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Charlie Waters has joined the SouthStar Bank Georgetown branch as the Branch Executive and Senior Vice President of Lending. Charlie holds more than a decade of experience in the banking industry with a strong focus on commercial real estate. Throughout his career, Charlie has had a great track record of success, with one of his most significant achievements being when he led his previous branch to be one of six branches out of 200 to increase both loans and deposits.
As a lender, Charlie enjoys seeing his customers grow and developing projects that expand his team. He loves the feeling of knowing he is helping both his local economy and community. In his role with SouthStar Bank, Charlie looks forward to helping the Bank grow in a way that benefits customers and shareholders.
Outside of work, Charlie is very involved in his community. He has served on several boards and committees throughout his career and is currently a board member of the Round Rock Chamber and a member of Rotary. He also enjoys spending time with his children and loves to hunt, fish, and golf when he can. Charlie is also a fifth-generation Williamson County resident, with past family members who have served as mayor, and a local school named after his great-grandfather.
Sam Bell has been promoted to Senior Vice President of Commercial Lending and Urban North Area Manager. Sam has 17 years of experience in the banking industry, becoming well-versed in commercial real estate and residential lending, as well as in management roles that have cultivated his leadership style and results-driven mindset. He has repeatedly demonstrated the ability to exceed expectations while maintaining a strong focus on relationship banking and deal execution.
In his previous role, Sam consistently demonstrated strong production, disciplined execution, and a deep understanding of what it takes to get the job done. In his new role, Sam looks forward to leading the Loan Officers in the Urban North Area and working closely with bank executives to help achieve the Bank’s strategic goals.
Outside of work, Sam enjoys hunting, fishing, and spending time with his family. Sam has also been a member of CCIM for four years and serves on the organizational team for their Annual Clay Shoot event.
A Self-Directed IRA (SDIRA) allows investors to diversify their funds beyond traditional stocks and bonds into alternative assets such as real estate, private equity/companies, tax liens, and precious metals. While this flexibility can open new opportunities, it also comes with added responsibility. Choosing the right Self-Directed IRA custodian is critical to protecting your retirement savings and staying compliant with IRS regulations.
When evaluating a custodian, here are the most important factors to consider, along with how SouthStar Bank helps meet those needs.
1. Experience with Self-Directed IRAs
Not all custodians are equipped to handle alternative investments. A qualified Self-Directed IRA custodian should have extensive experience administering accounts that hold non-traditional assets. SouthStar Bank’s IRA team brings specialized knowledge of Self-Directed IRAs and understands the documentation and procedures required to hold alternative assets within a retirement account properly.
2. Strong Compliance Practices
IRS rules surrounding Self-Directed IRAs are strict, especially when it comes to prohibited transactions and disqualified persons. A reliable custodian should have established compliance processes to help ensure each transaction is properly structured. SouthStar Bank focuses on accurate recordkeeping and procedural oversight to help customers maintain compliance as they pursue their retirement strategies.
3. Transparent Fee Structure
Understanding the true cost of your Self-Directed IRA is essential. Some custodians charge hidden or transaction-based fees that can add up over time. SouthStar Bank provides a clear fee schedule so customers know what to expect when opening and maintaining a Self-Directed IRA. Transparency helps investors plan more effectively and avoid surprises.
4. Timely Transaction Processing
When investing in real estate or private assets, timing matters. Delayed funding or paperwork can result in lost opportunities. SouthStar Bank emphasizes efficient processing of Self-Directed IRA transactions, including purchases, sales, and required documentation, helping clients move forward with confidence when opportunities arise.
5. Personalized Customer Service
Self-Directed IRAs are more complex than standard retirement accounts, making access to knowledgeable support especially important. SouthStar Bank offers personalized service through experienced professionals who can answer questions, explain procedures, and assist with account administration. This relationship-focused approach sets SouthStar Bank apart from large, impersonal custodians.
6. Security and Financial Stability
Choosing a bank-based custodian offers additional peace of mind. SouthStar Bank operates in accordance with established regulatory standards and fiduciary practices, providing an added layer of trust and security for retirement assets. Customers benefit from working with a well-established financial institution that prioritizes data protection and internal controls.
7. Educational Support
While custodians cannot provide investment advice, education plays an important role in helping investors understand how Self-Directed IRAs work. SouthStar Bank provides guidance on account structure, required documentation, and common pitfalls to avoid, helping customers make informed decisions about their retirement strategy.
Choosing SouthStar Bank as Your Self-Directed IRA Custodian
Selecting the right Self-Directed IRA custodian is about more than convenience; it’s about protecting your retirement plan and ensuring compliance. A custodian with experience, strong internal controls, transparent fees, and dependable service can make managing alternative investments significantly easier.
SouthStar Bank offers the expertise, customer service, and institutional stability investors look for in a Self-Directed IRA custodian. By partnering with SouthStar Bank, customers gain a trusted financial ally to help administer their Self-Directed IRA and support their long-term retirement goals.
Eddie Pellecer has joined the SouthStar Bank Southwest Austin team as a Senior Vice President of Lending. Eddie holds nine years of experience in the banking industry, establishing a strong familiarity with the Austin market and developing expertise in commercial lending. Before his banking career, Eddie served four years in the United States Marine Corps. This experience helped shape his discipline, work ethic, and leadership style.
Professionally, Eddie brings strong financial analysis and credit risk expertise, paired with a relationship-driven lending approach. He is experienced in structuring sound transactions that align the needs of both the client and the Bank, while maintaining disciplined underwriting standards. Clear communication, collaboration, and integrity are central to how he approaches every deal.
Eddie is excited about the opportunity to lend in a true community-bank environment where relationships and local decision-making matter. He is passionate about working closely with business owners to help them grow and serve as a long-term financial partner, rather than treating lending as a transaction. He values the ability to see the direct impact community banking has on local businesses and families.
Outside of work, Eddie enjoys running, mountain biking, traveling, and experiencing different cultures, as well as cooking and listening to music as ways to recharge.
Sche Kehner has been promoted to Assistant Vice President and Branch Manager of the SouthStar Bank Kerrville location. Sche has been in the banking industry for 16 years and has spent the last 4.5 years with SouthStar Bank. She has established herself as a staple of the Kerrville team by delivering consistent top-tier customer service.
As the Branch Manager, Sche is excited to continue expanding her knowledge of the financial industry to provide exceptional experiences for her customers. She looks forward to leading her team of amazing individuals while maintaining the integrity and warmth of the Kerrville branch.
Outside of work, Sche loves to go fishing, crack open a novel, or spend time with her family and her personal zoo of animals! She also loves to get involved with the community, often volunteering with the Salvation Army Kroc Center. Sche loves the children in her community, and the Salvation Army aligns with her philanthropic goals.
Keeping a close eye on your finances is vital to making sure your money and personal information remain secure. SouthStar Bank offers several tools to help customers remain secure and actively monitor their accounts. Learn more about all the tools available and make sure to take advantage of the features that can help you!
SecureAlerts keeps users up to date about important account activity via instant text*, email, or your Online Banking message center. With SecureAlerts, users can decide which alerts to enable, how they are notified, and how often. Notification options include:
Rest assured, you’ll receive the latest details on your account, and watch for any suspicious activity. The simple, secure service is free to all SouthStar Bank customers enrolled in online banking. Enroll today through the Online Banking Portal!
Travel Alerts
Travel Alerts allow users to update their debit card preferences so their card isn’t flagged for potential fraud while travelling! The process is quick and straightforward. Access Travel Alerts through the SouthStar Bank Mobile App and specify your travel dates and destination(s)!
Card Manager
Card Manager lets users quickly manage lost or stolen cards on the go! This feature is easily accessible through the SouthStar Bank Mobile App. Under the Manage My Cards section in the Mobile App, users will have access to:
Set alerts to ensure safe, secure card usage
Set spending limits
Set card restrictions based on location
Turn off a debit card if you suspect it is lost
And more!
Positive Pay
Positive Pay allows business owners to further protect their business from check and ACH fraud! The way this service works is simple: whenever the business writes checks, it uploads a list with details such as the check number, amount, and date. This information allows our SouthStar Bank team to verify all checks presented to your account. If the information matches, SouthStar Bank will process the transaction. If the information does not match, SouthStar Bank will notify the business owner and ask them to review the check and decide whether to pay it.
For ACH payments, the process is quite similar. The customer will set up parameters based on selected criteria (e.g., dollar amount, originator) to block or flag specific ACH payments. Once set, any payments outside these parameters will be blocked or flagged, and the customer will receive a notification to review and decide whether to process the payment.
Zelle
Zelle® is a convenient way to send and receive money with friends, family, and others you trust through your mobile app or online banking portal. All that is needed is your recipient’s email address or U.S. mobile number, and money will be available to use in minutes if they are already enrolled with Zelle®. Users can enroll in Zelle today through Bill Pay on their Online Banking portal. It is always essential to verify legitimacy before sending money to someone. Follow these tips to stay secure!
Make sure you are in control of your accounts and get the most out of your SouthStar Bank experience with these features! Do you have questions about what tools would work best for you? Reach out to your local branch team today, and they will be happy to assist you!
