Page 65 - 1st Edition Style of Dallas - Final print

So this isn’t a family business used to buy tickets from something I didn’t have. He took the time to lift me up. I
that you have inherited? others and resell them said, “Go and visit a bank always say it does not take
No, it is not. I’ve seen my that’s how my business downtown.” So when I light away from your candle
to light another candle.
father working and doing a started. went there, the branch That’s how our business
manager asked me what I
good job in what he did. He So you started thinking had as collateral and I said has grown i.e. you become
about going into Travel. Was
was a captain in the Indian this your passion? that I had nothing. So he successful by helping
others to be successful.
army. But he also had an Yes. Travel is something turned me down. So I went This is how we started
entrepreneurial spirit that that I always liked. It was a back home and the man SkyPass Travel in 1989 and
led him to start his own phone call that came in just called me to ask what after 5 years, we put a bank
business. 2-3 months into my new happened. I told him what together. This was because
travel business that exactly happened and how it was a banker who helped
So, your family was supportive changed the course of my
in your endeavours?
destiny. A lady called me
Absolutely! However, when for 4 first-class tickets to
I started, I was on my own. go to India, Mumbai. So I
took care of her and I made
I worked for an agency, sure that they were well
here in Dallas for one year, taken care off before,
and then I got laid off. I during and after the trip.
thought it was the end of Her husband was
the world and I returned to impressed with the level of
India. And there on the service and called me to

streets of Mumbai, I found their home for dinner. So I
went and met him. Appar-
a book called The Power of ently, he was a banker at
Positive Thinking by that time at what used to they weren’t willing to give me at that time, so I put a
Norman Vincent Peale. I be the North Carolina me a loan, as expected. The group together and we
picked it up and read it. National Bank. He had next day, the same manag- were able to start a bank.
er called me and said: ‘’Let
That totally changed my come to Texas from North me take another look at you”. Where did you set up this
whole outlook on life. I Carolina to open branches Later on, he made that bank?
came back to Dallas with a here in Dallas. So he said, letter of credit and I found Our bank is on South Lake
out that it was this friend
“Victor, your service was so
new vision and a new good. What will it take for of mine that guaranteed it right now. It’s called
promise and rented small you to do your own ticketing for me. And that is how my Providence Bank of Texas. I
office space of 300 square & your own licensing?” I business started. am one of the major
feet in Dallas in Stemmons told him that I would need What year was this in? shareholders of this bank.
Towers. In those days I a letter of credit for $20,000 This was in 1988. Somebody What did you do after setting