Southern Bancorp Bank and Southern Bancorp Community Partners (SBCP), Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs), are bringing back the Southern Bancorp Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program to offer free tax preparation and filing services to communities across Arkansas and Mississippi.
The VITA program, which runs from Jan. 21 through April 10, is available to anyone with an annual income of $67,000 or less. Customers and non-customers alike can take advantage of this service, which will be provided by IRS-certified tax specialists.
“We’re proud to once again deliver the impactful work of our VITA program to our communities this year,” said Kenya Davenport, Interim President of Southern Bancorp Community Partners. “For many families, a tax refund is the largest lump sum of money their household will receive all year. The purpose of our VITA program is to help folks navigate the season without the burdens of hassles and hidden fees. This year, we are excited to expand our access to financial education to tax filers and hope this access allows families to make informed decisions about this sum of money, empowering more people with the ability to save and helping keep dollars in our local economies.”
Southern Bancorp’s free tax services are available on Tuesdays and Thursdays through April 10 at 47 participating bank branches—32 in Arkansas and 15 in Mississippi. Additionally, the CDFI will host eight community events throughout February, including six “Super Saturday” events in partnership with Entergy, offering free tax preparation, legal services and health screenings.
Super Saturday Events in Arkansas:
- Feb. 1: Little Rock, Arkansas (10 a.m.-4 p.m. at Goodwill Industries of Arkansas, 7400 Scott Hamilton Dr.)
- Feb. 8: Eudora, Arkansas (10 a.m.-4 p.m. at J. Austin White Cultural Center, 160 S. Main St.)
- Feb. 15: Helena-West Helena, Arkansas (10 a.m.-4 p.m. at Southern Bancorp, 425 E. Plaza St.)
- Feb. 22: Jonesboro, Arkansas (10 a.m.-4 p.m. at St. Bernards Auditorium, 505 E. Washington Ave.)
Southern Bancorp has been a part of the IRS’ VITA program since 2004, filing more than 47,000 tax returns and generating over $93 million in refunds for low-to-moderate-income individuals and families. In 2024, the VITA team filed 4,719 returns, resulting in $6.1 million in refunds, including over $2.5 million in Earned Income Tax Credits.
For more information, visit banksouthern.com/vita.
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