Edgar Filing: CULLEN/FROST BANKERS, INC.

FORM S-3

As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on January 31, 2013

Registration No. 333-

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM S-3

REGISTRATION STATEMENT

UNDER

THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

CULLEN/FROST BANKERS, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

TEXAS

(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)

74-1751768

(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

100 W. HOUSTON STREET

SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS 78205

(210) 220-4011

(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of registrant’s principal executive offices)

PHILLIP D. GREEN

GROUP EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT

AND CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER

CULLEN/FROST BANKERS, INC.

100 W. HOUSTON STREET

SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS 78205

(210) 220-4011

(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service of registrant)

Copy to:

MARK J. MENTING, ESQ.

CATHERINE M. CLARKIN, ESQ.

SULLIVAN & CROMWELL LLP

125 BROAD STREET

NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10004-2498

(212) 558-4000

Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public: From time to time after this registration statement becomes effective.

If the only securities being registered on this Form are being offered pursuant to dividend or interest reinvestment plans, please check the following box. ¨

If any of the securities being registered on this Form are to be offered on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, other than securities offered only in connection with dividend or interest reinvestment plans, check the following box. x

If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, please check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. ¨

If this Form is post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. ¨

If this Form is a registration statement pursuant to General Instruction I.D. or a post-effective amendment thereto that shall become effective upon filing with the Commission pursuant to Rule 462(e) under the Securities Act, check the following box. x

If this Form is a post-effective amendment to a registration statement filed pursuant to General Instruction I.D. filed to register additional securities or additional classes of securities pursuant to Rule 413(b) under the Securities Act, check the following box. ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):


Large accelerated filer	x		Accelerated filer	¨

Non-accelerated filer	¨	(Do not check if a smaller reporting company)	Smaller reporting company	¨

CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE



Title of Each Class of Securities to be Registered (1)(2)	Amount to be Registered (1)	Proposed Maximum Offering Price Per Unit (1)	Proposed Maximum Aggregate Offering Price (1)	Amount of Registration Fee (1)
Debt Securities
Preferred Stock
Depositary Shares (3)
Common Stock
Warrants (4)

(1)

This registration statement covers an indeterminate aggregate number and amount of the securities of each class as may from time to time be offered and sold at indeterminate prices by the registrant. The proposed maximum aggregate offering price per security will be determined from time to time by the registrant in connection with offers and sales of securities registered hereunder. The debt securities, preferred stock and warrants may be convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for our common stock or other securities. Separate consideration may or may not be received for securities that are issuable on exercise, conversion or exchange of securities registered hereunder or that are represented by depositary shares. In accordance with Rules 456(b) and 457(r) under the Securities Act of 1933 (the “Securities Act”), the registrant is deferring payment of the registration fee and will pay the registration fee subsequently in advance or on a pay-as-you-go basis.

(2)	Pursuant to Rule 416 under the Securities Act, this registration statement also covers any additional shares that may be offered or issued in connection with any stock split, stock dividend or similar transaction.

(3)

Each depositary share will be evidenced by depositary receipts issued pursuant to a deposit agreement. In the event the registrant elects to offer to the public whole or fractional interests in shares of preferred stock registered hereunder, depositary receipts will be distributed to those persons purchasing such interests and such shares will be issued to the depositary under the deposit agreement.

(4)	Warrants represent rights to purchase debt securities, common stock, or preferred stock registered hereunder.

PROSPECTUS

CULLEN/FROST BANKERS, INC.

LOGO

Debt Securities

Preferred Stock

Depositary Shares

Common Stock

Warrants

CULLEN/FROST BANKERS, INC.

The securities identified above may be offered and sold from time to time by us in one or more offerings. We will provide the specific terms of these securities in supplements to this prospectus. You should read this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement carefully before you invest in the securities described in the applicable prospectus supplement. This prospectus may not be used to sell securities unless accompanied by the applicable prospectus supplement and a pricing supplement, if any.

Our common stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “CFR.”

Investing in our securities involves certain risks. You should carefully read this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement, together with the documents incorporated by reference, before you make your investment decision. See “Risk Factors” on page 5 of this prospectus and our most recent annual report on Form 10-K, which is incorporated herein by reference, as well as any additional risk factors included in, or incorporated by reference into, the applicable prospectus supplement, to read about factors you should consider before buying any of our securities.

These securities have not been approved or disapproved by the Securities and Exchange Commission or any state securities commission nor have these organizations determined if this prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

These securities are not savings accounts, deposits or other obligations of any bank. These securities are not insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other governmental agency and are subject to investment risks.

We may offer and sell the securities directly, through agents, dealers or underwriters as designated from time to time, or through a combination of these methods.

The date of this prospectus is January 31, 2013.

TABLE OF CONTENTS


About This Prospectus			2
Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information			2
Where You Can Find More Information			4
About Cullen/Frost Bankers, Inc.			5
Risk Factors			5
Use of Proceeds			5
Consolidated Earnings Ratios			6
Summary of the Securities We May Offer			7
Validity of Securities			8
Experts			8

You should rely only on the information contained in or incorporated by reference into this prospectus and any applicable prospectus supplement. We have not authorized any other person to provide you with different information. If anyone provides you with different or inconsistent information, you should not rely on it. We are not making an offer to sell the securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted. You should assume that the information appearing in this prospectus, any applicable prospectus supplement and the documents incorporated by reference herein and therein is accurate only as of their respective dates. Our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects may have changed since those dates.

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ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS

This prospectus is part of a registration statement that we filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or SEC, utilizing a “shelf” registration process. The prospectus does not contain all information included in the registration statement. You may review a copy of the registration statement at the SEC’s Public Reference Room as well as through the SEC’s internet site, as described below. Under this shelf registration process, we may offer and sell the securities identified in this prospectus in one or more offerings. Each time we offer and sell securities, we will provide a prospectus supplement along with this prospectus that will contain specific information about the terms of the offering and the securities being offered and, if necessary, a pricing supplement that will contain the specific terms of your securities. The prospectus supplement and, if necessary, the pricing supplement, may also add, update or change information contained in this prospectus. Any information contained in this prospectus will be deemed to be modified or superseded by any inconsistent information contained in a prospectus supplement or a pricing supplement. You should read carefully this prospectus and any prospectus supplement and pricing supplement, together with the additional information described below under “Where You Can Find More Information”.

Unless otherwise indicated or unless the context requires otherwise, all references in this prospectus to “Cullen/Frost”, “we”, “us”, “our” or similar references mean Cullen/Frost Bankers, Inc. and all references in this prospectus to the “Corporation” means Cullen/Frost Bankers, Inc., together with its subsidiaries.

CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION

Certain statements contained in or incorporated by reference into this prospectus that are not statements of historical fact constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (the “Act”), notwithstanding that such statements are not specifically identified as such. In addition, certain statements may be contained in the Corporation’s future filings with the SEC, in press releases, and in oral and written statements made by or with the approval of the Corporation that are not statements of historical fact and constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Act. Examples of forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to: (i) projections of revenues, expenses, income or loss, earnings or loss per share, the payment or nonpayment of dividends, capital structure and other financial items; (ii) statements of plans, objectives and expectations of Cullen/Frost or its management or board of directors, including those relating to products or services; (iii) statements of future economic performance; and (iv) statements of assumptions underlying such statements. Words such as “believes”, “anticipates”, “expects”, “intends”, “targeted”, “continue”, “remain”, “will”, “should”, “may” and other similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements but are not the exclusive means of identifying such statements.

Forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from those in such statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ from those discussed in the forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to:

•

Local, regional, national and international economic conditions and the impact they may have on the Corporation and its customers and the Corporation’s assessment of that impact.

•

Volatility and disruption in national and international financial markets.

•

Government intervention in the U.S. financial system.

•

Changes in the mix of loan geographies, sectors and types or the level of non-performing assets and charge-offs.

•

Changes in estimates of future reserve requirements based upon the periodic review thereof under relevant regulatory and accounting requirements.

•

The effects of and changes in trade and monetary and fiscal policies and laws, including the interest rate policies of the Federal Reserve Board.

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•

Inflation, interest rate, securities market and monetary fluctuations.

•

The effect of changes in laws and regulations (including laws and regulations concerning taxes, banking, securities and insurance) with which the Corporation and its subsidiaries must comply.

•

The soundness of other financial institutions.

•

Political instability.

•

Impairment of the Corporation’s goodwill or other intangible assets.

•

Acts of God or of war or terrorism.

•

The timely development and acceptance of new products and services and perceived overall value of these products and services by users.

•

Changes in consumer spending, borrowings and savings habits.

•

Changes in the financial performance and/or condition of the Corporation’s borrowers.

•

Technological changes.

•

Acquisitions and integration of acquired businesses.

•

The Corporation’s ability to increase market share and control expenses.

•

The Corporation’s ability to attract and retain qualified employees.

•

Changes in the competitive environment in the Corporation’s markets and among banking organizations and other financial service providers.

•

The effect of changes in accounting policies and practices, as may be adopted by the regulatory agencies, as well as the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board, the Financial Accounting Standards Board and other accounting standard setters.

•

Changes in the reliability of the Corporation’s vendors, internal control systems or information systems.

•

Changes in the Corporation’s liquidity position.

•

Changes in the Corporation’s organization, compensation and benefit plans.

•

The costs and effects of legal and regulatory developments including the resolution of legal proceedings or regulatory or other governmental inquiries and the results of regulatory examinations or reviews.

•

Greater than expected costs or difficulties related to the integration of new products and lines of business.

•

The Corporation’s success at managing the risks involved in the foregoing items.

Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date on which such statements are made. The Corporation undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statement to reflect events or circumstances after the date on which such statement is made, or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.

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WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

We file annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. You may read and copy any document we file at the SEC’s Public Reference Room at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. Please call the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330 for further information on the Public Reference Room. The SEC also maintains an Internet website that contains reports, proxy statements and other information about issuers, like Cullen/Frost, that file electronically with the SEC. The address of that site is http://www.sec.gov. Cullen/Frost’s Internet address is http://www.frostbank.com. The information on these web sites is not a part of this document.

In this prospectus, as permitted by law, we “incorporate by reference” information from other documents that we file with the SEC. This means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to those documents. The information incorporated by reference is considered to be a part of this prospectus and should be read with the same care. When we update the information contained in documents that have been incorporated by reference by making future filings with the SEC, the information incorporated by reference in this prospectus is considered to be automatically updated and superseded. In other words, in case of a conflict or inconsistency between information contained in this prospectus and information incorporated by reference into this prospectus, you should rely on the information contained in the document that was filed later.

We incorporate by reference the documents listed below and any documents we file with the SEC in the future (File No. 001-13221) under Section 13(a), 13(c), 14, or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”) until our offering is complete (other than information in such additional documents that is deemed, under the Exchange Act, in accordance with the Exchange Act and SEC rules, to be “furnished” and not filed with the SEC):

•

Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011;

•

Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the periods ended March 31, 2012, June 30, 2012 and September 30, 2012; and

•

Current Reports on Form 8-K, filed on April 27, 2012 and January 31, 2013.

You may request a copy of any of these filings, other than an exhibit to a filing unless that exhibit is specifically incorporated by reference into that filing, at no cost, by writing to or telephoning us at the following address:

Cullen/Frost Bankers, Inc.

100 W. Houston Street

San Antonio, Texas 78205

(210) 220-4011

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ABOUT CULLEN/FROST BANKERS, INC.

Cullen/Frost Bankers, Inc., a Texas business corporation incorporated in 1977, is a financial holding company and a bank holding company headquartered in San Antonio, Texas that provides, through its subsidiaries, a broad array of products and services throughout numerous Texas markets. Cullen/Frost, through its subsidiaries, offers commercial and consumer banking services, as well as trust and investment management, mutual funds, investment banking, insurance, brokerage, leasing, asset-based lending, treasury management and item processing services. At December 31, 2012, Cullen/Frost had consolidated total assets of $23.1 billion and was one of the largest independent bank holding companies headquartered in the State of Texas.

RISK FACTORS

Investing in our securities involves certain risks. Before you invest in any of our securities, in addition to the other information included in, or incorporated by reference into, this prospectus, you should carefully consider the risk factors contained in Item 1A under the caption “Risk Factors” and elsewhere in our most recent annual report on Form 10-K, which is incorporated into this prospectus by reference, as updated by our annual or quarterly reports for subsequent fiscal years or fiscal quarters that we file with the SEC and that are so incorporated. See “Where You Can Find More Information” for information about how to obtain a copy of these documents. You should also carefully consider the risks and other information that may be contained in, or incorporated by reference into, any prospectus supplement relating to specific offerings of securities.

USE OF PROCEEDS

We intend to use the net proceeds from the sale of any securities offered under this prospectus for general corporate purposes, unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement.

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CONSOLIDATED EARNINGS RATIOS

The table below provides Cullen/Frost’s consolidated ratios of earnings to fixed charges and preferred stock dividend requirements for the periods shown.


	For the Nine Months Ended September 30,				For the Year Ended December 31,
	2012		2011		2011		2010		2009		2008		2007
CONSOLIDATED RATIOS OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES*
Excluding interest on deposits		22.34		11.73		12.77		9.96		7.56		7.96		5.62
Including interest on deposits		10.35		6.74		7.16		5.46		3.54		3.01		2.20

During these periods, Cullen/Frost had no outstanding shares of preferred stock. Therefore, the ratio of earnings to combined fixed charges and preferred stock dividends for the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010, 2009, 2008 and 2007 and the nine months ended September 30, 2012 and 2011 is not different from the ratio of earnings to fixed charges for those periods.

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SUMMARY OF THE SECURITIES WE MAY OFFER

We may use this prospectus to offer securities in one or more offerings. The applicable prospectus supplement will describe the amounts, prices and detailed terms of the securities and may describe risks associated with an investment in the securities. We will also include in the prospectus supplement, where applicable, information about material United States federal income tax considerations relating to the securities. Terms used in this prospectus will have the meanings described in this prospectus unless otherwise specified.

We may offer and sell the securities to or through one or more underwriters, dealers or agents, or directly to purchasers. We, as well as any agents acting on our behalf, reserve the sole right to accept or to reject in whole or in part any proposed purchase of our securities. Each prospectus supplement will set forth the names of any underwriters, dealers or agents involved in the sale of our securities described in that prospectus supplement and any applicable fee, commission or discount arrangements with them.

This prospectus may not be used to sell securities unless accompanied by the applicable prospectus supplement.

Common Stock

We may sell our common stock, par value $0.01 per share. In a prospectus supplement, we will describe the aggregate number of shares offered and the offering price or prices of the shares.

Preferred Stock; Depositary Shares

We may sell shares of our preferred stock in one or more series. In a prospectus supplement, we will describe the specific designation, the aggregate number of shares offered, the dividend rate or manner of calculating the dividend rate, the dividend periods or manner of calculating the dividend periods, the ranking of the shares of the series with respect to dividends, liquidation and dissolution, the liquidation preference of the shares of the series, the voting rights of the shares of the series, if any, whether and on what terms the shares of the series will be convertible or exchangeable, whether and on what terms we can redeem the shares of the series, whether we will offer depositary shares representing shares of the series and if so, the fraction or multiple of a share of preferred stock represented by each depositary share, whether we will list the preferred stock or depositary shares on a securities exchange and any other specific terms of the series of preferred stock.

Debt Securities—Senior Debt Securities and Subordinated Debt Securities

We may sell debt securities, including senior debt securities and subordinated debt securities, which may be senior or subordinated in priority of payment. We will provide a prospectus supplement that describes the ranking, whether senior or subordinated, the level of seniority or subordination (as applicable), the specific designation, the aggregate principal amount, the purchase price, the maturity, the redemption terms, the interest rate or manner of calculating the interest rate, the time of payment of interest, if any, the terms for any conversion or exchange, including the terms relating to the adjustment of any conversion or exchange mechanism, the listing, if any, on a securities exchange and any other specific terms of any debt securities that we may issue from time to time.

Warrants

We may sell warrants to purchase our debt securities, shares of preferred stock or shares of our common stock. In a prospectus supplement, we will inform you of the exercise price and other specific terms of the warrants, including whether our or your obligations, if any, under any warrants may be satisfied by delivering or purchasing the underlying securities or their cash value.

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VALIDITY OF SECURITIES

Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, the validity of the securities will be passed upon for us by Stanley E. McCormick, Jr., Executive Vice President and Corporate Counsel of Cullen/Frost, or by such other counsel as we may designate from time to time, and Sullivan & Cromwell LLP, New York, New York. Mr. McCormick beneficially owns shares of our common stock and options to acquire additional shares of our common stock. Certain legal matters will be passed upon for any underwriters by the counsel to such underwriters specified in the applicable prospectus supplement.

EXPERTS

The consolidated financial statements of Cullen/Frost Bankers, Inc. appearing in Cullen/Frost Bankers, Inc.’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011 and the effectiveness of Cullen/Frost Bankers, Inc.’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2011, have been audited by Ernst & Young LLP, independent registered public accounting firm, as set forth in their reports thereon included therein, and incorporated herein by reference. Such consolidated financial statements and Cullen/Frost Bankers, Inc. management’s assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2011 are incorporated herein by reference in reliance upon such report given on the authority of such firm as experts in accounting and auditing.

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CULLEN/FROST BANKERS, INC.

DEBT SECURITIES

PREFERRED STOCK

DEPOSITARY SHARES

COMMON STOCK

WARRANTS

PROSPECTUS

January 31, 2013

PART II.

INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS

ITEM 14.

OTHER EXPENSES OF ISSUANCE AND DISTRIBUTION.

The following is an itemized statement of the estimated fees and expenses in connection with the offering of the securities registered hereunder.


Registration Statement filing fees	$	(1)
Blue Sky fees and expenses		(2)
Printing and engraving expenses		(2)
Trustee, registrar and transfer agent, depositary and warrant agent fees and expenses		(2)
Legal fees and expenses		(2)
Accounting fees and expenses		(2)
Rating agency fees		(2)
Miscellaneous		(2)
Total	$

(1)	In accordance with Rules 456(b) and 457(r), the registrant is deferring payment of any registration fee until the time the securities are sold under this registration statement pursuant to a prospectus supplement.

(2)	Because an indeterminate amount of securities is covered by this registration statement, the expenses in connection with the issuance and distribution of the securities are not currently determinable.

ITEM 15.

INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS

Section 8.101 of the Texas Business Organizations Code permits a Texas corporation to indemnify its directors and officers against liability for their acts under certain circumstances.

Article XI of Cullen/Frost’s restated certificate of formation provides that to the fullest extent not prohibited by law, a director of Cullen/Frost shall not be liable to Cullen/Frost or its shareholders for monetary damages for an act or omission in the director’s capacity as a director, except for: (1) a breach of the director’s duty of loyalty to Cullen/Frost or its shareholders; (2) an act or omission not in good faith or that involves intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of the law; (3) a transaction from which the director received an improper benefit, whether or not the benefit resulted from an action taken within the scope of the director’s office; (4) an act or omission for which the liability of the director is expressly provided for by statute; or (5) an act related to an unlawful stock repurchase or payment of a dividend.

Article V of Cullen/Frost’s by-laws as amended, provides that Cullen/Frost shall, to the fullest extent to which it is empowered to do so by the Texas Business Organizations Code and any other applicable laws as may from time to time be in effect, indemnify any person who was, is or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, by reason of the fact that he or she is or was a director or officer of Cullen/Frost or is or was serving at the request of Cullen/Frost as a director, officer, partner, venturer, proprietor, trustee, employee, agent or similar functionary of another foreign or domestic corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, against all expenses (including attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by him or her in connection with such action, suit or proceeding. Cullen/Frost’s obligations include, but are not limited to, the convening of any meeting, and the consideration of any matter thereby, required by statute in order to determine the eligibility of an officer or director for indemnification. Reasonable expenses incurred in defending a civil or criminal action, suit or proceeding shall be paid by Cullen/Frost in advance of the final disposition of such action, suit or proceeding upon receipt of (1) a written

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affirmation by the director, officer, employee or agent who may be entitled to such indemnification of his or her good faith belief that he or she has met the standard of conduct necessary for indemnification under the applicable statute and (2) a written undertaking by or on behalf of the director, officer, employee or agent who may be entitled to such indemnification to repay such amount if it shall ultimately be determined that he or she is not entitled to be indemnified by Cullen/Frost. Cullen/Frost’s obligation to indemnify and to prepay expenses shall arise, and all rights granted to directors, officers, employees or agents shall vest, at the time of the occurrence of the transaction or event to which such action, suit or proceeding relates, or at the time that the action or conduct to which such action, suit or proceeding relates was first taken or engaged in (or omitted to be taken or engaged in), regardless of when such action, suit or proceeding is first threatened, commenced or completed. Notwithstanding any other provision of the by-laws or the restated certificate of formation of Cullen/Frost, no action taken by Cullen/Frost, either by amendment of the by-laws or the restated certificate of formation of Cullen/Frost or otherwise, shall diminish or adversely affect any rights to indemnification or prepayment of expenses granted under the by-laws which have become vested as aforesaid prior to the date that such amendment or other corporate action is taken. Further, if any provision of this article of the by-laws shall be held to be invalid or unenforceable, the validity and enforceability of the remaining provisions shall not in any way be affected or impaired.

Cullen/Frost maintains director and officer liability insurance coverage for its directors and officers and those of its subsidiaries. This coverage insures such persons against certain losses that may be incurred by them in their respective capacities as directors and officers.

ITEM 16.

EXHIBITS.

The exhibits filed (unless otherwise noted) as a part of this registration statement are set forth in the accompanying Exhibit Index.

ITEM 17.

UNDERTAKINGS.

The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:

(1) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement:

(i) To include any prospectus required by section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933;

(ii) To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of this registration statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in this registration statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than 20 percent change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the “Calculation of Registration Fee” table in the effective registration statement; and

(iii) To include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in this registration statement or any material change to such information in this registration statement;

provided, however, that paragraphs (1)(i), (1)(ii) and (1)(iii) above do not apply if the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in reports filed with or furnished to the SEC by the registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that are incorporated by reference in the registration statement, or is contained in a form of prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) that is part of the registration statement.

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(2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

(3) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering.

(4) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933 to any purchaser:

(A) Each prospectus filed by the registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b)(3) shall be deemed to be part of the registration statement as of the date the filed prospectus was deemed part of and included in the registration statement; and

(B) Each prospectus required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424(b)(2), (b)(5), or (b)(7) as part of a registration statement in reliance on Rule 430B relating to an offering made pursuant to Rule 415(a)(1)(i), (vii), or (x) for the purpose of providing the information required by section 10(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 shall be deemed to be part of and included in the registration statement as of the earlier of the date such form of prospectus is first used after effectiveness or the date of the first contract of sale of securities in the offering described in the prospectus. As provided in Rule 430B, for liability purposes of the issuer and any person that is at that date an underwriter, such date shall be deemed to be a new effective date of the registration statement relating to the securities in the registration statement to which that prospectus relates, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof. Provided, however, that no statement made in a registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement or made in a document incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference into the registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement will, as to a purchaser with a time of contract of sale prior to such effective date, supersede or modify any statement that was made in the registration statement or prospectus that was part of the registration statement or made in any such document immediately prior to such effective date.

(5) That, for the purpose of determining liability of the registrant under the Securities Act of 1933 to any purchaser in the initial distribution of the securities, the undersigned registrant undertakes that in a primary offering of securities of the undersigned registrant pursuant to this registration statement, regardless of the underwriting method used to sell the securities to the purchaser, if the securities are offered or sold to such purchaser by means of any of the following communications, the undersigned registrant will be a seller to the purchaser and will be considered to offer or sell such securities to such purchaser:

(i) Any preliminary prospectus or prospectus of the undersigned registrant relating to the offering required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424;

(ii) Any free writing prospectus relating to the offering prepared by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant or used or referred to by the undersigned registrant;

(iii) The portion of any other free writing prospectus relating to the offering containing material information about the undersigned registrant or its securities provided by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant; and

(iv) Any other communication that is an offer in the offering made by the undersigned registrant to the purchaser.

(6) That, for the purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of the registrant’s annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that is incorporated by reference in this registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

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(7) Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the registrant pursuant to the provisions described under Item 15 of the registration statement, or otherwise, the registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the SEC such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act of 1933 and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person, in connection with the securities being registered, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act of 1933 and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

(8) To file an application for the purpose of determining the eligibility of the trustees to act under subsection (a) of Section 310 of the Trust Indenture Act in accordance with the rules and regulations prescribed by the SEC under Section 305(b)(2) of the Trust Indenture Act.

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SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the undersigned registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-3 and has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in San Antonio, Texas on January 31, 2013.


CULLEN/FROST BANKERS, INC.

By:		*
Richard W. Evans, Jr., Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer and Director

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this registration statement has been signed by the following persons and in the capacities indicated on January 31, 2013.


Signature		Title

* Richard W. Evans, Jr.		Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer and Director (Principal Executive Officer)

* Phillip D. Green		Group Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial Officer and Principal Accounting Officer)

* R. Denny Alexander		Director

* Carlos Alvarez		Director

* Royce S. Caldwell		Director

* Crawford H. Edwards		Director

* Ruben M. Escobedo		Director

* Patrick B. Frost		Director

* David J. Haemisegger		Director

* Karen E. Jennings		Director

* Richard M. Kleberg, III		Director

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* Charles W. Matthews		Director

* Ida Clement Steen		Director

* Horace Wilkins, Jr.		Director

*By: /s/ Phillip D. Green

Phillip D. Green

(Attorney-in-Fact)

Pursuant to Power of Attorney filed herewith

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EXHIBIT INDEX


Exhibit No.		Description of Document

1.1		Form of Underwriting Agreement.*

4.1		Restated Articles of Incorporation of Cullen/Frost Bankers, Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Cullen/Frost Bankers, Inc. Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed on July 26, 2006).

4.2		Amended and Restated Bylaws of Cullen/Frost Bankers, Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.2 of the Cullen/Frost Bankers, Inc. Annual Report on Form 10-K filed on February 1, 2008).

4.3		Form of Certificate representing Cullen/Frost Bankers, Inc. Common Stock.

4.4		Form of Senior Debt Securities Indenture between Cullen/Frost Bankers, Inc. and The Bank of New York Mellon, as Trustee.

4.5		Subordinated Debt Securities Indenture, dated as of February 15, 2007, between Cullen/Frost Bankers, Inc. and The Bank of New York, as Trustee.

4.6		Form of Warrant Agreement.*

4.7		Form of Preferred Stock Designations.*

4.8		Form of Depositary Shares.*

5.1		Opinion of Sullivan & Cromwell LLP.

5.2		Opinion of Stanley E. McCormick, Jr.

8.1		Opinion regarding tax matters.*

12.1		Statement re: Computation of Ratios of Earnings to Fixed Charges and Ratios of Earnings to Combined Fixed Charges and Preferred Stock Dividends.

23.1		Consent of Ernst & Young LLP.

23.2		Consent of Sullivan & Cromwell LLP (included in Exhibit 5.1).

23.3		Consent of Stanley E. McCormick, Jr. (included in Exhibit 5.2).

24.1		Power of attorney.

25.1		Form T-1 Statement of Eligibility under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, of The Bank of New York Mellon, as Trustee for the Form of Senior Debt Securities Indenture.

25.2		Form T-1 Statement of Eligibility under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, of The Bank of New York Mellon, as Trustee for the Subordinated Debt Securities Indenture, dated as of February 15, 2007.

*	To be filed by amendment or as an exhibit to a document to be incorporated by reference herein in connection with an offering of the offered securities, to the extent applicable.

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