By Christina Georgacopoulos – Reporter, Tampa Bay Business Journal
SouthState Bank is devoting more attention to its small business customers with a new team of designated bankers to enhance its existing focus on the segment.
The Winter Haven-based bank established the dedicated banking team to take advantage of conditions in specific markets across its Southeast footprint and meet growing demand for small business banking, according to an executive familiar with the matter.
SouthState banker Matt Vegter is spearheading the effort as a director. He previously played a role in developing the bank’s small business loan program, Business Lending Express, which streamlines and simplifies the underwriting for small business lending, the bank said.
“Offering our small business customers a line of products that fits their needs, accompanied by well-rounded, knowledgeable bankers and library of small business resources, are enhancements we know business owners across the Southeast will benefit from,” SouthState President Richard Murray said in a statement.
Vegter recruited a number of SouthState bankers to join the new team, which will be locally embedded in markets in the Carolinas, Jacksonville, Alabama and Tampa.
SouthState also made a number of hires to its private wealth and middle market banking teams, including from Truist and PNC. Among those newcomers is Mike Maguire, who is joining SouthState’s private bank as a relationship manager after 15 years at legacy BB&T. Maguire previously spent more than two decades at Barnett Bank in various executive positions throughout Florida.
