September 4th, 2025 Update

Hello Legacy Team,

It’s been a minute since we last connected, and I’m thrilled to be kicking off a new way for us to stay in touch as we move forward together.

Starting this week, we’re launching bi-weekly updates on our new Southern + Legacy Welcome Site. This site is your go-to spot for updates, insights, and answers as we prepare for the exciting journey ahead.

Here’s what you can expect every other Thursday:

• Leadership Introductions – Meet Southern leaders and learn about their roles in the integration. This section will also feature a short Q&A segment – our first intro article will appear in our next update (Thursday, September 18th).
• Mission Minutes – Short videos from Southern team members sharing what it’s like working here and how they personally connect to our mission. We know video access can be tricky during the workday, so feel free to watch when it’s convenient for you.
• Impact in Action – Real stories from Southern customers that show our mission in motion.

In the coming weeks, we’ll be launching a new FAQs page – to include a growing list of frequently asked questions as well as a place for you to submit your own questions.

We’ll also be adding a section in the menu above titled CEO Blogs, which will include a collection of my monthly blogs to Southern staff that we publish in our employee newsletter and through which I share updates, inspiration, and impact with our team that I am honored to now share with you. 

And don’t stress if you miss an update here and there. All updates will be archived on the page so you can catch up at any time.

So, what’s been happening this summer?

The short answer is…a lot! Since announcing the deal in June, we’ve been busy building bridges (and crossing several). In July, we hosted the Legacy leadership team for a visit across several of our markets — from Little Rock to the Mississippi Delta. It was more than a tour — it was a chance to connect, share stories, and see firsthand the communities we serve.

From meeting inspiring customers in Memphis, TN, and Clarksdale, MS, to walking through our branches and future sites, the visit confirmed what we’ve believed from the start: this is a strong match. Legacy’s commitment to serving rural and underserved communities aligns beautifully with Southern’s mission, and we’re excited to learn from each other as we grow together.

In August, I traveled to the Dallas/Fort Worth area with several Southern leaders, including SBB CEO John Olaimey; Head of Retail, Seun Aiyese; Chief Strategy Officer, Will Lambe; and our Hispanic Market Strategy Executive, Miguel Lopez. It was great meeting the teams in those branches, and I’m looking forward to visiting every branch in the coming weeks and months.

Also in August, we launched several integration workstreams — covering everything from operations and finance to HR and culture. These teams, made up of both Southern and Legacy staff, are working hard to ensure a smooth transition. While we expect the deal to close late this year or early 2026, a full integration will likely take all next year. That’s intentional. We want to do this right, with a strong focus on cultural alignment and long-term success.

Looking Ahead

As we head into Autumn, I’m filled with optimism about the future we’re building together. We’re committed to making this transition as smooth and meaningful as possible, and we’re thrilled to have you on this journey with us.

So keep an eye out for these updates every other Thursday. And if you’ve got questions, thoughts, or just want to say hello, we’d love to hear from you.

Here’s to a bright future that we’re building together!

Warmly,
Darrin Williams
CEO, Southern Bancorp

Mission Minutes

Every two weeks, we’ll feature a message from a Southern staff member to you. These “Mission Minutes” are short and sweet videos providing you the opportunity to meet one of our Wealth Builders and hear directly from them why they work at Southern and what our mission means to them.

Up first is Charles Blake, former Arkansas State Representative and current Little Rock Market Executive at Southern Bancorp.

Enjoy a minute (or two) with Charles (at the zoo)!

Impact in Action

Robby Hawkins
Lexa, AR

Robby Hawkins is a single dad of three boys aged 10, 12, and 14. Raising three boys is a job in itself, but on top of his full-time occupation as a truck driver, through which he often hits six states or more in the same week, Robby had his hands full. Amid this juggling act, the three-bedroom trailer they were living in was becoming dilapidated. “Life” was taking a toll, and Robby was in need of a break. He had a dream to purchase a home for his family that was also closer to his parents, who help with the boys while he’s on the road, but the savings foundation needed to unlock this opportunity was out of his reach.

That’s when he found out about Southern Bancorp’s Individual Development Account (IDA) program, which, through a funding partnership with the Arkansas Department of Human Services’ TANF program in 2023, offered income- and dependent-eligible Arkansans the ability to receive three times their savings for a qualified purchase. After participants saved $667 of their own money and completed financial literacy courses, the program matched them with an additional $2,000, for a total of $2,667 to purchase or make repairs to a home, open or grow a small business, or for education or vocational training.

While he was on the road on a big rig in New Mexico, Southern Bancorp’s nonprofit, lending, and IDA teams got Robby and his boys squared away with the application, approval process, IDA funding for his down payment, and an affordable home loan to seal the deal.

When all was said and done, Robby came out as a first-time homeowner and is living in a bigger and better space for his family’s needs, while simultaneously spending less money per month on his mortgage than he was for rent.