RankingBanking 26 Digital - Flipbook - Page 29
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“We’re able to go attract that talent from the larger banks. They know
that it can be done in an easier, simpler way, a more local way.”
Cameron Wells, SouthState Bank Corp.
the higher interest rate environment, he adds.
Given SouthState’s rapid growth, some analysts
question whether bank leaders can keep the local
leadership model going. But bank leaders disagree.
on the M&A front,” he says. “They’re very intentional about balance, and they’re very intentional
about their culture.”
Shantella Cooper, another SouthState board
“We think the model is scalable,” says Murray.
member, describes a leadership team that empha-
Wells, the middle Tennessee division president,
sizes long-term strategy over trends. “[They are]
believes SouthState can sustain its model as long
clear about who we are and who we’re not, where
as Corbett and his team are running the bank. “He
we’re going to play and where we’re not going to
talks about it every meeting I’m in with him — how
play,” she says. “John does his homework.”
do we push more things down to the local level.”
Corbett, at 57, could be running SouthState
That doesn’t mean SouthState ignores emerging technologies. Like a growing number of
for years to come. When Brooks and Corbett first
regional banks, it has a formal program to deploy
talked about combining their two banks, “It was
artificial intelligence across the organization. “It’s
always understood between John and I that he
all toward a bigger vision of how we’re creating
was the young guy with the long pathway ahead,
the scale,” says Brooks. “I think we’re in as good
and that anything we did together would involve
a position as any regional bank in the country to
me becoming a board-level participant,” says
continue to grow and continue to be a player on a
Brooks. “You have to have strong leadership.
national basis.”
We’ve got a strong balance sheet, tons of capital,
Over the past 15 years, SouthState has built
and we’re generating capital faster than we can
one of the best footprints in the country, says
deploy it. … We’re very well positioned for what-
Young, and now $124 billion in deposits could be
ever comes.”
unlocked in those markets through M&A disrup-
Scouten believes SouthState has the strongest
tion. “Don’t know how we’ll do that,” he says.
management team under his coverage due to its
“We just know that’s a fact, and we know that’s
consistency and success. “They’re a very conserva-
an opportunity.”
tive, diligent management team. I don’t think they
want to ever get too far in any direction, don’t
Emily McCormick is vice president of editorial &
want to grow too fast, don’t want to be too active
research for Bank Director.
