SouthState Onboards New Employees to Support Houston Market
5/18/2026 (Updated: 5/19/2026) - By Rachel Ham - Stories and Insights
HOUSTON – May 18, 2026 – SouthState (NYSE: SSB) hires a slate of veteran bankers in the second quarter to support its Houston region. These accomplished professionals reflect SouthState’s commitment to investing in talent who build strong client relationships and support sustainable growth.
“We are excited to have these talented bankers join us. Collectively, they bring deep experience in commercial banking, healthcare banking, private banking, mortgage and financial advisory,” said Garett Hagendorf, SouthState’s Houston division president. “We welcome them to the SouthState Bank family, and we look forward to working collaboratively with all of them as we continue to grow in the Houston market.”
The producers joining SouthState’s Houston banking team include:
Ahmed Butt – commercial relationship manager, Houston – began his banking career in 2007, serving in various roles at multiple Texas institutions. His experience includes commercial lending, managing financial centers and business development for clients.
Magdiel Garza – commercial relationship manager, Houston – has nearly two decades of experience in commercial banking. He comes to SouthState from SouthTrust Bank, where he served as senior commercial lender.
Keaton Kainer – healthcare relationship team lead, The Woodlands – brings more than 17 years of experience in healthcare and commercial real estate banking, with deep expertise in relationship management, strategic lending, and delivering customized financing and banking solutions to healthcare clients.
Duy Nguyen – commercial relationship manager, Houston – is a veteran banker with over 15 years of experience in lending and commercial banking. His background spans across regional and community banks, where he has served clients across business banking and commercial lending.
Jorge Ortiz – commercial relationship manager, Greater Houston – offers more than 35 years of experience in commercial banking, with deep expertise in both C&I and commercial real estate. His approach centers on delivering tailored solutions and building long-term, trusted advisory relationships.
Marcus Hull – mortgage banker, Houston – brings more than 34 years of experience in the mortgage industry to his role. He specializes in physician loans, jumbo loans, construction loans, and financing for self-employed borrowers and veterans.
Hasena DeBerry – premier private banker, Greater Houston – is known for her holistic, relationship-driven approach to private banking and wealth. With nearly two decades of experience in financial services, she brings deep expertise serving high-net-worth individuals and families by aligning banking and lending solutions with broader wealth management strategies and long-term financial goals.
Sylvester Johnson – financial consultant, Pearland, Texas – brings over a decade of experience in the financial industry, specifically in retirement, investment, insurance and financial planning. A Certified Wealth Strategist, he holds Series 7 and 66 Securities Licenses held by LPL Financial and Texas Life, Accident and Health insurance license.
Duy Nguyen – commercial relationship manager, Houston – is a veteran banker with over 15 years of experience in lending and commercial banking. His background spans across regional and community banks, where he has served clients across business banking and commercial lending.
Jorge Ortiz – commercial relationship manager, Greater Houston – offers more than 35 years of experience in commercial banking, with deep expertise in both C&I and commercial real estate. His approach centers on delivering tailored solutions and building long-term, trusted advisory relationships.
Marcus Hull – mortgage banker, Houston – brings more than 34 years of experience in the mortgage industry to his role. He specializes in physician loans, jumbo loans, construction loans, and financing for self-employed borrowers and veterans.
Hasena DeBerry – premier private banker, Greater Houston – is known for her holistic, relationship-driven approach to private banking and wealth. With nearly two decades of experience in financial services, she brings deep expertise serving high-net-worth individuals and families by aligning banking and lending solutions with broader wealth management strategies and long-term financial goals.
Sylvester Johnson – financial consultant, Pearland, Texas – brings over a decade of experience in the financial industry, specifically in retirement, investment, insurance and financial planning. A Certified Wealth Strategist, he holds Series 7 and 66 Securities Licenses held by LPL Financial and Texas Life, Accident and Health insurance license.
SouthState Corporation (NYSE: SSB) is a financial services company headquartered in Winter Haven, Florida. SouthState Bank, N.A., the company’s nationally chartered bank subsidiary, provides consumer, commercial, mortgage and wealth management solutions to more than 1.5 million customers throughout Florida, Texas, the Carolinas, Georgia, Colorado, Alabama, Virginia and Tennessee. The bank also serves clients nationwide through its correspondent banking division. Additional information is available at SouthStateBank.com.
