MARIANNA, Ark. — Southern Bancorp, Inc., one of the nation’s oldest and largest Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs), celebrated the completion of a new solar energy project with a ceremonial “Flip the Switch” event on Friday, July 17, at its solar site located at 542 Poplar St. in Marianna, Arkansas.
Developed in partnership with Entegrity, the new solar array represents a long-term investment in operational stability, energy independence, and sustainable infrastructure.
The project includes a 1.5 MW-DC solar array with a 1.13 MW-AC capacity and is expected to produce approximately 2.5 million kilowatt-hours of electricity annually. Over the system’s 30-year lifespan, the project is projected to generate approximately $7.9 million in utility savings for Southern Bancorp while locking in an electric rate of approximately $0.02 per kilowatt-hour for participating branches.
“Projects like this show how organizations can take control of long-term energy costs while making a meaningful investment in their communities,” said Flint Richter, Business Development Executive at Entegrity. “Southern Bancorp has demonstrated real leadership through this project, and we’re proud to help bring a solution to the table that supports both operational resilience and long-term financial stability.”
“This initiative demonstrates how purpose and performance can work together,” said John Olaimey, President and CEO of Southern Bancorp Bank. “By investing in sustainable infrastructure, we’re reducing our long-term energy costs and increasing our energy independence – resources that we can reinvest into our mission and generate more paths to opportunity in the communities we serve.”
Southern Bancorp recently announced plans to change its name to Uplift Bank beginning in fall 2026, pending regulatory approval – a name the CDFI believes better reflects its unique history, mission, and impact.
The Flip the Switch event celebrated the array becoming operational and recognized the collaboration behind the project.
About Southern Bancorp
Founded in 1986 by some of the nation’s leading political, business, and philanthropic leaders with an initial investment of $10 million, Southern Bancorp, Inc., along with its development partners – Southern Bancorp Bank, Legacy Bank & Trust, and Southern Bancorp Community Partners – has grown into a $4.7 billion asset organization with 66 locations serving customers throughout the South and Central United States. Southern Bancorp has a unique array of financial products and services designed to help individuals at all stages of life’s financial journey – from teaching kids how to save to helping entrepreneurs and families realize the American Dream. Southern Bancorp is a certified Community Development Financial Institution, certified B-Corp, and proud member of the Global Alliance for Banking on Values.
