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                                                                    EXHIBIT 99.1


                                                           For Immediate Release
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  Southwest Securities Group, Inc. and Matrix Bancorp, Inc. Announce Agreement
              SWS Plans to Acquire Matrix in an Exchange of Stock

DALLAS, July 14, 2000 - Southwest Securities Group, Inc. (SWS-NYSE) and Matrix
Bancorp, Inc. (MTXC-Nasdaq) today announced that they have signed an agreement
in principle for SWS to acquire Matrix through an exchange of stock to be
accounted for as a pooling of interests.  Matrix Bancorp, Inc., a unitary thrift
holding company based in Denver, Colo., provides a broad range of financial
services through several subsidiaries operating in the Southwest.

The agreement calls for Southwest Securities Group, Inc. to exchange 0.4715
shares of SWS common stock for each share of Matrix Bancorp, Inc. common stock.
Management believes the acquisition, currently valued at approximately $110
million, will be accretive to earnings.  The transaction is subject to due
diligence, approval by the boards of directors and shareholders of both
companies as well as regulatory authorities.

"We are an earnings driven company," said David Glatstein, president and chief
executive officer of Southwest Securities Group, Inc.  "This merger is a super
opportunity to add to and develop our earnings by capitalizing on synergies
within the merged group."

"We are excited at the prospect of joining forces with Southwest Securities
Group," said Guy A. Gibson, president and chief executive officer, Matrix
Bancorp, Inc.  "We believe this combination will make a very strong financial
services company."

Mr. Glatstein said the merger would provide a broad range of opportunities to
develop new business.  For example, he envisions "packaging Matrix's mortgage
loans into collateralized mortgage obligations for the benefit of our
customers."  The merger also broadens Southwest's customer base since Matrix
Financial Services Corporation services mortgages for approximately 91,000
residential mortgage loans, and Sterling Trust Company administers approximately
36,500 accounts with assets over $2.5 billion.  Mydiscountbroker.com and SWS'
account executives could provide additional services to these customers.

Matrix provides outsourced business services to charter schools through its ABS
School Management Services subsidiary, and Southwest Securities is extensively
involved in school finance through its Public Finance Department.  Working
together, Mr. Glatstein believes the two groups could help each other develop
additional contacts, expertise and customers.

"SWS and Matrix offer each other some extraordinary opportunities by virtue of
the complementary nature of our services and customers," Mr. Glatstein said.

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Major Matrix Bancorp business units include:

     .  Matrix Capital Bank, a billion dollar thrift serving local communities
        in New Mexico, Arizona and Colorado with a broad range of personal and
        business depository and loan services;

     .  Matrix Financial Services Corporation, a Phoenix, Ariz. subsidiary
        conducting residential mortgage servicing and wholesale origination
        activities, including the origination of $443.4 million in residential
        mortgage loans in 1999;

     .  United Financial, Inc., a subsidiary providing national brokerage and
        consulting services to financial services companies in the mortgage
        banking industry;

     .  United Special Services, Inc., a subsidiary providing nationwide real
        estate management and disposition services on foreclosed properties
        owned by financial services companies and financial institutions;

     .  Sterling Trust Company specializing in the administration of self-
        directed individual retirement accounts, qualified business retirement
        plans and custodial and directed trust accounts;

     .  Matrix Settlement and Clearance Services, L.L.C., a 50 percent owned
        joint venture providing automated clearance of mutual funds for banks,
        trust companies, third party administrators and registered investment
        advisors.

     .  ABS School Management Services, L.L.C. providing outsourced business
        services to alternative public schools called charter schools.

Matrix Bancorp, Inc. (www.matrixbancorp.com) is a unitary thrift holding company
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headquartered in Denver, Colo.  The company's stock is traded on the Nasdaq
National Market under the symbol MTXC.

Southwest Securities Group, Inc. is a Dallas-based holding company that offers a
broad range of investment and financial services through its subsidiaries.  The
company's common stock is listed and traded on the New York Stock Exchange under
the symbol SWS.  Wholly owned subsidiaries of SWS include:

     .  Southwest Securities, Inc. (www.southwestsecurities.com) - investment
                                    ---------------------------
        banking, full-service brokerage and securities clearing services;

     .  Mydiscountbroker.com (www.mydiscountbroker.com) - discount brokerage and
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        online investing services via the Internet;

     .  SWS Financial Services, Inc. (www.swsfinancial.com) - general securities
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        brokerage conducted through independent contractors;

     .  Westwood Management Corporation (www.westwoodgroup.com) - investment
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        advisory and management services;
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     .  Westwood Trust (www.westwoodgroup.com) - investment management, trust
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        and custody services;

     .  First Savings Bank (www.firstsb.com) and its online division,
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        MyBankUSA.com (www.mybankusa.com) - a thrift institution offering full-
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        service, traditional banking as well as online banking via the Internet;

     .  SW Capital Corporation (www.logic.org) - administers LOGIC, a triple A-
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        rated liquid asset portfolio for units of local government in Texas;

     .  SWS Technologies Corporation (www.swstechnologies.com) - professional
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        technology services and solutions for businesses.


This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the
Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Investors are cautioned that
any forward-looking statements, including those regarding intent, belief or
current expectations of the company or its management, are not guarantees of
future performance and involve risks and uncertainties. Actual results may
differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements as a result of
various factors. Such factors include, but are not limited to, general economic
conditions and competitive pressures in the markets in which the company
operates, regulatory changes, one-time events and other risks detailed from time
to time in the company's Securities and Exchange Commission filings.

                                   # # # # #
Contacts:

Jim Bowman                                        Guy A. Gibson
Vice President - Corporate Communications         President/CEO
Southwest Securities Group, Inc.                  Matrix Bancorp, Inc.
(214) 859-9335                                    (303) 595-9898
jbowman@swst.com                                  ggibson@matrixbancorp.com
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