From Flames to Functioning: How Metro City Bank Reopened in Just Hours After a Devastating Fire

When disaster strikes, the speed and quality of your response can mean the difference between weeks of downtime and business as usual. Just ask Jason Khoo, VP of Operations at Metro City Bank.

When one of the bank’s Houston branches was ravaged by a three-alarm fire, Jason faced every business leader’s nightmare—total loss of a facility, no backup location, and a customer base that still needed service.

A Fire No One Saw Coming

“I got a call right after our branch managers’ meeting. They said there was smoke coming from the ceiling,” Jason recalls. “I thought it might be minor. But an hour later, the building was engulfed, and eventually the second and third floors collapsed into the first.”

With 145 firefighters on scene and a total structural loss confirmed, Jason had one priority: getting the branch back online to continue serving Metro City Bank’s loyal customers—many of whom rely on the branch for everyday banking needs.

Agility Recovery Answers the Call

After contacting several vendors, one name kept surfacing: Agility Recovery. A fellow banker had recommended Agility after a flood had shuttered one of their branches. Jason reached out—and the difference was immediate.

“It was easy. Tyler from Agility connected me to the rest of the team, and the next day we had a call with Agility, our provider FIS, and our internal teams to hash out the logistics,” Jason said. “We called on a Wednesday or Thursday, and by Sunday the mobile branch arrived. One day later, it was fully operational.”

A Fully Functional Bank Branch—Within Hours

Agility deployed a fully equipped mobile banking center to the site, complete with networking capabilities, physical security features like CCTV, and room for staff to serve customers. By Monday morning, the Metro City Bank team was welcoming its first customer in the temporary location—just days after the fire.

Recovery Shouldn’t Be a Gamble

“What really struck me,” Jason noted, “was how crucial it is to have a plan—and the right partner. Before this, we hadn’t thought deeply about disaster recovery for standalone branches. Now? It’s a core part of our business continuity strategy.”

Agility Recovery didn’t just provide equipment—they delivered confidence.

“They were fast, professional, and knew exactly what to do. It was like a roadshow, but for something serious. They made it easy.”

Jason Khoo, VP of Operations, Metro City Bank

Why Agility Recovery Was the Only Option

While there are many providers who handle elements of recovery, Jason is clear: “Agility was the only partner who could stand up a fully functional bank branch in hours. Not days. Not weeks. Hours. That made all the difference.”

Don’t Wait for a Crisis to Find a Partner

The story of Metro City Bank’s recovery is a testament to the power of preparation, partnership, and speed. Disasters don’t wait, and neither should your continuity planning.

Is your business ready to bounce back? Learn more about how Agility Recovery can help you maintain operations—even in the face of the unexpected.