Southern Bancorp names Walter Pryor as Chief Administrative Officer, General Counsel

Southern Bancorp, Inc. announced Tuesday (Dec. 5) Walter Pryor as its Chief Administrative Officer and General Counsel, a new role that will oversee the operations of administrative functions and legal management of the institution.

An Arkansas native, Pryor brings more than 25 years of experience in law and leadership to the role at Southern Bancorp, most recently at Chicago State University where he served as Interim General Counsel, Chief Compliance Officer and Vice President of Legal Affairs. Prior to this, he spent nearly a decade with Ceannate Corp in Buffalo Grove, Ill., first as Vice President of Government Relations and later as its Senior Vice President and General Counsel.

He has held similar roles and responsibilities for other organizations and groups over the years, including Vice President of Government Affairs for Career Education Corporation (now Perdoceo Education Corporation); Principal and General Counsel of The Podesta Group; Legislative Director for U.S. Senator Mark Pryor; Deputy Director and Managing Attorney for the National Association of Attorneys General; and Acting Counsel to the Assistant Attorney General for the U.S. Department of Justice’s Tax Division.

“We are thrilled to welcome Walter Pryor to our leadership team,” said Darrin Williams, CEO of Southern Bancorp, Inc. “As we set out to grow our assets, market footprint, and impact, we knew that a proven leader would be needed to achieve our ambitious goals. Walter is an exceptional attorney and executive who will help shepherd our growth into the future.”

As Chief Administrative Officer and General Counsel for Southern Bancorp, Pryor will lead and direct the Community Development Financial Institution’s administrative functions to ensure effective operations as well as oversee its legal, regulatory, and compliance functions.

“I couldn’t be more excited about joining Darrin and the team at Southern Bancorp, particularly during this time of growth and impact expansion,” said Pryor. “I have long been a fan of the unique mission and work that Southern Bancorp does and look forward to helping the bank achieve its objectives, support its future, and continue that legacy of service for our communities, staff, and shareholders.”

Pryor, who currently resides in Charlotte, N.C., is a graduate of Hendrix College in Conway, Ark., where he studied political science. He earned his Juris Doctor from Georgetown University Law Center in Washington, D.C.