Southern Bancorp CEO Darrin Williams appointed to Community Development Financial Institutions advisory board

The White House announced the appointment of nine people, including Southern Bancorp 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 Williams.

“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,” he added.

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.

Nine private citizens are 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. That includes 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.