Southstar Bank Insider - SouthStar Bank, S.S.B.

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.

Triple B Hardware

Four years ago, Tony Bielamowicz of Bremond decided to expand the family cedar mill into a hardware store to serve the communities’ need for rural living supplies. After extending his building shell, he turned to SouthStar Bank for several loans including inventory, an eye-catching digital street sign, and later a forklift. Along the way, he enlisted SouthStar to set up his merchant services (credit card acceptance) account. Tony’s never met a stranger, and greets customers with free refreshments and expert DIY advice.

“SouthStar Bank is a fantastic business partner. Norman and Justin check in regularly, and I’m comfortable asking for just about anything a bank provides. They made it a priority to understand my vision for a true mom-and-pop store where folks can come in for a part and some fix-it advice. Their help got us selling and keeps us going. Thanks in part to SouthStar, business is great!”

—Marvin Sommerfeld, President, Sommerfeld Construction

Sommerfeld Construction

“I’ve worked with Brent Gibbs at SouthStar Bank to finance construction of several high-end residential projects, including the spec home we are showing during this year’s Parade of Homes. From our first call through the final draw, they consistently make the process easy and straightforward – even when the project is not. The professionals at SouthStar Bank clearly understand builders and their needs, and deliver as promised.”

—Marvin Sommerfeld, President, Sommerfeld Construction

Arbogast Homes

“I have had the great pleasure of working with SouthStar Bank on several large, complex custom home projects. SouthStar Bank delivered exceptional service, great value, and a long term partnership to each and every client. I have been so impressed, I had SouthStar Bank finance my personal home as well.”

—Tod Arbogast, President, Arbogast Homes

Congratulations Jesica Garza! New Area Manager

Jesica Garza has been promoted to Area Manager for the Urban North region at SouthStar Bank. This region includes the Georgetown, Leander, and Round Rock locations.

Having joined SouthStar Bank in 2019, Jesica excelled in her previous role as Vice President of Lending. In her new capacity, she is eager to leverage her wealth of knowledge and expertise to lead her team of loan officers toward achieving goals that enhance the lending experience for all customers.

Jesica specializes in complex underwriting, providing customers with unique lending options, and has emerged as a commercial and residential lending expert. Her contributions have earned her awards with the bank, including the President’s Award in 2023 and the Ride for the Brand Award in 2021. She has also received accolades from the Austin Home Builders Association, where she was named Mortgage Industry Professional of the Year in 2023 and recognized as one of Austin’s Top Mortgage Professionals in 2021 and 2022.

Beyond her professional achievements, Jesica is actively involved in the community, dedicating support to Flatwater, a local non-profit founded by her husband that provides access to therapy for families coping with a cancer diagnosis. She is also in the 2024 Leadership Georgetown class with the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and looks forward to leadership serving opportunities in her hometown of Georgetown upon graduation in June.

Outside of work, Jesica can be found spending time with her husband and two children at the soccer fields or family dinners with their large extended family in Georgetown. When she finds time for herself, she enjoys workouts at her local CrossFit gym or diving into a good novel.

Employee Spotlight – Melissa Greger

Melissa Greger, Assistant Vice President & Loan Operations Processor | SouthStar Bank Calvert

Melissa Greger is an Assistant Vice President and Loan Operations Processor at the SouthStar Bank Calvert Branch. Melissa holds more than three decades of experience in the banking industry and is approaching a quarter century at SouthStar Bank. The proudest moment in her career came when she received the title of Assistant Vice President, something she had strived to achieve for many years. In her role, Melissa loves collaborating with the Loan Officers and Loan Coordinators across the bank to help make borrowers’ dreams come true. Hearing the excitement in the borrower’s voice when they purchase their new home brings her great joy.

Melissa regularly attends Salem Lutheran Church, where she has been a member for 22 years. She is also a part of the top fundraising Relay for Life team in the entire Bell County area. Melissa also participates in the Feed My Sheep outreach program in Bell County; this program allows people from the community to help prepare a meal once a month for people experiencing homelessness.

When Melissa finds time to herself, there is nothing she loves more than fishing. Rockport, Texas, is her home away from home, with her family making multiple trips down south each year. She says there is no better sight than watching the sun go down while hauling a massive red drum. One item on Melissa’s bucket list is to take her fishing skills to Louisiana for a guided fishing trip.