Updates

Here's what's happening at Southern Bank

Mt. Juliet, Tennessee — Southern Bank of Tennessee today announced a key transition in its board leadership, marking a significant milestone in the bank’s continued growth and commitment to building a better banking experience.

David Major, who served as chief executive officer from the bank’s founding in 2012 through 2020 and as Chairman of the Board from 2012 until April 2026, has officially retired from his role as Chairman.

Samuel L. Short, a founding member of Southern Bank of Tennessee and the bank’s chief executive officer since 2020, has been elected by the Board of Directors to serve as Chairman.

Short has been instrumental in shaping the bank’s strategic direction since its inception and has played a critical role in its steady growth and community-focused approach to banking.

“Serving as Chairman of Southern Bank has been one of the great honors of my career,” said David Major. “From day one, we set out to build something meaningful for our customers and our communities. I am incredibly proud of what this team has accomplished and have full confidence in Sam’s leadership as he steps into this role. His vision, experience, and unwavering commitment to our mission position the bank for continued success.”

Since assuming the role of CEO in 2020, Short along with the bank’s executive team of President Justin Cary and Executive Vice President Josh Cundiff has guided the organization through a period of strengthening performance and strategic expansion—including the bank’s successful entry into the Brentwood market—reinforcing Southern Bank’s reputation for local decision-making and personalized service.

“As we look ahead, our focus remains on strengthening relationships, meeting the evolving needs of our customers, and continuing to invest in the communities we serve,” said Short. “I am honored by the Board’s trust and look forward to building on the strong foundation that David and our founding team established.”

Founded in 2012, Southern Bank of Tennessee has grown into a trusted financial partner with a full range of personal and business banking services. With a continued focus on innovation, service, and community impact, the bank remains committed to delivering on its promise of Building a Better Banking Experience.

Financial Literacy Week promotes awareness of the importance of personal financial education.

MAY 12, 2026 - Southern Bank of Tennessee took part in Tennessee Financial Literacy Week by welcoming local fourth-grade students from Mt. Juliet Christian Academy for a hands-on learning experience designed to make financial concepts real and relatable.

During their visit, students engaged in interactive activities that introduced foundational money skills such as saving, spending, and making thoughtful financial decisions. By bringing these concepts to life in a practical setting, Southern Bank aimed to help students begin building confidence around money at an early age.

Tennessee Financial Literacy Week, sponsored by the Tennessee Bankers Association, promotes financial literacy among all age groups and highlights the importance of personal financial wellness for the state’s future prosperity. During the week, banks across Tennessee participate in efforts to support financially informed communities.

“Southern Bank of Tennessee is proud to invest in the next generation by helping students build a strong foundation for their financial future,” said Justin Cary, President and Chief Credit Officer of Southern Bank of Tennessee. “Our money maze game focuses on financial decision-making concepts to give them real world knowledge at a young age.”

“Bankers view financial literacy initiatives as a top civic priority, and we’re proud of their efforts to educate their local communities,” said Colin Barrett, president of the Tennessee Bankers Association. “Early introduction and continued exposure to financial education can yield lifelong benefits for every Tennessean.”

For more information about Tennessee Financial Literacy Week, visit TNBankers.org/finlitweek.

 

Fourth-grade students from Mt. Juliet Christian Academy participated in hands-on financial literacy activities during their visit to Southern Bank of Tennessee.

 

Investing in the People Who Built Our Community

At Southern Bank, we believe strong communities don’t happen by accident. They’re built by people and sustained when we choose to invest in them.

That’s why we were honored to present a $15,000 leadership gift to help launch the Capital Campaign for the new Mt. Juliet 55+ Activity Center.

The campaign officially kicked off on February 13 with incredible momentum. Already, $341,877 has been raised toward the $500,000 goal — a powerful reminder of what happens when a community rallies around a shared vision.

A space designed for connection and growth

The new Mt. Juliet 55+ Activity Center will be located in the former Mt. Juliet Police Station, next to the community park and new police station. The nearly 14,000-square-foot facility will almost double the Center’s current usable space, creating room for expanded programming, improved accessibility, and more opportunities for social connection.

This center will provide a safe, welcoming environment for adults 55 and older — a place to gather, stay active, learn, and build meaningful relationships.

A natural extension of our commitment

“As a bank, we’ve always believed in investing in the people who built this community,” said Sam Short, CEO of Southern Bank of Tennessee. “With two of our team members serving on the Center’s board, participating in the capital campaign is a natural extension of that commitment. We are proud to support efforts that help people connect and thrive.”

Our roots are firmly planted in Mt. Juliet and the surrounding communities. When local leaders, organizations, and residents come together to create something meaningful, we believe it’s important to show up — not just with words, but with action.

Moving closer to the finish line

With more than two-thirds of the campaign goal already achieved, this is a defining moment for the project. Every contribution helps ensure the Center can open fully equipped and ready to serve generations to come.

At Southern Bank, community isn’t just part of our mission. It's part of our heritage. We’re proud to support initiatives that strengthen the place we call home and create opportunities for people to live well at every stage of life.


Southern Bank of Tennessee is proud to announce several new products that will help you better manage your finances.
 
My Credit Manager
Launching: April 29th, 2025
 
Check your credit score anytime, right from our online banking platform, using My Credit Manager.
 
Knowing your credit standing is essential when you want to open a loan or credit card, but it’s also important to track changes to your score since it can alert you to suspicious activity. My Credit Manager gives you the tools to help protect your credit health.
 
To see your credit score, simply log into your Southern Bank online account, and look for My Credit Manager.
 
My Biz Intel
Launching: May 26th, 2025

My Biz Intel is your all-in-one business intelligence platform, built specifically for small business owners who want clarity, not complexity. We take the guesswork out of your day-to-day by turning your real-time business data into clear, actionable insights, so you can understand what’s happening, why it matters, and what to do next.

With My Biz Intel, you can track performance across key areas like sales, cash flow, and expenses, all in one convenient platform. Quickly identify trends, spot opportunities early, and receive smart, tailored recommendations to help your business grow sustainably. Best of all, you’ll be empowered to make confident, data-driven decisions, no team of analysts required.

To get started with My Biz Intel, log into your online account and click on the new Business Insights tab. You’ll then sync with your account service (QuickBooks, Xero, etc.) Once you’ve synced, you’ll start receiving automated insights.

 
Real-Time Payments
Launching: May 28th, 2025
 

Southern Bank is now offering real-time payments, giving you the power to send and receive money instantly.

Whether you're managing personal finances or running a business, real-time payments remove the wait, letting you move money securely and immediately, 24/7/365.

Real-time payment apps include Venmo, PayPal, Cash App, Stripe, Square, and more.

If you have questions or need help with any of these new products, please reach out to us or stop by any of our five branches.

Contact Us

Southern Bank of Tennessee is proud to announce Micah Lacher as the newest board member. 

Lacher is the Founder and President of Anchor Investments, LLC, which is a private Nashville-based real estate investing company. They acquire, develop, and manage commercial properties throughout the United States, with a focus on the Southeast and Midwest. Anchor Investments also purchases former church buildings and repurposes them as boutique hotels. Developments include The Russell Hotel and The Gallatin Hotel, both in East Nashville. Profits from those hotels are given to several non-profit organizations in the community to help Nashville’s underserved communities.

Lacher is also responsible for helping to raise more than $350,000 for the victims and the survivors of The Covenant School Shooting in March 2023, which took the lives of six people, including three children. His company offered a matching gift of $10,000 to help the families.

Lacher has been awarded several accolades. He was chosen by his peers as one of the Nashville Business Journal’s 2022 Most Admired CEOs, and was also named one of NBJ’s 40 under 40 in 2017.

Lacher attended the Haslam College of Business at the University of Tennessee, graduating with a bachelor’s of finance. Lacher is married to his wife, Brit, and they have three young children.

“Having local banks like Southern Bank of Tennessee is incredibly important to our communities. They work tirelessly to build relationships with customers, bringing a personal touch to banking. They also continuously invest in our communities through partnerships with local schools and businesses,” said Lacher. “I’m honored to be joining the board, and am excited to continue tackling new opportunities within the bank as well as looking for new ways to serve our communities.”

“We’re excited to have Micah joining our board at Southern Bank of Tennessee. He brings a wealth of experience, expertise, and passion,” said Samuel Short, CEO of Southern Bank of Tennessee. “With an ever-evolving financial landscape, it’s important we continue to enrich our board with diverse perspectives and expertise to better serve our customers and our communities.”

Southern Bank of Tennessee is pleased to announce the opening of its fifth location, a Loan Production Office in Brentwood, TN. The office is in the Brentwood Commons office park and will be led by Brentwood native, Senior Vice President Jonathan Whitehurst. 

Whitehurst recently joined Southern Bank of Tennessee, bringing 15+ years of experience in lending and helping individuals and businesses achieve their goals.  Whitehurst comes from former Reliant Bank, where he served as a Vice President and Lending Officer. 

 “This is a special opportunity to help expand the Southern Bank of Tennessee culture of customer focus and tailored decision making into my hometown” says Whitehurst.  “These attributes have been integral to the bank’s success over the years and I am excited to help the bank continue its growth.”

When asked about the newest expansion opportunity, Southern Bank of Tennessee Chief Executive Officer, Sam Short said, “We were looking to move beyond our current footprint but we needed to find the right lender.  We are excited to bring on Jonathan, with his knowledge of lending, his passion for helping customers and strong local ties, we knew he would be a great fit for our bank. We’re confident he’s going to make a great impact on our bank and customer base.” 

Southern Bank of Tennessee first opened its doors in 2012 in a single location in Mt. Juliet, TN and has since grown to approximately $370 million in assets as of March 2023 and now operates in 5 locations throughout the state. Southern Bank of Tennessee provides a full range of lending services designed for business owners and individuals looking for a bank where customers are more than a number.

Southern Bank is proud to announce the promotion of John Pope to Senior Vice President and Chief Mortgage Officer. John has previously served our mortgage customers as a Vice President and Mortgage Loan Officer. In his new role he will lead our mortgage team and oversee all mortgage operations.  John lives in Lebanon, TN and enjoys engaging with various community groups and spending time with his family. Congratulations, John! 
 
.
 
John Pope NMLS #260512
Southern Bank recently welcomed Jonathan Whitehurst to our commercial lending team as Vice President of Commercial Lending. Jonathan is a Middle Tennessee native and graduated from Belmont University. He is a husband and proud father of two young boys. Jonathan is an avid golfer and spends his free time on his favorite golf courses throughout Middle Tennessee. We are thrilled to welcome such an experienced and customer-service focused commercial lender on our team. Welcome Jonathan!

A new and improved mobile app and online banking platform is now available for customers to use.  

What you need to know:

  • Current online banking customers will not need to re-enroll with the new mobile app. 
  • You will use your existing username and password to login.
  • Please review any recurring payments or transfers and ensure they are working correctly. 
  • Remember to only use the Southern Bank website or app to login to your account. Never follow suspicious links from an email or text message. We will never ask you to login to your account via email or text message. 
  • Supported browsers are Chrome, Firefox, Edge & Safari.  Internet Explorer is NOT supported.  

To download the mobile app:  Beginning January 4, 2022 you will have 30 days to download the new app. After 30 days, the current app will no longer work and you will be forced to download the new app. We encourage you to download the new app as soon as possible. 

When opening the current Southern Bank mobile app, it should direct you to download the new app. You can also search “Southern Bank of Tennessee” in the app store. 

Download on the Apple app store badge Get it on Google Play badge

Logging in for the first time:  You will use your existing username and password to access your account.  You can log in for the first time from the mobile app or a desktop computer. 

When you log in for the first time, you will be required to set up a two factor authentication method. 

Then, choose your verification method. 

The most common method is to send a voice or text message to your mobile phone. 

Enter the code sent to your phone. 

The final step is to agree to the updated terms and conditions, then you will be able to see your account information.
NOVEMBER 2020 --

The co-founders of Southern Bank of Tennessee are passing the day-to-day torch to two lieutenants who have been at their side for the better part of a decade.

Sam Short is now CEO of Southern Bank, which was established in late 2012 when his father, Sam Short, and David Major acquired the charter of Community Bank of East Tennessee in Anderson County. Joining him in leading Southern Bank is Justin Cary, who has been named president. Both men had previously been senior vice presidents.
In stepping aside, Major and Sam Short have been named chairman and vice chairman, respectively.

“We are fortunate to have a number of exceptionally talented, capable and highly motivated professionals leading our bank. Two of these are Samuel and Justin,” Major said. “It is the appropriate time now for both of them to become more engaged in the bank’s leadership and be placed in decision making roles.”

Sam Short has more than 18 years of banking experience. He was a bank examiner with the Tennessee Department of Financial Institutions and worked at Bank of the South and Pinnacle Financial Partners after the latter bought Bank of the South in 2008. In 2012, he was one of Southern Bank’s 10 original employees. He is a past chairman of the Tennessee Banker’s Association Young Banker Division and a former board chairman of the Mt. Juliet Chamber of Commerce.

Cary also was a charter employee of Southern Bank eight years ago. Before that, he was a consultant at Professional Bank Services and an analyst with the Tennessee Department of Financial Institutions.

Two men smiling at camera