LITTLE ROCK, ARK. – The White House has announced the appointment of nine individuals, including Southern Bancorp, Inc. CEO Darrin Williams, to the 15-member board that advises the Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFI) Fund and its director.
“I am honored and excited about the opportunity to work with the White House and leaders from around the country in advising this key institution responsible for directing capital and financial services to America’s most underserved communities,” said Darrin Williams, Southern Bancorp, Inc. CEO. “As the leader of one of America’s original and oldest CDFIs, serving rural and urban communities in the Mid-South, I look forward to ensuring that our customers’ stories and perspectives are heard during the development of policies affecting them.”
The Advisory Board consists of 15 members, including the Secretary of the Departments of Agriculture, Commerce, Housing and Urban Development, Interior and Treasury and the Administrator of the Small Business Administration, or his or her designee; and nine private citizens appointed by the President, who shall be selected, to the maximum extent practicable, to provide for national geographic representation and racial, ethnic, and gender diversity, including: two individuals who are officers of existing community development financial institutions; two individuals who are officers of insured depository institutions; two individuals who are officers of national consumer or public interest organizations; two individuals who have expertise in community development; and one individual who has personal experience and specialized expertise in the unique lending and community development issues confronted by Indian tribes on Indian reservations. (source: cdfifund.gov/advisory-board)
The full White House press release can be found at https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2021/09/15/president-biden-announces-members-of-the-community-development-advisory-board/.
About Southern Bancorp
Founded in 1986 by some of the nation’s leading political, business, and philanthropic leaders with an initial investment of $10 million, Southern Bancorp, Inc., along with its development partners – Southern Bancorp Bank and Southern Bancorp Community Partners, has grown into a $1.9 billion asset organization with 52 locations serving 65,000 customers across two states with a unique array of financial products and services designed to help individuals at all stages of life’s financial journey – from teaching kids how to save to helping entrepreneurs and families realize the American Dream. Southern Bancorp is a certified Community Financial Development Institution, certified B-Corp, and proud member of the Global Alliance for Banking on Values. Learn more at www.BankSouthern.com and www.SouthernPartners.org.
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