SouthStar Bank Celebrates 100 Years

A recap of the 100th Anniversary Celebration.

SouthStar Bank celebrated its 100th Anniversary on Wednesday, October 21, 2020 after first opening its doors as The Farmers and Merchants Bank of Moulton in 1920 with the motto Safety, Strength and Service. True to its Texas Style motto, the Bank welcomed the community for complimentary BBQ accompanied by live entertainment.

“Starting from humble beginnings as Farmers and Merchants Bank, we have grown not only in numbers, but also in talent, services and community. SouthStar Bank has remained true to its community banking roots, growing to over $1 Billion dollars in assets over the past 100 years. I would like to thank all of our loyal customers who have been with us for so many years. Your trust and support have always been the biggest drivers for our continued growth.” said Kapavik.

The bank was honored to have the Schindler family and other shareholders with local ties join the celebration of this historic milestone for SouthStar Bank. The Raymond G. Schindler family of Houston, TX purchased controlling interest in the Bank in 1981 through its holding company, Southern Bancshares, Inc. Operations under the current name, SouthStar Bank, S.S.B., began on January 1, 2015 following the merger of Lone Star, First Star and Texas Star banks with David R. Kapavik being named President and CEO after previously serving as President of Lone Star Bank. The name SouthStar Bank was ultimately selected for its strong reference to the bank’s deep southern heritage, warm hospitality, and recognition as a bright star in the communities it serves.

In conjunction with the 100th Anniversary, the SouthStar Bank Moulton Branch was restored to reflect the building’s original beauty and design. The official unveiling of the renovated building was a highlight of the day and included tours throughout the evening. Built in 1906, the historic “Boehm Mercantile Store” was purchased in 1990 for conversion into expanded Bank headquarters. The building was transformed back into an authentic interpretation of turn-of-the-century, Victorian architecture. Many desirable features were preserved within the building, including original longleaf pine floors, pine structural columns, ornate pressed metal ceiling, and the stately, half-moon window overlooking the rolling hills of the Moulton countryside. Like SouthStar Bank, the building shines with new life, ready to serve its community for another century to come.

SouthStar Bank 100-Year History

An overview of the last 100 years.

SouthStar Bank opened its doors as The Farmers and Merchants Bank of Moulton in 1920 with the motto Safety, Strength and Service.  Sixty-one years after opening, The Farmers and Merchants State Bank changed its name to Moulton State Bank in 1981. That same year, the Raymond G. Schindler family of Houston, TX purchased controlling interest in the Bank through holding company Southern Bancshares, Inc., which still holds majority interest today. The purchase supplemented the holding company’s acquisitions of First State Bank of Bremond in 1973 and Lott State Bank in 1975.

The Bank’s name was once again changed nine years later to the First State Bank of Moulton in 1990. The name change represented the historical significance of the original banks of Moulton. The historic “Boehm Mercantile Store” was purchased soon after for conversion into expanded headquarters where the bank still operates today.

Due to the bank’s friendly and flexible brand of community-style banking, the bank expanded into neighboring communities and counties, opening a new branch in Shiner, TX in June 1997, followed by one in Gonzales, TX in February 2005.  Around the same time, a Loan Production Office was opened in Austin, representing the Bank’s entry into a growing urban market.

In 2004 the Bank’s name was changed to Lone Star Bank, S.S.B. to better reflect the bank’s expanding regional presence in Texas. Another decade of growth ensued as the holding company expanded into more urban markets, including the construction of several flagship facilities in the Austin area under the Lone Star and First Star brands.

Operations under the current name, SouthStar Bank, S.S.B., began on January 1, 2015 following the merger of Lone Star, First Star and Texas Star banks. The name SouthStar Bank was ultimately selected for its strong reference to the bank’s deep southern heritage, warm hospitality, and recognition as a bright star in the communities it serves.

David R. Kapavik, previous President of Lone Star Bank, was named President and CEO.  Kapavik continues to lead the organization with the current executive team: Billy Fleming, EVP & National Sales Manager for Mortgage Warehousing; Brent Gibbs, EVP & Chief Lending Officer; Cole Schindler, EVP & Strategic Development Officer; Jo Ann Biezenski, EVP, Compliance Manager & Director; Kevin Knesek, EVP & Chief Operations Officer; Lori Singleton, EVP, Chief Loan Administration Officer & Special Projects Manager; and Robert Simper, EVP & Chief Financial Officer.  Former First Star Bank President Norman Koch, now retired, serves as Business Development Advisor.

Today, SouthStar Bank operates 15 full-service branches across the Central Texas region and specializes in residential mortgage, real estate and construction lending. Since opening in 1920, the Bank continues to focus on community values and personal relationships coupled with flexible, common-sense lending.

“Starting from humble beginnings as Farmers and Merchants Bank, we have grown not only in numbers, but also in talent, services and communities. SouthStar Bank has remained true to its community banking roots, growing to over $1 billion dollars in assets over the past 100 years.  I would like to thank all our loyal customers who have been with us for so many years. Your trust and support have always been the biggest drivers for our continued growth.” said Kapavik.

SouthStar Bank Then & Now: 1995

A look back on the Banking Industry 75 years ago.

Many changes occured between the Bank’s 50th and 75th anniversaries. The Bank changed its name twice, first to Moulton State Bank in 1981 and then to First State Bank of Moulton in 1990. In 1981, the Raymond G. Schindler family purchased controlling interest in the Bank through Southern Bancshares Holding Company, which still holds majority interest today. Expansion began with the purchase of the Brazoria Branch and David Kapavik was named President in 1995. He remains acting President and CEO.

The Banking industry continued to evolve into the mid 90’s:

• The FDIC launches its first public website in March
• Due to the rise of personal computers, online banking technologies began to develop.

100 years later, SouthStar Bank has continued to expand now serving 15 areas across central Texas.

We look forward to celebrating our 100th anniversary with our customers and team!

October 21 | 5:00-7:00pm | 100 S. Main St. Moulton, TX

Please note, our banking facilities will close at 2pm on Oct. 21. We will reopen for normal business hours on Oct. 22.