The sanctuary was quiet except for the rustle of hymnal pages. Marc Laird sat with his wife Ann and their children, settling in for Sunday worship. As the choir filed in, their voices rose in harmony: “Jesus is the Cornerstone…”
In that moment, surrounded by his church family, Marc felt something stir deep within. He had spent a decade climbing the corporate ladder, watching as transactions were prioritized over trust and profits over people. Leaning over to Ann, Marc whispered words that would echo through decades, “Cornerstone will be the name of the mortgage company I start someday.”
Just four years later, in 1988, Marc found himself standing on the precipice of the worst housing downturn since the Great Depression. While competitors shuttered offices and laid off employees by the thousands, Marc made a move that seemed almost reckless: he opened a new mortgage company. Where others saw devastation, Marc spotted an opportunity to build a different kind of mortgage company—one rooted in trust, relationships, and long-term value.
In a world of corporate greed and impersonal transactions, Marc envisioned a company where servant leadership wasn’t a buzzword but a practice. Where closing loans on time was a sacred promise. Where every client interaction was filtered through the lens of “How would I want to be treated if I were in their shoes?”
That vision, born in a moment of worship, became Cornerstone Home Lending, now Cornerstone Capital Bank. With just a handful of team members and a belief that service and integrity could be powerful differentiators, Marc laid the foundation for what would become one of America’s most respected financial institutions.
A Leap Fueled by Purpose
Marc’s path to entrepreneurship began in public accounting, where he honed his skills as a CPA before joining a growing mortgage firm in 1978 as Chief Financial Officer. He quickly rose through the ranks, eventually overseeing the Retail Lending Division and the Real Estate Owned (REO) Division.
But when the company was acquired by Mutual of New York (MONY) in 1986, the culture shifted dramatically. It was clear the environment no longer aligned with Marc’s values or vision for meaningful impact. In February 1988, Marc took a leap of faith and stepped away from a secure job to launch Cornerstone, alongside his trusted colleague Judy Belanger.
“It was risky,” Marc admits. “But it was also the right time to create something lasting—something that could weather downturns because it was built on values, not just profits.”
Finding Opportunity in a Time of Crisis
The timing, while daunting, turned out to be strategic. As many companies slashed costs and closed branches, Cornerstone was able to attract top-tier talent—professionals looking for stability, significance, and a mission worth believing in.
“We weren’t trying to be the biggest,” Marc says. “We were trying to be the best. One loan at a time, one relationship at a time.” From day one, Cornerstone focused on closing loans on time, every time—a promise that would become part of its identity. The company also prioritized empathy and excellence, which became magnets for like-minded team members and clients alike.
The Golden Rule Goes to Work
Marc’s leadership philosophy was forged by his blue-collar upbringing. His father, a pipefitter, taught him the value of hard work. His mother instilled in him the power of the Golden Rule: do unto others as you would have them do unto you. That ethos of servant leadership still shapes Cornerstone’s culture today.
As Chairman and Co-founder, Marc firmly believes that Cornerstone’s greatest asset isn’t its technology, its capital, or even its market share—it’s its people. From the company’s inception, he has cultivated a culture where team members feel genuinely seen, heard, and valued.
Cornerstone’s Mission, Vision, and Convictions Statement transcends typical corporate documentation. It serves as the organization’s moral compass. Every hiring decision, leadership development session, and client interaction is grounded in these principles.
“We exclusively recruit Team Members who align with our convictions,” Marc emphasizes. “And we make sure they’re not just memorized but lived out in every interaction, every day.”
Innovation with a Human Touch
While culture forms the bedrock, innovation fuels Cornerstone’s continued growth. Marc understands that financial services must constantly evolve to meet market demands and changing client needs. That’s why Cornerstone is deeply committed to blending high-tech capabilities with high-touch experiences.
“Technology is essential, but trust is irreplaceable,” Marc says. “We use the best tools to make processes faster and more efficient, but it’s our people who build relationships that last.” This hybrid approach has allowed Cornerstone to stay nimble and competitive in an industry increasingly dominated by impersonal, automated financial institutions.
Half a Million Reasons to Believe
As Cornerstone expanded, it never lost sight of its core mission: to serve. This commitment led to a natural expansion beyond mortgage lending into banking, insurance, and f inancial services—always with the same unwavering focus on exceptional client care and ethical operations.
Early in the company’s development, Marc and his leadership team made a strategic decision: Cornerstone wouldn’t rely on traditional advertising methods. Instead, they would let their clients do the talking. “Satisfied clients are our referral sources,” he explains. “If we serve them well, they’ll spread the word. And they have—over 500,000 times.”
This organic, relationship-driven growth has become one of Cornerstone’s most significant competitive advantages. Clients return not simply for competitive rates but because they trust Cornerstone to prioritize their long-term financial well-being.
Making Team Members True Partners
One of the most distinctive aspects of Cornerstone’s journey is its ownership model. Since its founding, 10 percent of the company’s stock has been owned by a small group of team members. Recently, Cornerstone launched an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) to grant all team members a stake in the ownership of the company.
“We believe in creating an ownership mindset,” Marc says. “When Team Members feel like owners, they think differently. Their work is more meaningful. They lead, innovate, and invest in our company’s future.”
This decision reflects a fundamental belief that the most successful organizations aren’t merely managed from the top down—they’re built from the inside out, with every team member having a meaningful stake in collective achievement.
Banking on the Future
A major turning point in Cornerstone’s evolution came with the 2022 acquisition of The Roscoe State Bank and the transformation of Cornerstone Home Lending into Cornerstone Capital Bank. The move was part of a long-term strategy that had been in the works for nearly a decade.
Marc and his family had quietly invested in two community banks to learn the inner workings of banking. They recognized that becoming a bank would allow Cornerstone to offer more financial services to its clients, significantly reduce its cost of funds, allow for portfolio lending, reduce dependence on external credit lines, and achieve greater liquidity and financial stability.
Under the leadership of banking veteran Scott Almy, now Cornerstone’s President and CEO, the team navigated the complex regulatory landscape. The result: Cornerstone Capital Bank was born, currently the most highly capitalized new bank in Texas history. “This isn’t about being a bank for the sake of it,” Marc notes. “It’s about serving our clients better, securing our future, and offering more integrated financial solutions.”
Always Ready for What’s Next
In an industry marked by cycles, Marc has consistently emphasized preparedness. “We’ve been planning for this downturn for over 10 years,” he says.
By building a diversified, high-performing financial services company with strong liquidity, Cornerstone has positioned itself to thrive—not just survive—through economic volatility. The bank adds a diversity of asset classes, lowers costs, and boosts resilience, while the home lending division remains agile and client-focused with strong financial performance when home affordability expands during falling and lower interest rate cycles.
“Cornerstone’s diversified financial services model operates successfully during any interest rate cycle,” Marc asserts. “We’ve built a structure designed to be successful through any economic environment.”
Building People, Not Just Profits
For Marc, leadership isn’t about control. It’s about stewardship. Helping team members, clients, and others succeed, grow, and build legacies of their own has been one of the most rewarding parts of his career. “Cornerstone is more than business,” he says. “It’s about making a difference in people’s lives—our clients, our communities, and our Team Members.”
Many of those team members have spent decades at Cornerstone, building careers, buying homes, and watching their children grow. That loyalty speaks volumes about the culture Cornerstone’s leadership team has created.
A New Kind of Success Story
What defines success for Marc? It’s much more than financial metrics—it’s impact.
“I measure success by the trust we’ve earned, the lives we’ve touched, and the team we’ve built,” he reflects. “We started in one room. Now, we serve over 500,000 clients That means something.” Looking ahead, Marc envisions Cornerstone becoming the nation’s standard for integrity and excellence in financial services. He wants the company to be recognized not only for closing loans on time, competitive rates, and innovative digital tools but for how it makes people feel.
“We’re just getting started,” he says. “There are more people to serve, more legacies to help build, and more ways to redefine what it means to be a purpose-driven financial institution.”
Living for More Than the Moment
Even now, decades in, Marc remains energized and optimistic about the road ahead. He continues to show up, engage in meaningful work, and invest in the future of every person who walks through Cornerstone’s doors.
He sums it up with clarity:
“Every day is a precious gift from God. True success to me isn’t about titles or earnings—it’s about significance. It’s about how many lives we can impact for the better. That’s the legacy I want to leave behind.”
Today, Cornerstone stands as a testament to what’s possible when trust is the foundation, servant leadership is the culture, and innovation is guided by purpose and heart. With 1,400 dedicated team members and assets exceeding $2.4 billion, Cornerstone is more than a success story. Cornerstone offers a model for how faith-driven leadership can create lasting change, not just in financial outcomes but in the lives it touches.
