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    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 18pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><strong>UNITED
      STATES</strong></font></div>
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      AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION</strong></font></div>
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      D.C. 20549</font></div>
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      8-K</strong></font></div>
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    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><br></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 18pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">CURRENT
      REPORT</font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">Pursuant
      to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934</font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><br></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><br></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">Date
      of
      Report (Date of earliest event reported): December 22, 2005</font></div>
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              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 24pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><strong>Matrix
                Bancorp, Inc.</strong></font></div>
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              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">(Exact
                name of small business issuer as specified in its
                charter)</font></div>
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            <td align="left" colspan="2" valign="top" width="37%">&#160;</td>
            <td align="left" colspan="2" valign="top" width="37%">&#160;</td>
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          <tr>
            <td valign="top" width="25%" style="border-bottom: black thin solid;">
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><strong>Colorado</strong></font></div>
            </td>
            <td colspan="2" valign="top" width="25%" style="border-bottom: black thin solid;">
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><strong>0-21231</strong></font></div>
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            </td>
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            <td valign="top" width="25%">
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">(State
                or other jurisdiction of</font></div>
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">incorporation
                or organization)</font></div>
            </td>
            <td colspan="2" valign="top" width="25%">
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">(Commission
                File No.)</font></div>
            </td>
            <td valign="top" width="25%">
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">(I.R.S.
                Employer Identification No.)</font></div>
            </td>
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            <td colspan="4" valign="top" width="74%">&#160;</td>
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            <td colspan="4" valign="top" width="74%" style="border-bottom: black thin solid;">
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><strong>700
                17</strong></font><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 8pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial, sans-serif"><sup><strong>th</strong></sup></font><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><strong>
                Street, Suite 2100, Denver, Colorado 80202</strong></font></div>
            </td>
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            <td colspan="4" valign="top" width="74%">
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">(Address
                of principal executive offices)</font></div>
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          <tr>
            <td colspan="4" valign="top" width="74%">&#160;</td>
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          <tr>
            <td colspan="4" valign="top" width="74%" style="border-bottom: black thin solid;">
              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><strong>(303)
                959-9898</strong></font></div>
            </td>
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              <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">(Registrant&#8217;s
                telephone number)</font></div>
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    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">Check
      the
      appropriate box below if the Form 8&#8722;K filing is intended to simultaneously
      satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following
      provisions:</font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 36pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left">&#160;</div>
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          <tr valign="top" style="line-height: 1.25;">
            <td align="left" style="width: 27pt;"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Wingdings">o</font></td>
            <td align="left">
              <div align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">Written
                communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities
                Act</font></div>
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            <td align="left" style="width: 27pt;"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Wingdings">o</font></td>
            <td align="left">
              <div align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">Soliciting
                material pursuant to Rule 14a&#8722;12 under the Exchange
                Act</font></div>
            </td>
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          <tr valign="top" style="line-height: 1.25;">
            <td align="left" style="width: 27pt;"><font style="FONT-FAMILY: Wingdings">o</font></td>
            <td align="left">
              <div align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">Pre&#8722;commencement
                communications pursuant to Rule 14d&#8722;2(b) under the Exchange
                Act</font></div>
            </td>
          </tr>

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    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 36pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><br></div>
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            <td align="left" style="width: 27pt;"><font style="FONT-FAMILY: Wingdings">o</font></td>
            <td align="left">
              <div align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">Pre&#8722;commencement
                communications pursuant to Rule 13e&#8722;4(c) under the Exchange
                Act</font></div>
            </td>
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    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left">&#160;</div>
    <div id="PN" style="PAGE-BREAK-AFTER: always">
      <div style="WIDTH: 100%; TEXT-ALIGN: center">
      </div>
      <div>
        <hr style="MARGIN-TOP: -5px; COLOR: #000000" noshade size="1">
        <hr style="MARGIN-TOP: -13px; COLOR: #000000" noshade size="4">
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    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left">&#160;</div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><strong>Item
      1.01. </strong></font><font id="TAB2" style="COLOR: black; LETTER-SPACING: 27pt">&#160;</font><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><strong>Entry
      Into a Material Definitive Agreement.</strong></font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><br></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 36pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">On
      December 22, 2005, Sterling Trust Company entered into a Final Compromise
      Settlement Agreement and Release (&#8220;Agreement&#8221;) in connection with an action
      styled Roderick Adderley, et al. v. Sterling Trust Company pending before the
      District Court of Tarrant County, Texas (&#8220;Adderley I&#8221;). Under the Agreement,
      Sterling Trust Company paid an aggregate of $3,150,000 to the plaintiffs in
      final settlement of all of the plaintiffs&#8217; claims against all of the defendants
      in the Adderley I action and the related action described below, including
      a
      full release from each plaintiff in favor of each defendant in both
      actions.</font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 36pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><br></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 36pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">A
      related
      action styled Roderick Adderley, et al. v. Guy A. Gibson, et al., also pending
      before the District Court of Tarrant County, Texas, that had been abated by
      agreement of the parties pending final outcome of the Adderley I case, was
      also
      dismissed pursuant to the Agreement. </font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 36pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><br></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 36pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">The
      Agreement was also made for the benefit of Matrix Bancorp, Inc. and Matrix
      Capital Bank, each of which is a signatory to the Agreement and each of which
      had been named a defendant in the related action. Although not signatories
      to
      the Agreement, the Agreement was also made for the benefit of The Vintage Group,
      Inc. and Vintage Delaware Holdings, Inc., two subsidiaries named as defendants
      in the related action; and Guy A. Gibson, current Chairman of the Board of
      Matrix Bancorp and former President and CEO of Matrix Bancorp, D. Mark Spencer,
      former President, Co-CEO and director of Matrix Bancorp, and Richard V. Schmitz,
      former President, Co-CEO and director of Matrix Bancorp, individuals named
      as
      defendants in the related action.</font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 36pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><br></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 36pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">The
      Agreement is filed as Exhibit 10.1 to this Current Report and is incorporated
      in
      this Current Report by reference. The summary of the material provisions of
      the
      Agreement is qualified in its entirety by reference to the copy of the Agreement
      filed as an exhibit to this Current Report.</font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 36pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><br></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><strong>Item
      9.01.</strong></font><font id="TAB2" style="COLOR: black; LETTER-SPACING: 27pt">&#160;</font><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><strong>Financial
      Statements and Exhibits.</strong></font><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">&#160;</font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><br></div>
    <div>
      <table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="hangingindent" width="100%" style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt">

          <tr valign="top" style="line-height: 1.25;">
            <td style="width: 36pt;">
            </td>
            <td align="left" style="width: 27pt;"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">(c)</font></td>
            <td align="left">
              <div align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">Exhibits:
                </font></div>
            </td>
          </tr>

      </table>
    </div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div>
    <div>
      <table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="hangingindent" width="100%" style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt">

          <tr valign="top" bgcolor="#ccffcc" style="line-height: 1.25;">
            <td bgcolor="#ffffff" style="width: 63pt;">
            </td>
            <td align="left" style="width: 63pt;"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><a href="v032119_ex10-1.htm">Exhibit
              10.1</a></font></td>
            <td align="left">
              <div align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><a href="v032119_ex10-1.htm">Final
                Compromise Settlement Agreement and
                Release . </a></font></div>
            </td>
          </tr>

      </table>
    </div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify">&#160;</div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><br></div>
    <div id="PGBRK" style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt">
      <div id="FTR">
        <div id="GLFTR" style="WIDTH: 100%" align="left">
        </div>
      </div>
      <div id="PN" style="PAGE-BREAK-AFTER: always">
        <div style="WIDTH: 100%; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 8pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">-2-</font></div>
        <div style="WIDTH: 100%; TEXT-ALIGN: center">
          <hr style="COLOR: black" noshade size="3">
        </div>
      </div>
      <div id="HDR">
        <div id="GLHDR" style="WIDTH: 100%" align="right">
        </div>
      </div>
    </div><br>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><strong>SIGNATURES</strong></font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><br></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font id="TAB1" style="MARGIN-LEFT: 36pt"></font><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">Pursuant
      to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant
      has
      duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto
      duly authorized.</font></div>
    <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.25; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><br></div>
    <div>
      <table align="center" bgcolor="#ffffff" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%">

          <tr valign="top" bgcolor="#ffffff">
            <td width="50%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: ">&#160;</font></td>
            <td width="1%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: ">&#160;</font></td>
            <td width="49%"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: ">&#160;</font></td>
          </tr>
          <tr valign="top" bgcolor="#ffffff">
            <td><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: ">&#160;</font></td>
            <td colspan="2"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: "><strong>MATRIX
              BANCORP, INC.</strong></font></td>
          </tr>
          <tr valign="top" bgcolor="#ffffff">
            <td><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: ">&#160;<br>&#160;</font></td>
            <td><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: ">&#160;<br>&#160;</font></td>
            <td><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: ">&#160;<br>&#160;</font></td>
          </tr>
          <tr valign="top" bgcolor="#ffffff">
            <td><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: ">Dated:&#160;
              December 23, 2005</font></td>
            <td><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: ">By:&#160;&#160;</font></td>
            <td><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: ">/s/&#160;T.
              ALLEN
              MCCONNELL</font></td>
          </tr>
          <tr valign="top" bgcolor="#ffffff">
            <td colspan="2"><font style="FONT-FAMILY: " size="1">&#160;</font></td>
            <td align="left">
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              <div><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: ">Name:&#160;&#160;
                T. Allen McConnell</font></div>
              <div><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: ">Title:&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;
                Senior Vice President, Secretary and General
                Counsel</font></div>
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      INDEX </font></div>
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                No.</font></div>
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                Compromise Settlement Agreement and
                Release dated December 22, 2005.
</a></font></div>
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{"company-data": {"conformed-name": "MATRIX BANCORP INC", "cik": "0000944725", "assigned-sic": "6162", "irs-number": "841233716", "state-of-incorporation": "CO", "fiscal-year-end": "1231"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "8-K", "act": "34", "file-number": "000-21231", "film-number": "051286058"}, "mail-address": {"street1": "700 17TH STREET", "street2": "SUITE 2100", "city": "DENVER", "state": "CO", "zip": "80202"}, "former-company": {"former-conformed-name": "MATRIX CAPITAL CORP /CO/", "date-changed": "19960711"}}
UNITED
      STATES
SECURITIES
      AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington,
      D.C. 20549
FORM
      8-K
CURRENT
      REPORT
Pursuant
      to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Date
      of
      Report (Date of earliest event reported): December 22, 2005
Matrix
                Bancorp, Inc.
(Exact
                name of small business issuer as specified in its
                charter)
Colorado
0-21231
84-1233716
(State
                or other jurisdiction of
incorporation
                or organization)
(Commission
                File No.)
(I.R.S.
                Employer Identification No.)
700
                17
th
Street, Suite 2100, Denver, Colorado 80202
(Address
                of principal executive offices)
(303)
                959-9898
(Registrant's
                telephone number)
Check
      the
      appropriate box below if the Form 8−K filing is intended to simultaneously
      satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following
      provisions:
o
Written
                communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities
                Act
o
Soliciting
                material pursuant to Rule 14a−12 under the Exchange
                Act
o
Pre−commencement
                communications pursuant to Rule 14d−2(b) under the Exchange
                Act
o
Pre−commencement
                communications pursuant to Rule 13e−4(c) under the Exchange
                Act
Item
      1.01.
Entry
      Into a Material Definitive Agreement.
On
      December 22, 2005, Sterling Trust Company entered into a Final Compromise
      Settlement Agreement and Release ("Agreement") in connection with an action
      styled Roderick Adderley, et al. v. Sterling Trust Company pending before the
      District Court of Tarrant County, Texas ("Adderley I"). Under the Agreement,
      Sterling Trust Company paid an aggregate of $3,150,000 to the plaintiffs in
      final settlement of all of the plaintiffs' claims against all of the defendants
      in the Adderley I action and the related action described below, including
      a
      full release from each plaintiff in favor of each defendant in both
      actions.
A
      related
      action styled Roderick Adderley, et al. v. Guy A. Gibson, et al., also pending
      before the District Court of Tarrant County, Texas, that had been abated by
      agreement of the parties pending final outcome of the Adderley I case, was
      also
      dismissed pursuant to the Agreement.
The
      Agreement was also made for the benefit of Matrix Bancorp, Inc. and Matrix
      Capital Bank, each of which is a signatory to the Agreement and each of which
      had been named a defendant in the related action. Although not signatories
      to
      the Agreement, the Agreement was also made for the benefit of The Vintage Group,
      Inc. and Vintage Delaware Holdings, Inc., two subsidiaries named as defendants
      in the related action; and Guy A. Gibson, current Chairman of the Board of
      Matrix Bancorp and former President and CEO of Matrix Bancorp, D. Mark Spencer,
      former President, Co-CEO and director of Matrix Bancorp, and Richard V. Schmitz,
      former President, Co-CEO and director of Matrix Bancorp, individuals named
      as
      defendants in the related action.
The
      Agreement is filed as Exhibit 10.1 to this Current Report and is incorporated
      in
      this Current Report by reference. The summary of the material provisions of
      the
      Agreement is qualified in its entirety by reference to the copy of the Agreement
      filed as an exhibit to this Current Report.
Item
      9.01.
Financial
      Statements and Exhibits.
(c)
Exhibits:
Exhibit
              10.1
Final
                Compromise Settlement Agreement and
                Release .
-2-
SIGNATURES
Pursuant
      to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant
      has
      duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto
      duly authorized.
MATRIX
              BANCORP, INC.
Dated: 
              December 23, 2005
By:
/s/ T.
              ALLEN
              MCCONNELL
Name:  
                T. Allen McConnell
Title:    
                Senior Vice President, Secretary and General
                Counsel
-3-
EXHIBIT
      INDEX
Exhibit
                No.
Description
10.1
Final
                Compromise Settlement Agreement and
                Release dated December 22, 2005.
-4-