Boardroom Alpha
Meeting calendar
CFR · Annual meeting · Wednesday, April 29, 2026

Cullen/Frost Bankers Inc

14 nominees · 4 ballot items.

Election of fourteen directors; advisory (nonbinding) approval of executive compensation (say-on-pay); ratification of Ernst & Young LLP as independent auditors for fiscal 2026; and transaction of any other business that may properly come before the meeting.

Market cap
$10.3B
1Y TSR
+16.8%
Board grade
C+
Record date
Mar 4, 2026
Filing
DEF 14A
Meeting concluded · Apr 29, 2026

Follow how the vote landed and what changed on Cullen/Frost Bankers Inc’s board — director track records, governance grades, and ongoing monitoring — on the Boardroom Alpha platform.

Proposals

On the ballot4

  1. 1

    Election of Directors

    ManagementBoard: FOR

    To elect fourteen director nominees to serve one-year terms expiring at the 2027 Annual Meeting of Shareholders.

  2. 2

    Nonbinding Approval of Executive Compensation (Say-on-Pay

    ManagementBoard: FOR

    Advisory vote to approve the compensation paid to the Company's named executive officers as disclosed in the proxy (Compensation Discussion & Analysis, compensation tables and narrative).

    More detail

    This management proposal asks shareholders to cast an advisory (non-binding) vote approving the Company’s disclosed executive compensation program, including the Compensation Discussion and Analysis, tables, and narrative. Management and the Compensation and Benefits Committee present this vote as a mechanism for shareholders to express their view on pay-for-performance alignment; the Board indicates it will consider the outcome when making future compensation decisions but the vote will not bind the Board. The proxy describes a compensation program that is heavily performance-based (approximately 83% of the CEO’s and 70% of other NEOs’ target compensation at risk in 2025) and includes a mix of annual cash incentives, restricted stock units (time-based), and performance stock units (PSUs) tied to return on assets relative to peers. The filing highlights recent company performance—net income available to common shareholders of approximately $642 million in 2025 and annual incentives paid at 122% of target—which management uses to justify outcomes and changes such as increases in target incentive levels and long-term award sizing. The Board emphasizes governance safeguards including oversight by an independent Compensation and Benefits Committee, use of an independent compensation consultant (Meridian), stock ownership guidelines, clawback policy, anti-hedging/anti-pledging rules, and double-trigger change-in-control vesting, arguing these features mitigate excessive risk-taking and align executives with shareholders. Prior shareholder support (over 96% in 2025) is cited as context for continuing the compensation approach. Key tensions for an investor evaluating the proposal include: the high proportion of pay at risk and concentration of long-term awards in restricted stock units (75% RSUs, 25% PSUs), change-in-control protections and severance multiples that may be viewed as generous, and use of discretion in payouts and PSU certification. The Board’s recommendation to vote FOR is grounded in its view that the program is market‑competitive, conservative in risk profile, and demonstrably linked to company performance and retention objectives, but shareholders should weigh governance features, pay quantum, and recent payout outcomes against long-term shareholder return and dilution considerations.

  3. 3

    Ratification of the Appointment of Independent Auditors

    ManagementBoard: FOR

    To ratify the Audit Committee's selection of Ernst & Young LLP as Cullen/Frost's independent auditors for the fiscal year that began January 1, 2026.

  4. 4

    Transaction of Other Business

    Management

    To transact any other business that may properly come before the meeting, giving the named proxies discretion to vote on matters not described in the proxy.

    More detail

    This is a routine, omnibus item included to authorize the proxies named on the card to vote on any additional matters that may properly arise at the Annual Meeting but are not described in the proxy materials. It does not request shareholder adoption of a specific substantive action; rather, it preserves the Board’s and proxies’ ability to respond to unforeseen procedural matters or motions at the meeting (for example, procedural nominations, technical corrections, or ad hoc matters raised from the floor). From a governance perspective, the practical effect is limited—such matters are typically non-controversial or procedural—and the proxies will usually exercise discretion consistent with management and Board recommendations and applicable law. Investors focused on governance should note that the existence of this item does not substitute for proper prior disclosure of substantive proposals; truly material transactions are expected to be described in proxy materials in advance. The presence of the item means shareholders attending the meeting could raise new business, but any substantive action that was not properly noticed may be subject to procedural challenges under the bylaws or SEC rules. Overall, this proposal carries minimal informational content and is unlikely to be determinative for investors evaluating the Company’s governance or strategic choices.

Director elections

Nominees on the ballot14

Independent
Tenure on this board
6.2 yrs
Also a director at
Nabors Industries Ltd (NBR)Lyondellbasell Industries NV (LYB)National Energy Services Reunited Corp (NESR)
Independent
Tenure on this board
8.0 yrs
Also a director at
Universal Display Corp (OLED)
Ownership

Top institutional holders10

Latest 13F quarter
1Aristotle Capital Management, LLC7.6%4,765,009$653M
2BlackRock, Inc.5.7%3,556,361$488M
3VANGUARD PORTFOLIO MANAGEMENT LLC5.1%3,224,819$442M
4STATE STREET CORP4.9%3,099,936$425M
5VANGUARD CAPITAL MANAGEMENT LLC4.3%2,710,045$371M
6First Eagle Investment Management, LLC3.6%2,265,874$311M
7BlackRock, Inc.3.6%2,261,216$310M
8DIMENSIONAL FUND ADVISORS LP2.2%1,383,857$190M
9KING LUTHER CAPITAL MANAGEMENT CORP2.1%1,325,964$182M
10GEODE CAPITAL MANAGEMENT, LLC1.7%1,091,165$150M
Filings

Recent key filings

Periodic reports
Definitive proxies
Reference

Frequently asked questions

When is the Cullen/Frost Bankers Inc 2026 annual meeting?
Cullen/Frost Bankers Inc (CFR) holds its 2026 annual shareholder meeting on Wednesday, April 29, 2026.
What is the record date for the Cullen/Frost Bankers Inc 2026 meeting?
The record date for the Cullen/Frost Bankers Inc 2026 meeting is Wednesday, March 4, 2026. Shareholders of record on or before that date are eligible to vote.
Who are the director nominees for Cullen/Frost Bankers Inc's 2026 meeting?
The board is presenting 14 director nominees at the Cullen/Frost Bankers Inc 2026 meeting, listed with their independence status and background.
What proposals will shareholders vote on at the Cullen/Frost Bankers Inc 2026 meeting?
Shareholders will vote on 4 proposals at the Cullen/Frost Bankers Inc 2026 meeting, each tagged with who proposed it and the board's recommendation.
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