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

Welcome Tyler Lucas

Tyler Lucas, Vice President of Lending | SouthStar Bank Southwest Austin

Tyler Lucas is a Vice President of Lending located in Southwest Austin. An alum of Texas Tech and Western Governors University, Tyler has spent the last ten years in the banking/financial services industry, with most of his experience focusing on commercial lending. For him, the best part of his job is being his customers’ trusted advisor for achieving their dreams.

“I truly love and have a passion for helping people,” he says. “Whether they are an individual buying their dream home or a small business owner looking to expand, I will always strive to help them accomplish their goals.”

In the Austin community, Tyler is a member of the Texas Tech Alumni Association and the Risk Management Association. He is also a member of the Young Men’s Business League, a social service organization for young professionals. Away from work, Tyler enjoys checking out the Austin live music scene, fly fishing, cheering on his beloved Red Raiders, and spending time with his wife Wesley and their two children, Warren and Wyatt.

Welcome to the SouthStar Bank family, Tyler!

NMLS# 2118548

Customer Spotlight- Texas Truck and Trailer

Texas Truck and Trailer is an Austin-based company owned and operated by Tyler, Terry, and Kari French. Formerly LINE-X of Austin, the organization began in 2017 as a franchise of Line-X® supplying tough, quality bed liners. The LINE-X brand was important to Tyler as he began his pursuit into business ownership. A former military service member and in transportation and logistics business, Tyler acknowledged the value in Line-X’s proven formula for truck bedliners with the toughness and serious protection to meet truck owners’ expectations.

Since beginning operations in 2017, the French family has expanded to offer an extensive line of full off-road and after-market truck accessories including lift kits, running boards, flat beds, wheels and tires, performance goods and much more. Texas Truck & Trailer of Austin is a local source for rugged results and complete satisfaction when it comes to bringing your dream vehicle to life. With a team of experts and quality products from proven manufacturers, they can supply the right truck accessories for the job.

When the French family was ready to expand their company into the greater Austin area, they looked to their local community bank. Just down the road from SouthStar Bank in Leander, Mr. French was able to meet with SVP and SBA lender, Amanda Aaron. Amanda’s knowledge and expertise with the local market and with small business lending made the French family feel they had found the right fit.

With an SBA 7a loan, Texas Truck and Trailer was able to expand current operations through real estate and business acquisition – more than doubling its existing footprint. The move allowed Line X to cover 90% of the MSA through strategic locations in North and Central Austin. The expansion also allowed them to take on fleet work to accommodate servicing of up to 100 commercial trucks at a time.

“Customer service is lost in many industries, and I didn’t feel that way at SouthStar Bank,” says Tyler. “They have a small, family-friendly feel that you don’t get anywhere else.”

Congratulations on your expansion Texas Truck and Trailer!

CONTACTS:

Texas Truck & Trailer North (Line X of Austin)

10209 E Crystal Falls Pkwy Leander, TX 78641

512.528.6038

Email: service@texastt.us

Texas Truck & Trailer East (Third Coast Vans & Conversions)

9621 N Interstate 35 Frontage Rd, Austin, TX 78753

512.444.8677

Email: sales@texastt.us

SouthStar Bank

Amanda Aaron, SVP/Branch Executive, NMLS# 1819235 | p: 512.456.0035 | m: 512.645.7902 | amanda.aaron@southstarbank.com

Employee Spotlight- Jeff Harris

Jeff Harris, Senior Vice President of Lending/Branch Executive| SouthStar Bank Kerrville

A member of the SouthStar Bank family, Jeff Harris works at the Kerrville Branch as SVP and Branch Executive. He enjoys helping people and seeing them obtain their goal of home ownership. Jeff prides himself on the relationships he builds with his clients. While they start as regular bank customers, by the end of the lending process, Jeff views everyone as a friend.

Before joining the banking industry, Jeff served in the United States Marine Corp. for six years, achieving the rank of Sergeant. Jeff has a passion for helping his fellow veterans achieve their financial goals. Helping a veteran buy their forever home is Jeff’s favorite part of his job. In the Kerrville community, Jeff holds leadership roles with multiple organizations that work to help veterans. This list includes his appointment by the County Judge to the County Veterans Advisory Council, Together with Hill Country Veterans and The Hill Country Gala.

Beyond his work with local veterans, Jeff is also the current President of the Rotary Club of Kerrville, Vice President of the Hill Country Crisis Council, Commissioner with the city’s Planning & Zoning Committee, and a Deacon at First Presbyterian Church. Marrying his wife is Jeff’s highest personal achievement. Together they enjoy fishing and traveling. They have a tradition of going to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, every year to celebrate their anniversary. He hopes to one-day cross cage diving with Great White Sharks off his bucket list while in Mexico. If Jeff could meet anyone in the world, dead or alive, he would go back to his Marine Corps. past and meet General Lewis “Chesty” Puller.

Jeff Harris NMLS# 1678994

Customer Spotlight- Oil Field Products International Inc.

Oil Field Products International Inc. (OPI) is a family and women-owned company established by Paul Tompkins and wife, Marilyn Tompkins, in 1997. Paul has been in the manufacturing business for over 40 years. OPI primarily manufactures tools to grab and turn pipe in the oilfield. Paul was able to secure a US Patent for his drill pipe spinner tool which effectively grabs and spins pipe – creating a built-in cheater bar solution previously unavailable. 30 OPI spinners now span the globe, and they also create the dies to grab pipe in-house.

Paul and Marilyn were previously renting space in the Kyle area near Austin, TX. With the rising cost of space, the duo grew increasingly interested in owning their own property. Through a recommendation from a neighboring business and friend, Paul was connected with SVP of Lending, Gary Mobbs. When they identified the property, Paul recognized it was slightly out of the norm and discussed the potential with Gary in detail. The structure included a roof and slab, but no existing sides, and sat on a 2-acre piece of land previously used for watermelon farming. A preferred SBA lender, SouthStar Bank was able to structure an SBA 7a loan to meet the needs of OPI including working capital, property purchase and construction to retrofit the building.

“Gary is a banker, but he offers so much more,” says Paul. “I have found good bankers have the ability to draw upon their broad experience in working with many businesses. Gary is able to take that knowledge and share it with other SouthStar Bank customers, like me. He provided valuable information to help me make a solid business decision.”

During the move, OPI was able to move their large equipment into the building before constructing the walls and retrofitting it to their needs. OPI now operates out of the new climate-controlled facility with plans to expand, paying only a quarter of what they were previously committing to rent each month.

The move came at an ideal time and OPI continues to thrive. “I could not have done it without SouthStar Bank and obtaining an SBA loan,” says Paul. He and Marilyn hope to expand into additional industries like the pipeline and the HDD markets.

A family-run business, Paul and Marilyn make the day-to-day operational decisions, son Paul Jr., leads machining operations, and daughter, Michelle, assists with the website and marketing. The Tompkins have 4 granddaughters ages 9 to 16 who they hope will share their passion for engineering and developing new solutions.

SouthStar Bank thanks the Tompkins for their valued business and we wish you ongoing success!

CONTACTS:

Oil Field Products International Inc. (OPI)

Paul and Marilyn Tompkins, Owners

281.482.0827 | sales@oilfield-products.com

9587 N Highway 80 | Leesville, Texas 78122

SouthStar Bank

Gary Mobbs, SVP/Area Manager, NMLS# 586586 p: 830.672.1081 x1605 | m: 830.857.1418 | gary.mobbs@southstarbank.com

Employee Spotlight- Faith Shrader

Faith Shrader, Personal Banker | SouthStar Bank Southwest Austin

Faith Shrader is a Personal Banker at our SouthStar Bank Southwest Austin Branch. She joined the team in 2021 and has quickly become an integral member of the operations team. “Getting to know and assist all of our wonderful customers is the best part of my job,” she says.

When she’s not at work, Faith volunteers with Solid Ground, a ministry that provides showers, laundry, clothing, and haircuts to the homeless community. A unique fact about Faith is that she is a licensed cosmetologist and did hair professionally for six years before joining the SouthStar team. Some of her other favorite past times include spending time with family, reading, and traveling.

Customer Spotlight- Body Wise

Supplied funding to established business partners for land acquisition and construction of a 9,000 square foot, two-story retail building in Lakeway, TX. The new facility will house the partner¹s BodyWise Gym along with two retail storefronts for tenants.

“After experiencing nothing but hassles trying to work with two large banks we’ve had relationships with for years, an associate suggested we try SouthStar. It quickly became clear that SouthStar cares about local business and the benefits we anticipated from owning our own building. We were surprised at how easy the process was and how important they made us feel every step of the way.”