Branch Manager - Little Rock, AR

Who We Are:

Southern Bancorp is more than a bank. As a Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI), a special certification designated for institutions that serve predominantly underserved communities, Southern Bancorp combines traditional banking and lending services with financial development tools and public policy advocacy to help families and communities grow stronger. Inspired by the principle that building net worth drives economic opportunity, our mission is to be wealth builders for everyone in the communities we serve, with a focus on low-wealth and un(der)banked populations, as well as an emphasis on Black and Brown individuals.

Job Summary
The Branch Manager oversees daily activities at the branch location, including driving branch performance, sales growth (deposits and lending), and enhancing the team member and customer experience through inspirational leadership, highly collaborative partnerships, and sound operational practices. The Branch Manager ensures the branch meets and exceeds customer expectations and fosters a customer-centric culture. This role directs all aspects of branch operations, grows deposits and lending, and coaches bankers and associates at the location. The Branch Manager is responsible for creating an environment that leverages technology to meet customers' current and future needs.

Responsibilities

• Function as the standard bearer for Southern and create a world-class customer experience.
• Foster an environment that encourages team members to provide exceptional customer experiences within a dynamic, inclusive, and engaging culture.
• Partner with branch employees to ensure that every entrance into the branch is warm and welcoming.
• Assist bankers and partners-including SBCP, Small Business Banking, Home Mortgage, Commercial Lending, and Wealth Management-in maintaining customer relationships.
• Educate clients on how to use Southern's digital platforms for banking and lending according to their preferences.
• Build partnerships with local businesses and the community to enhance the brand's presence in the local market through strong community involvement.
• Promote a client/customer-centered organization by proactively addressing customer needs and issues promptly and effectively.
• Build and promote branch identity, drive sales, and foster overall ownership and accountability for improving customer service and branch success.
• Show accountability by taking ownership of the business and demonstrating a willingness to make customer-focused decisions as needed.
• Support and inspire ownership among teams while serving as an active player-coach.
• Utilize digital technologies and applications to drive business results.
• Ensure our customers are extremely satisfied with every interaction, making it memorable and the best part of their day.
• Coach colleagues to achieve their developmental goals and career aspirations.
• Bring positive energy and confidence to Southern every day.
• Actively identify, coach, develop, motivate, and support branch employees, and at times remotely, to provide superior service to every customer.
• Work with individual employees to identify customer needs.
• Maximize the potential of branch employees through training, coaching, and motivation, focusing on effective delegation and driving accountability with all team members.
• Build a diverse talent pipeline that reflects the community.
• Promote a strong control environment to evaluate, manage, and conduct new and existing business by adhering to risk/control expectations, procedures, and processes.
• Drive growth in deposits, lending, and investments for the branch, including responsibility for branch P&L.
• Create branch-specific strategies to grow the business.
• Use reporting to identify high-potential and at-risk customers.
• Partner with bankers to cultivate new and existing deposits.
• Complete all required training.
• Perform other related duties as required or assigned.

Requirements

• Retail banking experience is required; two years of management experience is preferred.
• A college degree or military equivalent is strongly preferred; a high school diploma, GED, or foreign equivalent is required.
• Two or more years of sales management experience in a retail or branch banking environment.
• Outstanding leadership experience, with a proven track record of coaching and empowering employees to achieve improved results.
• Ability to set the branch tone to provide an exceptional customer experience and foster a dynamic, engaging culture, with proven ability to coach and develop teams to drive sales results and operational excellence.
• Experience clearly communicating messages and translating business priorities to colleagues in a way that they can embrace and execute.
• Experience building partnerships with local businesses and the community.
• A strong desire and ability to influence, educate, and connect the team, partners, and customers with technology.
• Experience working in a digital space.
• Experience collaborating across multiple lines of business.
• Ability to organize and manage competing priorities effectively across branch locations.
• Ability to develop plans to drive growth.
• Experience creating and maintaining a strong risk and control environment.
• Demonstrated commitment to operational integrity and policies.
• A successful record of driving an exceptional customer experience, validated through customer satisfaction surveys.
• Strong financial and business acumen, including the ability to understand financials and key business drivers, as well as experience interpreting reports to guide sound decision-making and drive productivity.
• Strong organizational skills, including the ability to manage multiple responsibilities, prioritize, and delegate while delivering results.
• Strong interpersonal skills, including the ability to build a customer base by initiating dialogue with customers.
• Maintain an active role through partnerships with community and civic organizations.
• Ability to work all branch operating hours as needed, including weekends and some evenings.
• Ability to travel as necessary for required training and/or to other branch locations.
• Must possess and maintain a current and valid driver's license and a vehicle with appropriate insurance coverage.
• The successful candidate must meet and comply with all requirements set forth in the SAFE Act, including, but not limited to, successful completion of required background checks and obtaining a unique identifier from the NMLS Education.

Physical/Sensory Requirements

• While performing the duties of this job, the individual is regularly required to sit, talk, and hear; reach with hands and arms; and occasionally stand, walk, stoop, kneel, or crouch.
• May be required to lift or move up to 50 pounds occasionally.
• Regularly required to use computers, telephones, and other standard office equipment.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

#LI-onsite

What we offer our employees:

A positive impact on Your Future:

• 401(k)/Roth plan with immediate eligibility and employer match up to 6%
• Employee stock ownership plan
• Discounted rate on primary home mortgage
• Credit and housing counseling as well as free financial education tools available to customers and employees

Benefits to improve your health:

• No deductible medical insurance plan
• Dental and vision insurance
• Employer paid life and long-term disability insurance
• Flexible Spending Accounts

The opportunity to nurture your well-being:

• Paid holidays and paid time off
• Bonus plan
• Opportunity for merit raises
• Employee reward and recognition programs
• Community service opportunities

Southern Bancorp is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, sex, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, status as a protected veteran, among other things, or status as a qualified individual with disability. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

As a Community Development Financial Institution, Southern Bancorp desires its workforce to reflect the diversity of the customers and communities that we serve. Racial and ethnic minorities, people from working class backgrounds, women and LGBTQ people are often underrepresented in many financial service industry professions. Therefore, we strongly encourage applications from people with these identities or who are members of other marginalized communities.