4 min read September 2023 — San Antonio Market President of Bank of Texas Parker Hensley sat down with Invest: to discuss the robust banking ecosystem in San Antonio, the factors that make San Antonio a natural location for Bank of Texas, his focus on finding the right people and more. “We are very excited about being in this market,” he said. “We believe in Texas and we believe in San Antonio.”
What makes San Antonio an ideal location for business expansion and relocation?
I’m a little biased because I was born and raised here but San Antonio really is a wonderful place to live and raise a family, which I am doing now. I am lucky to have grown up in this big city that doesn’t feel big, San Antonio is the Goldilocks city – not too big, not too small, but just right. San Antonio is a city where you can do business freely and successfully, which leads to happy citizens. Happy citizens translate to continued business opportunities. San Antonio, and Texas in general, is very pro-business and has a rich, diverse mix of industries.
What made this the right time for Bank of Texas to come to San Antonio?
It’s all about people. The right time is when you have the right people. We came together with a group of folks who built a phenomenal foundation and we continue to add to this group. We are committed to strategic growth, especially in Texas. Economic conditions or other factors can be considered but the right people will ultimately make all the difference.
What was the timeline for securing the McCombs Plaza for your office space?
In terms of getting to this point, we had been in discussions for about a month or so. This great space became available at the perfect time. McCombs Plaza is a tribute to the rich and storied past of San Antonio, and we feel that the building represents our brand and commitment to San Antonio. Ultimately, we will occupy roughly 11,000 square feet of space on the fifth floor.
How are you leveraging technology to operate more efficiently?
Technology in the banking industry, and in every industry, is ever-changing. You have to continuously be adapting to and pursuing new technology. Bank of Texas has been great about ensuring our customers have access to best-in-class technology that supports – not replaces—our personal service. We spend a lot of time listening to our customers; they want access to a physical branch, where they can get advice or support on more complex transactions, but they also expect new technology that makes banking easier and more convenient and we do not see that changing in the near term or long term.
What is the Bank of Texas’ role in supporting new business owners?
Banks are usually the first source of outside capital (other than an owner’s personal funds) a business will receive. This makes the relationship between the bank and the business crucial in its capital life cycle. However, it’s not just capital that banks provide to people – it is the advice. Typically, bankers are the earliest and most sophisticated advisors businesses will see during their life cycles. It is critical that owners carefully select their banking partners to ensure they are able to build solid relationships based on trust and communication. It is important that business owners understand how to find those relationships that go beyond just providing a service and instead provide advice, coaching and help. Banking is a people business. Business owners need to be cautious of “fast food banking,” or a relationship in which a banker simply “fills an order.” Bankers should give you advice and care about your success, and our approach at Bank of Texas is genuine relationship banking that does just that.
What is your outlook for Bank of Texas for the long term?
We are very excited about being in this market. We believe in Texas, and we believe in San Antonio. Texas has one of the strongest banking ecosystems in the country because it has one of the best economies in the country. We believe there is a strong demand for our brand of financial services in Texas and, more granularly, in San Antonio. We are focused on our objective to bring Bank of Texas’ relationship-centric and best-in-class services to our customers. We will create a retail presence in this community and people will continue to be our top priority. We’ll find ways to engage in and give back to the San Antonio community. We will continue to bring in bankers who share our approach of a full-service banking relationship. We are working on finding the right bankers to do just that. This is what it all comes down to.
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