Use these links to rapidly review the document
TABLE OF CONTENTS
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF BANKUNITED, INC. AND HERALD

Table of Contents

Filed Pursuant to Rule 424(b)(3)
Registration Number 333-175530

Dear Herald National Bank Shareholder:

           You are cordially invited to attend a special meeting of the shareholders of Herald National Bank ("Herald") to be held on December 22, 2011 at 11:00 a.m. (Eastern) at 623 Fifth Avenue, 11th Floor, New York, New York 10022.

           At the special meeting, you will be asked to consider the acquisition of Herald by BankUnited, Inc. through the merger of a to-be-formed wholly-owned subsidiary of BankUnited, Inc. ("Merger Sub") with and into Herald, and to ratify and confirm the Merger Agreement (the "merger agreement"), dated as of June 2, 2011 and amended as of October 28, 2011, that Herald has entered into with BankUnited, Inc. You also will be asked to approve (i) the adjournment, postponement, or continuation of the special meeting, if necessary, to solicit additional proxies in favor of the ratification and confirmation of the merger agreement and (ii) by non-binding, advisory vote, certain compensation arrangements for Herald's named executive officers in connection with the merger.

           Subject to the terms and conditions set forth in the merger agreement, Merger Sub will merge with and into Herald, with Herald continuing as the surviving entity and a wholly-owned subsidiary of BankUnited, Inc.

           If we complete the merger, holders of Herald's common and preferred stock will be entitled to elect to receive their merger consideration in the form of either BankUnited, Inc. common stock or cash. Subject to the election and adjustment procedures described in this document, Herald shareholders will receive, in exchange for each share of Herald common or preferred stock they hold, consideration equal to the sum of: (1) 0.0990 multiplied by the average of the closing prices of the BankUnited, Inc. common stock on the New York Stock Exchange (the "NYSE") during the ten trading days ending the day before the completion of the merger and (2) $1.35. Based on 16,933,786 shares of Herald common and preferred stock and restricted shares outstanding as of November 11, 2011, and the closing price of BankUnited, Inc. common stock on the NYSE on November 11, 2011, BankUnited, Inc. expects to issue in the merger approximately 1.7 million shares of BankUnited, Inc. common stock to Herald's shareholders for the outstanding common and preferred shares of Herald.

           The value of the merger consideration will fluctuate with the market price of BankUnited, Inc. common stock. As explained in more detail in this document, whether you make a cash election or a stock election, the value of the consideration per share that you will receive as of the completion date will be substantially the same.

           Based on the closing price of BankUnited, Inc. common stock on the NYSE on November 11, 2011, for each of your shares of Herald common or preferred stock you would receive either approximately $3.61 in cash or approximately 0.1582 shares of BankUnited, Inc. common stock. On June 1, 2011, the day before the merger agreement was executed, the closing price of BankUnited, Inc. common stock on the NYSE was $28.11, which would imply a value per Herald share of approximately $4.13 in cash or approximately 0.1470 shares of BankUnited, Inc. common stock. A chart showing the cash and stock merger consideration at various closing prices of BankUnited, Inc. common stock is provided on Page 2 of the attached document.

           The market prices of both BankUnited, Inc. common stock and Herald common stock will fluctuate before the merger. You should obtain current stock price quotations for BankUnited, Inc. common stock and Herald common stock. You can get these quotations from a newspaper, on the Internet or by calling your broker.

           After careful consideration, our Board of Directors has declared unanimously that the merger agreement and the transactions contemplated thereby are advisable. Our Board of Directors recommends that you vote "FOR" the ratification and confirmation of the merger agreement, "FOR" the approval of the adjournment, postponement, or continuation of the special meeting, if necessary, to solicit additional proxies in favor of the ratification and confirmation of the merger agreement, and "FOR" the proposal regarding certain merger-related executive compensation arrangements.

           For more information about the merger agreement and the circumstances that led to it, please read the attached proxy statement/prospectus in its entirety. We encourage you to read it carefully and to pay particular attention to the Risk Factors section that begins on Page 18. This proxy statement/prospectus also constitutes BankUnited, Inc.'s prospectus for the common stock it will issue in connection with the merger. You may obtain additional information about BankUnited, Inc. and Herald from documents that BankUnited, Inc. has filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, and Herald has filed with the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency.

           Your vote is very important.    We cannot complete the merger without the affirmative vote of two-thirds of our outstanding capital stock. If you fail to vote, if you fail to authorize your broker to vote on your behalf, or if you abstain from voting, the effect will be the same as if you had voted against the ratification and confirmation of the merger agreement.

           Whether or not you plan to attend the special meeting, please vote as soon as possible to ensure that your shares are represented. Instructions on how to vote appear on the enclosed proxy card. If you sign and return your proxy card without specifying your vote, your shares will be voted in favor of the ratification and confirmation of the merger agreement, the adjournment, postponement, or continuation of the special meeting, if necessary, to solicit additional proxies in favor of the ratification and confirmation of the merger agreement, and the proposal regarding certain merger-related executive compensation arrangements.

           If you are a Herald shareholder and have any questions or need assistance voting your shares or making elections, please contact Phoenix Advisory Partners, a firm that is helping us solicit proxies, toll-free at (877) 478-5038 (banks and brokers can call collect at (212) 493-3910).

           Thank you in advance for your consideration of this matter.

Sincerely,

---

Raymond A. Nielsen
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

           BankUnited, Inc. common stock is quoted on the NYSE under the symbol "BKU." Herald common stock is quoted on the NYSE Amex under the symbol "HNB."

           Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency nor any state securities commission or bank regulatory agency has approved or disapproved the securities to be issued in the merger or determined if this proxy statement/prospectus is accurate or adequate. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

           The securities to be issued in the merger are not savings or deposit accounts or other obligations of any bank or non-bank subsidiary of either Herald or BankUnited, Inc., and they are not insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other governmental agency.

           This proxy statement/prospectus is dated November 14, 2011 and is first being distributed to Herald shareholders on or about November 16, 2011.

---

Table of Contents

HERALD NATIONAL BANK
NOTICE OF SPECIAL MEETING OF COMMON AND PREFERRED SHAREHOLDERS

---

Table of Contents

---

Table of Contents

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

        This proxy statement/prospectus incorporates by reference important business and financial information about BankUnited, Inc. and Herald from other documents that are not included in or delivered with this proxy statement/prospectus. This information is available to you without charge upon your written or oral request. You can obtain those documents incorporated by reference into this proxy statement/prospectus by accessing the Securities and Exchange Commission's website maintained at http://www.sec.gov, for documents regarding BankUnited, Inc., or by requesting copies in writing or by telephone from the appropriate company, as set forth below, for documents regarding either BankUnited, Inc. or Herald:

        You will not be charged for any of these documents that you request. To receive timely delivery of additional copies of this proxy statement/prospectus in advance of the meeting, please make your request no later than December 15, 2011.

        For a detailed description of how you may obtain information about BankUnited, Inc. and Herald that is not included in this proxy statement/prospectus, see "Where You Can Find More Information" on Page 311 and "Recent Developments" on Page 12.

ABOUT THIS DOCUMENT

        This document, which forms part of a registration statement on Form S-4 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, which we refer to as the "SEC," by BankUnited, Inc. (File No. 333-175530), constitutes a prospectus of BankUnited, Inc. under Section 5 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, which we refer to as the "Securities Act," with respect to the BankUnited, Inc. common shares to be issued to Herald shareholders as required by the merger agreement. This document also constitutes a proxy statement of Herald under Section 14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, which we refer to as the "Exchange Act." It also constitutes a notice of meeting with respect to the special meeting of Herald shareholders, at which Herald shareholders will be asked to vote upon a proposal to ratify and confirm the merger agreement.

        You should rely only on the information contained in or incorporated by reference into this document. No one has been authorized to provide you with information that is different from that contained in, or incorporated by reference into, this document. This document is dated November 14, 2011. You should not assume that the information contained in, or incorporated by reference into, this document is accurate as of any date other than that date. Neither the mailing of this document to Herald shareholders nor the issuance by BankUnited, Inc. of stock in connection with the merger will create any implication to the contrary.

        This document does not constitute an offer to sell, or a solicitation of an offer to buy, any securities, or the solicitation of a proxy, in any jurisdiction to or from any person to whom it is unlawful to make any such offer or solicitation in such jurisdiction. Except where the context otherwise indicates, information contained in this document regarding Herald has been provided by Herald and information contained in this document regarding BankUnited, Inc. has been provided by BankUnited, Inc.

---

Table of Contents

TABLE OF CONTENTS

i

---

Table of Contents

ii

---

Table of Contents

 

iii

---

Table of Contents

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ABOUT THE MERGER AND SPECIAL MEETING

        The questions and answers below highlight only selected procedural information from this proxy statement/prospectus. They do not contain all of the information that may be important to you. You should read carefully the entire document and the additional documents incorporated by reference into this proxy statement/prospectus to fully understand the merger agreement and the transactions contemplated thereby, including the merger, and the voting procedures for the special meeting. We generally refer to Herald National Bank as "Herald," and BankUnited, Inc. as "BankUnited, Inc.," throughout this proxy statement/prospectus.

Q:    What is the proposed transaction for which I am being asked to vote?

A:

Holders of Herald's common and preferred stock are being asked to ratify and confirm the Merger Agreement, referred to in this proxy statement/prospectus as the "merger agreement," dated as of June 2, 2011, and amended as of October 28, 2011, by and between BankUnited, Inc. and Herald, pursuant to which a to-be-formed wholly-owned subsidiary of BankUnited, Inc., referred to in this proxy statement/prospectus as "Merger Sub," will merge with and into Herald, with Herald continuing as the surviving entity and a wholly-owned subsidiary of BankUnited, Inc., which transaction we refer to as "the merger" within this proxy statement/prospectus. Subject to certain approvals and conditions, the merger agreement provides that Herald will be merged with and into BankUnited, BankUnited, Inc.'s wholly-owned banking subsidiary, at the end of August 2012. In addition, you may also be asked to vote to approve a proposal to adjourn, postpone or continue the special meeting, if necessary, to solicit additional proxies in favor of the ratification and confirmation of the merger agreement.

Q:    Is Herald required to submit the merger agreement to its shareholders?

A:

Yes. Under the terms of the merger agreement, unless the merger agreement is terminated before the Herald special meeting, Herald is required to submit the merger agreement to its shareholders even if Herald's Board of Directors has withdrawn, modified or qualified its recommendation. The Herald Board of Directors unanimously recommends that you vote "FOR" the ratification and confirmation of the merger agreement.

Q:

Why is Herald not merging into BankUnited, Inc.'s existing banking subsidiary until August 2012?

A:

John A. Kanas, BankUnited, Inc.'s Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, and John Bohlsen, BankUnited, Inc.'s Vice Chairman and Chief Lending Officer and a director, are subject to non-compete agreements which expire in August 2012. These agreements purport to restrict Messrs. Kanas and Bohlsen in their individual capacities from engaging in the consumer and commercial banking businesses in New York. Until the expiration of these agreements, it is BankUnited, Inc.'s expectation that Herald will not be merged with, and will be held separately from, BankUnited, BankUnited, Inc.'s wholly-owned banking subsidiary. During that period, neither Mr. Kanas nor Mr. Bohlsen will be an officer, director or employee of Herald, nor will they have any decision-making authority with respect to or otherwise participate in the affairs of Herald. Subject to certain approvals and conditions, the merger agreement provides that Herald will be merged with and into BankUnited at the end of August 2012, and the parties expect such merger to occur at such time.

Q:    Who is entitled to vote?

A:

Only holders of record of Herald common and preferred stock at the close of business on October 27, 2011 will be entitled to vote at the special meeting.

iv

---

Table of Contents

Q:    When and where will the special meeting be held?

A:

The special meeting will be held at 623 Fifth Avenue, 11^th Floor, New York, New York 10022 at 11:00 a.m. (Eastern) on December 22, 2011.

Q:    What do I need to do now?

A:

After you have carefully read this proxy statement/prospectus and have decided how you wish to vote your shares, please vote your shares promptly. If you hold Herald stock in your name as a shareholder of record, you must complete, sign, date, and mail your proxy card in the enclosed postage paid return envelope as soon as possible. You may also authorize a proxy to vote your shares by telephone or through the Internet as instructed on the enclosed proxy card. If you hold your stock in "street name" through a bank or broker, you must direct your bank or broker to vote in accordance with the instructions you have received from your bank or broker. Submitting your proxy card, authorizing a proxy by telephone or through the Internet, or directing your bank or broker to vote your shares will ensure that your shares are represented and voted at the special meeting.

Q:

If I am a Herald shareholder, should I send my Herald stock certificates with my proxy card?

A:

No. Please DO NOT send your Herald stock certificates with your proxy card. Rather, prior to the election deadline of December 21, 2011, you should send your Herald stock certificates to the exchange agent, together with your completed, signed form of election. If your shares are held in "street name," you should follow your broker's instructions for making an election with respect to your shares.

Q:

If I am a Herald shareholder, when must I elect the type of merger consideration that I prefer to receive?

A:

Holders of Herald preferred or common stock who wish to elect the type of merger consideration they prefer to receive in the merger should carefully review and follow the instructions set forth in the form of election being distributed to you concurrently with this proxy statement/prospectus. Separate forms of election will be received, and should be completed, with respect to shares of Herald preferred stock and shares of Herald common stock. These instructions require that a properly completed and signed form of election be received by the exchange agent by the election deadline, which is 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on December 21, 2011, the day prior to the date of the special meeting of Herald shareholders. If a Herald shareholder does not submit a properly completed and signed form of election to the exchange agent by the election deadline, then such shareholder will have no control over the type of merger consideration such shareholder may receive, and, consequently, may receive only cash, only BankUnited, Inc. common stock, or a combination of cash and BankUnited, Inc. common stock in the merger.

Q:    If I am a Herald shareholder, can I change my election after I submit my certificates?

A:

You can revoke your election and submit new election materials prior to the election deadline. You may do so by submitting a written notice to the exchange agent that is received prior to the election deadline at the following address:

Registrar and Transfer Company
Attn. Reorg/Exchange Dept.
P.O. Box 645
Cranford, New Jersey 07106-0645

The revocation must specify the account name and such other information as the exchange agent may request; revocations may not be made in part. New elections must be submitted in accordance

v

---

Table of Contents

with the election procedures described in this proxy statement/prospectus. If you instructed a broker to submit an election for your shares, you must follow your broker's directions for changing those instructions.

Q:    Why is my vote important?

A:

If you do not vote by proxy or vote in person at the special meeting, it will be more difficult for us to obtain the necessary quorum to hold our special meeting. In addition, your failure to vote, by proxy or in person, will have the same effect as a vote against the ratification and confirmation of the merger agreement. The merger agreement must be ratified and confirmed by the affirmative vote of the holders of two-thirds of Herald capital stock outstanding (i.e., Herald's preferred and common stock voting together as a single class). Approval of the proposal to adjourn, postpone or continue the special meeting, if necessary for the purpose of soliciting additional proxies, requires the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of Herald common stock entitled to vote on the matter. Approval of the non-binding proposal regarding certain merger-related executive compensation arrangements requires the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of Herald common stock entitled to vote on the matter. At the same time BankUnited, Inc. and Herald entered into the merger agreement, BankUnited, Inc. entered into voting agreements with Herald's directors, certain of Herald's officers, and certain Herald shareholders represented on Herald's Board of Directors. Together, these persons had the right to vote approximately 43.10% of Herald's capital stock as of the date the merger agreement was signed. Herald's Board of Directors unanimously recommends that you vote "FOR" the ratification and confirmation of the merger agreement, "FOR" the approval of the adjournment, postponement or continuation of the special meeting, if necessary, to solicit additional proxies in favor of the ratification and confirmation of the merger agreement, and "FOR" the non-binding proposal regarding certain merger-related executive compensation arrangements.

Q:

Why are Herald shareholders being asked to approve, on a nonbinding advisory basis, certain merger-related executive compensation arrangements?

A:

The SEC has recently adopted new rules that require Herald to seek a nonbinding advisory vote with respect to certain payments that may be made to Herald's named executive officers in connection with the merger.

Q:

What will happen if Herald shareholders do not approve certain merger-related executive compensation arrangements at the special meeting?

A:

Approval of merger-related executive compensation arrangements, payable under existing agreements, that certain Herald named executive officers may receive in connection with the merger is not a condition to completion of the merger. The vote with respect to the merger-related executive compensation arrangements is an advisory vote and will not be binding on Herald. Therefore, if the merger agreement is ratified and confirmed by Herald's shareholders the merger-related executive compensation arrangements may still be paid to the Herald named executive officers if and to the extent required.

Q:

If my shares of Herald stock are held in street name by my broker, will my broker automatically vote my shares for me?

A:

No. Your broker cannot vote your shares without instructions from you. You should instruct your broker as to how to vote your shares, following the directions your broker provides to you. Please check the voting form used by your broker.

vi

---

Table of Contents

Q:    What if I fail to instruct my broker?

A:

If you do not provide your broker with instructions and your broker submits an unvoted proxy, referred to as a broker non-vote, the broker non-vote will be counted toward a quorum at the special meeting, but it will have the same effect as a vote against the ratification and confirmation of the merger agreement. With respect to the proposal to adjourn, postpone or continue the special meeting, if necessary, to solicit additional proxies and the non-binding proposal regarding certain merger-related executive compensation arrangements, an abstention or failure to instruct your broker will have the same effect as a vote against the proposal.

Q:    Can I attend the special meeting and vote my shares in person?

A:

Yes. All shareholders, including shareholders of record and shareholders who hold their shares through banks, brokers, nominees or any other holder of record, may attend the special meeting. If you are not a shareholder of record, you must obtain a proxy, executed in your favor, from the record holder of your shares of Herald stock, such as a broker, bank or other nominee, to be able to vote in person at the special meeting. If you plan to attend the special meeting, you must hold your shares of Herald stock in your own name or have a letter from the record holder of your shares of Herald stock confirming your ownership and you must bring a form of personal photo identification with you in order to be admitted.

Q:    Can I change my vote?

A:

Yes. A Herald shareholder who is a shareholder of record and has given a proxy may revoke it at any time before its exercise at the special meeting by (i) giving written notice of revocation to Herald's corporate secretary, (ii) properly submitting to Herald a duly executed proxy bearing a later date, or (iii) attending the special meeting and voting in person. Any Herald shareholder entitled to vote in person at the special meeting may vote in person regardless of whether a proxy has been previously given, and such vote will revoke any previous proxy, but the mere presence (without notifying the Corporate Secretary) of a Herald shareholder at the special meeting will not constitute revocation of a previously given proxy. If you hold your shares in "street name" through a bank or broker, you should contact your bank or broker to revoke your proxy.

Any written notices of revocation and other communications with respect to revocation of proxies should be addressed to Herald as follows: Corporate Secretary, Herald National Bank, 623 Fifth Avenue, 11^th Floor, New York, New York 10022, and must be received by 11:59 p.m. Eastern time on December 21, 2011, or the day before the meeting date, if the special meeting is adjourned, postponed or continued.

Proxies may also be revoked via the Internet or telephone by following the instructions on your proxy card.

Q:    Is the merger expected to be taxable to Herald shareholders?

A:

Subsequent to the receipt of certain regulatory approvals, and promptly upon the expiration of the non-compete agreements of John A. Kanas and John Bohlsen in August 2012, BankUnited, Inc. will cause Herald to merge with and into BankUnited, a direct, wholly-owned subsidiary of BankUnited, Inc., which transaction we refer to as the "subsequent merger." Unless otherwise indicated in this proxy statement/prospectus or the context otherwise requires, all references in this proxy statement/prospectus to "the merger" are to the proposed merger of Herald and Merger Sub and all references to the "integrated mergers" are to the merger and the merger of Herald and BankUnited, collectively. The integrated mergers should be treated as a single integrated transaction for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Consequently, the integrated mergers will be treated, together, as a reorganization within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Internal Revenue

vii

---

Table of Contents

Code of 1986, as amended, referred to in this proxy statement/prospectus as the "Code." As a result, the U.S. federal income tax consequences of the integrated mergers to each Herald shareholder will vary depending on whether the shareholder receives cash, shares of BankUnited, Inc. common stock or a combination thereof in exchange for the shareholder's Herald stock pursuant to the merger. Herald shareholders generally will not recognize gain or loss on the BankUnited, Inc. common stock received pursuant to the merger, and their basis in and holding periods for the BankUnited, Inc. common stock received may vary among shares if blocks of Herald stock were acquired at different times or for different prices.

Holders receiving solely cash for their Herald stock generally will recognize gain or loss equal to the difference between the amount of cash received and their tax basis in their shares of Herald stock. Holders receiving both BankUnited, Inc. common stock and cash for their Herald stock generally will recognize gain (but not loss) in an amount equal to the lesser of (i) the holder's gain realized (i.e., the excess, if any, of the sum of the amount of cash and the fair market value of the BankUnited, Inc. common stock received over the holder's adjusted tax basis in its shares of Herald stock surrendered) and (ii) the amount of cash received pursuant to the merger.

You should read "Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences of the Merger" beginning on Page 94 for a more complete discussion of the U.S. federal income tax consequences of the merger. Tax matters can be complicated, and the tax consequences of the merger to you will depend on your particular tax situation. You should consult your tax advisor to determine the tax consequences of the merger to you.

Q:    When do you expect to complete the merger?

A:

We expect to complete the merger by year-end 2011, subject to the receipt of regulatory approvals and other customary closing conditions. However, we cannot assure you when or if the merger will occur. Among other things, we cannot complete the merger until we obtain the approval of Herald shareholders at the special meeting.

Q:    Whom should I call with questions about the special meeting or the merger?

A:

Herald shareholders should call Phoenix Advisory Partners, Herald's proxy solicitors, toll-free at (877) 478-5038 (banks and brokers can call collect at (212) 493-3910), with any questions about the special meeting or the merger and related transactions.

viii

---

Table of Contents

SUMMARY

        This summary highlights selected information from this proxy statement/prospectus. It may not contain all the information that is important to you. We urge you to read carefully this entire document and the other documents we refer you to for a more complete understanding of the merger described herein. Each item in this summary includes a page reference directing you to a more complete description of that item. Unless otherwise indicated in this proxy statement/prospectus or the context otherwise requires, all references in this proxy statement/prospectus to "BankUnited, Inc.," "we," "our" or "us" refer to BankUnited, Inc., and all references to "Herald" refer to Herald National Bank.

We Propose a Merger of Herald and Merger Sub (Page 38)

        We propose that "Merger Sub," a to-be-formed, wholly-owned, direct national bank subsidiary of BankUnited, Inc., will merge with and into Herald, with Herald as the surviving entity. Upon completion of the merger, Herald will become a wholly-owned subsidiary of BankUnited, Inc., and Herald common stock will no longer be publicly traded. We currently expect to complete the merger by year-end 2011, subject to the receipt of regulatory approvals and other customary closing conditions. The merger agreement provides that, subject to certain approvals and conditions, on the last business day of August 2012, Herald will merge with and into BankUnited, BankUnited, Inc.'s wholly-owned banking subsidiary, with BankUnited as the surviving entity, and the parties expect such merger to occur on the last business day of August 2012.

Herald shareholders will receive cash and/or shares of BankUnited, Inc. common stock in the merger depending on their election and any adjustment (Page 71)

        Herald shareholders will have the right to elect to receive merger consideration for each of their shares of Herald preferred and common stock in the form of cash or shares of BankUnited, Inc. common stock, subject to adjustment in the circumstances described below. In the event of adjustment, a Herald shareholder may receive a portion or all of the merger consideration in a form other than that which the shareholder elected.

        The value of the merger consideration to be received by Herald shareholders will fluctuate with the market price of BankUnited, Inc. common stock and will be determined based on the average closing price on the NYSE of BankUnited, Inc. common stock for the ten trading days immediately preceding the date of completion of the merger. As explained in more detail in this document, if you are a Herald shareholder, whether you make a cash election or a stock election, the value of the consideration that you will receive as of the date of completion of the merger will be substantially the same based on the average BankUnited, Inc. closing price used to calculate the merger consideration. Herald shareholders may specify different elections with respect to different shares that they hold (if, for example, you own 100 Herald shares, you could make a cash election with respect to 50 shares and a stock election with respect to the other 50 shares).

        Holders of Herald common and preferred stock will have the same election rights and will receive the same dollar value of merger consideration in the merger. However, elections made with respect to Herald preferred stock will be given priority such that those elections will determine the amounts of cash and stock available as merger consideration for Herald common shareholders.

        Set forth below is a table showing a hypothetical range of ten-day average closing sale prices for shares of BankUnited, Inc. common stock, the corresponding consideration that a Herald shareholder would receive in a cash election, on the one hand, or in a stock election, on the other hand, under the merger consideration formula, and the corresponding aggregate merger consideration that all Herald shareholders would receive under the merger consideration formula. The table does not reflect the fact that cash will be paid instead of the issuance of fractional shares. As described below, regardless of whether you make a cash election or a stock election, you may nevertheless receive a mix of cash and stock.

1

---

Table of Contents

        The examples above are illustrative only. If you are a Herald shareholder, the value of the merger consideration that you actually receive, and the aggregate merger consideration to be received by all Herald shareholders, will be based on the actual ten-day average closing price on the NYSE of BankUnited, Inc. common stock immediately prior to the completion date of the merger, as described below. If that average closing price is not included in the table above, including because the price is outside the range of the amounts set forth above, we do not intend to resolicit proxies from Herald shareholders in connection with the merger.

        The merger consideration will be based on the arithmetic average of the closing prices of BankUnited, Inc. common stock reported on the NYSE for the ten consecutive trading days

2

---

Table of Contents

immediately preceding the completion date of the merger, which we refer to as the "measuring period." Based on the closing price of BankUnited, Inc. common stock of $22.82 on November 11, 2011, for each of your shares of Herald common stock or preferred stock you would receive either approximately $3.61 in cash or 0.1582 shares of BankUnited, Inc. common stock, subject to possible adjustment. This implies aggregate merger consideration for all Herald shareholders and holders of Herald restricted stock of approximately $61.1 million. However, we will compute the actual amount of cash and number of shares of BankUnited, Inc. common stock you will receive in the merger using the formula contained in the merger agreement. For a summary of the formula contained in the merger agreement, see "The Merger Agreement—Merger Consideration" beginning on Page 71.

        The consideration to be paid to shareholders cannot be determined until the close of trading on the trading day immediately prior to the completion of the merger. We intend to announce these amounts when known.

If You Are a Herald Shareholder, Regardless of Whether You Make a Cash Election or a Stock Election, You May Nevertheless Receive a Mix of Cash and Stock (Page 72)

        The aggregate number of shares of BankUnited, Inc. common stock that will be issued in the merger is approximately 1.7 million, based on the closing price of BankUnited, Inc. common stock on November 11, 2011 and the number of Herald preferred and common shares and shares of restricted stock outstanding on that date, and the cash that will be paid in the merger is fixed at $22,860,611.10. As a result, if more Herald shareholders elect to receive either BankUnited, Inc. common stock or cash than is available as merger consideration under the merger agreement, those shareholders electing the over-subscribed form of consideration will have the over-subscribed consideration prorated and will receive at least a portion of their consideration in the other form, despite their election. In making these prorations, elections made with respect to Herald preferred stock will be given priority such that all of the elections made with respect to such stock will be given effect before any cash or stock is used to satisfy elections made with respect to shares of Herald common stock. For example, if there is insufficient cash to provide to all of the preferred and common shares with respect to which a cash election has been made, the available cash will first be allocated to shares of preferred stock with respect to which a cash election has been made. Whatever cash, if any, is available after satisfying elections made with respect to Herald preferred stock would then be used to satisfy elections made with respect to Herald common stock.

        If, prior to the completion of the merger, shares of Herald common stock are issued upon the exercise of outstanding options to purchase or receive shares of Herald common stock, the aggregate number of shares of BankUnited, Inc. common stock to be issued as consideration in the merger will be increased accordingly. The final number of BankUnited, Inc. shares to be issued in the merger will also differ depending on the average closing price of BankUnited, Inc. common stock during the measuring period. However, the total cash consideration will always remain fixed at $22,860,611.10.

In Order To Make an Election, Herald Shareholders Must Properly Complete and Deliver the Form of Election that is Being Distributed to Them Concurrently With this Document (Page 71)

        If you are a Herald shareholder, a form of election with instructions for making cash and stock elections is being distributed to you concurrently with this proxy statement/prospectus. Separate forms of election will be received, and should be completed, with respect to shares of Herald preferred stock and shares of Herald common stock. You must properly complete and deliver to the exchange agent your form of election along with your stock certificates (or a properly completed notice of guaranteed delivery). Do not send your stock certificates or form of election with your proxy card.

        Forms of election and stock certificates (or a properly completed notice of guaranteed delivery) must be received by the exchange agent by the election deadline, which is 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on December 21, 2011, the day prior to the date of the Herald special meeting. Once you tender

3

---

Table of Contents

your stock certificates to the exchange agent, you may not transfer your Herald shares until the merger is completed, unless you revoke your election by written notice to the exchange agent that is received prior to the election deadline.

        If you fail to submit a properly completed form of election, together with your stock certificates (or a properly completed notice of guaranteed delivery), prior to the election deadline, you will be deemed not to have made an election. As a non-electing holder, you will be paid value per share equivalent to the amount paid per share to holders making elections, but you may be paid all in cash, all in BankUnited, Inc. common stock, or in part cash and in part BankUnited, Inc. common stock, depending on the remaining pool of cash and BankUnited, Inc. common stock available for paying merger consideration after honoring the cash elections and stock elections that other shareholders have made.

What Holders of Herald Stock Options Will Receive (Page 77)

        At the effective time of the merger, each outstanding option to acquire shares of Herald common stock will vest and be converted into a BankUnited, Inc. option to acquire a number of shares equal to the product obtained by multiplying the number of shares of Herald common stock that were purchasable under such option immediately prior to the merger by the Exchange Ratio (defined on Page 72), rounded down to the nearest whole share, and shall continue to be governed by the same terms and conditions as were applicable under such option immediately prior to the effective time. The per share exercise price for each Herald option will equal the quotient obtained by dividing (1) the per share exercise price of the option in effect immediately prior to the effective time of the merger by (2) the Exchange Ratio, rounded up to the nearest whole cent.

What Holders of Herald Restricted Stock Will Receive (Page 77)

        At the effective time of the merger, each outstanding share of Herald restricted stock will vest and be entitled to the same merger consideration as the shares of Herald common stock, being treated for these purposes as having not made an election to receive cash or stock consideration in the merger.

What Holders of Herald Warrants Will Receive (Page 77)

        At the effective time of the merger, BankUnited, Inc. shall assume and cause to be performed all obligations of Herald pursuant to the Stock Warrant Agreement, dated as of November 24, 2008, by Herald in favor of the parties listed on Exhibit A thereto. Each warrant so assumed by BankUnited, Inc. will continue to have, and be subject to, the same terms and conditions set forth in that agreement immediately prior to the effective time of the merger, except that each such outstanding warrant will be exercisable for shares of BankUnited, Inc. common stock and cash in the same proportion that the holders of Herald common stock receive in the aggregate in the merger as measured as of the effective time.

Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences of the Merger (Page 94)

        The integrated mergers should be treated as a single integrated transaction for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Consequently, the integrated mergers will be treated, together, as a reorganization within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code. As a result, the U.S. federal income tax consequences of the integrated mergers to each Herald shareholder will vary depending on whether the shareholder receives cash, shares of BankUnited, Inc. common stock or a combination thereof in exchange for the shareholder's Herald stock pursuant to the merger. Herald shareholders generally will not recognize gain or loss on the BankUnited, Inc. common stock received pursuant to the merger, and their basis in and holding periods for the BankUnited, Inc. common stock received may vary among shares if blocks of Herald stock were acquired at different times or for different prices.

4

---

Table of Contents

        Holders receiving solely cash for their Herald stock generally will recognize gain or loss equal to the difference between the amount of cash received and their tax basis in their shares of Herald stock. Holders receiving both BankUnited, Inc. common stock and cash for their Herald stock generally will recognize gain (but not loss) in an amount equal to the lesser of (i) the holder's gain realized (i.e., the excess, if any, of the sum of the amount of cash and the fair market value of the BankUnited, Inc. common stock received over the holder's adjusted tax basis in its shares of Herald stock surrendered) and (ii) the amount of cash received pursuant to the merger.

        If, contrary to BankUnited, Inc.'s and Herald's expectations, the subsequent merger does not occur, the merger would be treated as a taxable stock sale by Herald shareholders pursuant to which they would recognize gain or loss equal to the difference between their tax basis in their Herald shares and the sum of the amount of cash plus the fair market value, as of the effective date of the merger, of any BankUnited, Inc. common stock received pursuant to the merger. BankUnited, Inc. and Herald intend to report BankUnited, Inc.'s acquisition of Herald as a reorganization within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code assuming the subsequent merger occurs, as expected, and will notify former holders of Herald stock in the unlikely event that the subsequent merger does not occur.

        This discussion may not be applicable to all Herald shareholders. You should read "Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences of the Merger" beginning on Page 94 for a more complete discussion of the U.S. federal income tax consequences of the merger. Tax matters can be complicated, and the tax consequences of the merger to you will depend on your particular tax situation. You should consult your tax advisor to determine the tax consequences of the merger to you.

Recommendation of Herald's Board of Directors (Page 45)

        The Herald Board of Directors unanimously determined that the merger agreement, the merger, and the other transactions contemplated by the merger agreement are advisable and in the best interests of Herald and its shareholders, adopted the merger agreement and approved the merger, and recommended that Herald's shareholders ratify and confirm the merger agreement. In connection with the foregoing, the Board considered, among other factors, the opinion of Sandler O'Neill & Partners, L.P., who we refer to in this proxy statement/prospectus as "Sandler O'Neill," Herald's financial advisor.

        Herald's Board of Directors also recommends that Herald shareholders vote "FOR" the approval of the adjournment, postponement or continuation of the special meeting, if necessary, to solicit additional proxies in favor of the ratification and confirmation of the merger agreement and "FOR" the non-binding proposal regarding certain merger-related executive compensation arrangements.

        For more information concerning the background of the merger, the recommendation of Herald's Board of Directors and the reasons for the merger and the recommendation, please see the discussions under "The Merger—Background of the Merger" and "The Merger—Herald's Reasons for the Merger; Recommendation of Herald's Board of Directors," commencing on Page 39 and Page 45, respectively.

Opinion of Herald's Financial Advisor (Page 48)

        Sandler O'Neill rendered its oral opinion, subsequently confirmed in writing, to Herald's Board of Directors that, as of the date of the opinion and based upon and subject to the procedures followed, assumptions made, matters considered, and qualifications and limitations on the review undertaken by Sandler O'Neill in rendering its opinion, the merger consideration was fair to the holders of Herald common stock from a financial point of view.

        The full text of Sandler O'Neill's written opinion, dated June 2, 2011, which sets forth the procedures followed, assumptions made, matters considered, and qualifications and limitations on the review undertaken by Sandler O'Neill in rendering its opinion, is included in this proxy statement/prospectus as Annex D. Sandler O'Neill provided its opinion for the information and assistance of Herald's Board of Directors for purposes of its evaluation of the merger and addressed only the fairness as of the date of the opinion, from a financial point of view, of the merger consideration to the holders of Herald common stock. Sandler O'Neill's opinion does not constitute a recommendation to any Herald shareholder as to how any such holder should vote or act with respect to the merger, any related matter or any other matter. In addition, Sandler O'Neill was not requested to opine as to, and its opinion does not in any manner address, Herald's underlying business decision to proceed with the merger.

5

---

Table of Contents

        For further information, please see the discussion under the caption "The Merger—Opinion of Herald's Financial Advisor," commencing on Page 48.

Herald's Directors and Executive Officers May Have Interests in the Merger that Differ from Your Interests (Page 65)

        Certain members of the Herald management and Board of Directors have financial interests in the merger that are in addition to, and may be different from, any interests they may have as shareholders of Herald, generally. These interests include, among others, provisions in the merger agreement relating to indemnification of the directors and officers, accelerated vesting in stock options and restricted stock awards as the result of the change in control, the assumption of warrants to purchase shares of Herald common stock, and, subject to applicable regulatory approval, amended and restated employment agreements for each of Messrs. Nielsen, Carleton, and Perri that will take effect at the effective time of the merger and that provide for transaction bonuses as soon as practicable following the consummation of the merger, and retention bonuses that are payable one year following the merger. In addition, two significant Herald preferred and common shareholders, Palladium Equity Partners III, L.P. and SBAV, LP, will receive $2.3 million in cash in the aggregate in exchange for the release of certain rights under their existing stock purchase agreements with Herald. Representatives of Palladium Equity Partners III, L.P. (Justin Green) and SBAV, LP (Scott Arnold) are members of Herald's Board of Directors. The Herald Board was aware of these interests when approving the merger.

Comparative Market Prices of Securities (Page 99)

        BankUnited, Inc.'s common stock is listed on the NYSE under the symbol "BKU." Herald's common stock is listed on the NYSE Amex exchange under the symbol "HNB." The following table presents the closing prices of BankUnited, Inc. common stock and Herald common stock on June 1, 2011, the last trading day before we announced the merger, and on November 11, 2011, the last practicable date before our printing of this proxy statement/prospectus. The table also presents the implied value of the merger consideration proposed for each share of Herald common and preferred stock on those dates, as determined by multiplying the closing price of BankUnited, Inc. common stock on those dates by 0.0990 and adding $1.35.

        The market prices of both BankUnited, Inc. common stock and Herald common stock will fluctuate prior to the merger. You should obtain current stock price quotations for BankUnited, Inc. common stock and Herald common stock. You can get these quotations from a newspaper, on the Internet or by calling your broker.

Dividends (Page 99)

        The payment, timing and amount of dividends by BankUnited, Inc. on its common stock or Herald on its preferred or common stock in the future, either before or after the merger is completed, are subject to the determination of the respective BankUnited, Inc. and Herald Boards of Directors and depend on cash requirements, the financial condition and earnings of BankUnited, Inc. and Herald, legal and regulatory considerations, and other factors. In addition, in the merger agreement Herald agreed not to make, declare, pay or set aside for payment any dividend on or in respect of, or declare any distribution on, any shares of Herald stock prior to the effective date of the merger.

6

---

Table of Contents

The Merger Will Be Accounted for as a "Business Combination" (Page 93)

        The merger will be treated as a "business combination" using the acquisition method of accounting with BankUnited, Inc. treated as the acquirer under generally accepted accounting principles, or "GAAP."

Special Meeting of Herald Shareholders (Page 35)

        Herald plans to hold its special meeting of its shareholders on December 22, 2011, at 11:00 a.m. local time, at 623 Fifth Avenue, 11th Floor, New York, New York 10022. At the special meeting you will be asked to approve (i) the ratification and confirmation of the merger agreement, (ii) the adjournment, postponement, or continuation of the special meeting, if necessary, to solicit additional proxies in favor of the merger agreement, and (iii) by non-binding, advisory vote, certain compensation arrangements for Herald's named executive officers in connection with the merger.

        You can vote at the Herald special meeting of shareholders if you owned Herald preferred or common stock at the close of business on October 27, 2011. As of that date, there were approximately 12,217,868 shares of Herald common stock outstanding and entitled to vote, approximately 3,060,957 of which, or 25.05%, were owned beneficially or of record by directors and officers of Herald or their affiliates, and 4,684,928 shares of Herald preferred stock outstanding and entitled to vote on the matters described herein, approximately 4,224,589 of which, or 90.17%, were owned beneficially or of record by directors and officers of Herald or their affiliates. You can cast one vote for each share of Herald stock that you owned on that date.

Dissenters' and Appraisal Rights (Page 63)

        Pursuant to Section 215a of Title 12 of the United States Code, referred to in this proxy statement/prospectus as "12 U.S.C. § 215a," Herald shareholders will, under the merger agreement, have the right to dissent from the merger and to receive, in lieu of the merger consideration described under "The Merger Agreement—Merger Consideration" beginning on Page 71, payment in cash for the value of their shares of Herald common and preferred stock. Herald shareholders electing to do so must comply with the provisions of 12 U.S.C. § 215a in order to perfect their rights of appraisal. Herald shareholders who elect to exercise appraisal rights must vote against the proposal to ratify and confirm the merger agreement or give written notice in writing at or prior to the special meeting to the presiding officer that the shareholder dissents from the merger agreement and must comply with the provisions of 12 U.S.C. § 215a, in order to perfect their rights. Strict compliance with the statutory procedures in 12 U.S.C. § 215a is required. Failure to follow precisely any of the statutory requirements will result in the loss of your appraisal rights.

        We have included a copy of 12 U.S.C. § 215a as Annex C to this proxy statement/prospectus.

The Merger Requires the Approval of Holders of Two-Thirds of Herald's Outstanding Capital Stock (Page 36)

        The merger agreement must be ratified and confirmed by the holders of two-thirds of the outstanding capital stock of Herald (i.e., Herald's preferred and common stock voting together as a single class). Herald is calling a special meeting of the preferred and common shareholders to consider and vote on the proposal to ratify and confirm the merger agreement. Herald's Board of Directors has fixed the close of business on October 27, 2011 as the record date for determining the Herald preferred and common shareholders entitled to receive notice of and to vote at the special meeting. As of that date, Herald directors and executive officers and their affiliates beneficially owned approximately 7,285,546, or 43.10%, of the shares entitled to vote at the Herald special meeting.

7

---

Table of Contents

        At the same time BankUnited, Inc. and Herald entered into the merger agreement, BankUnited, Inc. entered into voting agreements with Herald's directors, certain of Herald's officers, and certain Herald shareholders represented on Herald's Board of Directors. Together, these persons had the right to vote approximately 43.10% of Herald's capital stock as of the date the merger agreement was signed.

Approval of the Non-Binding Proposal Regarding Certain Merger-Related Executive Compensation Arrangements Requires the Affirmative Vote of the Holders of a Majority of the Outstanding Shares of Herald Common Stock Entitled to Vote on the Matter (Page 93)

        Approval of the non-binding proposal regarding certain merger-related executive compensation arrangements requires the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of Herald common stock entitled to vote on the matter. Shareholders should note that the non-binding proposal regarding certain merger-related executive compensation arrangements is merely an advisory vote which will not be binding on Herald, Herald's Board of Directors, or BankUnited, Inc. Further, the underlying plans and arrangements are contractual in nature and not, by their terms, subject to shareholder approval. Accordingly, regardless of the outcome of the non-binding, advisory vote, if the merger is consummated, Herald's named executive officers will be eligible to receive the various payments and benefits in accordance with the terms and conditions applicable to those arrangements.

Conditions That Must Be Satisfied or Waived for the Merger to Occur (Page 88)

        Currently, we expect to complete the merger by year-end 2011. As more fully described in this proxy statement/prospectus and in the merger agreement, the completion of the merger depends on a number of conditions being satisfied or, where legally permissible, waived. The respective obligations of each of BankUnited, Inc. and Herald to complete the merger are subject to the satisfaction of the following conditions:

•

receipt of the requisite affirmative vote of the Herald shareholders on the merger agreement;



•

approval for the listing on the NYSE of the BankUnited, Inc. common stock to be issued in the merger;



•

the effectiveness of the registration statement on Form S-4, of which this proxy statement/prospectus is a part, and the absence of a stop order or proceeding initiated or threatened by the SEC for that purpose; and



•

receipt of required regulatory approvals and the absence of any injunction or other legal prohibition or restraint against the merger.

        The obligation of BankUnited, Inc. to complete the merger is also subject to the satisfaction, or waiver by BankUnited, Inc., of the following conditions:

•

the accuracy of the representations and warranties of Herald as of the date of the merger agreement and the effective time of the merger, other than, in most cases, those failures to be true and correct that would not reasonably be expected to, individually or in the aggregate, result in a material adverse effect on Herald;



•

performance in all material respects by Herald of the obligations required to be performed by it at or prior to the effective time of the merger;



•

receipt by BankUnited, Inc. of an opinion of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP as to certain tax matters;



•

the absence of any action taken or determination made, or any law enacted, entered, enforced or deemed applicable to the transactions contemplated by the merger agreement, by any

8

---

Table of Contents

governmental entity, in connection with the grant of a required regulatory approval, which imposes any restriction, requirement or condition that, individually or in the aggregate, would, after the merger, reasonably be expected to restrict or burden BankUnited, Inc. or any of its affiliates (i) in connection with the transactions contemplated by the merger agreement or (ii) with respect to the business or operations of BankUnited, Inc. or any of its affiliates that would, in the case of either (i) or (ii), have a material adverse effect on BankUnited, Inc. or any of its affiliates, in each case measured on a scale relative to Herald; and

•

BankUnited, Inc. having received, in form and substance satisfactory to BankUnited, Inc. in its sole good faith judgment, confirmation from applicable regulatory authorities that consummation of the transactions contemplated by the merger agreement will not cause BankUnited, Inc., its affiliates, or their respective "institution affiliated parties," in each case not affiliated with Herald prior to the merger, or payments or agreements in respect of any of them, to become subject to any restriction or prohibition provided in section 18(k) of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act, as amended, or the "FDIA," 12 C.F.R. Part 359, or any successor or similar law, rule, regulation, order or directive.

        The obligation of Herald to complete the merger is also subject to the satisfaction or waiver by Herald of the following conditions:

•

the accuracy of the representations and warranties of BankUnited, Inc. as of the date of the merger agreement and the effective time of the merger, other than those failures to be true and correct that would not reasonably be expected to, individually or in the aggregate, result in a material adverse effect on BankUnited, Inc.;



•

performance in all material respects by BankUnited, Inc. of the obligations required to be performed by it at or prior to the effective time of the merger; and



•

receipt by Herald of an opinion of Luse Gorman Pomerenk & Schick, P.C. as to certain tax matters.

Termination of the Merger Agreement (Page 89)

        The merger agreement can be terminated at any time prior to completion by mutual consent in a written instrument, if authorized by each of BankUnited, Inc.'s and Herald's Boards of Directors, or in the following circumstances:

•

by either Herald or BankUnited, Inc., if any of the required regulatory approvals are denied or completion of the merger has been prohibited or made illegal by a governmental entity (and the denial or prohibition is final and nonappealable);



•

by either Herald or BankUnited, Inc., if the merger has not been completed by June 2, 2012, unless the failure to complete the merger by that date is due to the terminating party's failure to abide by the merger agreement;



•

by either Herald or BankUnited, Inc., if there is a breach by the other party that would result in the failure of the conditions of the terminating party's obligation to complete the merger, unless the breach is capable of being, and is, cured within 30 days of written notice of the breach (provided that the terminating party is not then in material breach of the merger agreement);



•

by BankUnited, Inc., if Herald or Herald's Board of Directors (1) submits the merger agreement to its shareholders without a recommendation for approval, or otherwise withdraws or adversely modifies its recommendation for approval (or discloses such intention), or approves, endorses, or recommends to its shareholders an acquisition proposal other than the merger, (2) materially breaches its obligation to refrain from soliciting acquisition proposals, or (3) materially breaches

9

---

Table of Contents

its obligation to call the shareholder meeting described herein or prepare and mail to its shareholders the proxy statement/prospectus pursuant to the merger agreement;

•

by BankUnited, Inc., if Herald's shareholders fail to ratify and confirm the merger agreement at the Herald special meeting, or at any adjournment or postponement thereof; or



•

by BankUnited, Inc., if a tender or exchange offer for 20% or more of the outstanding shares of Herald common stock is commenced (other than by BankUnited, Inc. or its affiliates), and Herald's Board of Directors recommends that the Herald shareholders tender their shares in such tender or exchange offer or otherwise fails to recommend that such shareholders reject such tender or exchange offer within ten business days.

        Effect of Termination.    If the merger agreement is terminated, it will become void, and there will be no liability on the part of BankUnited, Inc. or Herald, except that (a) both BankUnited, Inc. and Herald will remain liable for any willful breach of the merger agreement and (b) designated provisions of the merger agreement, including with respect to the payment of fees and expenses and the confidential treatment of information, will survive the termination.

Termination Fees (Page 90)

        If the merger agreement is terminated under certain circumstances, including circumstances involving a change in recommendation by Herald's Board of Directors, Herald will be required to pay BankUnited, Inc. a termination fee of $3,230,000. The termination fee could discourage other companies from seeking to acquire or merge with Herald.

        If the merger agreement is terminated because the merger was not completed by June 2, 2012, Herald's shareholders ratified and confirmed the merger agreement at least five business days prior to termination, and Herald was not in material breach of the agreement at the time of termination, then BankUnited, Inc. will be required to pay Herald a termination fee of $5,000,000. If the merger agreement is terminated under certain circumstances, BankUnited, Inc. will be required to pay certain of Herald's third-party litigation expenses.

Regulatory Approvals Required for the Merger (Page 64)

        Each of BankUnited, Inc. and Herald has agreed to use its reasonable best efforts to obtain all regulatory approvals required to complete the merger and the other transactions contemplated by the merger agreement. These approvals include approval from the Board of Governors of the Federal System, which we refer to in this proxy statement/prospectus as the "Federal Reserve Board," and the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, which we refer to in this proxy statement/prospectus as the "OCC," among others. BankUnited, Inc. and Herald have filed, or are in the process of filing, applications and notifications to obtain the required regulatory approvals. Although we do not know of any reason why we cannot obtain these regulatory approvals in a timely manner, we cannot be certain when or if we will obtain them.

The Rights of Herald Common and Preferred Shareholders Following the Merger Will Be Different (Page 104)

        The rights of BankUnited, Inc. common stockholders are governed by Delaware law and by BankUnited, Inc.'s amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated by-laws. The rights of Herald common and preferred shareholders are governed by the laws of the United States, and by Herald's articles of association and by-laws. Upon the completion of the merger, the rights of Herald common and preferred shareholders will be governed by Delaware law and BankUnited, Inc.'s amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated by-laws.

10

---

Table of Contents

The Parties to the Merger (Page 115 and Page 258)

BankUnited, Inc.
14817 Oak Lane
Miami Lakes, Florida 33016
(305) 569-2000

        BankUnited, Inc. was organized on April 28, 2009 as the holding company for BankUnited, a federally chartered, federally insured savings association headquartered in Miami Lakes, Florida. On May 21, 2009, BankUnited, Inc. was granted a savings association charter and the newly formed bank acquired substantially all of the assets and assumed all of the nonbrokered deposits and substantially all of the other liabilities of the Failed Bank from the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, which we refer to in this proxy statement/prospectus as the "FDIC," a transaction referred to as the "Acquisition." In connection with the Acquisition, BankUnited, Inc. entered into loss sharing agreements with the FDIC that cover single family residential mortgage loans, commercial real estate, commercial and industrial and consumer loans, certain investment securities and other real estate owned, collectively referred to as the "Covered Assets."

        BankUnited, Inc.'s wholly-owned subsidiaries include BankUnited and BankUnited Investment Services, Inc. Together with its subsidiaries, BankUnited, Inc. provides a full range of banking and related services to individual and corporate customers through 85 branch offices located in 13 Florida counties.

Merger Sub

        Merger Sub will be a national banking association that BankUnited, Inc. will organize solely for the purpose of consummating the merger.

Herald National Bank
623 Fifth Avenue
New York, New York, 10022
(212) 421-0030

        Herald is a national banking association and a full-service independent commercial bank headquartered in the economically active and diverse New York City metropolitan area. Herald's primary service area is comprised of New York, Kings, Nassau and western Suffolk counties. Herald's deposits are insured by the FDIC up to the maximum limits authorized under the FDIA. Herald offers a broad range of commercial and personal banking as well as wealth management services to small and mid-sized businesses, professional service firms, non-profit organizations, governmental entities and their owners, principals, senior managers and employees, who are presently underserved by the major money center banks that operate in the New York metropolitan market.

11

---

Table of Contents

RECENT DEVELOPMENTS

BankUnited, Inc. Third Quarter Results

        On October 27, 2011, BankUnited, Inc. reported its unaudited preliminary financial results for the third quarter of 2011.

        For the quarter ended September 30, 2011, BankUnited, Inc. reported net income of $45.6 million, or $0.45 per share. For the nine months ended September 30, 2011, after deducting a previously disclosed one-time charge of $110.4 million recorded in conjunction with BankUnited, Inc.'s initial public offering in the first quarter of 2011, BankUnited, Inc. reported net income of $21.9 million, or $0.20 per share, diluted. The $110.4 million charge, which is not deductible for tax purposes, reduced net income by $110.4 million, or $1.16 per share.

        For the quarter ended September 30, 2010, BankUnited, Inc. reported net income of $45.0 million, or $0.48 per share. For the nine months ended September 30, 2010, BankUnited, Inc. reported net income of $156.9 million, or $1.69 per share.

        All of the above earnings per share amounts reflect the 10-for-1 split of BankUnited, Inc.'s outstanding common shares effective January 10, 2011.

        BankUnited, Inc. also reported that:

•

Loans originated or purchased by BankUnited, Inc. and its subsidiaries since May 21, 2009, or "new loans," grew by $378.1 million during the third quarter. For the nine months ended September 30, 2011, new loans increased by $738.6 million to $1.3 billion, an annualized growth rate of 180%. For both the third quarter and year to date 2011, new loan growth has outpaced the resolution of Covered Loans (as defined on Page 115).



•

In the third quarter, core deposits, which BankUnited, Inc. defines as total deposits less certificates of deposit, grew $169.8 million, to $4.5 billion, as BankUnited, Inc. and its subsidiaries continued to transform their deposit base. For the nine months ended September 30, 2011, core deposits grew $548.8 million, an annualized growth rate of 18%, with non-interest bearing demand accounts growing at an annualized rate of 41%.



•

Book value and tangible book value per common share were $15.43 and $14.72, respectively, at September 30, 2011.



•

During the third quarter, BankUnited, Inc. filed applications to convert to a bank holding company, and to convert BankUnited, its wholly-owned thrift subsidiary, to a national commercial bank.



•

BankUnited, Inc. and its subsidiaries continued to expand their branch network, opening 2 branches during the third quarter, with 10 additional branch openings planned for the fourth quarter.

        The foregoing is only a summary and is not intended to be a comprehensive statement of BankUnited, Inc.'s unaudited preliminary financial results. BankUnited, Inc.'s third quarter 2011 earnings release was furnished as Exhibit 99.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K furnished with the SEC on October 31, 2011.

Herald Third Quarter Results

        In a press release dated October 31, 2011, Herald reported its unaudited preliminary financial results for the third quarter of 2011.

12

---

Table of Contents

        Herald reported that:

•

As of September 30, 2011, Herald recorded net income of $466,000 for the first nine months of 2011, reversing a loss of $5.5 million in the same period in 2010. For the quarter, net income was $184,000, versus $321,000 last year. Total assets as of September 30, 2011 increased to $486.7 million, up 10.80% from $439.3 million a year ago and up 0.03% from $486.6 million in the previous quarter.



•

Deposits at quarter's end were $414.1 million, of which 90% were core deposits and 34% were checking accounts. This represents an increase of 10.23% from $375.7 million a year ago and a moderate decline of 3.92% from $431.0 million at June 30, 2011.



•

Net interest margin in the third quarter improved to 4.11% from 4.02% in the second quarter. This compares to a margin of 4.10% in the third quarter last year.



•

Reflecting the continuing tight credit market, total loans declined incrementally by 0.22%, to $318.9 million at September 30, 2011, versus $319.6 million in the prior quarter. As compared to a year before, loans decreased 8.85% from $349.8 million.



•

Tier 1 leverage ratio improved to 10.94% as of September 30, 2011 from 10.58% at June 30, 2011 and 10.73% in the third quarter of last year. This level continues to exceed the minimum regulatory capital ratios applicable to Herald.



•

Nonperforming loans in the third quarter declined by 20.19% to $1.15 million from $1.44 million in the second quarter. Herald did not set aside a provision for loan and lease losses for the quarter ended September 30, 2011 as there was no loan growth during the quarter and asset quality improved.

        The foregoing is only a summary and is not intended to be a comprehensive statement of Herald's unaudited preliminary financial results. Herald's 2011 third quarter earnings release is available on Herald's website (www.heraldnb.com).

13

---

Table of Contents

UNAUDITED COMPARATIVE PER COMMON SHARE DATA

        The following table sets forth certain historical, pro forma and pro forma per equivalent share financial information for BankUnited, Inc. and Herald. The historical information is based on historical financial information and related notes that BankUnited, Inc. and Herald have presented in their prior filings with the SEC, in the case of BankUnited, Inc., and the OCC, in the case of Herald. You should read the financial information provided in the following table together with this historical financial information and related notes. The historical financial information is included as part of this prospectus/proxy statement. See "Financial Statements of BankUnited, Inc. and Herald," beginning on Page F-1 for this historical information. The pro forma and pro forma per equivalent share information give effect to the merger as if the merger had been effective on the date presented in the case of the book value data, and as if the merger had been effective as of January 1, 2010 in the case of the earnings per share and the cash dividends data. The pro forma data in the table assumes that the merger is accounted for using the acquisition method of accounting treating BankUnited, Inc. as the acquirer and is derived from, and should be read in conjunction with, the historical consolidated financial statements and related notes of BankUnited, Inc. and Herald, which are included in this proxy statement/prospectus. The pro forma data combines the historical results of Herald into BankUnited, Inc.'s consolidated statement of income and, while certain adjustments were made for the estimated impact of certain fair valuation adjustments and other acquisition-related activity, they are not indicative of what could have occurred had the acquisition taken place on January 1, 2010. Where applicable, calculations of the pro forma data are based on the closing price of BankUnited, Inc.'s common stock on November 4, 2011. The pro forma adjustments made are subject to change as additional information becomes available and as additional analyses are performed. The pro forma information, while helpful in illustrating the financial characteristics of the combined company under one set of assumptions, does not reflect the impact of factors that may result as a consequence of the merger or consider any potential impacts of current market conditions or the merger on revenues, expense efficiencies, asset dispositions, and share repurchases, among other factors, nor the impact of possible business model changes. As a result, the pro forma results are not necessarily indicative of what would have occurred had the acquisition taken place on the assumed dates, nor do they represent an attempt to predict or suggest future results.

 

14

---

Table of Contents

SELECTED CONSOLIDATED HISTORICAL FINANCIAL DATA OF BANKUNITED, INC.

        You should read the following selected consolidated historical financial data in conjunction with the BankUnited, Inc. consolidated financial statements and the notes thereto which can be found in "Financial Statements of BankUnited, Inc. and Herald," beginning on Page F-1, and in conjunction with "Information About BankUnited, Inc.—Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—June 30, 2011" beginning on Page 138 and "Information About BankUnited, Inc.—Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—December 31, 2010" beginning on Page 167. The selected consolidated historical financial data set forth below at December 31, 2010 and for the year then ended and at December 31, 2009 and for the period then ended, is derived from BankUnited, Inc.'s audited consolidated financial statements beginning on Page F-45. The information set forth below, as of and for the six months ended June 30, 2011 and for the six months ended June 30, 2010, is derived from BankUnited, Inc.'s unaudited consolidated financial statements beginning on Page F-2. Management of BankUnited, Inc. believes that such unaudited consolidated financial statements reflect all adjustments, consisting of normal recurring adjustments, considered necessary for a fair presentation. You should not assume the results of operations for past periods or for the six months ended June 30, 2011 and 2010 are indicative of results that may be achieved in future periods.

        The selected consolidated historical financial data set forth below at September 30, 2008, 2007 and 2006, for the period from October 1, 2008 to May 21, 2009 and for the fiscal years ended September 30, 2008, 2007 and 2006 has been derived from the consolidated financial statements of BankUnited, FSB or the "Failed Bank." Neither BankUnited, Inc. nor BankUnited had any substantive operations prior to the Acquisition on May 21, 2009. Results of operations of BankUnited, Inc. for the post-Acquisition periods are not comparable to the results of operations of the Failed Bank for the pre-Acquisition periods. Results of operations for the post-Acquisition periods reflect, among other things, the acquisition method of accounting. See "Information About Bankunited, Inc.—Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—December 31, 2010—Periods Presented and Factors Affecting Comparability," on Page 167.

15

---

Table of Contents

---

(1)

BankUnited, Inc. was incorporated on April 28, 2009, but neither BankUnited, Inc. nor BankUnited had any substantive operations prior to the Acquisition on May 21, 2009. The period from May 22, 2009 to December 31, 2009 contained 224 days. The period from October 1, 2008 to May 21, 2009 contained 233 days.

(2)

Ratio is annualized for the six month periods ended June 30, 2011 and 2010, for the period from October 1, 2008 to May 21, 2009 and for the period from May 22, 2009 to December 31, 2009. See note 1 above.

(3)

Non-performing loans include nonaccrual loans, loans past due 90 days or more and still accruing and, for the pre-Acquisition periods, certain other impaired loans still accruing interest. For the pre-Acquisition periods, restructured 1-4 single family residential loans in compliance with modified terms are excluded from non-performing loans. For the post-Acquisition periods, contractually delinquent ACI loans (as defined on Page 139) on which interest continues to be accreted are excluded from non-performing loans. The carrying value of ACI loans contractually delinquent by more than 90 days but still accruing was $0.5 billion, $0.7 billion and $1.2 billion at June 30, 2011, December 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009, respectively.

(4)

Non-performing assets include non-performing loans and OREO (as defined on Page 115).

(5)

Total loans is net of unearned discounts and deferred fees and costs.

(6)

All capital ratios presented are ratios of BankUnited except the equity to assets ratio, which is that of BankUnited, Inc.