Building a $360M Bank in 23 Months with Hazem Ahmed

Hazem Ahmed co-founded a bank in 2007, grew it to $800M, and sold it. Then he did it again — building Integrity Bank, SSB from scratch into a $360M institution in just 23 months, one of only seven de novo bank charters approved nationwide in 2024. In this episode, Hazem breaks down what it really takes to charter a bank (an 1,800-page application, a 14-15 month approval process, a $40-50M capital raise) and why he measures success in relationships and reputation, not just the balance sheet. In this podcast episode, we discuss: • Hazem's path from a reluctant banking intern to a 25-year career banker, building and selling the original Integrity Bank (2007, grown to ~$800 million, sold to a North Texas regional bank) • What it actually takes to charter a de novo bank: an ~1,800-page regulatory application, 14-15 months to conditional approval, and raising a $40-50 million minimum capital target amid a shifting 2024 market • Being one of only seven de novo banks chartered nationwide, opening in October 2024, and reaching ~$360 million in total assets by month 23 • Why “familiarity” and local ownership are Integrity Bank's edge over national institutions, and how Hazem measures success through relationships and reputation rather than just balance sheet growth Guest Contact Info: Hazem Ahmed, Founder & President, Integrity Bank, SSB LinkedIn: LinkedIn: hazema Additional Resources: Thinking about buying a business? Connect with the Equity Launchpad team to learn more about acquisition entrepreneurship and upcoming opportunities. Contact Casey Minshew: [email protected] Explore more: https://www.equity-launchpad.com Save the Date: M&A Launchpad Conference is coming May 8, 2027. Learn more at malaunchpad.com Chapters: 0:00 – Intro: Hazem Ahmed's 25-year banking career and the story of launching Integrity Bank 1:33 – Subscribe reminder 1:47 – Welcome Hazem to the show 1:59 – Hazem's background: University of Houston, an internship at his mom's bank, and 25 years in Houston banking 2:07 – Early mentorship under Charles “Mack” Neff at Sterling Bank and Bank of Texas 3:40 – Starting the original Integrity Bank on Washington Avenue in 2007, pre-Dodd-Frank 3:58 – Growing that bank to ~$800 million and selling to a North Texas regional bank 4:38 – The catalyst for starting over: why locally-made credit decisions still matter in Houston 5:10 – Opening the new Integrity Bank, SSB in October 2024 5:17 – What it takes to charter a de novo bank: the ~1,800-page application and regulatory approval process 6:04 – Raising the $40-50 million minimum capital target in a shifting 2024 market 6:50 – One of seven de novo banks in the country; reaching ~$360 million in assets at 8584 Katy Freeway 7:39 – Why Mac and Hazem chose to build from scratch rather than buy an existing charter 8:31 – Always an entrepreneur? How Hazem's mindset shifted from “least experienced person in the room” to bank founder 9:28 – Learning from the entrepreneurs he banks, and recognizing the personality traits that set them apart 10:14 – A hard lesson from selling the first Integrity Bank: the banker who said the city needs small community banks 11:31 – Why “familiarity” is the core value community banks offer over national institutions 13:41 – How local risk exposure (or the lack of it) should factor into a borrower's choice of bank 14:11 – How Integrity Bank measures performance beyond loan and deposit growth 14:55 – Putting executives at the front door instead of the top floor, and hearing client frustration firsthand 16:12 – Sharing the daily balance sheet with every employee for transparency 16:52 – Benchmarking against competitors the bank respects 19:41 – The goal: employees who recruit people they've worked with before, and customers who call it “my bank” 22:34 – Measuring wealth in relationships and reputation, not just net worth 29:23 – Rocket Round begins 29:46 – Free time: fishing with his kids 31:02 – Most memorable moment: recovering after a briefcase with a client document was stolen from his car 33:11 – Favorite tool: podcasts, and building relationships through conversation 34:30 – Where to find Hazem, and outro About The M&A Launchpad: The M&A Launchpad provides insights into acquiring, investing in, and selling profitable businesses in the lower to middle market. Whether you are a business owner, investor, or aspiring entrepreneur, we will provide you with the knowledge, guidance, and capital to navigate the world of mergers and acquisitions. The M&A Launchpad presents a series of weekly podcast episodes and hosts an annual M&A Launchpad Conference tailored to the M&A community. Connect with M&A Launchpad: 🎧 Podcast on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/1PDy... 🎧 Podcast on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast... 🎟️ Attend Upcoming M&A Launchpad Conference: http://malaunchpad.com/