Banking on Integrity closes season one with Hazem and Mack reflecting on eight months of conversations with Houston entrepreneurs, the mission of community banking, and what integrity really looks like in business and relationships. They share lessons from their guests, celebrate their growing team and customer trust, and look ahead to season two in 2026.

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To learn more about Integrity Bank, go to itx.bank.

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Key Takeaways

• Community banks play a vital role in Houston by knowing their customers personally, tailoring solutions, and keeping deposits working locally.

• Success is defined individually, but integrity, hard work, and moral character matter more than credit scores or balance sheets.

• Strong banking relationships focus on listening to owners’ goals, offering advice and introductions, not just loans and accounts.

• Houston’s consolidation of community banks is a concern, driving Mack’s goal to advocate for more de novo community banks nationwide.

• Season one guests modeled investing in others’ success, which Hazem and Mack see as the heart of banking and the purpose of the podcast.

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Juan Bustamante and Ralph Fady, business students at the University of Houston, join the podcast to share how they are reshaping the campus experience.

Through leadership in real estate and private equity clubs, they build community, promote professional growth, and connect peers with Houston industry leaders. By taking part in internships and campus organizations, they prepare for impactful careers and help foster connections and practical skills among commuter students.

To learn more about Integrity Bank, go to itx.bank.

Subscribe to Banking on Integrity on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts!

Key Takeaways

1. Engaging in specialized student organizations—such as real estate, private equity, and industry-focused clubs—provides students with fundamental career skills, exposure to industry professionals, and a pathway to discover and pursue their interests beyond traditional classroom experiences. Both Juan Bustamante and Rauf Fadi attribute much of their career direction and network to their club involvement.

2. The university has evolved significantly, investing heavily in infrastructure and campus life to shed its “commuter school” reputation, strengthen the student community, and attract more students to stay on campus.

3. The campus and surrounding areas are in constant development, including new housing and retail initiatives, but challenges remain, such as low supply of student housing and retail vacancies during academic breaks. As Juan Bustamante and Rauf Fadi observe, these trends present both obstacles and opportunities for students interested in real estate and urban development.

4. AI is both a concern and a tool for current students. While some worry about job security, forward-thinking students like Juan Bustamante and Rauf Fadi see AI as a way to boost personal efficiency and stand out professionally, embracing technology to enhance their analytical and operational capabilities.

5. Building relationships, seeking internships, and leveraging professional connections are essential for long-term success. Both guests emphasize that being proactive about making connections on and off campus plays a pivotal role in shaping their career trajectory and helps them envision owning their own funds or portfolios in development and real estate in a decade.

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Feras Moussa joins the podcast to talk about how he went from his first four-plex on Westheimer to co-founding Disrupt Equity, managing thousands of units.

He credits the company's commitment to education, strong operations, and building high-performing teams for their success. Alongside real estate, he now helps investors diversify into small business acquisitions, always focusing on people and community.

To learn more about Integrity Bank, go to itx.bank.

Subscribe to Banking on Integrity on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts!

Key Takeaways

1. Multifamily real estate investment requires not just finding deals and capital but successfully managing and operating properties, with execution being the main differentiator according to Feras Moussa.

2. Educating investors and being transparent builds trust and leads to better decisions, as demonstrated by Feras Moussa and his team’s focus on sharing knowledge and data.

3. Navigating the multifamily market’s challenges, like rising costs and shifting interest rates, takes active management, clear communication, and adaptability to change.

4. Diversifying beyond real estate through business acquisitions offers new opportunities, with Feras Moussa’s Equity Launchpad showing how education and creative deal-making help navigate this less structured space.

5. Building strong teams and networks allows entrepreneurs to scale and succeed across ventures, with partnerships and relationships being crucial to long-term growth.

Timestamped Overview

00:00 Apartment Size and Townhome Trends

03:30 "Vision Excites, Execution Challenges"

09:31 Organizing a Consistent Meetup Framework

10:18 "Fair Deal Access for Investors"

13:24 "Balancing Risk in Property Deals"

17:26 "Net Operating Income Explained"

21:16 Diversifying Investments: Real Estate vs. Business

23:26 Educating Sellers on Business Exits

27:43 "Investor-Focused Cash Flow Strategy"

29:28 "Entrepreneur's Dilemma: Leadership Shift"

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