CEO Blogs

Laying the Groundwork for Impact: Southern Hosts Legacy Leadership

Back in early June, when we announced the Legacy acquisition, I traveled to their headquarters in Springfield, Missouri, with John Olaimey and Kenya Gordon so we could share more about Southern and start the process of getting to know their team. You all

know, a Teams meeting is OK, but there’s nothing like visiting with people in person. You can really start to get to know folks when you’re face to face, and we were sure to extend an invite for them to come down and start getting to know our team better as well.

Earlier this month, I, along with the entire leadership team, had the distinct pleasure of hosting the leadership team from Legacy Bank and Trust – an institution we’re proud to be acquiring – in Little Rock and several of our markets across Arkansas and Mississippi. It was more than just a tour; it was a powerful reminder of why this acquisition is such a strong cultural and strategic fit.

Legacy’s leadership – CEO John Everett, CFO Brandon Taylor, COO Jeremy Loftin, and SVP of Finance and CDFI Administration Laura Knese – joined us for a multi-day journey through the heart of Southern Bancorp’s mission-driven footprint. We kicked things off in Little Rock, where they met with several of our departmental leaders, both in person and virtually. We also toured the city, including our 12th Street branch and the future site of our Southwest Little Rock branch. Miguel Lopez, our Hispanic Market Strategy Executive, was an incredible guide, showcasing vibrant small business corridors that our new branch will soon serve.

From there, we headed down to the Delta. In Helena, the Legacy team met with long-time board member John Edwards and one of our most beloved customers, Ms. Vernetha Jackson. In Clarksdale, we shared lunch with our staff – thanks to Sylvia Harrell and Renaldo Roberts for making that happen – and met with our Clarksdale-based board member, Amanda Johnson. We also introduced them to some of our inspiring customers, including former Mayor Chuck Espy, who operates a state-of-the-art funeral home, as well as the owners of the Travelers Hotel and Red Panther Brewing – all financed by Southern.

Our journey continued north through Sledge and Hernando, ending the day in Memphis with a dinner joined by the amazing Dr. Tonya Lyons, a pillar of the Memphis community, and one of our customers. Dr. Lyons shared her powerful story of nearly giving up on her dreams before connecting with Southern. The next morning, Jeff Frazier and Josh Newsom led a driving tour of Memphis and Olive Branch, highlighting more of our customers and ongoing projects.

While the Legacy team came in with a solid understanding of who we are, this trip brought our mission to life. They saw firsthand the communities we serve, the customers we champion, and the team that makes it all happen. And they haven’t stopped talking about how meaningful the experience was.

This visit underscored what we’ve believed from the start: this acquisition is a strong cultural match. Like Southern, Legacy is a CDFI. They understand the challenges and

opportunities of serving rural and underserved communities. They know what it takes to deliver financial services where others won’t – and they’re going to teach us a few things along the way, too!

There’s still a lot of work ahead as we move toward full integration, likely near the end of 2026. Before then, we anticipate many more of these in-person meetings and visits for both sides. Their team will be back to visit more of our folks, and we’ll be heading back to Missouri, as well as Texas and Oklahoma soon to begin building even stronger relationships.

Everyday, I’m growing increasingly confident in the impact this partnership will have. We’re going to take our time and do it right. And when we’ve successfully brought the Legacy team into the Southern family, we’ll celebrate the way only Southern can – with a Rendezvous to remember!

I told you our future was bright, so I hope you’re still wearing your shades. Because I sure am! Stay tuned for more soon!

—Darrin

Well, Southern Team, summer is winding down and the school buses are rolling again. I hope each of you had a chance to enjoy some rest, time with family, and maybe a few scoops of ice cream over the last few months. While the end of summer is certainly a little sad, what’s around the corner is also fun and exciting. For some, it’s deer hunting, for others, it’s pumpkin spiced lattes, but for me…it’s all about football season.

As always, I start the season off with a sense of optimism and renewed hope for America’s Team. Yes, as many of you know (especially those who watched our recent AI education video), I am a die-hard Cowboys fan. And yes, I know, I know… every year we say, “This is our year!” And every year, it seems that we’re reminded — sometimes loudly — that it probably isn’t. But hope springs eternal, and I’m still riding with my ‘Boys for better or worse.

On a more hopeful and optimistic note, this fall will also be a period of exciting progress around our integration planning with Legacy Bank and Trust.

Over the past month, we’ve set up and launched several workstreams focused on everything from operations and finance to HR and culture, each one made up of both Southern and Legacy team members. These groups are working to ensure a smooth and

thoughtful transition, and soon, we’ll be calling on more of you to lend your expertise and energy. While we expect the deal to close around the beginning of next year, the full conversion will take time — possibly into 2027. That’s intentional. We’re committed to doing this right, with a strong focus on cultural alignment and long-term success.

We’re also using this time to get to know the people of Legacy and the markets they serve. As I said in last month’s blog, the Legacy leadership team visited several of our markets in July, and just a couple of weeks ago, I had the chance to visit some of Legacy’s branches in Dallas alongside John Olaimey, Will Lambe, Seun Aiyese, and Miguel Lopez.

It was great to meet more of their team and see firsthand the opportunities ahead. Texas (along with Missouri and Oklahoma) will be a new market for Southern, and we’re excited about the potential to expand our mission and impact in meaningful ways — especially in communities where we can build on the work Legacy has already started.

As we head into fall, I’m filled with optimism — not just about football (though I’ll keep dreaming) — but about the future we’re building together. Thank you for your continued dedication, your flexibility, and your belief in what we’re doing. Big things are ahead, and I’m grateful to be on this journey with all of you.

– Darrin