Turning Challenge into Prevention
A Partnership Built on Service
For over two decades, STS Group and Traditions Bank have shared a partnership founded on trust, service, and innovation—not business transactions.
“Most of our partners have been with us for more than twenty years because STS and SCS were never about business—it was always about service,” says Scott Couch, Founder and CEO of STS Group. “We’ve vowed to remain independent and strong so that we can always put customers first.”
That dedication to service was born from experience. Scott recalls a pivotal moment early in his career:
“I was on-site during a robbery in a rural branch and lived the event with the branch personnel. That day, I knew I could do more.”
Earning Trust Through Action
Tim Compton, President and CEO of Traditions Bank, has relied on STS Group for over two decades.
“Scott won my trust one night while welding a safe door together outside in a thunderstorm. That level of commitment is rare—and now his entire team delivers that same dedication.”
The Hook & Chain Challenge
Recently, a series of ATM “hook and chain” attacks have swept through the Southeast. These crimes, often completed in under two minutes, cause massive property damage and downtime.
When Traditions Bank experienced its first attack, STS Group’s team immediately began developing and deploying a preventive system. The solution used real-time detection and deterrent technology to interrupt criminal activity before it could progress.
“Our goal wasn’t to just record better video or trigger faster alarms,” explains Scott. “We wanted to prevent the event entirely. Once we found the commonalities, we engineered technology to detect and deter before damage could occur.”
Innovation That Works
That innovation paid off. In a recent early-morning incident, criminals attempted to hit another Traditions Bank ATM—but STS Group’s system activated before they could breach the machine, forcing them to flee. The branch sustained only minor cosmetic damage, and cash access was never compromised.
“Innovation and creativity are huge reasons we partner with STS,” says Tim. “But the service cannot be beat. Our damaged ATM was replaced and operational the next day. The one-time cost of this new system just saved us thousands—and we’ll be rolling it out to all of our locations.”
Response That Defines Partnership
Following the original event, STS Group demonstrated unmatched readiness:
Incident reported by 8:30 AM
Replacement ATM configured by 11:00 AM
On-site removal and replacement the same day
Full functionality restored within 24 hours
A Shared Commitment
“We are part of the financial industry’s family,” says Scott. “This is all we do. We feel the same challenges our partners face, and we meet them with technical talent and creativity that others can’t match.”
And perhaps Scott summarizes STS Group’s philosophy best:
“A problem is a privilege—we enjoy a challenge and refuse to say no. If it can be done, then we can do it.”