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Congratulations Bill Staley! New Branch Executive & Senior Vice President of Lending

Bill Staley has been promoted to Senior Vice President of Lending and Branch Executive of the SouthStar Bank Round Rock branch. Bill has spent just over three years with SouthStar Bank and holds a quarter century of experience in the banking industry. Well versed in all types of lending, Bill holds a great deal of experience in Commercial and Industrial Lending. He is also a strong advocate for small businesses and possesses a strong understanding of the various SBA Loan Programs offered by SouthStar Bank.

In his new role, he is excited to leverage his wealth of experience and serve the Round Rock community and the greater Central Texas Market in an even greater capacity. Bill is focused on ensuring clients and coworkers look forward to working with SouthStar Bank by delivering premier customer service and offering unparalleled expertise in the industry.

Outside of work, you can find Bill at the grill perfecting the culinary science of Barbeque, playing the drums, riding his motorcycles, or tending to his fruit trees. Bill is also involved in the Cedar Park Chamber of Commerce and is due to graduate from their Leadership Program this May. He has also served on the Board of Junior Achievement and was a Board Member for the Breast Cancer Detection Center of Alaska.

America Saves Week: Saving Automatically

Pink piggy bank and US dollar coins falling on blue background f

America Saves Week has arrived! America Saves offers a number of helpful resources and tips on how to save effectively. To kick things off we are sharing their article on the importance and effectiveness of Saving Automatically:

Regularly contributing to a savings account is the best way to work toward your future goals…….and the best way to make regular contributions is through saving automatically.

It’s our favorite way to save!

Saving through automatic deposits or transfers is the most effective way to save and helps make it easy by allowing you to choose what and when you’ll save.

How To Start Saving Automatically

First, you’ll want to have a clear view of your finances, so you know what you are capable of stashing away. Start with our list of 6 Steps to Establishing a Spending and Saving Plan. These steps will walk you through gathering your financial documents like pay stubs, utility bills, mortgage statements, etc., and will help you calculate your income and expenses as well as setting goals and making a plan to achieve them.

Don’t worry or get discouraged if it’s not as much as you would like at first. At America Saves, we say Start Small, Think BIG! Even small amounts add up over time.

Once you determine the amount you’d like to start saving, there are two ways to start saving automatically:

Visit your employer’s HR or payroll department and request a split deposit. Most companies will allow for more than one account to be set up for payroll direct deposit. Redirect your set savings amount into a designated account separate from the rest of your paycheck. Complete the necessary paperwork and let your employer do the rest.
Set an auto transfer from your checking to savings at your bank or credit union. Choose the amount to transfer and a day of the week or the month (maybe the day after payday or at a time when there aren’t other debits hitting the account) for the transfer to be made and watch your balance grow! Most financial institutions’ online banking systems will allow you to set up a transfer with just a few clicks. If not, pay a visit to your local branch and ask for assistance.

No matter how you choose to save automatically, the most important thing is building the habit of saving – there is no amount too small to save!

Saving is a Habit, Not a Destination

That’s right – Saving is a Habit….and, practice makes perfect!

By definition, a habit is something you do on a regular basis consistently until it becomes second nature. Eventually, it will become something you do automatically without even thinking about it.

Saving is no different!

A series of small steps, like setting up a direct deposit or auto transfer, can get you closer to your goal and lead to big rewards in the long run.

Every step matters – no matter how big or how small. The more you do it, the more likely you are to stick with it.

Read more and view all the resources America Saves has to offer here: Home | America Saves

SOURCE: America Saves

Congratulations Brent Gibbs & Cole Schindler! New Central Texas President & CEO

collage 90 — L: Brent Gibbs R: Cole Schindler

The SouthStar Bank Board of Directors is pleased to announce the promotion of Brent Gibbs and Cole Schindler to the positions of Central Texas President and Central Texas CEO.

Brent has worked in banking for 26 years, with this being his 13th year with SouthStar Bank. Brent is an alumnus of Texas Tech University and the Southwest Graduate School of Banking. He began his career at SouthStar Bank as the original Branch Executive and Senior Loan Officer for the Southwest Austin branch when it opened in 2011. He was later promoted to Chief Lending Officer and has served in that role since 2018. He became a SouthStar Bank Board Member in 2021 and continues to serve in that capacity.

As Central Texas President, Brent will be a critical liaison between the credit/lending functions and the Board. He will be involved in helping manage the Bank’s profitability and will assume responsibility for monitoring and managing SouthStar Bank’s strong credit and earnings. Brent will also administer SouthStar Bank’s specialty lending programs – working directly with the credit, lending, and compliance departments. In his new position, Brent will be working directly with David Kapavik and begin assuming duties and responsibilities held by him.

Cole has served SouthStar Bank for 20 years. He received his MBA in Communications with a specialization in communication studies from St. Edward’s University in 2004. Cole began his career in banking as a teller and bookkeeper and continued to work his way up in the industry, joining SouthStar Bank as a Credit Officer and eventually developing into a Senior Loan Officer. Until his most recent promotion, he was an EVP/Strategic Development Officer/Senior Lending Officer. He became a SouthStar Bank Board Member in 2007 and continues to serve in that capacity.

The Schindler and Brown families have owned a majority interest in the Bank through Southern Bancshares Holding company since 1981. Cole is a third-generation family member to hold a key leadership role at the Bank.

As Central Texas CEO, Cole will take on a much more significant role in the vision and strategic development of SouthStar Bank’s growth and success. With his knowledge and experience at SouthStar Bank and involvement in the main ownership group, he is uniquely positioned to advance the organization. Cole will work directly with the executive team and current CEO/President David Kapavik in a broader role, leading the Bank’s overall direction.

The Board and executive management are excited by the vision and energy Cole and Brent bring to SouthStar Bank’s future. Their ideas and dedication will be instrumental in helping navigate the Bank in our ever-changing environment.

Member FDIC | Equal Housing Lender | NMLS# 793687 | NMLS# 627914

Pig Butchering Scams: What You Need to Know

Red heart paper on keyboard computer background. Online internet

The next scam in our blog series covers a more complex scam that has plagued victims with financial and emotional stress: Pig Butchering Scams. These scams are complex in that they use advanced social engineering techniques that combine elements of both Romance Scams and Investment Scams. These scams have produced back-breaking financial losses in recent years and have even driven some victims to suicide. It is vital to understand how these scams work to protect yourself and those you care about.

Why is it called Pig Butchering?

Pig Butchering scams originated in 2019 in Southeast Asia and were coined “Shā Zhū Pán” which directly translates to “Killing Pig Plate,” the reason for this is that this scam is focused on completely wiping out a victim’s assets, or “take the whole pig.”

How Does it Work?

The fraudster will initially reach out to potential victims in the same fashion as in a Romance Scam, creating a fake online persona and then working to establish a relationship with a victim. Once the scammer has established a line of trust, they will work to gather information about a victim to identify any potential vulnerabilities that could be exploited. Some examples of what scammers will recognize as an emotional vulnerability include a recent divorce or breakup, loss of a job, loss of a family member, or someone who is in an abusive relationship. Vulnerabilities such as these make the victim more receptive to an online relationship and less likely to question whether the person they are talking to is trustworthy.

Once the scammer has established a line of trust with the victim, they will begin to tell them about recent investments they have made that have garnered life-changing returns, generally in cryptocurrency. This is where aspects of a traditional Investment Scam come into play. Scammers will mask webpages full of fake information to appear as though they are credible, trusted sources. The websites are so realistic and effective that even cybersecurity professionals have been tricked into falling for this scam. Once the victim is ready to “invest,” the scammer will direct them to a website or app to make their investments. As accurate as it may appear, the website or app is never legitimate.

Once a victim has made their initial “investment,” they can monitor their balance on the fraudulent website, observe they are receiving returns, and even pull their money out. Scammers allow victims to pull money out of the investment platform initially because it makes victims trust the platform more and the fake persona they are in a relationship with.

From here, the scammer will target the victim via the fake persona and the investment website by encouraging further investment to maximize returns. With the website showing incredible earnings and the apparent ability to withdraw funds at will, victims will often begin pouring money in. Beyond placing their life savings into the platform, victims have gone as far as taking out a second mortgage on their homes and taking out personal loans to invest more money. If a victim attempts to pull a large sum of their investment out of the platform, they will receive messages claiming liquidity issues or other barriers preventing them from withdrawing significant amounts of cash at once. The platform will also encourage the victim to invest additional large sums of money before specific dates to access “premium dividends” or a similar special offer. Once the scammer feels that the victim has invested every possible dollar or sufficiently “fattened the pig,” they will pull the rug out from under the victim, the website will no longer exist, and the fake persona will disappear.

The Fallout

Afterward, victims of Pig Butchering Scams are left with a potent sense of emotional and financial loss. Losing a romantic partner or a significant sum of money is already a harrowing ordeal. Still, the combination of the two and the understanding that they have been scammed can present an incredible burden to bear. Always be extremely cautious when meeting people online. With technological advancements, scammers have become increasingly effective in masking voices in calls or changing their faces on video calls. If you or a family member establish an online relationship with someone and they begin to tell you about a “life-changing investment opportunity,” it is vital to recognize this as a red flag. It likely indicates it would be best to immediately cut ties with this person.

Source: TRM Labs & Darknet Diaries

Congratulations Ryan Noyce! New Executive Vice President & Chief Lending Officer

SouthStar Bank is pleased to announce the promotion of Ryan Noyce to Executive Vice President and Chief Lending Officer. Ryan is a 25-year banker and has served with SouthStar Bank for seven years. He is a graduate of Texas State University and a 2022 graduate of the Southwest Graduate School of Banking at SMU. Over his career, Ryan has worked in every position in the industry, from Personal Banker to Senior Vice President and Regional Executive. He began his career with SouthStar Bank as a Senior Commercial Loan Officer in the Steiner Ranch branch until he was promoted to Regional Credit Manager of the Urban South Region in 2019.

Ryan is a veteran loan officer and has proven to be very successful in leading teams. Internally, he has won two of SouthStar Bank’s most prestigious awards, including the President’s Award for Urban South in 2020 and the Trailboss Award in 2021. In his new role, Ryan will bring the technical experience and positive mindset to continue leading SouthStar Bank down the path of safety, relationship building, growth, and profitability. He will also oversee the lending function in all 16 full-service locations and SouthStar Bank’s East Austin Loan Office.

Outside the bank, Ryan is married to his wife, Melissa, and they have three children together. In his community, he is a very active member of his church, coaches his kids’ soccer teams, and serves as Chairman of the Board at Reveal Resource Center, a food, clothing, and diaper ministry serving Low to Moderate Income families.

SouthStar Bank looks forward to Ryan’s continued efforts to make our star shine.

Member FDIC | Equal Housing Lender | NMLS# 665052

Round Rock Family Eye Care

Brett Hamilton, OD is an Optometrist and the owner of Round Rock Family Eye Care. Dr. Hamilton came to SouthStar Bank interested in transitioning from leasing his medical office space to building and owning his own medical office building. The Bank was able to offer land purchase financing as well as conventional and SBA construction loan options which included permanent financing once construction was complete. During the process, SouthStar Bank was also able to provide Dr. Hamilton with business operating account solutions including Remote Deposit Capture so his operations managers could deposit checks right from their desk. Today, Dr. Hamilton is a full relationship customer who has personal and business accounts. SouthStar Bank was also able to provide a speedy PPP loan to aid his business during the COVID-19 pandemic.