Lash by Lash: How Keystone Bank Helped The Lash Lounge Grow with Confidence

How one Austin entrepreneur turned a setback into four thriving salon locations with the right partner by her side.

A Dream Worth Believing In

When Noelle Boyle decided to take a leap into entrepreneurship, it wasn’t just about opening a beauty salon — it was about creating something with heart. After a career spanning major tech and consulting firms like Oracle, Deloitte, and Dell, she was ready for something more personal.

“I wanted to build something that empowered people,” Noelle recalls. “A business that made guests feel confident and beautiful but also created meaningful jobs for my team.”

That spark gave rise to The Lash Lounge, a salon brand founded on connection, confidence, and care. Over the past eight years, Noelle has expanded from a single location to four salons across the Austin metropolitan area, each offering high-end, custom lash and brow services with a signature focus on accentuating natural beauty, prioritizing safe application, and nurturing well-being.

However, every great success story has its turning point and, for Noelle, that moment arrived when she needed help bringing her next dream into reality.

Image of Noelle Boyle, Austin-area multi-franchise owner of The Lash Lounge. Source: Noelle Boyle.

When the Door Closed, Keystone Bank Opened One

Despite maintaining a stellar 800+ credit score, Noelle’s longtime bank declined her loan request to open another salon. “It really surprised me,” she admits. “Quite honestly, I was personally offended.”

With her plans in jeopardy and a new lease on the line, she turned to her landlord for advice. That introduction changed everything.

“He said, ‘Let me put you in touch with a friend of mine,’” Noelle recalls. “That friend turned out to be Jeff Wilkinson, Keystone Bank’s founder and chairman.”

By the next morning, Jeff had called her personally. The two met for lunch, and by the end of the week, just five days later, Noelle had secured a commercial loan at a competitive fixed rate. “It was fast, clear, and human,” she says. “It was exactly what I needed.”

Building a Business with Care and Connection

The loan helped Noelle open a new Lash Lounge location in Cedar Park, Texas. From there, her business has grown every single year, including through the challenges of COVID-19 in 2020.

Her model combines the precision of a well-run enterprise with the compassion of a community hub. Each Lash Lounge location employs trained professionals who are supported, mentored, and celebrated for their growth. “My job is to take care of my team,” Noelle says. “Their job is to take care of our guests, and the guests take care of the business.”

It’s a philosophy that resonates with Keystone Bank’s own approach to banking: empowering people, not just accounts.

Image of the Manager of The Lash Lounge's Cedar Park location, standing and smiling behind the front desk. Source: The Lash Lounge.

Simplifying the Complex

Beyond financing, Keystone Bank helped Noelle consolidate her business banking — simplifying operations that once spanned four different banks. “It just made everything easier,” she explains. “Now I have one place to manage everything, and the relationship feels personal.”

That personal connection has become one of the partnership’s greatest strengths. Noelle works closely with Jennifer Ivy, VP Treasury & Liquidity Officer; Bharath Pinto, SBA Lending and Commercial Relationship Manager; and other Keystone Bank team members, describing their relationship as both professional and genuinely supportive.

“Jennifer’s always responsive, and Bharath manages me really well,” she laughs. “If I ever get stressed or need help, I know exactly who to call, and they answer. That’s not something you get with a big bank.”

Growth, Gratitude, and Giving Back

Today, The Lash Lounge continues to thrive. The business boasts over 2,600 Google reviews with a 4.9-star average, and has earned multiple Best of Austin awards, including recognition from The Austin Chronicle. Within its national franchise, Noelle has been named Franchisee of the Year, Trailblazer Award Winner, and Culture Award Recipient.

Just as impressive is how she invests in her team and community. “We never say no when a local organization asks us to donate to a silent auction,” she says. “It’s part of being connected — part of the energy we put into the community to help it thrive.”

That same belief in connection runs through her partnership with Keystone Bank. “It’s been a refreshing and productive relationship,” Noelle reflects. “Keystone is personal, supportive, and robust. They believed in me when another bank didn’t — and that made all the difference.”

Image of a completed lash service performed by The Lash Lounge. Source: The Lash Lounge.

The Keystone of Growth

From that first conversation over lunch to multiple thriving salons, The Lash Lounge story is a testament to what can happen when care meets capability.

In a world where large institutions often overlook small businesses, Keystone Bank’s relationship-first model continues to empower entrepreneurs like Noelle, helping them not only build successful businesses but also create meaningful change within their communities.

“This is basically the salon that Keystone helped build. Without that loan, I don’t think I would’ve been able to open my Cedar Park location.”
— Noelle Boyle, Owner of The Lash Lounge

Learn More About The Lash Lounge Cedar Park Location