Exhibit 99.1

            Press Release             August 3, 2005

Amegy Bancorporation, Inc. Declares Quarterly Dividend

HOUSTON (August 3, 2005) – The Amegy Bancorporation, Inc. (NASDAQ: ABNK) Board of Directors today declared a dividend to be paid with respect to the common stock of the Company in the amount of $0.11 per share, to be paid on September 15, 2005 to shareholders of record at the close of business on September 1, 2005.

The dividend amount reflects an increase from the previous amount of $0.03 per share in accordance with the Company’s recently announced merger agreement with Zions Bancorporation (NASDAQ: ZION), under which Amegy has the right to increase the rate for its regular quarterly dividends payable in September and December 2005 to the same rate as that of Zions.

Additional Information and Where to Find it

Zions Bancorporation will file a Form S-4, Amegy Bancorporation, Inc. will file a proxy statement and both companies will file other relevant documents concerning the proposed merger transaction with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). INVESTORS ARE URGED TO READ THE FORM S-4 AND PROXY STATEMENT WHEN THEY BECOME AVAILABLE AND ANY OTHER RELEVANT DOCUMENTS FILED WITH THE SEC BECAUSE THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION. You will be able to obtain the documents free of charge at the website maintained by the SEC at www.sec.gov. In addition, you may obtain documents filed with the SEC by Zions free of charge by contacting: Investor Relations, Zions Bancorporation, One South Main Street, Suite 1134, Salt Lake City, Utah 84111, (801) 524-4787. You may obtain documents filed with the SEC by Amegy free of charge by contacting: Controller, Amegy Bancorporation, Inc., 4400 Post Oak Parkway, Houston, Texas 77027, (713) 235-8800.

Participants in Solicitation

Zions Bancorporation, Amegy Bancorporation, Inc., and their respective directors and executive officers, may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies from Amegy’s shareholders in connection with the merger. Information about the directors and executive officers of Zions and their ownership of Zions stock is set forth in the proxy statement for Zions’ 2005 Annual Meeting of Shareholders. Information about the directors and executive officers of Amegy and their ownership of Amegy stock is set forth in the proxy statement for Amegy’s 2005 Annual Meeting of Shareholders. Investors may obtain additional information regarding the interests of such participants by reading the Form S-4 and proxy statement for the merger when they become available.

Investors should read the Form S-4 and proxy statement carefully when they become available before making any voting or investment decisions.

Contacts:

Sarah Peterson, SVP Investor Relations & Corporate Communications

713-232-1115

sarah.peterson@amegybank.com

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Cautionary Language Concerning Forward-Looking Statements

Information set forth in this document contains financial estimates and other forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties, and actual results might differ materially. Such statements include, but are not limited to, statements about the benefits of the business combination transaction involving Zions Bancorporation and Amegy Bancorporation, Inc., including future financial and operating results, the new company’s plans, objectives, expectations and intentions and other statements that are not historical facts. Such statements are based upon the current beliefs and expectations of Zions’ and Amegy’s management and are subject to significant risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ from those set forth in the forward-looking statements.

The following factors, among others, could cause actual results to differ from those set forth in the forward-looking statements: the failure of Amegy shareholders to approve the transaction; the ability to obtain governmental approvals of the transaction on the proposed terms and schedule; the risk that the businesses will not be integrated successfully; the risk that the cost savings and any other synergies from the transaction may not be fully realized or may take longer to realize than expected; disruption from the transaction making it more difficult to maintain relationships with customers, employees or suppliers; competition and its effect on pricing, spending, third-party relationships and revenues. Additional factors that may affect future results are contained in Amegy’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), which are available at the SEC’s Web site http://www.sec.gov. Amegy disclaims any obligation to update and revise statements contained in this presentation based on new information or otherwise.