Southern Bancorp has announced the addition of Jeremy Loftin as chief operating officer. The announcement follows the successful closure of Southern Bancorp’s acquisition of Legacy Bank & Trust of Springfield, Missouri, earlier this month. Loftin served as Legacy COO since 2019. Loftin will serve as dual COO of both organizations until the eventual conversion and integration of Legacy in the fourth quarter of 2026.
“Jeremy’s appointment to COO comes at a critical time for Southern Bancorp as we work to integrate Legacy Bank & Trust into our organization and prepare for the most significant growth phase in our organization’s history. Jeremy is the perfect person to help lead us through these milestones,” said Darrin Williams, CEO of Southern Bancorp. “His proven track record of operational excellence, people-focused leadership, and purpose-driven results will be instrumental in ensuring a smooth transition for Legacy’s staff and customers later this year, as well as for the long-term growth and impact of our mission.”
Loftin brings more than two decades of financial leadership experience to the position, including expertise in trust administration, investment management and operational governance. Before joining Legacy, Loftin served as chief administrative officer for Missouri Trust & Investment Co…