SouthStar Bank celebrated a century in business on October 21 in Moulton, featuring live music and barbecue. “Starting from humble beginnings as The Farmers and Merchants Bank, we have grown not only in numbers, but also in talent, services and communities,” says David R. Kapavik, president and CEO. “SouthStar Bank has remained true to its community banking roots, growing to more than $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.”
The bank opened its doors as The Farmers and Merchants Bank of Moulton in 1920 with the motto “Safety, Strength and Service.” Sixty-one years later, 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 purchased a controlling interest in the bank through their holding company, Southern Bancshares Inc., which still holds a majority interest today. The purchase supplemented the holding company’s acquisitions of First Star Bank of Bremond in 1973 and Texas Star Bank of Lott in 1975.
Moulton State Bank changed its name again 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 the expanded headquarters where the bank still operates today. Over the past quarter-century, the bank expanded into neighboring communities and counties, opening a new branch in Shiner in 1997, followed by one in Gonzales in 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 SSB 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 Bank and First Star Bank brands. Operations under the current name, SouthStar Bank SSB began in 2015 following the merger of Lone Star Bank, First Star Bank and Texas 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.
Along with Kapavik as president and CEO, the bank’s executive team also includes Billy Fleming, executive vice president/national sales manager for mortgage warehousing; Brent Gibbs, executive vice president/chief lending officer; Cole Schindler, executive vice president/strategic development officer; Jo Ann Biezenski, executive vice president/compliance manager and director; Kevin Knesek, executive vice president/chief operations officer; Lori Singleton, executive vice president/chief loan administration officer and special projects manager; and Robert Simper, executive vice president/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.
