B737-700
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP); Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Multiengine
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 463
Distraction; Human-Machine Interface
Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Weight And Balance; Inflight Event / Encounter Fuel Issue
General Maintenance Action
Human Factors
During the later part at cruise altitude; I noticed a slight fuel imbalance.  I performed the fuel cross feed procedures which corrected the imbalance; reset the fuel pump switches; but apparently did not reset the fuel cross feed valve.The landing into SFO was uneventful and smooth; however; on taxi in we were notified our assigned gate was still occupied.  We taxied to a holding area; I shut down the #2 engine for fuel conservation; and waited approximately 15 minutes for the gate to open.  When it did; we taxied to the gate and shut down normally.  Since the aircraft wasn't scheduled to depart for over an hour; I shut the aircraft down and we left. I was unaware of the mistake until I received a call from the Chief Pilot notifying me of a 2;500 pound imbalance discovered by Maintenance.
B737 Captain reported using an incorrect fuel cross feed procedure to resolve a slight fuel imbalance; resulting in a larger fuel imbalance upon landing.