An open letter to customers of UMB Bank.

To our customers:

We have all been overwhelmed in recent months with allegations of corporate wrongdoing - Enron, Adelphia, WorldCom, Global Crossing and even Martha

Stewart! CEOs, directors and other senior officers have been charged with profiting at the expense of shareholders and customers. In some cases, financial officers and outside auditors of some of the largest companies in the country have been accused of misrepresenting, or even outright lying about, their companies' numbers and financial condition. Even well-known companies such as Xerox and Merck have had their reputations tarnished. There has been a wave of negative news and legislative reaction to all of this. In light of the current state of affairs, I think it is important for you to know your banks position.

For those who have known my father and my grandfather and who are aware of the management history of this company, you already know that integrity is the most important word we use. Being honest about our numbers - and being truthful with our customers, our shareholders and our employees - isn't just a value; it's a moral imperutive. All business is based in some degree on trust, and banking at its core is about trust. Our reputation is our most valuable asset.

There are several things that I would like you to know that should give you confidence in your bank.

All of our numbers are prepared in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Practices (GAAP) and the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) rules. We strive to use the most prudent interpretations with the focus on the shareholder and not on enriching management. We use those rules to prepare our financial reports so that they most fairly represent our business.

We have virtually no off-balance sheet liabilities other than those that all banks...