SouthStar Bank, Author at SouthStar Bank, S.S.B.

by SouthStar BankJanuary 25, 2023

Customer Spotlight – Gary and Janie Gray

Gary and Janie Gray When we decided to build our ranch home and needed funding we knew we wanted to deal with Norman Koch at First Star Bank, which is now known as SouthStar Bank. We knew from the many years of previous bank/business dealings that he could be trusted. He reassured us he could make the deal happen. He put us in touch with Joe Scarpinato at the Hearne branch assuring us we would like working with him and have no problems. We are happy to say Norman was right. Joe and Norman worked together and made what can be a tedious process go very smoothly and kept us in the loop on progress. It was a happy day for us when we were able to begin building. Thanks to Joe and Norman for making this such a smooth transaction.

Customer Spotlight

by SouthStar BankJanuary 25, 2023

Customer Spotlight – David Archibald

David Archibald Owner, Mudd Creek Country Store and Chop House Mudd Creek Country Store was established in 2014 to provide Franklin, TX area residents and travelers with food, drinks, fuel and a friendly place to drop in for a visit. The bankers at SouthStar understood our vision and recognized the project’s incredible potential. Together, we worked through the details and SouthStar financed the project. SouthStar lived up to their reputation as flexible, common-sense bankers. Our Mudd Creek Chop House and Chicken Express restaurants have been particularly well received by the community. Come in and have a taste! We look forward to a long, prosperous relationship with our community and SouthStar Bank.

Customer Spotlight

by SouthStar BankJanuary 25, 2023

Customer Spotlight – Karl Haussmann

Karl Haussmann Realtor / Developer, NW Austin Office Warehouse Complex SouthStar has been an incredibly vital asset and a loyal partner for many years now. As our project continues to grow and change ─ adding phases to meet market demand and increase profitability ─ they have been unwavering in their willingness to fund land acquisition, site development, and vertical construction. We are grateful to have such a strong personal banking relationship within our community.

Bank News, Employee News

by SouthStar BankJanuary 24, 2023

Congratulations Gillian Bowman!

Congratulations, Gillian Bowman! SouthStar Bank would like to recognize Gillian Bowman for completing the process to become a Certified Fraud Examiner! The process included four separate exams, which covered the topics of Financial Transactions and Fraud Schemes, Law, Investigation, and Fraud Prevention and Deterrence. Gillian joined the Audit department for SouthStar Bank in April 2022. During her short time with the bank, she has already made a huge impact and was awarded the 2022 Rising Star award for Support Operations. As a valued member of the team, SouthStar Bank is looking forward to Gillians’ continued success with the company.

Employee Spotlight

by SouthStar BankJanuary 23, 2023

Employee Spotlight- Matthew Danielson

Matthew Danielson, Assistant Vice President/Portfolio Manager | SouthStar Bank Loan Administration Building Matthew Danielson works as a Portfolio Manager at the SouthStar Bank Loan Administration Building. He has worked in banking for more than four years and is approaching his second anniversary at SouthStar Bank. Matt graduated from Upper Iowa University and moved to Texas with his fiancé, whom he is looking forward to marrying in May of this year. During his tenure with SouthStar Bank, Matt has excelled due to his mentality. Matt is always excited for new challenges and looks forward to helping clients achieve their end goals. The diversity of opportunities and clients allows Matt to engage and learn with each project, contributing to his development and growth within the Loan Department. Outside of work, Matt enjoys the outdoors. Whether it be fishing, hunting, golfing, or boondocking on the beach, Matt enjoys indulging in the spoils of nature in a multitude of ways.

Employee News, Employee Spotlight

by SouthStar BankDecember 23, 2022

Employee Awards & Anniversaries 2022

RIDE FOR THE BRAND The Ride for the Brand award recognizes those individuals who have gone above and beyond to uphold the SouthStar Bank. In the cowboy days, when you worked for a big ranch or participated in a trail drive, the cowboy was loyal to the Brand he “rode for.” Guys that rode for the brand had deep connections representing the ranch that transcended their daily work. To strengthen our culture, we continue to need employees that are a good example of this type of steadfast loyalty and who support our mission, vision, and values. STAR LEADER The Star Leader award is a special award given to applaud and promote the work and contributions of our most senior team. These individuals articulate a compelling vision for the institution and have inspired others to that vision. They actively support all aspects of our Bank’s advancement and show the highest commitment to professional growth. Recipients deserve exceptional notice and praise. TRAIL BOSS We also wanted to recognize a few individuals who have stepped up in their leadership roles. On a cattle drive, Trail Boss is the one in charge of the entire operation – keeping track of all the different elements of the drive, selecting routes, and making key decisions. Our Trail Boss awards go to those who have helped guide our teams, selected routes for new and expanded operations, and supported key initiatives to exceed expectations. We can all agree that this year brought many new challenges, and I appreciate those who helped set the path for success. PRESIDENT’S AWARD This prestigious recognition is awarded by the bank president, David Kapavik, to the individual he and the executive team feel has made the strongest contribution to the organization over the past year in each region. They review many aspects including performance, leadership, service, and related organizational benefits. RISING STAR AWARD These individuals have been with the bank for less than two years, but have already made our star shine brighter. These emerging leaders were selected by the executive committee in each department because of their exceptional growth and contributions to the organization, as well as increased levels of leadership, responsibility, and sphere of impact. INVESTAR SUPERSTAR This award recognizes one individual who has embraced our partnership with Hilltop Securities. We look forward to the continued growth of this relationship and the benefits it provides for our clients. COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT SouthStar Bank takes great pride in supporting our communities. The Community Involvement Awards recognize one recipient in each of our four regions for exemplifying the community bank spirit through active involvement in worthy causes and initiatives throughout the area. STAR SERVICE AWARD The Star Service Awards recognize one recipient in each of our four regions for service above and beyond the expected norm. Recipients consistently demonstrate exceptional knowledge of our products and services, as well as an intuitive understanding of our clients’ needs. Recipients consistently exemplify the SouthStar mantra of providing friendly, flexible common-sense financial services ANNIVERSARIES 25 YEARS: Linda Martinez […]

Employee Spotlight

by SouthStar BankNovember 21, 2022

Employee Spotlight- Mary Hall

Mary Hall, Personal Banker | SouthStar Bank Calvert Mary Hall is a Personal Banker at the SouthStar Bank Calvert branch. She has worked in the banking industry for over 10 years, with seven years spent at various SouthStar Bank locations in Robertson County. Mary most enjoys working in the Calvert branch because it allows her to interact with the great people of Calvert and customers from Bremond, Hearne, and Franklin. Away from the bank, Mary is a proud wife and mom of two kids. She enjoys spending her free time reading, traveling, thrifting at local garage sales, attending football games, and volunteering with her church.

Bank News, Important Notice

by SouthStar BankNovember 15, 2022

Christmas at SouthStar Bank 2022

Join us in giving back this holiday season. The holidays are upon us! In the spirit of the season, many of our locations are serving as donation drop-offs for local toy drives. New unwrapped donations will be accepted for all ages. We are not accepting stuffed animals at this time. Over the past 100 years, SouthStar Bank has built a tradition of community service, supporting past generations and the generations to come. Now, we want to give back to the communities who have supported and driven our success over the years. See below to find the donation spot closest to you: Bee Cave | through Nov. 30 | LTLL Green Santa Project Southwest Austin | through Dec. 8 | Hays County Brown Santa Georgetown | through Dec. 9 | Blue Santa Project Round Rock | through Dec. 10 | Operation Blue Santa Gonzales | through Dec. 10 | Legacy Ranch

online-banking, Technology

by SouthStar BankNovember 9, 2022

How to send money with Zelle® safely

Zelle® is a fast, safe and easy way to send and receive money with people you trust, like your babysitter, your fellow PTA mom, your son’s soccer coach, or your coworker. Whether you just enrolled with Zelle® or have been an active user for a while, there are a few tips you should always keep in mind to ensure you are being safe when sending money. Only send money to people you know and trust Money moves fast with Zelle®, directly from bank account to bank account within minutes*. So, it’s important you know and trust the people you’re sending money to. Why? Because you can’t cancel a payment once it’s been sent, if the recipient is already enrolled with Zelle®. And if you send money to someone you don’t know for a product or service you might not receive (like paying for something in advance), you may not get your money back. Keep in mind that sending money with Zelle® is similar to handing someone cash. Beware of payment scams One example of a payment scam is buying event ticket sat a price that seems too good to be true from a stranger and never receiving them. If the seller asks you to use Zelle® to purchase the tickets, you should refuse unless the seller is a person you personally know. Also, keep in mind that no one from SouthStar Bank will ask you to send them money with Zelle® as a test or to send money to avoid a fraud event. Neither SouthStar Bank nor Zelle® offers a protection program for authorized payments made with Zelle®. So, if you aren’t sure you will get what you paid for, you should use another payment method with purchase protection, such as a credit card. Treat Zelle® like cash Did your friend change phone numbers recently? It’s easy for people to change their phone number or email address. When in doubt, contact your friend to verify the email or U.S. mobile number they used to enroll with Zelle® before you hit “Send.” Another good check point for ensuring you’re paying the right person is to confirm the first name that is displayed for enrolled emails and U.S. mobile numbers. If a person has already enrolled a U.S. mobile number or email address with Zelle®, you can’t cancel the transaction, so it’s important you get it right the first time. If you’d like more information on safely using peer-to-peer payments, check out these articles from the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB). Helpful Tips for Using Mobile Payments Services and Avoiding Risky Mistakes Tips on Using Peer-to-Peer Payment Systems and Apps How to Keep Your Personal Information Secure Online *U.S. checking or savings account required to use Zelle®. Transactions between enrolled users typically occur in minutes. Zelle and the Zelle-related marks are wholly owned by Early Warning Services, LLC, and are used herein under license.

Mortgage Lending, Portfolio loans

by SouthStar BankOctober 26, 2022

Portfolio Loans

Portfolio Loans | SouthStar Bank What is a portfolio loan? A SouthStar Bank portfolio loan is originated and funded right here at our institution, and never moves into the secondary mortgage market. It’s called a “portfolio loan” because it’s always going to stay in our portfolio. That means we can rely on our relationship with the customer to determine loan eligibility even if they don’t meet the typical mortgage profile. For example, meet Annie. Annie is a freelance marketing consultant with variable income. Her credit score has taken a few hits but we’ve known Annie for years. She’s been a customer in good standing and a part of our community for a long time. Her business is picking up, and she’s starting to get back on her feet. Purchasing a home could improve her stability, her credit, and her children’s lives. She may even want to purchase a four-plex, so she can start earning some rental income on the other three units. Annie comes to SouthStar Bank and meets with one of our loan officers to discuss the Star Advantage Loan. We look at her plans, her property, and total financial picture and make a decision about whether she’ll be a good risk. If we agree the loan makes good business sense, we move forward, even though she would not have been eligible for a loan through Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. Are portfolio loans a good idea? A portfolio loan generally isn’t riskier for the consumer than any other kind of mortgage. It is riskier for the banker, which means it can come with higher interest rates and fees. Whether they are a good idea for you depends on your unique situation and goals. Would you be able to qualify for a conventional mortgage with just a little more work and time? Do you have aspirations towards becoming a landlord or real estate investor? Are you trying to purchase a non-traditional property or unique property? Of course you should carefully consider the total picture before you make your final decision. Our loan officers are happy to discuss the risks and benefits of a portfolio loan in your specific case. How do you qualify for a portfolio loan? Applying for a portfolio loan isn’t just about forms and numbers. It’s about your story. Be prepared to sit down and discuss yours. Tell us what your assets are, what you hope to accomplish, what’s behind, and what’s ahead. Be thorough and be transparent, even if you think parts of your situation might create an issue. We might be willing to work with you anyway, or we might be able to walk you through specific steps you can take to address areas of concern. What are some common uses for a portfolio loan? Many of our customers have used portfolio loans to: Purchase a residence after a bankruptcy, short sale, foreclosure, or divorce. Purchase a residence while self-employed. Purchase a residence as a foreign national. Purchase a rental property or a fix-and-flip […]