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Jonesboro, Ark. – Southern Bancorp Bank, a Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI), has announced the promotion of Scott Smith to Director of Payments. Smith has been with Southern Bancorp since 2023, most recently as its Organizational & Regulatory Risk Officer.
“Scott has been an exceptional member of our team over the past few years, and I’m excited to welcome him into this new role,” said Michael Ersland, Head of Product, Payments and Data Insights. “The effectiveness and efficiency of our payment solutions are important factors within our plans to grow in size, service, and impact. Scott’s leadership will ensure our payment programs are competitive in the modern marketplace and beneficial for all of our customers.”
Scott brings more than 15 years of banking experience to his new role. He first joined the CDFI in 2023 as its Organizational & Regulatory Risk Officer following Southern Bancorp’s acquisition of Premier Bank of Arkansas, which operated branches in Jonesboro, Marion, and West Memphis, Ark. Prior to this, he served as Chief Risk Officer for Premier Bank, and before that as a Certified Bank Senior Examiner at the Arkansas State Bank Department.
As Director of Payments, Smith will lead all of the bank’s payment solutions, including wires, automated clearing house (ACH) transactions, alternative payment vendors, as well as its debit card program.
“It’s been an honor to be part of Southern Bancorp’s unique mission over the past few years, and I’m excited for the opportunity to grow into this new role and identify ways we can better serve our customers,” said Smith.
Smith is a 2004 graduate of Arkansas State University, where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Management. He is also an alumnus of the Graduate School of Banking at Colorado in Boulder, Colo., and is a Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE) from the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners.
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 $2.8 billion asset organization with 56 locations serving customers throughout the South. 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.