July 2025 — Steven Mack, CEO of Texas Heritage Bank, spoke with Invest: about utilizing the growth of the bank to strengthen communities across Texas. “Our flagship locations in Dallas and San Antonio are well-positioned to benefit our state and the people who live here and move here,” Mack said.
What significant trends have impacted your clients and operations over the past year?
In Central Texas, we’ve experienced continued stability in the local economy. Continued growth is evident in residential housing in San Antonio and Boerne. There has been a lot of in-migration from other Texas cities, resulting in a strong, growing residential housing market, but the market isn’t necessarily robust. Mortgage interest rates are tamping down demand, but we’re still seeing population growth and an expanding school district, particularly in Boerne.
What impact does the merger with Liberty Capital Bank have in terms of enhanced capabilities and the bank’s approach to clients?
We’ve had a long-standing relationship with Liberty Capital Bank, helping them get their start in 2008 in North Dallas. This merger was a natural step, enhancing both banks by creating a bigger platform to work from. The Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) market is dynamic and seeing a lot of growth. Our opportunity is to be able to grow together on I-35. We will be able to move up and down the interstate in those communities between Dallas and San Antonio.
The merger also raises our loan limit from $5 million to around $15 million, expanding our target markets toward bigger companies and more sophisticated borrowers. There is plenty of opportunity in San Antonio and Boerne, despite it being a competitive market. A larger loan limit will give us more opportunity. We have a great, professional team filled with high-quality people dedicated to serving our clients and markets. The Liberty Capital team brings the same level of capability and professionalism. The leadership team there is young, ambitious, and eager. Combining our teams will create excellent synergy that will produce strong results for our shareholders.
What are some key differentiators, given the competitive banking environment, that give Texas Heritage Bank a competitive edge?
Given our size, we are nimble and can respond quickly. We also have the capacity to take on more lending relationships and can be creative in structuring loans. We are prudent lenders, but we leave room for creativity in meeting customers’ needs and helping them find well-crafted solutions. We look for opportunities to provide smart solutions, which require wisdom and creativity to put together lending packages that are best in the short term and the long term for the borrower, the bank, and our shareholders. We are also eager to grow. We ambitiously seek to help local companies and individuals to help them with their financial needs.
Are you seeing any increased demand from particular sectors in San Antonio, and are you targeting any specific sector for growth?
We aren’t seeing any particular demand from different sectors. There is plenty of real estate development, both commercial and residential, and we continue to seek opportunities in that sector. A niche we are proud of is working with nonprofits and churches. As the community grows, nonprofits and churches both have needs for our services. That is a particular niche that is a good cultural fit for us, as we are focused on serving the community. The third sector we do well in is family-owned businesses, particularly growing first- and second-generation businesses. We have the capability to take care of their personal banking needs and financing for their business.
With ongoing concerns about inflation and interest rates, how do you advise your clients to navigate these challenges?
Economic uncertainty and change are constant. Experienced bankers understand it’s all about thinking long term. Don’t make decisions based on the short term. We advise clients to take small, steady steps forward. Business is not a sprint, it’s a marathon. The economy will change. Policies change with different presidential administrations, and interest rates change with economic cycles. We can never know what is around the corner, but we can know that with our capitalistic-based U.S economy, if you are prudent, you will grow in the long term.
What is your assessment of the labor pool in San Antonio, and how are you attracting, developing, and retaining top talent?
We don’t have many open positions because we don’t have a lot of turnover. One of our strengths is developing a culture where people want to work and be a part of our bank family. We create an environment that is healthy and productive. We have to be competitive because the labor market is tight. Many are staying at their current jobs, making recruiting more challenging. Most businesses that bank with us are also well-staffed. Taking care of our teams and creating an attractive culture is essential. I tell my people to always have a recruiting mindset. We’re always looking for good talent.
Are there any new digital tools and services you are utilizing to create efficiencies for your teams and better serve your clients?
We are upgrading our core system to enhance our internet and mobile banking platforms with new tools. We are also exploring how AI can help support our operations. Though still in the evaluation phase, we are open to the possibilities and value AI can bring. It will take time to figure out how to best deploy AI in our business and markets.
What is your outlook and top priorities over the next two to three years?
We are optimistic. Texas is the most business-friendly state in the United States, and there will be continued growth and opportunity for our bank and other local businesses. Our flagship locations in Dallas and San Antonio are well-positioned to benefit our state and the people who live here and move here. I’m focused on building a team. We’re in a people business, and we will employ the best technology available. We need good, smart, ambitious people who are willing to work hard and are excited to be in a team-oriented, supportive environment.
For more information, please visit:
