Spartanburg-based Southern Bank names new CEO

An Upstate-based bank has a new leader.

The Southern Bank has appointed M.J. “J.” Huggins III as its new CEO, bringing nearly 40 years of experience in community banking leadership to the growing financial institution, a news release stated.

Huggins will oversee strategic growth, operational excellence and community engagement, reinforcing The Southern Bank’s commitment to delivering best-in-class financial services across South Carolina and Georgia, the release stated.

The bank has branches in Greenville, Spartanburg and Aiken.

“We are thrilled to welcome J. Huggins to our leadership team,” said Jamin M. Hujik, CEO of Southern Financial Corp., and executive vice-chairman of The Southern Bank, in the release. “J.’s deep understanding of community banking, combined with his proven track record of leadership and passion for serving local businesses and families, makes him the perfect choice to drive our next phase of growth.”

Southern Financial Corp. Board Chairman Andy Mitchell added: “J. has a remarkable ability to lead community banks to success. His experience, vision, and leadership will be instrumental as we continue to expand our footprint and enhance our customer experience.”

Huggins most recently served as director of credit risk management at United Bank, following 23 successful years with Crescent Bank, and later CresCom Bank, where he held key executive positions, including president, secretary, and director, according to the release. He has also held leadership roles at Carolina First Bank and C&S Bank in Atlanta.

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“This was an opportunity I simply could not pass up,” said Huggins in the release. “I’m excited to reunite with an exceptional team, including Jamin Hujik and Scott Frierson, who were instrumental in building CresCom’s success. Together, we have a tremendous opportunity to elevate The Southern Bank and redefine what a community bank can be.”

Beyond his executive experience, Huggins is deeply involved in the banking industry and local community, the release stated. He serves on the board of the Business Development Corp. of South Carolina, as well as the Wall College of Business at Coastal Carolina University, where he was previously honored as outstanding alumnus of the year. He is a graduate of the LSU Graduate School of Banking and Coastal Carolina University.