About this business
South San Francisco / Greater Bay Area
When stars align
For Four Star Automotive, the name refers to the quality of the service — and the connection of co-founders Don Cordo, Tony Bernardini, Frank Cesarz, and Bruce Ferrario.
When Four Star opened in the summer of 1977 as a full-service automotive repair center, the owners did all the work. As business grew, so did the staff. Around the garage at the time, a young Joe Bernardini watched his uncle Tony at work. Over time, he got to know Jose and Quentin, two longtime team members, in part because of the high-quality work they did working closely together.
Today, Joe, Jose, and Quentin own and operate Four Star Automotive and Four Star Trucking. But that wasn’t always a given.
A group text leads to a group business venture
By 2005, Don and Frank had retired. Tony and Bruce had consolidated the automotive and trucking facilities, and the company had grown to more than 50 people. Soon thereafter, Bruce was ready to retire — well-earned after decades serving his community. But, as happens so often in small businesses, a succession plan wasn’t in place.
Thank goodness for the group text.
Joe, Jose, and Quentin often messaged one another about work and their plans for the future. It was over a text that they first considered taking over Four Star Automotive. Within 15 minutes, a plan was in motion. Like a tripod, Joe shared, “The three partners all contribute a unique skill set and knowledge base. We each provide important stability and, together, we all make it work better.”
Looking for a like-minded bank to partner with
The succession plan came together, and it was time to get down to business. The partners knew having a bank with similar values rooted in stability, service, and quality would matter for continued success and growth. While it didn’t have to be locally owned, like their business, they wanted a bank that understood small businesses and the local community. Joe suggested looking into Fremont Bank, a partnership that came with the added perk of local roots. Joe was already a happy client, having successfully financed more than a dozen loans with us since 2017.
“They’d always treated me right and treated me fairly.”
–Joe Bernardini
Our Commercial Banking team was thrilled to get to know Jose and Quentin and learn about their new business venture. “Knowing Joe from all the work we’ve previously done with him, I knew he and his partners would operate Four Star the same way — with integrity, practicality, and a lot of hard work, making the business a great fit for Fremont Bank,” shared Alex Cole, Commercial Relationship Manager.
Understanding leads to the right loans
When it came time to apply for financing, both for business acquisition and a line of credit for operating capital, they first wanted to discuss an SBA loan.
Though Joe shopped the SBA loan idea around, including at other banks, he ultimately looked to Fremont Bank for advice. We’re an SBA-preferred lender, after all!
Alex explained, “Joe and I have developed a great rapport over the years. Our ability to communicate clearly and consistently meant we could have real conversations about the partners’ goals and plans for Four Star, and candidly weigh the pros and cons of different lending options. That personal connection allowed us to not just plug them into a loan, but produce a financing package tailored to their specific needs on this new venture.”
When you bank us, we listen and make the best recommendation for your business. A member of our Small Business team, Alex Cole, explored using an SBA loan but ultimately recommended a conventional loan to avoid fees associated with SBA loans. We knew we could get the financing they needed at a lower cost.
Shared values unite us
When starting a business or taking over a business, you want to be sure your values align with those of your partners. Four Star Automotive's reputation and partner relationships weren't built overnight. With decades of consistent, honest work and offering the highest-quality customer care and service, they've set themselves up for success well into the future.
When the partners looked to build a relationship with a community business-focused bank, Fremont Bank stood out because of their shared values: top-notch service, personalized attention, deep expertise, and taking care of our team — and clients — like family. These values define us as a bank and align us with Four Star Automotive's leadership team. Serving our clients with integrity and care — it’s what made Four Star and Fremont Bank successful from the start, and sets the stage for decades of great work in our community to come.
Looking for a bank with small business experience and local expertise? Look to us.
