AllSouth AllStar Stephanie

If you live in the Elgin or Camden area, you may have met our February AllStar, Stephanie. As a Camden native and Elgin resident, Stephanie brings a sense of local familiarity to our Camden branch.

After graduating from Camden High School, Stephanie entered the workforce unsure of what her "adult job" would be.  Soon after landing a job at a local financial institution, Stephanie discovered how much she enjoyed helping people throughout their financial journey. While working for that institution for 16 years, she gained experience with many aspects of banking, from opening new accounts to assisting with loan applications.

In April 2021, Stephanie accepted a member service representative II position at AllSouth, where she could continue using her banking and lending experience. Shortly after joining AllSouth, her supervisors recognized her leadership qualities, and she had the opportunity to cross-train in a supervisor position. Stephanie explained that this was not the first time in her career that someone had observed her leadership qualities. She said it was rewarding to have the opportunity to develop these skills. By November 2021, she transitioned to the head teller role at our Northeast branch.  Stephanie said that working with the team at our Northeast branch helped prepare her for her promotion as the branch manager at our Camden branch in late 2022.

As a branch manager, Stephanie enjoys getting to work early to assist her team and set the tone for the day.  She reviews the daily schedule, makes necessary adjustments, looks at the branch goals and numbers, and ensures her team is ready to help members when the doors open. Stephanie likes to cultivate her team and support their individual career goals. "I am a very goal-oriented person," she said. "I believe you can't know where you are going unless you know where you are currently." She has made it her goal for 2025 to continue empowering and encouraging her team.

"Stephanie is a pleasure to work with.  She sets a high priority on providing exceptional member service.  She loves to challenge her team to achieve their goals by making it interactive and fun.  Stephanie’s leadership at the Camden branch was instrumental in the successful transition from the Walmart branch to the free-standing branch."

- Misty, Regional Manager

Stephanie explained that the most rewarding part of her job is when she significantly impacts the members' lives.  She finds joy in seeing their financial journeys improve. "Sometimes, I can turn a denial into a 'not right now' by giving them general advice to help get them where they need to be to eventually get that loan," Stephanie stated. "When the members know that you have their best interest at heart, they trust you, and you have gained a member for life." The best financial advice Stephanie would give anyone is that "life is not a competition, everyone has a different journey."

In her spare time, she is a wife and mom and is heavily involved in her church.  She uses her financial skills to serve at her church and works with the youth and children. Although her schedule doesn't allow her time to turn the pages in a book, she enjoys listening to audiobooks and podcasts.