The Southern Bank names Frank Townsend III as Chief Lending Officer
June 5, 2023
The Southern Bank has named a new Chief Lending Officer, Frank Townsend, III. Townsend has over 35 years of banking experience, including leadership roles in both community and regional banks. In his most recent position, he served as City Executive for South State Bank in Aiken, SC.
Townsend began his career in 1985 with C&S Bank in the management associate program, where he stayed for several years in branch management. In 1994, he joined Palmetto Federal Savings Bank as a Commercial Lender. Palmetto Federal Savings Bank was acquired by Regions Bank a few years later, and Townsend was promoted to manage a team of three lending officers. In 2005, he joined Georgia Bank and Trust with plans to organize a de novo bank in Aiken, SC. Townsend led the effort to form Southern Bank and Trust, which opened in September 2007, and he served as its CEO until its merger with Georgia Bank & Trust, in 2011, which was acquired by South State Bank in 2017. He helped the bank grow to $200 million in assets before its merger with Georgia Bank & Trust.
“With Frank’s exceptional financial expertise and deep understanding of the area, he is the ideal leader to steer our lending operations,” said Scott Frierson, President of The Southern Bank. “His strategic vision, coupled with expert knowledge of the evolving financial landscape, will drive our bank’s growth and solidify our position as a trusted partner for our customers.”
Townsend is a graduate of Clemson University, where he earned his bachelor of science degree in Financial Management, and he is a graduate of the South Carolina Banker School. He is a member of the Rotary Club of Aiken and currently serves on various board committees including Friends of the Animal Shelter, The Kevin and Brittany Kisner Foundation, and Community Care and Counseling Center.
About The Southern Bank
The Southern Bank is changing the way digital banking and community banking are done. The Southern Bank is committed to delivering high-tech innovative financial tools while providing a high-touch, personal customer experience. With over $236 million in total assets, the bank currently operates branches in Greenville, S.C., and Gibson, Hephzibah, Sardis, and Waynesboro, Ga. To learn more about The Southern Bank, visit www.thesouthern.bank.
