Southern Bancorp announced on Thursday plans to change its name to Uplift Bank, with rebranding set to likely start this fall.
The change awaits regulatory approval. Founded in Arkadelphia in 1986, Southern Bancorp has grown into one of the nation’s oldest and largest Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) with $4.7 billion in assets.
“Since our founding four decades ago, we have worked alongside people and places often overlooked by traditional financial institutions, helping create pathways to financial stability, opportunity and generational wealth,” said CEO Darrin Williams. “That mission and impact will be the same guiding force behind our work, now with a name that better reflects our 40-year history of creating economic opportunity and lifting individuals, families, entrepreneurs and neighborhoods in underserved communities. The name ‘Uplift’ embodies our core belief that wealth building is not just for the wealthy — we believe it’s for everyone.”
Southern Bancorp’s mission is to serve under-resourced communities alongside its blend of traditional banking products and high-impact financial development services, according to a press release.
With the January 2026 acquisition of Legacy Bank & Trust, Southern Bancorp today serves customers through 66 banking locations in Arkansas, Mississippi, Missouri, Oklahoma and Texas. Following regulatory approval and the conversion of Legacy in October, Southern Bancorp will undergo a gradual rebranding of its footprint, beginning with Legacy’s 10 offices in Missouri, Oklahoma and Texas, with Southern’s 56 offices in Arkansas and Mississippi to follow in additional waves.
Southern Bancorp Community Partners, the nonprofit loan fund and financial development partner to Southern Bancorp, will also be renamed to Uplift Capital Partners. Like the bank, the nonprofit will continue to operate with the same mission, focus and product offerings as it has since inception, the release stated.
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