Darrin Williams

Darrin Williams is the CEO of Arkadelphia, Ark.-based Southern Bancorp Inc., a $1.2 billion asset financial organization with more than 80,000 customers and 43 locations primarily in underserved markets in the Mid-South. As CEO, Williams oversees the strategic direction and operations of each of Southern's three Community Development Financial Institutions: Southern Bancorp Inc., a bank holding company; Southern Bancorp Bank, one of America's largest rural development banks; and Southern Bancorp Community Partners, a 501(c)(3) development finance and lending organization – collectively known as "Southern." Prior to leading Southern, Williams served as managing partner at the law firm of Carney, Williams, Bates, Pulliam & Bowman, PLLC, where he represented institutional investors and consumers in class action litigation against some of the nation's largest publicly traded companies. He also served three terms in the Arkansas House of Representatives (2008-2013), serving as Speaker Pro Tempore of the 89th Arkansas General Assembly. He was listed as one of 12 state legislators from around the country to watch by Governing magazine. Williams received his Bachelor of Arts from Hendrix College, Conway, Ark.; his Juris Doctor from Vanderbilt University School of Law, Nashville, Tenn.; and his Master of Laws degree in securities and financial regulation from Georgetown University Law Center in Washington, D.C.