From a business standpoint, the attractive thing of starting and owning and investing in a bank is that it is a service that everyone needs and uses.

Most people like doing business with people that are from where they are from. The investors in this bank live in this neighborhood, live in Dallas and share in the belief that independent, locally owned banks can provide a benefit to the community.

Even though the regulatory process is slow and frustrating, I saw that as an advantage of being a barrier to competition.

[D.C. Council member Jack Evans (D-Ward 2) said M.R. Beal initially got District business because it was minority-owned but has since performed as well as any of its bigger Wall Street competitors.] They are part of our minority contractors program, ... But they have also done a very good job for us in terms of getting us excellent rates on our bonds.

I'm 100 times better than I was when I started in this business,

We have done business there for many, many years.