The TBA Services Company, Inc., known as TBASCO, is a wholly owned subsidiary of TBA and is dedicated to reducing the costs of products and services for Texas banks. TBASCO's mission is to provide access to quality products and services to TBA member banks that will improve the members' competitive standing and increase their profitability.

A TBASCO endorsement means completion of a lengthy investigative process by an eight-member board of directors, comprised of seven Texas bankers and the TBA president. TBASCO's reputation for integrity and thorough due diligence means bankers can trust and value the products and services awarded endorsement status.

To become TBASCO-endorsed, each company and its products or services must:

• Satisfy an identifiable need
• Have historical operating success
• Have strong and stable ownership and management
• Have user references with a Texas emphasis
• Guarantee profit or marginal profit with heavy demand
• Identify and compare competition
• Have a satisfactory marketing plan
• Identify and cover legal and regulatory issues
• Assess any disengagement complications

Providing a good value to TBA members is the key to a TBASCO endorsement. Currently, approximately 90 percent of all banks in Texas use one or more TBA-endorsed products. As a TBASCO-endorsed company, TBA offers the following marketing capabilities:

• Direct mail to membership
• Lead response letters
• Sales introduction letters
• Sales follow-up letters
• Personalized letters to small targeted groups
• Personal phone calls upon request
• Annual convention showcase
• Magazine articles and news releases
• TBA member lists and labels
• Use of TBA name and logo