Leadership Overview
Southern Bank has 10 executives leading key functions including strategic oversight, financial management, administrative operations, and regional market development.
Committed to fostering local economic growth, Southern Bank delivers comprehensive financial solutions ranging from personal checking accounts to complex home mortgage lending across North Carolina communities.
Committed to fostering local economic growth, Southern Bank delivers comprehensive financial solutions ranging from personal checking accounts to complex home mortgage lending across North Carolina communities.
Leadership Roles at Southern Bank
John Squires - Chief Executive Officer
John Squires, the Chief Executive Officer at Southern Bank, directs the overarching strategic vision for the entire financial institution. Squires architects long-term growth initiatives while ensuring the bank maintains robust capital reserves to support community lending needs. By aligning internal resources with evolving market demands, the Chief Executive Officer fosters a culture of fiscal responsibility and customer-centric service. John Squires monitors performance metrics across all departments to guarantee operational excellence and regulatory compliance. This leadership role involves constant engagement with the Board to refine corporate objectives and expand the reach of personal loan and mortgage products. Through precise decision-making, the Chief Executive Officer strengthens the competitive position of the bank within the North Carolina financial landscape. Ultimately, Squires drives sustainable value for stakeholders while maintaining the core mission of community-focused banking services.
Gates Little - President & Chief Executive Officer
Gates Little, the President & Chief Executive Officer at Southern Bank, manages the daily execution of corporate strategy and operational workflows. Little oversees the integration of digital banking tools with traditional branch services to enhance client accessibility. As the President & Chief Executive Officer, Little coordinates with department heads to streamline loan processing and deposit account management. This position requires constant evaluation of economic trends to mitigate risk and optimize portfolio performance. Gates Little drives initiatives that improve operational efficiency, ensuring that the bank remains a reliable partner for local businesses and families. By fostering strong relationships with community leaders, the President & Chief Executive Officer expands the market footprint of the institution. Little maintains a focus on long-term stability, ensuring that all financial products align with the established standards of service excellence and community support.
David Sauls - Executive Vice President & Chief Financial Officer
David Sauls, the Executive Vice President & Chief Financial Officer at Southern Bank, directs all fiscal planning, accounting operations, and capital allocation strategies. Sauls monitors liquidity ratios and interest rate risks to ensure the financial health of the organization remains strong. As the Executive Vice President & Chief Financial Officer, Sauls oversees the preparation of financial reports and regulatory filings required for banking operations. This role involves collaborating with the executive team to evaluate the profitability of new loan products and savings programs. David Sauls manages the balance sheet to support sustainable growth across North Carolina markets. By implementing rigorous internal controls, the Executive Vice President & Chief Financial Officer protects assets and ensures transparency in all fiscal activities. Sauls drives financial performance through disciplined budgeting and strategic investment, ultimately securing the resources necessary for the bank to continue serving the community effectively.
Christy Roberts - Market President - Central Arkansas Region
Christy Roberts, the Market President - Central Arkansas Region at Southern Bank, directs all banking activities and client relations within the specified regional market. Roberts architects growth strategies tailored to the unique economic conditions of the area, focusing on expanding the portfolio of personal loans and home mortgages. As the Market President - Central Arkansas Region, Roberts manages local branch operations and ensures that service delivery aligns with corporate standards. This role involves active participation in local business networks to foster community trust and attract new clients. Christy Roberts drives revenue growth by overseeing the implementation of targeted marketing and outreach programs. By analyzing regional market data, the Market President - Central Arkansas Region identifies emerging opportunities for service expansion. Roberts ensures that the bank maintains a competitive edge, providing essential financial support to residents and businesses while upholding the core values of the institution.
Taylor Harrell - President
Taylor Harrell, the President at Southern Bank, directs the execution of core banking operations and strategic initiatives. Harrell oversees the development of new financial products designed to meet the evolving needs of the community. As the President, Harrell coordinates with department heads to ensure that loan processing, mortgage services, and deposit management function efficiently. This leadership role involves evaluating operational performance and implementing improvements to enhance customer satisfaction. Taylor Harrell drives the expansion of service offerings by identifying gaps in the current market and leveraging internal resources to fill those needs. By maintaining a focus on operational excellence, the President ensures that the bank remains a trusted financial partner. Harrell collaborates with the executive team to refine long-term goals and maintain the financial stability of the organization. Through consistent leadership, the President supports the overall mission of providing accessible and reliable banking services to all clients.
Terry Williams - Community Bank President
Terry Williams, the Community Bank President at Southern Bank, directs the overall strategy and operational success of the community banking division. Williams oversees the implementation of programs designed to increase local engagement and support the financial needs of the community. As the Community Bank President, Williams drives the development of personalized banking solutions, including checking accounts and personal loans. This role involves managing relationships with local stakeholders and ensuring that the bank remains deeply integrated into the community fabric. Terry Williams monitors the performance of community branches to ensure that service delivery meets the high expectations of the client base. By focusing on relationship-based banking, the Community Bank President builds long-term loyalty and trust. Williams coordinates with other executives to ensure that community-level initiatives support the broader mission of the bank, ultimately driving sustainable growth and community impact across all served regions.
Kristi Eller - Chief Administrative Officer
Kristi Eller, the Chief Administrative Officer at Southern Bank, directs internal infrastructure, human resources, and organizational development initiatives. Eller architects efficient workflows that support the delivery of banking services across all branches. As the Chief Administrative Officer, Eller manages the alignment of corporate policies with operational requirements to ensure a seamless experience for both staff and clients. This leadership role involves overseeing talent acquisition and training programs to maintain high standards of customer service. Kristi Eller drives organizational change by implementing technology solutions that improve administrative productivity. By coordinating with other C-suite leaders, the Chief Administrative Officer ensures that internal processes support the broader strategic goals of the bank. Eller focuses on building a resilient corporate culture that prioritizes community engagement and operational excellence, ultimately contributing to the long-term success and stability of the entire financial institution.
Jerry Alexander - Regional Executive
Jerry Alexander, the Regional Executive at Southern Bank, directs operations and business development across designated geographic territories. Alexander oversees the performance of multiple branches, ensuring consistent delivery of checking, savings, and lending services. As the Regional Executive, Alexander drives market penetration by identifying local economic opportunities and building partnerships with community stakeholders. This role involves mentoring branch managers and ensuring that regional teams meet performance targets for deposit growth and loan origination. Jerry Alexander monitors competitive dynamics within the region to adjust service strategies accordingly. By maintaining a strong presence in the local market, the Regional Executive ensures that the bank remains responsive to the specific financial needs of the community. Alexander coordinates with corporate leadership to implement standardized procedures while allowing for regional flexibility, ultimately driving the overall growth and reputation of the bank throughout the assigned operational area.
Charles Britton - City Executive
Charles Britton, the City Executive at Southern Bank, directs the daily operations and business development efforts within a specific city market. Britton oversees the local branch team, ensuring that all staff members provide high-quality service for checking accounts, personal loans, and mortgages. As the City Executive, Britton drives local market growth by building strong relationships with residents and small business owners. This role involves managing the local loan portfolio and ensuring that all credit decisions align with corporate risk policies. Charles Britton monitors local economic trends to identify opportunities for expanding the customer base. By representing the bank in community events and local organizations, the City Executive strengthens the brand presence and fosters trust. Britton ensures that the branch meets its performance goals while maintaining the high standards of service expected from the institution, ultimately contributing to the overall success of the bank in the city.
Mark Raynor - City Executive
Mark Raynor, the City Executive at Southern Bank, directs the strategic management of branch operations and client acquisition within a designated city. Raynor oversees the delivery of a full suite of financial services, including savings accounts and home mortgage lending. As the City Executive, Raynor drives business development by engaging with local entrepreneurs and community members to understand their financial requirements. This role involves managing the local branch staff and ensuring that all operations comply with internal policies and regulatory standards. Mark Raynor monitors the performance of the branch, focusing on deposit growth and loan quality. By fostering a culture of service excellence, the City Executive ensures that the bank remains a preferred financial partner in the city. Raynor coordinates with regional leadership to align local activities with broader corporate objectives, ultimately driving the growth and stability of the bank within the local market.
Explore Leadership Teams in Banking
Academy Bank was founded in 1966 and headquartered in Kansas City, Missouri, a community bank that offers banking for individuals, businesses, and commercial.
Company Leadership LE
MW
Bac Credomatic is a financial services company in Central America, offering banking and financial solutions to promote financial inclusion.
Company Leadership RT
RC
Texas Capital Bank is a U.S.-based financial institution providing personal, business, commercial, corporate, private banking, and investment banking services. Its offerings include deposits, lending, treasury management, asset-based lending, commercial real estate financing, mortgage finance, wealth management, investment management, financial planning, capital markets, and mergers and acquisitions advisory services. The bank serves individuals, small businesses, middle-market companies, large corporations, financial institutions, and specialized industries. Through its banking and financial services capabilities, Texas Capital Bank provides customized financing, cash management, investment, and wealth solutions to clients across the United States.
Company Leadership ST
JC
Achieve (formerly known as FreedomPlus) is a lender that mainly focuses on underwriting loans to prime consumers. Achieve is the consumer brand of Freedom Financial Network, LLC, which is headquartered in San Mateo, California. Achieve developed a proprietary underwriting process that delivers low-cost loans to borrowers and low-risk access to consumer loan portfolios for accredited investors. In December 2013, the Freedom Financial Network announced it received a venture capital commitment of $125 million from Vulcan Capital, which is Vulcan Inc.'s investment company. Freedom Financial Network will use the capital to grow its lending operations and to launch FreedomPlus, an online lending platform. FreedomPlus is open to accredited investors to invest in pools of loans, but it is not a peer to peer lending company. FreedomPlus was previously led by Joseph Toms (President J.G. Wentworth), the former managing director at LC Advisors, Lending Clubs registered investment advisor subsidiary, and Chief Investment Officer at Prosper Marketplace. Both are peer-to-peer lenders. FreedomPlus will focus on emerging prime borrowers with FICO scores between 620 and 749, of which there are 80 million in the US. The maximum loan amount will be $40,000 and the maximum interest rate will be less than 29.99%, with flexible loan terms of two, three, four or five years. The company will use traditional underwriting tools, such as credit scores, when underwriting loans. It will also use a significant human component and talk with borrowers to verify information and understand the goals they wish to accomplish with the loan, to try to find loans that fits borrowers' specific needs.
Company Leadership
RC
Frequently Asked Questions Regarding Southern Bank Top Executives and Leadership Team
