Our Response to Coronavirus

Dear Clients and Friends,

I hope you and your families are safe and well. Since our founding 25 years ago, Houston Trust Company has withstood office moves, hurricanes, and other events that have altered the way we work, but never disrupted the services we provide to you and your family. Coronavirus will be no exception. We are well prepared, both financially and operationally, to continue to serve you as the circumstances surrounding the pandemic evolve.

Effective tomorrow, Friday, March 20th, Houston Trust Company will begin to work remotely to further protect the health and safety of our clients, our staff, and their families. Earlier this week, we thoroughly tested all work-from-home processes and remote access systems to ensure we can provide seamless service to you from any location. We have not experienced and do not anticipate any significant disruptions to our operations.

While working from home, your team will have full and secure access to your accounts and company servers, as well as voicemail and email, allowing them to conduct business just as they would normally. Calls to Houston Trust Company phone numbers will be automatically forwarded to staff mobile phones, including the main line, and we will work our regular 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. office hours. A small team will access the office a few times a week to perform essential functions such as checking mail and issuing checks.

Our investment capabilities will remain fully operational. During our work-from-home testing, major functions including trade execution and settlement achieved seamless operation using our secure, remote access technology. We will also be providing market commentaries via e-mail every Friday after the market closes.

Our current plan is to operate in this fashion through April 3, 2020, at which time we will reassess, following guidance from local, state, and federal authorities. In the meantime, Senior Management will continually monitor and adjust the company’s business continuity plan and will be in touch immediately should any further modifications to our work practices become necessary.

As always, we are available by phone and email to address any questions or concerns you may have. Thank you for your patience and continued confidence in Houston Trust Company. It is our privilege to serve you.

Warmest regards,

David R. Lummis
President and CEO