Spotlight On: Harman Johal, Wealth Management Regional Executive, U.S. Bank
July 2025 — In an interview with Invest:, Harman Johal, wealth management regional executive at U.S. Bank, said that Houston’s diversification and strategic growth make it an ideal location for expanding wealth management services. “This economic diversification has brought in a wide array of businesses, and as businesses relocate, so do their support services, including banking and wealth management.”
What makes Houston an ideal location for U.S. Bank’s operations, particularly in wealth management?
It’s quite clear when we look at the landscape. I’ve lived here since 2004 — over 21 years now — and have witnessed tremendous growth in every area. Historically, Texas, and Houston in particular, was primarily associated with oil and gas. However, over the past 10 to 20 years, Houston has significantly diversified. In addition to energy, we now see booming sectors like healthcare, finance, and technology.
This economic diversification has brought in a wide array of businesses, and as businesses relocate, so do their support services, including banking and wealth management. Professionals in these industries require financial services and guidance, making it a natural fit for U.S. Bank to establish a strong presence here. Although we’ve been in Houston since 2005, we formally launched our wealth management platform nearly four years ago, with private wealth management teams now active in both Houston and Dallas.
How do you maintain your competitive edge and differentiate U.S. Bank from other institutions in the market?
Banking is fundamentally built on trust and the longevity of the institution. The longer a bank has been around, the more confidence clients have in its ability to weather various economic and market cycles. Our 160-year history is a testament to our strength, stability, and responsibility — not just in how we manage our clients’ wealth, but also in how we operate as a firm for our shareholders.
We keep our balance sheet stable while continuously innovating to stay relevant. Over 160 years, we’ve had to evolve consistently. Today, innovation remains central to our strategy. But at the heart of everything we do is the client. As long as we keep our clients at the center of our decisions and services, we’ll continue to be relevant and trusted.
What truly sets U.S. Bank apart is the interconnectedness of our business lines. As the fifth-largest commercial bank in the country, we offer a wide range of services — consumer banking, wealth management, business banking, and commercial banking. In Houston and Dallas, we’re expanding with a strategy that integrates all lines of business, not just wealth management, which enables us to deliver comprehensive and personalized solutions to our clients.
Regarding your new client center in Memorial City, why did you choose that particular location?
We were looking for a location that would be central and convenient for both clients and prospects. Having been in Houston for 21 years, I’ve seen the city evolve. Twenty years ago, downtown was the business epicenter, then the focus shifted to the Galleria, and now much of the growth is in the northwest.
The I-10 and Beltway corridor, specifically the Memorial City area, has emerged as a prime location. We selected a brand-new tower at Bunker Hill, with ground-level access that’s easy for clients to find and visit. It’s ideal for our team and provides a high-quality experience for our clients.
Over the last three years, we’ve mostly been advising clients virtually, so we had to get really good with high-tech tools—fast. Now, with a physical presence, we’re combining that high-tech capability with high-touch service. Whether clients prefer to meet virtually or in person, we now have the tools, the space, and the flexibility to serve them the way they prefer.
As part of your expansion efforts, how do you balance growth with ensuring clients have access to trusted bankers and a reliable team?
We’ve been thoughtful about how we grow. I personally led the effort to build our private wealth teams in both Houston and Dallas. But alongside that, we’ve also expanded our commercial, lending, and business banking teams in both cities.
Our Houston office isn’t just a wealth management office — it’s a fully interconnected branch that includes commercial bankers, mortgage specialists, and wealth advisers. That level of integration is rare. Clients don’t think of themselves as banking with just one segment of U.S. Bank; they see us as one institution. Whether it’s for personal or business finances, they expect comprehensive support, and we strive to deliver that by aligning all our services.
We’re also expanding our wealth management offering in tiers. Four years ago, we started with Private Wealth. Then, we added Ascent, our family office platform in Dallas, and we’re now in advanced discussions to launch Affluent Wealth Management. This allows us to serve clients across all stages of wealth, from early-career professionals to those managing generational wealth or planning philanthropic legacies. The beauty of our model is that our clients rarely outgrow us — we evolve with them.
How are you integrating tools like artificial intelligence while ensuring cybersecurity and data protection?
From what I’ve observed and through internal communications, I can say that we’re actively integrating AI into parts of our business to improve efficiency and client experience. At the same time, cybersecurity is a core investment area for us. We understand that when clients entrust us with their wealth, we must safeguard it with the highest standards, and we’re committed to doing just that.
How is U.S. Bank engaging with and supporting the Houston community?
In 2023, U.S. Bank contributed $1.7 million in Texas through our foundation and corporate giving. Nationally, we’re deeply committed to supporting our communities, and that includes more than just financial contributions.
I personally believe time is more valuable than money when it comes to giving back. Our employees logged over 13,000 volunteer hours, which I think has a deeper impact. Within our wealth and commercial banking teams, we also lead smaller-scale initiatives that give our teams the opportunity to engage with the community directly. It creates a sense of pride and purpose, and it’s something we continuously prioritize, both through the broader organization and at the local team level.
How do you envision the future of wealth management in Houston, and how are you preparing to meet your clients’ evolving needs?
We’ve made incredible progress over the last four years. Initially, we had only a private wealth presence with limited commercial banking in Dallas. Since then, we’ve added Ascent in Dallas and are now expanding Affluent Wealth Management in both Dallas and Houston. We’re responding to client feedback — when there’s a need, and we don’t yet have the platform, we work quickly to develop it.
I see continued growth in both cities. But more importantly, unlike many institutions, we’re growing in an interconnected way. We don’t just focus on one part of a client’s balance sheet; we offer comprehensive advice across their entire financial picture. That’s how we continue to add value, stay relevant, and serve our clients not just today but for decades to come.
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