LITTLE ROCK, ARK. – Southern Bancorp Community Partners (SBCP), a 501(c)(3) loan fund and Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI), today announced Wonda London as its newest Community Inclusion Lender. SBCP is the nonprofit arm of Southern Bancorp, Inc., one of the nation’s oldest and largest CDFIs. London will be based out of Southern Bancorp’s new 12th Street branch in Little Rock, primarily serving this market and the surrounding areas.
“We’re excited to bring Wonda’s skillset and experience to Southern Bancorp Community Partners, as well as her heart and passion for helping to provide financial tools and resources to best serve the needs of the underserved and unbanked, which directly aligns with the mission of Southern,” said Ralph Brown, SBCP’s Chief Lending Officer. “I couldn’t be more excited to have Wonda as an integral part of my team, and look forward to seeing her thrive in this new role and the positive impact she will make in the Little Rock community.”
London brings to the position more than two decades of combined experience in business development, relationship management, banking, lending, and credit analysis. Most recently, London served as a Claims Analyst for Priority1, and before this worked as a Consumer Underwriter for Simmons Bank, a Contact Center Consultant for Arkansas Federal Credit Union, an Acquisition Analyst for Ally Financial, Inc., and a Student Loan Assistant for Regions Bank.
In the Community Inclusion Lender position, London will work to increase the awareness of SBCP’s loan products and financial development services within her market, with a targeted emphasis on low- and moderate-income borrowers and communities with less access to responsible financial resources. Additionally, she will assist the institution with recruitment efforts, provide financial development services such as credit counseling, and facilitate financial literacy programs such as economic skills classes and financial education training sessions.
London is a native of DeWitt, Ark., and has spent much of her professional career in and around the Little Rock area, a familiarity that will serve her and the community well. Southern Bancorp announced in January that its first Little Rock branch was open for business at 3999 West 12th Street, and the addition of this position to this market represents the CDFI’s continued commitment to a corridor and surrounding community that has for too long been without a financial development partner like Southern Bancorp.
With its 12th Street branch and the help of this Community Inclusion Lender position, Southern Bancorp hopes to fill these long-standing financial cracks in the capital city, and help more families find a path to financial opportunity.
About Southern Bancorp
Founded in 1986 by some of the nation’s leading political, business, and philanthropic leaders with an initial investment of $10 million, Southern Bancorp, Inc., along with its development partners – Southern Bancorp Bank and Southern Bancorp Community Partners – has grown into a $2.6 billion asset organization with 56 locations serving 65,000 customers across two states. Southern Bancorp has a unique array of financial products and services designed to help individuals at all stages of life’s financial journey – from teaching kids how to save to helping entrepreneurs and families realize the American Dream. Southern Bancorp is a certified Community Development Financial Institution, certified B-Corp, and proud member of the Global Alliance for Banking on Values. Learn more at www.BankSouthern.com and www.SouthernPartners.org.