Walter
Pryor ’87 to serve as Chief Administrative Officer and
General Counsel
CONWAY, Arkansas (December 7, 2023) — Hendrix College alumnus and
vice chair of the Board of Trustees Walter Pryor ’87 was
recently named Chief Administrative Officer and General Counsel for Southern
Bancorp, Inc., a Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI).
As Chief Administrative Officer and General Counsel, Pryor will
lead and direct the CDFI’s administrative functions to ensure effective
operations as well as oversee its legal, regulatory, and compliance functions.
The new role reunites Pryor with Hendrix classmate and fellow
board member Darrin Williams ’90, CEO of Southern Bancorp, Inc.
“We are thrilled to welcome Walter to our leadership team,” said
Williams in a press release. “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.”
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, Illinois, 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 notable
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.
“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.”
After graduating from Hendrix, Pryor earned his Juris Doctor
from Georgetown University Law Center in Washington, D.C. Pryor is the
recipient of the 2007-08 Hendrix Odyssey Medal for
Professional and Leadership Development.
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 $2.5 billion asset organization
with 56 locations serving 65,000 customers across two states. Southern Bancorp
has 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 Development Financial 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.
About Hendrix
College
Founded in 1876, Hendrix College is featured in Colleges That
Change Lives: 40 Schools That Will Change the Way You Think About Colleges and
celebrated among the country’s leading liberal arts colleges for academic
quality, engaged learning opportunities and career preparation, vibrant campus
life, and value. The Hendrix College Warriors compete in 21 NCAA Division III
sports. Hendrix has been affiliated with the United Methodist Church since
1884. Learn more at www.hendrix.edu.
“… Through engagement that links the classroom with the world, and
a commitment to diversity, inclusion, justice, and sustainable living, the
Hendrix community inspires students to lead lives of accomplishment, integrity,
service, and joy.” —Hendrix
College Statement of Purpose