by Rachel Arterberry | Mar 14, 2025 | Featured Advertiser
Nestled in the heart of Texas, SouthStar Bank has been a pillar of community banking for more than a century. With a strong emphasis on local decision-making, community involvement, and employee development, SouthStar Bank sets itself apart from larger financial institutions by fostering personal relationships and providing customized financial solutions.
As marketing manager Keely McCarthy shares, the bank’s philosophy is simple: “We know you by your name, not a number.” This commitment to community and personalized service has made SouthStar Bank a trusted institution for generations.
A Century of Banking Excellence
Founded in 1920, SouthStar Bank has grown from a single location in Moulton, Texas, to 16 full-service branches across Central Texas, along with a loan production office in Austin. What started as a small, family-run bank has evolved into a modern financial institution with more than $1 billion in assets. Despite its growth, the bank remains true to its roots, carrying forward its tradition of community-focused banking.
In 2015, SouthStar Bank unified its various branches—previously operating under names like First Star, Lone Star, and Texas Star Bank—under a single banner. The Raymond G. Schindler family purchased the bank in 1981 and still holds the majority interest today, continuing to guide its mission and values.
Unlike large, impersonal banks, SouthStar Bank prides itself on its commitment to personalized service. According to McCarthy, who recently celebrated five years with the company, the bank’s dedication to knowing each customer personally is a key differentiator.
“You’ll always be greeted by name when you walk into your branch. We strive to welcome everyone, making them feel valued and respected,” she said.
Local decision-making is another standout feature. Because lending decisions are made at the community level, bankers can apply practical, common-sense standards when assessing loans.
“We know the people we serve, and that helps us find solutions tailored to their unique situations,” McCarthy said.
This hands-on approach ensures that customers receive the flexibility and consideration they deserve rather than being reduced to a credit score assessed by an out-of-state decision-maker.
A Strong Commitment to Volunteerism
SouthStar Bank firmly believes in giving back to the communities it serves. Its outreach efforts include sponsorships, donations, and hands-on volunteer work. In 2024, the bank partnered with Foundation Communities in Austin, a nonprofit organization supporting low-income individuals. Employees participated in the foundation’s supper club, providing meals and opportunities for social interaction among residents.
Beyond organized volunteer events, each SouthStar Bank branch is encouraged to support local causes that matter to their communities. Whether sponsoring local school programs, assisting small businesses through the Small Business Administration lending program, or donating to charitable organizations, the bank actively reinvests in its communities.
Investing in Employees
SouthStar Bank’s commitment to its employees is evident in its strong culture of professional development and internal promotion. McCarthy’s personal story is a testament to this philosophy.
She started as a marketing intern in 2020, expecting a six-month position to fulfill her college credit requirements. However, as the pandemic disrupted job markets, SouthStar Bank recognized her potential and extended her internship. Later, pleased with her efforts, the company created a full-time marketing coordinator position for her. After two years, she was promoted to marketing manager.
“They had complete faith in me,” she said. “They told me, ‘Do your best. If it’s too much, just let us know, and we’ll support you.’ That kind of investment in employees is rare.”
This culture of support extends beyond McCarthy’s experience. Her current marketing coordinator was initially a personal banker with a marketing degree. SouthStar Bank recognized his potential and promoted him into his desired field, allowing him to grow within the organization. The bank’s emphasis on developing talent from within ensures that employees feel valued and have opportunities to build long-term careers.
Additionally, SouthStar Bank boasts employees who have been with the institution for decades. One standout example is an employee celebrating 50 years with the bank—a testament to its positive work environment and strong employee retention.
SouthStar Bank’s Role in a Booming Texas Economy
As Central Texas, particularly the Austin area, experiences rapid growth, SouthStar Bank continues to adapt and expand. “Austin has become a mini Silicon Valley,” McCarthy said, referencing the influx of businesses and residents.
To meet the increasing demand, the bank opened a loan production office in Central Austin in 2023 and continues to hire across its branches. Despite its expansion, SouthStar Bank maintains its core values of personalized service and community commitment. “We may be small compared to national banks, but we offer all the modern features while still knowing our customers personally,” McCarthy said.
For those considering banking with SouthStar, McCarthy offers a simple yet powerful message: “Big banks might seem convenient, but they don’t know you. At SouthStar Bank, we build relationships, provide customized solutions, and genuinely care about our customers. Why not have modern banking features and outstanding customer service at the same time?”
Through its century-long legacy, commitment to volunteerism, investment in employees, and dedication to personal banking, SouthStar Bank stands out as a trusted financial institution deeply rooted in its community. Whether assisting customers with mortgages, supporting local businesses, or fostering career growth, SouthStar Bank continues to thrive by putting people first.
by Rachel Arterberry | Sep 16, 2024 | Featured Advertiser
The Ultimate Steward of The Land
Randolph Texas Development is more than a builder or developer — this family-oriented business is proud to be a steward of the land.
In recent years, Texas has seen a massive economic boom. With the economic benefits offered by the state, companies have been flocking to Texas, including Samsung, Facebook, and Apple. According to Grant Rollo, vice president of Randolph Texas Development (RTX), “Austin has always been a little tech hub. With no state income tax, Texas offers the most diverse opportunities in the union for families and companies to make their decision to be in control of their own destiny.” As more families come to Texas looking for housing and good education for their children, “I don’t see the boom slowing down at all,” continues Rollo.
Regarding RTX’s role in the housing market, it remains focused on Lariat, with approximately 200 residents currently living in the Lariat community and another 547 lots to be completed by February 2025. The company has also recently acquired 600 acres in Bertram, Texas, about five minutes west of Liberty Hill. This new development will feature a mix of half-acre, one-acre, and standard master-planned communities, with the first homes scheduled for delivery in January 2026. Another property just outside of Leander, currently in the entitlement phase, will likely see groundbreaking in May 2025, with one-acre lots planned for the development.
These developing housing communities offer a range of home sizes, providing a variety of product types. Whether someone is looking to downsize, buy their first home, or expand with a growing family, RTX offers something for everyone right in their neighborhood.
For Randy, Grant, and Will of Randolph Texas Development, the motivation goes beyond acquiring land or creating communities. Their vision is deeply rooted in their respect for the land, the environment, and its protection for future generations. They aim to balance the growth of the housing market with mindfulness of the increasing strain on Texas’ natural beauty, landscape, and resources.
Of course, new groups of builders and developers are constantly looking to break into the market. However, Rollo and the RTX team use an outside-the-box approach to land development that exceeds simply meeting housing demand. “It is about our problem-solving ability. As a small company, we have the flexibility to try something new, do something different, and find sources for our own utilities beyond the traditional route,” Rollo explains. “I spend the bulk of my time lately studying water. Where’s the water coming from? What quality is it? How much can you get? How do you design a community to foster and encourage your residents to be water-conscious? Is it a metal roof with a rainwater collection system tied to irrigation? Is it xeriscape yards? Is it smaller footprints? At RTX, we evaluate all those options to ultimately create a self-sufficient benefit to the surrounding community, rather than a strain on a major municipal system.”
“The world is moving toward more climate-sustainable energy efficiency. One of our foundations is being a steward of the land and keeping it as native as we can for master-planned communities to capture the existing topography and really capitalize on how beautiful the Texas Hill Country is. We put a premium on maintaining the natural qualities of any project we do. When you’re able to capture the natural beauty of a community, you foster community involvement and create a sense of personal responsibility,” Rollo continues.
To help meet the growing demand for homes while keeping the environment in focus, RTX has expanded its team. What was once a small office of three just a year ago has now grown to include three additional team members, including a controller, another project manager, and an administrative assistant. This growth allows for a more streamlined approach and supports the continued expansion of the company. RTX has also moved its administrative office closer to the city to strengthen relationships with clients and government entities, increasing its involvement in the community and the broader development landscape in the Austin area. Additionally, RTX has partnered with other groups, serving as project development managers to build strong relationships and continue their involvement in the housing community’s growth.
With their mission in mind, Rollo is excited about the opportunities ahead, many of which are often overlooked by other developers. They plan to continue growing, innovating, and pioneering in the development space in Austin.
For additional information or to partner with Randolph Texas Development, please contact RTX at info@randolphtexas.com.
by Rachel Arterberry | Nov 18, 2023 | Featured Advertiser
Randolph Texas Development: From years of being a home builder, President Randy Rollo saw a need and worked hard to fill it. After working in the homebuilding industry with private builders and public homebuilding companies and several years as a custom homebuilder, Randy understood the challenges when trying to find available land and lots for homebuilders. Shifting gears, Randy began acquiring and developing lots in 2013. In 2018, Randy launched Randolph Texas Development (RTX) and has been on a fast track ever since.
Bringing in his sons Grant and Will, Randy maintains the same family-oriented business culture as the ranchers from whom he buys the land. Vice President Grant Rollo shares, “We’re a family company, so we’ve been very blessed to honor the tradition that a rancher or homesteader had and carry it forward with our goal of creating a more family-focused community.”
Coming from a commercial development and construction background, Grant was excited to return to Austin, where he was born and raised, to join his father in creating the exact kind of environment that he and his wife were looking for. Handling the acquisition, entitlements, and legal responsibilities of all of its projects, Grant appreciates the company’s mission of building a product in the community where families want to live and raise their kids.
Will Rollo, director of Operations, joined the small company, rounding out the team’s capabilities and mission of bringing families together. Will manages all Construction-related activities, including land planning, design, amenities, and land development. RTX’s flagship project, Lariat, located in Liberty Hill, Texas, revolves around the motto, “Back to Basics.” Grant explains that everything within that community is created “to bring people outside. At the end of the day, we want moms and dads to take their kids outside, use the amenities like walking nature trails and the pond stocked with fish, meet their neighbors, and engage — going back to everything that’s beautiful about society.”
Generally speaking, RTX works to find development opportunities outside of Austin, where they often find the most amazing untapped resources, in areas where growth is expected and anticipate the demands for it before it even happens. Each of the members of the small team wears many hats, giving them the ability to achieve timely results and benefitting all other participants in the development process. From raw land to complete entitlements, land planners, and the engineers to complete design and development, RTX prides itself on developing long-standing, solid relationships with home builders, contractors, surveyors, and project managers.
In alignment with its strong foundation in family, its roots are firmly planted in each of its development properties. For example, the city of Liberty Hill, ranked one of the best places to live in Texas, is attractive to residents for many reasons, especially its small-town charm. RTX wants to contribute to the culture and environment they are helping to create and does so by sponsoring market days, holiday events, and local fundraising and youth sporting events.
Aside from its appeal as a land development manager, it is that small-town, family-run, and operated company that motivates Randolph Texas Development to develop unique communities. Knowing how to preserve the integrity of the land, maintaining the heritage that made it beautiful before a piece of dirt was ever moved from its original state in a way that creates opportunities for new families
For additional information, please e-mail@info@randolphtexas.com.
