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*Scams involving stealing personal information are at an all-time high across the financial industry. It is important to keep yourself informed and alert. Click HERE to read about ongoing scams in the financial industry.*

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Important Notice

SouthStar Bank COVID-19 Update

LIMITED LOBBY ACCESS: Drive Thru and Online Banking Recommended We greatly appreciate the trust and confidence you have placed in SouthStar Bank. As we continue to monitor, plan and implement our strategy to address COVID-19, we want to assure you that the safety and well-being of our customers and employees are our top priorities. With these intentions, we have decided to take precautionary action and limit non-essential traffic within all SouthStar Bank branch lobbies. The Bank remains open to serve and help our customers through this crisis. Limiting access to our lobby and public areas will serve to protect employees and customers as we increase sanitation and implement social distancing as suggested by the CDC. Our drive thru will remain open. In addition, some branches may be operating with reduced hours. Currently, branches with reduced drive thru hours include: SouthStar Bank Harker Heights: Drive Thru Open Monday-Friday, 8am – 5pm If you wish to meet with a banker or conduct in-person transactions, please call the branch for an appointment. REMOTE BANKING SERVICES We are committed to providing uninterrupted, exceptional services while balancing the interests of our clients, our employees and others we serve. For your convenience, we provide a variety of options to help manage your accounts and maintain productivity. Allpoint ATM Network: world-wide, surcharge free ATMs CardValet®: Manage and monitor debit card activity Direct Deposit: Deposit paychecks automatically into your account Mobile App: Deposit checks with a picture and transfer funds Online Banking: Review transactions, transfer funds, pay bills and open accounts Zelle: Person-to-person money transfer Telebanking: 24/7 account access (866.333.9064) If you haven’t already: Download the SouthStar Bank Mobile App > Enroll in SouthStar Bank Online Banking > FRAUD PREVENTION The Federal Trade Commission has warned about scammers who are taking advantage of fears surrounding the Coronavirus. We ask communities to be vigilant against this type of fraud. Remember, if we reach out to you, we won’t ask for confidential information such as your name, password, personal identification number (PIN) or other account information. CONTINUED MONITORING & UPDATES SouthStar Bank has faced many challenges throughout its 100-year history. We are in this together and have every confidence that we will meet this new challenge and once again demonstrate our commitment to the communities we serve. We plan to regularly review, expand, and evolve these and other preventative measures as we learn more from the World Health Organization, Centers for Disease Control, and other health experts about how to combat the spread of this virus. In the meantime, please know we are committed to doing all that we can to keep our communities safe. We will continue to provide updates to you through our website, over social media channels and by email. We appreciate your feedback. For comments or questions please reach out to your branch representative or email contact.us@southstarbank.com.

Health & Safety Amid COVID-19

The health and well-being of SouthStar Bank employees, community, and customers are our primary concern. While there is currently no foreseen impact to the Bank’s operation of services, we continue to closely monitor and evaluate developments of COVID-19 (also known as Coronavirus) and follow guidance from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and local health and government authorities. There are several precautionary measures we are taking to ensure we safely manage through this situation while continuing to serve our community and customers effectively. Proactive steps include deployment of additional hand sanitizers and enhanced cleaning of common areas and high-touch surfaces throughout the day. Thank you for your partnership and assistance as SouthStar Bank works to confront these important issues. Members of our community can maximize the effectiveness of these efforts by adhering to preventive hygiene guidance as published by the CDC, including: Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash and wash your hands. Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth. Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces. Wash your hands frequently with warm water and soap for 20 seconds. Use hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol when soap and water are not readily available. Avoid close contact with people who are sick. In addition, it is recommended to: Stay informed: CDC information: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html All members of the community are encouraged to visit the site regularly for FAQs, including the best ways to protect your personal health, and updates as new information becomes available. Stay home if you are sick: If you feel ill or experience flu-like symptoms (elevated temperature, fever, cough, shortness of breath), you are advised to stay home and seek medical care. For your convenience, we offer remote banking capabilities at no additional charge. 24-Hour Telebanking (866.333.9064) Allpoint ATM Network CardValet® Online Banking (southstarbank.com/online-banking-login/) Mobile App with Deposit Capture We understand that there is a great amount of concern, uncertainty and anxiety throughout the community. The safety and wellbeing of our employees and customers are our highest priorities and we appreciate your partnership and assistance as SouthStar Bank works to confront these important issues. We appreciate your feedback. For comments or questions please reach out to your branch representative or email contact.us@southstarbank.com.

How Filing a Homestead Exemption Can Help Homeowners

How Filing a Homestead Exemption Can Help Homeowners Are you a recent homeowner? A Homestead Exemption can be an excellent option to reduce your tax burden. Homestead exemptions have the potential to lower your taxes by removing part of your home’s value from taxation. From the Texas Comptroller: “For example, your home is appraised at $100,000, and you qualify for a $25,000 exemption (this is the amount mandated for school districts), you will pay school taxes on the home as if it was worth only $75,000.” While this is a law that exists in most states, property owners might not understand how the exemption works and who can claim it. In this article, we explain what a homestead exemption is, its benefits, who qualifies and how to file What is a Homestead Exemption and How Does It Work? With a homestead exemption, homeowners can deduct part of the property value from their taxes, lowering their overall tax bill. Typically, there is a fixed discount, and then the rest of the value is taxed at the normal rate. This favors homes that have a lower value. Exactly how much protection the exemption provides and how it’s applied varies by state. In some locations, the benefit is automatic. In others, including Texas, a homeowner must first file a claim with their state to be able to receive it. This means that if you’re eligible for a homestead exemption in Texas, you can potentially reduce your tax burden just by filing a claim. Other homestead exemption benefits include protection of a homeowner’s primary residence from creditors in the event of bankruptcy or a deceased spouse. It also helps the surviving spouse with continual tax relief. In addition to financial protection, this exemption offers physical shelter, in that it prevents the forced sale of the property. Benefits of Filing for a Homestead Exemption The benefits of filing for a homestead exemption include: Relief from property taxes – Since property taxes are based on the property’s assessed value, being able to reduce the home’s value on your tax statement makes the property tax significantly lower.  Protection from a forced sale – Having a homestead exemption shields the property from a forced sale to pay off creditors. For example, if you had trouble paying bills, without the homestead exemption, creditors could try to seize your property to satisfy your debts. Exceptions are mortgage foreclosures and failing to pay property taxes.  Advantages for a surviving spouse – Though state laws vary, in most cases, if the homeowner dies, their surviving spouse is guaranteed the right to stay in the home for their lifetime. They must, of course, continue to make mortgage and other payments in a timely manner. In Texas…. An Important Note: The homestead exemption protection from creditors will not prevent a bank from foreclosing on the home and taking possession of the property if the homeowner defaults on their mortgage payments.   Who Qualifies for a Homestead Exemption? To qualify for a homestead exemption, you […]

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