Security State Bank & Trust

Security State Bank and Trust is an independent, community bank, established in Fredericksburg, Texas and locally owned and operated since the doors first opened April 12, 1941. As of December 31, the bank has grown to $87,038,000 in capital, $474,120,000 in deposits, and $600,392,000 in assets. Over 38,000 customers bank at 14 Hill Country locations in Harper, Kingsland, Marble Falls, Kerrville, Ingram, Boerne, Comfort, Bulverde, Paleface Park, Blanco, Dripping Springs, Lago Vista, Canyon Lake and home office in Fredericksburg. Personalized service and relationship banking remain fundamental to the bank’s guiding principles and have established Security State Bank and Trust as the Hill Country’s choice in banking for over 68 years.

Our Rich History: 1941 – 2009

68+ Years of Strength, Independence and Hill Country Ancestry

As far back as we have been able to trace, the property where Security State Bank and Trust now stands at 201 West Main in Fredericksburg was owned by H. and Elizabeth Ochs until January 1870. The property was then sold to Anton Kraus who owned it from January 1870 until August 1890 when he sold to Frank Moritz. During the late 1880’s Ochs ran the Buckhorn Saloon and the Ochs family lived in the quarters above the saloon itself. In September of 1916, the property again sold to John Stehling and in 1926, he opened the Plaza Hotel and Café.

In 1941, John Stehling sold the property to a group of local businessmen who saw a need for a new bank to better serve the community and the Texas Hill Country. On April 12, 1941, Security State Bank officially opened for business under the direction of its first President, P.T. Donop. The white-tailed deer was used as the bank’s logo to preserve the historical remembrance of the Buckhorn Saloon.

In May 1962, Security State Bank underwent the only name change in its history when trust services was added. Security State Bank and Trust remains the bank’s name to this day, and we often brag that the only name change we have experienced simply added Trust.

In 1978, Security Financial Corporation was established and purchased the stock in Security State Bank and Trust. In 1982, longtime Hill Country businessmen Allen Keller, Keith Keller, James Kemp and James Hayne formed Security Holding Company and purchased the controlling interest in the bank. James Kemp and Keith Keller continue to serve as members of the Board of Directors today. Allen Keller served as Chairman of the bank until his death in 1985 at which time James Kemp was named Chairman and continues to serve in that capacity today.

In the late 80’s when other banks throughout Texas were experiencing difficulty and turmoil, Security State Bank and Trust maintained solid financial performance. This provided the opportunity to grow the market base and in June of 1988, Security was the successful bidder in the purchase of the first branch in Kingsland.

In January of 1989, the bank once again found opportunity with the purchase of the only bank in Harper followed by another acquisition in Kerrville in 1990. Aggressively moving forward, Marble Falls became the fourth branch in January of 1991. In 1992, management identified an area of significant growth potential in Boerne and chartered the fifth branch. This branch was a distinctive step for the bank from previous acquisition of failed banks to building new locations under approved charters. Management designed a Hill Country native stone structure for the new Boerne branch that established a prototype for buildings used in other chartered branch locations.

The Board also made a strategic decision to move the bank’s Trust headquarters to Kerrville in April of 1992. Today, the eight officers and trust staff provide personal trust and estate administration services from offices in Kerrville and Marble Falls and manage assets that include stocks, bonds, mutual funds, real estate, mineral properties and other assets totaling $150,000,000.

In July of 1994, branch six opened in Bulverde, outside of San Antonio in another high growth potential Hill Country market. October of 1995 established the bank’s seventh branch in Comfort, followed in March of 1998 with the opening of Paleface Park in the Spicewood community. In April of 2000, the ninth branch opened in Blanco followed by the opening of the tenth branch, Dripping Springs, in the outskirts of Austin in January of 2002. Branch eleven opened in December of 2003 in Lago Vista, another explosive market in the Lake Travis area. Recognizing a growing need and expanding market in Kerr County, branch 12 opened in September 2004 in Ingram providing additional services to the Kerrville/Ingram area market. In late 2005, the bank moved forward with application for a branch in Canyon Lake - a rapidly growing area on the Guadalupe River south of Austin. The Canyon Lake branch opened January 8, 2007. In August of 2004, the bank added a new division to the bank - Mortgage Services - to provide the latest and best innovations in mortgage lending. The bank has finished construction of a new Operations Center in Fredericksburg which supports all operational functions for the 14 SSB&T branches, Trust and Mortgage Services. An additional motor bank, walk in teller and ATM services facility opened in February 2009 providing 3 locations to serve customers in the Fredericksburg market.

Each Thursday, you will find the Board of Directors gathered to look at new loan requests generated in all of the bank’s markets. There are very familiar faces around the table, as the Bank’s Board members have remained the same for the past 24 years and welcomed a new member, Bill Cowden in 2006. Their experience and expertise has positioned the bank for a strong, dynamic future based on the sound performance of the past. The buckhorn deer still preserves those humble beginnings and symbolizes our traditions and established foothold within the Hill Country.