Mark Casey

-- Mark Casey, Regional Director, Merrill Lynch

"This gives us the opportunity to bring local and global resources together," says Mark Casey, regional director for Merrill's private banking investment group.

Mark Casey, Merrill Lynch's director of the private banking and investment group for the Texas region, says the firm sees Texas as one of the best markets in which to find "ultra affluent" clientele.He estimates that San Antonio and South Texas have just over 500 households with incomes of $10 million or more.

"That's a significant number and that's why we wanted to have an office in the San Antonio area," Casey says.

That's also the group's key advantage, said Mark Casey, Dallas director of the private banking group.

The Dallas hub will have six teams with six to eight on each -- or up to 48 local employees.Employees, most of which are coming from within the Merrill Lynch organization, have a mix of skills from investing to estate planning and trust organization.Each team will average 50 to 60 clients.

"We're better positioned to deliver customized services because of our global resources," Casey said.

The ultra-high-net-worth crowd wants institutional-style investment products.Because of its size, Merrill can deliver that, he said.

Mark Casey , Branch ManagerEmail : hr@prusec.comWebsite : www.prusec.comNr. Employees : Fort Worth - 70 ; Dallas - 400World's largest full-brokerage organization

Summit Bancshares Inc.

Separately, Mark Casey, a branch manager in Pru's Fort Worth office, left Pru to join Merrill Lynch in Dallas where he will be the district sales manager. ...

For yours, call the box office at 366-8450, Ext. 1. … Iris Starr and Sally Schule are throwing a party for Tony Curtis -- starring in "Some Like It Hot" at the Van Wezel -- at Saks tonight for the Van Wezel Foundation, co-sponsored by Mark Casey of Merrill Lynch.

Mark Casey , Branch ManagerEmail : hr@prusec.comWebsite : www.prusec.comNr. Employees : Fort Worth - 70 ; Dallas - 400World's largest full-brokerage organization

Pulte Homes of Texas , L.P./DFW Division 1431 Greenway Drive , Suite 700 Irving 75038 ( 972 ) 518-0177 Fax ( 972 ) 518-2613