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.