Security National Bank, a full-service bank with 13 locations across Nebraska and Iowa, will open its first Texas location at The Union on Field Street in spring 2020. Owned and operated by the Landens, a Dallas family with several generations of banking behind them, the bank aims to bring a neighborhood feel to the fringes of Dallas’ urban downtown and Uptown areas.
Texas market president, James Landen Jr., believes the bank’s strategy, which centers on providing a neighborhood business feel, is well-suited to an economy in the midst of recession—conditions that many predict will follow the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We’re focused on taking care of our clients, their families, and their businesses and helping them recover from any effects of the pandemic or open market,” says Landen, adding that his emphasis on full-service banking and building positive relationships with consumers will help him stand out.
The Landens considered other, more-prominent finance spots within Dallas, but the unique location of The Union—between American Airlines Center, downtown, and Uptown—had more significant appeal.
“Preston Center is obviously a big corridor,” says Landen. “The Union was down in our church area, and we felt like, frankly, this area was somewhat underbanked.”
As a graduate of SMU, like many of his other family members, Landen hopes that easy access to the university will draw that customer base as well.
He’s not worried about the nearby power players, such as JP Morgan Chase, in downtown’s financial districts. “We’re different in some of the large money center banks and what services they have to offer,” says Landen. “We’ll have a full-service location, where we’ll offer personal banking, business banking, wealth management, trust services, and mortgages all in one location.”
Security National’s Dallas location will employ a small staff of nine experts, ensuring each consumer is well acquainted with his or her banker.
“With our size and personal motivation,” says Landen. “Clients will get to know the decision-makers.”
Security National plans to open its doors at the end of April or early May as the Landens closely monitor the City of Dallas’ shelter-in-place ordinances.
“We really believe that there’s a need for a privately-held, family-owned bank like ours,” says Landen. “[A bank] that’s not for sale and plans to be here for as long as we can.”
