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Author: SouthStar Bank

Welcome Martha Molina Rodriguez

Martha Molina Rodriguez, Personal Banker | SouthStar Bank Georgetown Martha Molina Rodriguez joins the SouthStar Bank Georgetown team as a Personal Banker. Martha brings two years of banking experience along with her strong communication skills and passion for helping others to the team. She is excited to contribute her goal-oriented mindset and bubbly personality to her position to help create a welcoming environment for clients. Outside of work, Martha can be found staying active and working on her personal growth. She enjoys going to the gym to maintain her physical and mental health. She is also an avid traveler who loves to experience new cultures and environments to broaden her perspective and aid in her personal growth. Hawaii is among her favorite destinations. Martha takes great pride in balancing her studies, raising her daughter, and staying dedicated to her personal goals. Welcome to the team, Martha!

Welcome Jean Ann McCarthy

Jean Ann McCarthy, Personal Banker & Proof Operator | SouthStar Bank Moulton Jean Ann McCarthy joins SouthStar Bank Moulton as a Personal Banker and Proof Operator. Recently retired from education, Jean Ann holds an Accounting degree from Texas State University and has more than two decades of experience in finance. She is looking forward to bringing her financial background to the banking industry, making a difference in her coworkers’ and customers lives, and joining the supportive team environment at SouthStar Bank. In her free time, Jean Ann enjoys spending time with her family, cooking, reading, and baking. She also enjoys traveling with her two favorite places being, La Jolla, California, and the Disney Parks, where she has made countless memories with friends and family. However, she enjoys visiting any location as long as she has a good book, a fruity beverage, and her family in tow. Welcome to the SouthStar Bank team, Jean Ann!

Welcome Bianca Howle

Bianca Howle, Assistant Vice President & Branch Manager | SouthStar Bank Steiner Ranch Bianca Howle joins SouthStar Bank Steiner Ranch as an Assistant Vice President and Branch Manager. Bianca is an alumna of Louisiana State University and brings more than two decades of banking experience. As Branch Manager, she is excited to bring her passion for community outreach and her ability to help cultivate her staff into strong leaders. One of her most significant professional achievements was creating and leading a leadership class for entry-level supervisors to teach them how to lead effectively. Outside of work, Bianca can be found golfing with her husband or curled up with a good book. She also loves to travel, and her favorite destination thus far is Africa. One interesting fact about Bianca is that she majored in Opera while at college.

Welcome Maggie Womack

Maggie Womack, Personal Banker | SouthStar Bank Southwest Austin Maggie Womack joins the SouthStar Bank Southwest Austin team as a Personal Banker. Maggie recently graduated from Texas State University in May of 2024 with a major in Advertising and a minor in Business Administration. She is excited to bring her welcoming personality to her new position and hopes to create meaningful connections with her customers. One of Maggie’s most significant personal achievements was winning the Silver Addy Award in the San Antonio Advertising Competition. Her winning campaign was the first she had ever created by herself, and she was delighted to see her hard work pay off. Maggie enjoys spending her free time with her dog, whether it’s going on walks, learning new tricks, or just cuddling on the couch. Her favorite place to travel is her grandfather’s ranch, where she gets to see chickens, horses, and longhorns roam the property. Welcome to the team, Maggie!

Congratulations Brianna Tirado! New Branch Manager

Brianna Tirado has been promoted from Personal Banker to Assistant Vice President and Branch Manager of the SouthStar Bank Gonzales branch. She has been with SouthStar Bank for three years, all at the Gonzales location. In her new role, Brianna will be responsible for the retail operations of the branch from both a sales and service perspective. She looks forward to deepening her connection with the Gonzales community and expanding her banking knowledge to serve her customers best. She also looks forward to becoming more involved in community programs and organizations in her expanded role. Outside of work, Brianna can be found in the outdoors, spending time with her family, or watching her favorite football teams, the Houston Texans and Kansas City Chiefs.

Employee Spotlight – Diane Romo

Diane Romo, Assistant Vice President Personal Banker | SouthStar Bank Round Rock Diane Romo is an Assistant Vice President Personal Banker at the SouthStar Bank Round Rock branch. Diane has been with South Star Bank since the Round Rock branch opened eight years ago and holds 14 years of total banking experience. She has been known for her excellent customer service skills throughout her banking career. Diane enjoys the work-life balance that her position offers. It allows her to pursue her passions outside work and maintain a healthy lifestyle. Diane values her family very highly and works around everyone’s busy schedules to spend as much time with them as possible. One interesting fact about Diane is that she loves math, which has helped enforce her stellar banking career.

Congratulations Anthony Albino! New Branch Manager

Anthony Albino has been promoted to Branch Manager of the SouthStar Bank Round Rock branch. In his new role, Anthony will oversee the branch’s operations, manage resources and staff, develop and attain goals, deliver quality customer service, and continue growing the location’s revenue. Anthony holds a Business Management degree from Texas College and five years of banking experience, including a year at SouthStar Bank, where he thrived in his previous Personal Banker role. He is most excited about the opportunity to grow within the organization and welcome new customers to the SouthStar Bank family! Outside of work, Anthony enjoys watching his favorite sports teams, the San Francisco 49ers and the Denver Nuggets, and making homemade pickles. He looks forward to using his new position as a platform to become involved in the Round Rock community.

Welcome Scott Mainard

Scott Mainard, Vice President of Lending | SouthStar Bank Scott Mainard joins SouthStar Bank Franklin as a Vice President of Lending. Scott brings a wealth of knowledge and experience, holding three decades of experience in the industry, an economics degree from the University of Houston, and additional schooling from the American Institute of Banking and Wisconsin Bankers Association. Scott’s background has allowed him to develop specialized knowledge across a variety of areas of lending, including consumer, residential, securities-based, and business lending. He enjoys leveraging his experience to create loan packages that work for his customers. Along with his lending career, Scott has also built three different private banking start-up platforms. By joining the SouthStar Bank team, he is most looking forward to working for a community bank with a lengthy, outstanding history of Texas roots. A Cypress, Texas native, Scott recently moved back to Texas after a 25-year stay in Wisconsin. Outside work, Scott enjoys playing golf, fishing, cooking, and watching sports, no matter what teams are playing. He has been with his wife for over 30 years, and their daughter is set to graduate from Texas A&M in December. NMLS# 652653

Congratulations Bridget Brosh! New Branch Manager

Bridget Brosh has been promoted to Branch Manager of the SouthStar Bank Moulton branch. As Branch Manager, Bridget will see increased responsibility that includes budgeting, forecasting, and planning to meet the needs of her customers while also maintaining her complex role as IRA Coordinator. Bridget holds four and a half years of experience in the banking industry, all of which were spent with SouthStar Bank. During this time, she has consistently thrived and has grown from her initial role as a Personal Banker to IRA Coordinator and now to Branch Manager. Bridget is looking forward to expanding her knowledge in banking operations as a Branch Manager. She plans to hone her ability to find creative solutions to unique challenges and is eager to continue building relationships with her customers and the community. Outside of work, Bridget is active in the community and as a member of the Moulton PTO and the Moulton Booster Club. When she finds time to herself, she enjoys spending time outdoors, gardening, and making memories with family and friends.

Understanding Small Business Loans

Small business loans support business owners when they are establishing, growing, or managing their enterprises. The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) estimates that there are 32.5 million small enterprises nationwide, making up a sizable portion of the American economy. Even while each one is different; they all have one thing in common: they all require business funding. Funding for small enterprises that are underfunded Many funding options are available for historically underprivileged firms, including those run by women, veterans, Black, Asian, Latino, and Native American business owners. Financing for women’s businesses Women who own their own enterprises are eligible to apply for grants or debt financing. The growth of women-owned firms has outpaced that of all American businesses in recent years. However, when women are given business loans, the average yearly loan amount is around 33% smaller than it is for males. Financing for minorities’ businesses Business grants and loans are options for capital for business entrepreneurs of color. Those who live in historically underrepresented communities confront more funding-related entrepreneurial challenges than their peers. Funds are allocated by institutions and lenders all around the United States to help minority-owned enterprises. Financing for veterans’ businesses Small business owners with a history of military service also have access to a variety of services and funding choices. Many veterans find it difficult to apply their military experience to civilian professions after leaving the service, so some opt to launch their own businesses instead. Veterans’ business loans are one of the secrets to success. Obtaining a small business loan Depending on the kind of business loan you’re looking for, the application process for small business loans varies. Equipment financing normally requires less paperwork than a business line of credit, while short-term loans typically have less paperwork than long-term loans. To increase your chances of approval, it’s still a good idea to have the following documents on hand in case they are required: Checklist for applications for small business loans Once you’ve decided that your business is capable of handling a loan, you should start gathering the appropriate paperwork for your loan application. Although the specific paperwork varies depending on the finance partner, it almost certainly consists of the following: REMOVE THESE USUAL SMALL BUSINESS LOAN MISCONCEPTIONS Applicants that are rejected frequently commit the error of submitting financial documentation and company plans that are insufficient or poorly thought out. When requesting a small businessloan, it’s critical to gather as much prepared information as you can. SHUT OFF YOUR LOAN After approval, the closing procedure is going over the paperwork that will decide the conditions of the loan you’ve chosen. Your interest rate and payback plan will be set down in a legally enforceable agreement called a business loan contract. Make sure you comprehend what the lender is asking of you and how these conditions will affect the financial viability of your company. All of the terms of the contract, including what happens if you make late payments or default, are accepted once you have signed. […]

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