In the financial world where banks and investment firms are acquired, subject to merger and rebranding, Texas’ own Frost Bank has stood the test of time. Last year, Frost celebrated its 150th anniversary. It’s been part of the Westchase District landscape long before Frost opened a free-standing financial center at 3304 W. Sam Houston Parkway. Perhaps the bank’s long-time presence in Texas and in Westchase District helped it to win the Best Bank/Credit Union honor in our recent contest.
From the greeter station – featuring what Frost calls “universal bankers” — to the tellers serving the motor bank, Financial Center Manager Cristina Mesa said they strive to get to know their customers. “Our customers always tell us that other banks don’t know their names,” she said. “Here we get to know them as people and know their financial needs, whether it’s for personal or business banking.”
Mesa leads the retail banking effort at Frost Bank’s Westchase location, while Assistant Vice President Morgan Hull leads the corporate banking team. “We have a live person who answers the phone 24/7,” Hull said. “We try to make the customer experience as smooth and nice as possible and we earn lots of referrals from our customers.”
Retail Roots
What became Frost Bank was launched in 1868 as a general mercantile store in San Antonio by Thomas Claiborne Frost and his brother. The Westchase Financial Center embodies that mercantile feel in its design and finishes, earning a second award for Frost Bank: Best Office Building Lobby.
The building features what may be the only “boot scraper” in Westchase District. (T.C. Frost would have approved). Inside, the “Frost Room” features wood tables and wood and leather chairs, Texas-themed art, books and magazines. A television is tuned to financial news, making it a comfortable area for customers who choose to wait for a preferred banker to become available or who want to accomplish all their banking online with the available computers.
A conference room is also available for use by area businesses and organizations. “We’ve been around for 150 years,” Hull said. “We’re not going anywhere.”