Amy Buynoski: Depicting Professionalism with Compassion at Heart.

Flying High

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South State Bank

Prevailing by incorporating compassion into one’s work is rarely seen in the evolving financial service industry; however, Amy Buynoski, the ‘Lender of the Year’ (as named by Atlanta Agent Magazine), has exemplified this. With a desire to assist others, this South State Bank Loan Officer & VP Builder Service Manager has assisted many people in making their dream of homeownership a reality. Post taking classes to be an appraiser, Amy quickly realized that she wanted to have more day-to-day contact with people. “This is my one and only career. Once I started, I fell in love with helping people and making the dream of homeownership a reality,” says Amy.

Amy and the BuyNowTeam at South State Bank offer local, in-house processing, underwriting, closing, marketing, and mortgage headquarters in Atlanta. They offer conventional, FHA, refinance, USDA, VA, investment property loans, and construction loans. The strongest facet for Amy and her company is their Buyers Advantage Program. This in-house program includes 100% financing with at least a 640-credit score; however, some income limits may apply. She understands the increasing requirements of borrowers, hence through this program, she tries to prioritize their needs. With acquiring successful 20 years in the mortgage industry, Amy has earned a name as a top producing mortgage in the state of Georgia. “I go out of my way to be professional and communicative which is evident from the many letters and emails of thanks I have received from my customers after they have closed on their new home,” she mentions.

At South State Bank, everyone on the team, including Amy, has the same goal in mind: to make the client happy at the end of the day. The team’s primary responsibility is to ensure that the client receives timely updates by adhering to contractual deadlines, which Amy expertly manages. “Having a team of like-minded individuals allows me to provide excellent service,” she asserts. Being a public communicator, she loves connecting with people thus, she does not consider her team as a transaction-based entity but views it as being a part of someone’s story and the impact it has on them, their family, and their future. In addition, her team and she have years of experience which has allowed them lots of experience to know how to navigate through almost every situation. “Most instrumental is having a customer’s perspective in the process,” mentions Amy. “Whether that is connecting and being excited about their wedding date or first child.” She feels rewarded when she receives an opportunity to assist customers in rebuilding and starting over. “Being able to give back to veterans that have served our country who we are so thankful for. To have a sentence in someone’s chapter is so rewarding,” she adds.

Being an expert in the residential lending industry, Amy and her team keep their borrowers informed throughout the process. As a team, they act decisively while solving problems for borrowers. They will offer complimentary second opinions for borrowers to compare lenders and ensure they have made the best financial decision for themselves and their families. With a diverse set of mortgage loan products to fit almost every borrower’s needs and competitive rates, it is no wonder Amy and her team receive so many positive letters and emails from customers after they have closed on their new home. In addition to this, Amy’s biggest accomplishment has been moving South State Bank while keeping up with the level of service during the COVID-19 period. As a result of her efforts, she was awarded the Agents Choice Award for 2021. “This was a huge accomplishment moving banks and rebranding and having our partners trust our leadership with their clients as much as we did. All this during covid!” says Amy.

She states that as with all industries, COVID-19 has had a drastic impact on the entire financial services industry and has allowed banks, such as South State Bank, to provide its clients with a more efficient experience through improved technology. While the face-to-face aspect of the financial services industry may be evolving, South State Bank has been able to thrive in this new environment with its exceptional technology features and personalized customer services to each client. “Now, more than ever, the client deserves to feel a more personal connection to their financial institution, and we are proud to provide that in each aspect of our bank,” emphasizes Amy. “COVID hit and we had to adjust our normal way of going about doing loans, but through the thick of COVID we were supported and given the best tools to end 2020 on a great note.” South State Bank provided Amy and her team with all the tools they needed to be able to continue with the work. They found new ways to communicate without being in the same office. Through zoom, teams, and the good old fashion telephone she kept open communication with everyone, as well stayed competitive with rates by following the market and keeping up with the day-to-day news.

“You will get knocked down and people will try to run over you. My advice to women is to dust yourself off, stand up tall, and don’t give up,” she advises. “If someone tells you no, do your own research and don’t take the first few no’s. Remember who you are and don’t let anyone change you. If you feel strongly about something, stick with that feeling and keep pushing forward.”

If you have a dream, you can achieve it

Amy mentions that the financial services industry is growing more complex and competitive with each passing day and South State Bank is striving to leave its mark for the long-term in this industry. “As cutthroat as the business may be, it cannot replace how you treat people and the service you provide clients,” says Amy. “Partners will remember the process and how they were treated.” She believes that customer service and experience can overcome any doubts about an organization’s success. Every individual is bound to be drawn to an entity that portrays a trustworthy persona and cares about them and their future. Hence, she has always felt excited to be a part of such a great institution and claims that the best is yet to come for South State Bank, its team, and its community. As the bank can maintain a strong community outside of its office, the internal community in its office will grow as well. Amy and her team offer down payment assistance programs to help first-time homebuyers, especially in the city limits of Atlanta. “I would like a chance to do classes for first-time homebuyers and for people thinking of purchasing a home,” says Amy. “To go over dos and don’ts of mortgage and the importance of keeping up with your credit score.”

Moreover, being a renowned woman in the sphere, Amy recommends any women leader who aspires to enter the financial services industry must grasp the opportunity of long-term personal and professional growth. Keeping her career as the epicenter, she shares that she experienced growth in both aspects of her life and will cherish those rewards and memories long after the next generation of young professional women have entered the workforce. “I would tell them if they have a dream, they can achieve it,” she emphasizes. Despite the fact that the industry is dominated by men, Amy encourages the upcoming women leaders to accept the challenge and turn it into an opportunity. “You will get knocked down and people will try to run over you. My advice to women is to dust yourself off, stand up tall, and don’t give up,” she advises. “If someone tells you no, do your own research and don’t take the first few no’s. Remember who you are and don’t let anyone change you. If you feel strongly about something, stick with that feeling and keep pushing forward.” Amy is grateful to have a job that allows her to make a difference in people’s lives, meet new people, and maintain relationships she has formed over the years. “The day is not easy but it is incredibly rewarding and I honestly love my job and the people I work with,” concludes Amy.