Employee News

Jeremy Bernal, Information Technology Speicalist I | SouthStar Bank Harker Heights Annex Welcome Jeremy Bernal! The SouthStar Bank IT Department is expanding with the addition of Jeremy Bernal as Information Technology Specialist I. Jeremy has worked in the Information Systems Industry since 1997 and will be located in the Harker Heights Annex. His favorite part of his job is being able to help and meet new people. Jeremy has many hobbies outside of work including going to the gym, Bible study, spending time with his family, and saltwater fishing. One of his biggest career achievements is being able to keep up with all of the changing technology since his start in the industry.

Gabriel Anderssen, Personal Banker | SouthStar Bank Bee Cave Branch After working four years in the banking industry, Gabriel Anderssen is joining the SouthStar Bank team as a Personal Banker. He is located at the Bee Cave Branch and is looking forward to getting to know all of the customers in Bee Cave. Gabe’s favorite part about banking are the personal customer interactions. Gabriel likes to split his free time between the indoors & outdoors. He enjoys gaming, hiking, and doing some creative writing. A travel enthusiast two of his favorite places he has visited are London and Singapore. Welcome Gabriel!

Susan Forrest, Personal Banker | SouthStar Bank Bee Cave Branch Susan Forrest is joining the SouthStar Bank Bee Cave team as a Personal Banker. This is her first time working in the banking industry, but she is excited to bring her excellent customer service skills to Bee Cave. A graduate of California Polytechnic State University, Susan hopes to make all of her customers feel welcome and appreciated. In her free time, Susan enjoys hiking challenging trails Welcome Susan!

Aften Serrano, Assistant Vice President & Branch Manager | SouthStar Bank Leander Branch Aften Serrano joins the SouthStar Bank team as Assistant Vice President and Branch Manager at the Leander Branch. Aften brings 16 years of experience in the banking and finance industry to SouthStar Bank. Aften is most excited to bring her Texas community banking experience to the people of Leander. She is also looking forward to meeting and making lifelong customers. One of Aften’s biggest personal achievements is that she was able to start wildlife refuge efforts on her property. When she’s not working, Aften enjoys crafting, tubing, and running her home décor blog. She also enjoys traveling, and one of her favorite destinations is Costa Rica. An experienced traveler, Aften can pack for a week long trip in under 15 minutes. Welcome Aften!

Taryn Vandenberg, Personal Banker | SouthStar Bank Southwest Austin Branch The SouthStar Bank team is growing with the addition of Taryn Vandenberg. Taryn is located at the Southwest Austin Branch as a Personal Banker. She is a graduate of Texas Tech University and is excited to bring her customer service experience to SouthStar Bank. In her free time, she likes to work out and take her dog, Shadow, to Town Lake. Taryn also loves to travel; her favorite destination is the Grand Cayman Islands. Welcome Taryn!

Brianna Cortes, Personal Banker | SouthStar Bank Harker Heights Branch The SouthStar Bank team is growing with the addition of personal banker, Brianna Cortes. She is excited to be joining the Harker Heights branch, and can’t wait to help the bank grow and succeed. In her spare time, Brianna enjoys spending time with her son and doing water activities. One of her biggest accomplishments in life is that she has been skydiving. Welcome Brianna!

Danielle Sackllah, Personal Banker | SouthStar Bank Steiner Ranch Branch Danielle Sackllah is joining the SouthStar Bank Steiner Ranch team as a Personal Banker. This is her first time working in the banking industry and she is excited to bring her high energy to the workplace. Danielle believes her client focused attitude will help her be successful at SouthStar Bank. Welcome to the team Danielle!

Samalia Huggins, Loan Closing Coordinator | SouthStar Bank Harker Heights Branch Samalia Huggins joins the SouthStar Bank team as a Loan Closing Coordinator. She will be based in the Harker Heights Branch. Samalia brings three and a half years of experience to SouthStar Bank. She is most excited to bring her award-winning personality and drive to succeed to the SouthStar Bank team. Samalia is also looking forward to learning everything that the Bank has to offer. Samalia is a mom of three daughters and grandma to one grandson. She is originally from Wilmington, NC and has been living in Texas for the last three and a half years. During her free time, Samalia likes to cook, explore Texas, and ride the electric scooters in Downtown Austin. NMLS#1553685