At Southern Bank, most meaningful partnerships begin the same way — with genuine conversations that grow into trust over time. To show what that looks like day to day, we brought together clients and their bankers to talk about their journeys. What follows is a behind-the-scenes look at how those connections take shape.
Inside Southern Bank’s Wilmington office, the conversation between Albert Steed, president of True IP Solutions, and Matt Hilliard, his commercial banker, unfolded more like a catch-up between friends — the kind that drifts from Jiu Jitsu and weekend pickleball games to business plans — than a formal banking discussion.
Steed reflected on the timing that led him to Southern in the first place — a moment that came just as his previous relationship with another bank was fading. “We had some relationships with [our] previous bank and our business banker had left, and we kind of felt a little bit abandoned,” he said. “That was really an opportune time for you to reach out.”
Hilliard smiled, remembering those early conversations. “I’m glad that the timing worked out, because it’s going to be a great relationship,” he said.
A Relationship That Makes Banking Easy
As they talked, it was clear the ease of the relationship meant as much to Steed as any specific banking service. He explained how different things felt almost immediately with Southern.
“There were a lot of products at the other bank that maybe we didn’t know how to use, and we didn’t really know who to talk to,” he said. With Southern, the experience flipped. “If I have a question or if we need something, I reach out, you connect me with the right person, and then people are always checking in.”
Steed listed off examples — fraud detection tools, ACH capabilities, treasury support — some services that the business hadn’t had before. “Getting all of those things up and running has been a great streamline for the pieces that we’re trying to work,” he said.
Hilliard nodded. “With your extensive business, you really need a team approach,” he said.” And I feel like we’ve been able to help in that manner.”
Honest Guidance, No Pressure
The conversation drifted to how Southern approaches recommending banking tools — a moment where Steed’s appreciation was obvious.
“The great thing was you guys have a variety of different products,” he said. “And then when there were things that weren’t necessarily the best fit because of the accounting system we used.”
Steed noted that there wasn’t a lot of pressure. Instead, he remembered hearing: “You may want to consider just keeping what you have for this situation. But we have X, Y and Z that are going to be a better fit for you on other pieces.”
“We’re not gonna sell you something that you don’t need,” Hilliard laughed.
For Steed, that mattered: “It’s definitely a thing of appreciation for us to not feel pressured into ‘You really have to do this or the relationship’s not going to be great.’”
Shared Values, Local Roots
As the conversation shifted toward Southern’s history, Steed’s tone softened. The topic felt personal — his roots and the bank’s roots weren’t far apart.
He explained how, when evaluating several banks, Southern’s long-standing presence and size felt right. “We wouldn’t just be a number,” he said. “We get a lot more personalized service based on the size of Southern.”
His day-to-day experience reinforced it: “People have my number, and I feel that I have that same thing with you at Southern right now. If I need something, I shoot you an email, I can shoot you a text.”
“We want to be your banker,” Hilliard agreed. “We want to be relationship-oriented. [You’ve] got to like the person you’re banking with, and I think we’ve got that great relationship.”
Digital Tools That Fuel Growth
Steed’s background in fintech naturally steered the conversation toward technology — something he has high expectations for.
“It’s been really refreshing coming and working at the Southern platform,” he said. “A lot of it’s very intuitive.” He talked through the improvements he made alongside Hilliard, from alerting features to multi-layer ACH approvals, and how those tools eased the operational load on his growing team.
And that growth isn’t slowing down. As he described upcoming milestones, Steed’s excitement surfaced: “We’re very close to paying off our two buildings … we’re probably going to end up buying some more commercial real estate … We’re looking forward to the relationship as we grow, being able to do more and more with the bank.”
Hilliard added that getting to know the business so well helps him support them outside the office, too. “Now that I really understand what True IP Solutions does, I’m able to recommend you guys,” he said.
Looking Ahead to the Next Generation
Toward the end of their conversation, Steed reflected on longevity — both his family’s business and Southern’s. As a small business owner in a family of entrepreneurs, Southern’s 125th anniversary in 2026 especially resonated with Steed.
“When you really think about the scope and scale of what it means for something to be multi-generation coming up on 125 years… that says a lot about the bank,” he said. “We’re really excited about the next 10, 15, 20 years.”
Hilliard agreed. “The banking environment has really changed. We need to keep up with our technology,” he said. “At the same time, banking is still relationships. I’m always there for you.”
Even in a fast-moving industry, their conversation made one thing clear: The foundation of this relationship isn’t a product or platform — it’s two people who know each other, trust each other, and plan to build what comes next together.
And for businesses like True IP Solutions, these relationships often begin with a simple conversation — the same kind Southern has every day with clients across its footprint. Explore Southern’s business banking services.
