EXHIBIT 99


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE               Contact:    Dennis E. Nixon
                                                (956) 722-7611 (Laredo)

                                                Katie Brickman Harvey
                                                Taylor West Advertising
                                                (210) 826-8899 (San Antonio)

              INTERNATIONAL BANCSHARES CORPORATION ANNOUNCES
                               CASH DIVIDEND

LAREDO, TX,.....March 20, 2000......International Bancshares Corporation ("IBC")
today announced that on March 16, 2000, the Board of Directors approved the
declaration of a $.60 per share cash dividend, for shareholders of record as of
March 31, 2000, payable on April 14, 2000, which represents a 20% increase over
the dividend of 50 cents per share paid on October 15, 1999.

"This increased cash dividend was made possible because of the strong
performance of IBC," said Dennis E. Nixon, Chairman and CEO of IBC. "It is the
inclination of the Board to continue to declare these cash dividends, but any
declaration of future cash dividends will depend upon IBC's financial position,
acquisition opportunities and general business conditions at the time."

On February 23, 2000, the company reported 1999 earnings. Net income and
earnings per share for 1999 were $66.2 million or $4.11 per share-basic ($4.03
per share diluted) compared to $53.7 million or $3.30 per share basic ($3.22 per
share-diluted) in the corresponding 1998 period, representing a 23% INCREASE.
"This past year's performance reflects the commitment IBC has to superior
earnings" he said. Total assets at December 31, 1999 were $5.4 billion compared
to $4.9 billion at December 31, 1998, representing a 10% growth.

IBC (NASDAQ: IBOC) is a $5.4 billion multi-bank holding company headquartered in
Laredo, Texas, with over 90 facilities and 176 ATM's serving 28 communities
including Houston, San Antonio, Corpus Christi, McAllen, Brownsville, Port
Lavaca, Zapata and throughout the Rio Grande Valley and the Texas Gulf Coast.

"Safe Harbor" statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of
1995: The statements contained in this release which are not historical facts
contain forward looking information with respect to plans, projections or future
performance of IBC and its subsidiaries, the occurrence of which involve certain
risks and uncertainties detailed in IBC's filings with the Securities and
Exchange Commission.

Copies of IBC's SEC filings and Annual Report (as an exhibit to the 10-K) may be
downloaded from the Internet at no charge from FreeEDGAR, a real-time access to
SEC filings site located at http://www.freeeedgar.com.