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.
