Southern Bancorp Bank recently welcomed Brad Paul as its first Little Rock market president, the latest expansion of the CDFI’s efforts in the capital city.
“Brad is one of Little Rock’s most accomplished lending leaders, and it’s a pleasure to welcome him to our mission-focused team,” said John Olaimey, president and CEO of Southern Bancorp Bank. “The addition of Brad’s experience and expertise to our team will help us continue to grow our local impact and make an even greater difference for the individuals, families, and small businesses we serve.”
Before joining Southern Bancorp, Paul was executive vice president at Encore Bank. He’s also served as Little Rock market president for Central Bank and held similar roles and responsibilities for several institutions over the past three decades, including First Commercial Bank, Community First Bank and One Bank and Trust.
In this new role, Paul will lead the bank’s expanding lending efforts and strategies in the capital city and across Central Arkansas as Southern Bancorp’s Little Rock market president. The CDFI opened its first full-service branch in Little Rock in 2023, located within a former bank desert along the 12th St. Corridor. Since its opening, Southern Bancorp has aimed to deliver its unique, mission-focused blend of traditional banking products with a slate of financial development tools to more families and businesses throughout the community.
“It’s an honor to join the Southern Bancorp mission, as I’ve long respected the work that they and other CDFIs throughout the country do for under-resourced communities,” said Paul. “I’m excited to lead our local lending team, help us grow our local portfolio, and to support more of our neighbors along their financial journeys.”
The Little Rock native is a graduate of Catholic High School and an alumnus of the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville, where he majored in psychology and minored in general business. Paul was also a student at Arkansas State University’s Lending School and is a graduate of the University of Virginia’s Advanced Commercial Lending School. He has served on several local boards over the years, including the Arkansas Hospice Foundation, the Chambers of Commerce for Rogers, Sherwood and Bentonville-Bella Vista, and in 2025 was appointed to the North Little Rock Civil Service Commission by Mayor Terry Hartwick.
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