30, 2000, the Registrant appropriately expensed the merger costs
incurred in the second quarter. The Registrant has authorized PWC
to respond fully to the inquiries of EY concerning the subject matter
of the disagreement.
ITEM 7. Financial Statements and Exhibits.
(a) - (b) Not applicable.
(c) Exhibits
Exhibit No. Document Description
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16.1 Letter of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
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SIGNATURE
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act
of 1934, as amended, the Registrant has duly caused this report
to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly
authorized.
INDEPENDENT BANKSHARES, INC.
Date: October 4, 2000 By: /s/ Randal N. Crosswhite
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Randal N. Crosswhite, Senior Vice
President, Chief Financial
Officer and Corporate Secretary
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INDEX TO EXHIBITS
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Exhibit No. Description
16.1 Letter of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
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