Southern Bancorp Inc. of Arkadelphia today announced it has hired Jeremy Davis as president of mortgage, a position that will lead an expansion of the bank's mortgage business
Davis brings more than 20 years of experience to the role in both the mortgage industry and as an advocate for advancing financial equity in under-resourced communities, Southern Bancorp said in a news release. His past roles include president and CEO of InQlusion Mortgage Capital, a diversity-focused home lending company with a footprint spanning the Southeast, and director of mortgage at FirstBank.
In a statement, Southern Bancorp CEO Darrin Williams said the company's expanded mortgage business will focus on reaching Black and Hispanic prospective homebuyers. That focus aligns with the lender's efforts to help close the homeownership gap minority households face.
"In order to address this long-standing and systemic challenge, we needed a leader with a proven track record of providing affordable and responsible mortgages and homebuyer education to first-time homeowners,” Williams said. “Jeremy hits the mark perfectly, bringing extensive experience in both building and operating successful mortgage companies focused on minority communities, as well as a passion for this work that we believe will be key as he builds a team of like-minded lenders to serve communities across the South and Mid-South.”
The mortgage company led by Davis will serve as a standalone division under the Southern Bancorp umbrella.
"Homeownership is one of the most important ways for families to build generational wealth, and Southern Bancorp has for decades been working to bridge long-standing gaps in the homebuying industry," Davis said. "By expanding our reach and impact in this field, we can further those efforts and help even more families realize the American Dream."
