Legacy Bank parent set to rebrand to Uplift Bank

Following its January acquisition of Springfield-based Ozarks Heritage Financial Group Inc. and its wholly owned subsidiary, Legacy Bank & Trust Co., Arkadelphia, Arkansas-based Southern Bancorp Inc. plans to change its name to Uplift Bank, with rebranding to likely begin this fall. 

Southern Bancorp officials announced the planned change in a news release, noting the decision is pending regulatory approval. With its acquisition of Legacy Bank, which closed Jan. 5 for undisclosed terms, the combined banking institution has a total of $4.7 billion in assets, according to past Springfield Business Journal reporting. Upon acquisition, which was first announced in June 2025, Legacy Bank & Trust had $1.9 billion in assets. 

Founded in 1986, Southern Bancorp is a certified community development financial institution, which is a lender with a mission to provide financing and support to underserved communities.

“Since our founding four decades ago, we have worked alongside people and places often overlooked by traditional financial institutions, helping create pathways to financial stability, opportunity and generational wealth,” said Darrin Williams, Southern Bancorp’s CEO, in the release. “That mission and impact will be the same guiding force behind our work, now with a name that better reflects our 40-year history of creating economic opportunity and lifting individuals, families, entrepreneurs and neighborhoods in underserved communities.

“The name ‘Uplift’ embodies our core belief that wealth building is not just for the wealthy – we believe it’s for everyone,” he added.

With its acquisition of Legacy Bank, Southern Bancorp operates 66 banking locations in Arkansas, Mississippi, Missouri, Oklahoma and Texas.

Following regulatory approval and the conversion of Legacy Bank in October, Southern Bancorp will undergo a gradual rebranding of its footprint, according to the release. That will begin with Legacy Bank’s 10 locations in Missouri, Oklahoma and Texas, while Southern Bancorp’s 56 offices in Arkansas and Mississippi will follow in additional waves. Legacy Bank’s two Springfield locations are at 3250 E. Sunshine St. and 4108 S. National Ave.

Additionally, Southern Bancorp Community Partners, the nonprofit loan fund and financial development partner to Southern Bancorp, will be renamed to Uplift Capital Partners. Officials say in the release that like the bank, the nonprofit will continue to operate with the same mission, focus and product offerings as it has since inception.