Compensation rises for all top Great Southern execs

Great Southern Bancorp Inc. (Nasdaq: GSBC) this morning reported increases in total compensation among all of its top executives in a filing to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

President and CEO Joe Turner remained the top paid officer at the Great Southern Bank operator, according to the filing.

In 2019, his total compensation was roughly $1.6 million, a 37.6% jump from more than $1.1 million in 2018. Turner's base salary increased to $433,691 in 2019 from $417,083 in 2018.

Below are Great Southern Bank's top executives, by total 2019 compensation and percent change:
• Joe Turner, $1.6 million, up 37.6%;
• William Turner, board chairman, $676,652, up 24.3%;
• Rex Copeland, chief financial officer, $638,100, up 42.5%;
• Kevin Baker, chief credit officer, $544,493, up 36%; and
• John Bugh, chief lending officer, $438,894, up 1.5%.

Comparatively, total compensation dropped for all officers, except Bugh, in 2018, according to past Springfield Business Journal reporting.

GSBC shares were trading at $36.84 as of 9:22 a.m., compared with a 52-week range of $32.23 to $64.48. Great Southern shares have dropped by nearly 27% in March through yesterday's high of $38.86 per share, amid a stock market drop related to the coronavirus.