Press Release

It’s Official: SouthStar Bank Joins the Kerrville Community MOULTON, TX, August 27, 2021 – SouthStar Bank has purchased the Kerrville branch of Community First National Bank with the full approval of the Texas Department of Savings and Mortgage Lending and the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency. The branch, located at 1101 Junction Highway in Kerrville, TX, will be open for business as a SouthStar Bank branch on Monday, August 30th.  The community is invited to attend a ribbon cutting celebration on September 24th at 3:30 PM. BBQ will be served and there will be live music from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM. The event is free, family-friendly, and open to all. SouthStar Bank has been a fixture in Texas banking since 1920. It’s headquartered in Moulton, TX and now has 16 locations throughout Central Texas (including the new Kerrville branch).  According to SouthStar Bank President & CEO David Kapavik, the sale represented a strategic initiative for both organizations. “The Kerrville branch is a perfect fit. Community First National Bank built a strong reputation for local, friendly service. These values are in line with SouthStar Bank’s mission to provide friendly, flexible, common-sense financial solutions—Texas style! Their values are aligned with ours as a true community bank. We are excited to grow the Bank’s footprint into the Hill Country area.” SouthStar Bank retained the Community First National Bank Kerrville team at the branch, including Brittany Selement (Personal Banker), Claudia Gonzales (Personal Banker), Jeffery Harris (Vice President of Lending), Donny Lehmann (Vice President of Lending), Kent McKinney (Business Development Advisor), Kyla Gesell (AVP/Branch Manager), Meghan Jackson (Personal Banker), Sche Kehner (Personal Banker), Shelby Mossman (Loan Assistant), and Sherri Steadham (Loan Assistant).  When speaking of the Kerrville team, Kapavik said: “The local team is strong, helping to make the transition as seamless as possible both internally and for the new clients we are bringing into the SouthStar Bank family.” Kent McKinney, Business Development Advisor and former Community First National Bank Senior VP feels the team will be in great hands. “During the transition, I have had the opportunity to meet many of the SouthStar Bank people, from owners, to managers, to staff members at several levels. Without exception they are some of the nicest, most pleasant, most dedicated individuals you could hope to meet. There will always be some changes resulting from this kind of transition, but what you won’t see is a decrease in friendly, efficient customer service.” McKinney notes that the staff has been looking forward to the change, and praises SouthStar Bank for the investments they’ve made in local nonprofit organizations. “SouthStar Bank looks forward to a long-term presence,” adds Kapavik. “Extending our 100-year history of helping local residents reach their financial goals.” For more information, visit https://southstarbank.com//.  * * * ABOUT SOUTHSTAR BANK SouthStar Bank, S.S.B., specializes in residential mortgage, real estate, and construction lending, operating 16 full-service branches across the Central Texas region. Established in 1920, the bank continues to focus on community involvement and personal relationships. […]

The planned acquisition by SouthStar Bank will expand its Central Texas footprint; the proposed sale meets strategic initiatives for both community-focused institutions. June 23, 2021─Moulton, TX─ SouthStar Bank announced an agreement to purchase the Community First National Bank Branch in Kerrville, TX. The sale is contingent on regulatory approval by the Texas Department of Savings and Mortgage Lending (TDSML), the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC), and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC). Pending final approval, the sale is scheduled to close August 27, 2021. Terms of the deal between the privately-held organizations were not disclosed. SouthStar Bank plans to continue operations at the Kerrville branch and retain current staff to streamline the transition and maintain continuity for customers and team members.  “The Board and Management are eager to welcome Community First employees into our SouthStar Bank family. We’ve seen an enthusiastic presence in the local community, making the branch a seamless fit with our organization. We strive to accomplish a uniquely Texas-Style of banking throughout all locations with friendly, flexible, common-sense financial solutions. said David Kapavik, President and CEO, SouthStar Bank.  “The acquisition will allow us to expand into the Hill Country, reach new opportunities, and remain the personal, community-focused bank we’ve always been.” SouthStar Bank is a family-owned community bank focused on providing the highest level of service to its customers. Established in 1920, SouthStar Bank recently celebrated its 100th anniversary. Today, the bank operates 15 branches utilizing both the latest in financial products and technology, and the same small-town service on which SouthStar Bank was founded. Kent McKinney, Sr. Vice President of Community First National Bank stated “The staff and employees of the Kerrville Branch of Community First National Bank are excited to become a part of the dynamic and progressive SouthStar Bank organization. They have a strong history of community involvement and growth and will be a valuable addition to the Kerrville community.” A celebration is tentatively planned for late September, which will include BBQ and live music. The event will be free and open to the public. * * * SouthStar Bank, S.S.B. operates 15 full-service branches across the Central Texas region with headquarters in Moulton, TX. The Bank specializes in residential mortgage, real estate, and construction lending. Decisions are made locally, allowing the flexibility to apply common-sense standards to products, services, and loan requests. Since opening in 1920, the Bank continues to focus on community involvement and personal relationships and now holds over $1 billion in assets.  Southern Bancshares (Houston, TX), holds majority ownership of SouthStar Bank. All loans subject to approval. Other fees and restrictions may apply. Equal Housing Lender and Member FDIC, NMLS # 410624.  ─ end ─

Serving our friends, families, and communities. We’re in this together. SouthStar Bank continues to monitor guidelines from health and government officials relating to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. As a precaution, lobby access is limited across all locations. Drive thru remains open (please see below for limited hours at select locations). Customers who have a critical need to conduct an in-person transaction or access a safe deposit box should contact your local branch for an appointment. REDUCED HOURS All locations will maintain normal drive thru hours. 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 Loan Payments: Secure, online payments using a debit card, checking or savings account Online Banking: Review transactions, transfer funds, pay bills and open accounts Online Applications: Mortgage Loan or Refinance Consumer Checking or Savings Account Zelle: Person-to-person money transfer Telebanking: 24/7 account access (866.333.9064) Unfamiliar with our remote banking options? Watch our video tutorials to learn more. ONGOING MONITORING & UPDATES Our hearts go out to all those impacted by COVID-19—including not only those diagnosed with the virus, but also their friends and family, those whose jobs and schools have been impacted, and many more. We will continue to monitor the situation as it evolves, taking additional measures as public safety authorities recommend. In the meantime, we’re grateful for your support and want you to know that the health and safety of you and your family are top of mind for us.

Personalized assistance to aid customers affected by COVID-19 As a community financial services provider, SouthStar Bank strives to function as an integral part of the communities around us – including in trying times like these. With the financial unknowns of the coronavirus, we want our borrowers to know that SouthStar Bank is committed to helping qualified customers weather the challenges ahead. If you are suffering financial hardship caused by COVID-19, please contact your local SouthStar Bank  Branch or Loan Officer to discuss loan modification options. Unprecedented times call for unique solutions and we are ready to help. Initiatives are in place to assist the people and communities we serve withstand the extraordinary pressures triggered by COVID-19 and be better positioned to recover from its effects. SBA Disaster Loans In addition, the Small Business Administration (SBA) has implemented relief loans for businesses affected by the COVID-19 situation. Loans include Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDLs) to provide access to working capital, and SBA Paycheck Protection Loans (PPP) to retain workforce through debt forgiveness for payroll during a defined covered period. Please refer to SBA.gov for the latest information. The SouthStar Bank SBA Team is here to help and discuss available options for your business. Contact us at sba@southstarbank.com. As always, our mission is to provide friendly, flexible, common-sense financial solutions – Texas Style!

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.

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.