News

Information is power.

Welcome to our newsroom. Here, we share the latest updates, press releases, and company announcements to keep you informed about what’s happening at Great Southern Bank. Stay connected with the stories that matter most to us—and to you.

April 21, 2025

Great Southern Bank Celebrates the Retirement of Jane Butterbaugh

Springfield, Mo. – Great Southern Bank is honored to celebrate the retirement of Jane Butterbaugh, a cherished member of our Columbia Banking Center team, who is retiring after 10 years of exceptional service to the bank and over 40 years in the banking industry.

Jane joined Great Southern Bank in 2015 as one of the original employees of the Columbia location. Her warm demeanor and dedication to customer service have made a lasting impact on both her colleagues and customers. Known for her reliability and welcoming nature, Jane has been a trusted and familiar face to many in the community.

"Jane’s contributions to our team and our customers have been truly invaluable," said Columbia banking center manager Kristen Deken. "Her professionalism and kindness have left a lasting impression on all of us. She will be greatly missed."

In retirement, Jane looks forward to spending more time with her family, which includes her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.

To honor Jane’s retirement, Great Southern Bank invites the community to join us in celebrating her career during our Customer Appreciation Day on Thursday, May 1. Stop by our Columbia Banking Center from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. to congratulate Jane, share a memory, or drop off a card. Light refreshments will be served from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Headquartered in Springfield, Mo., with $6 billion in assets, Great Southern offers a broad range of banking services to customers. The Company operates 89 retail banking centers in Missouri, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Arkansas and Nebraska; seven commercial lending offices in Atlanta, Charlotte, Chicago, Dallas, Denver, Omaha, Phoenix, and one Home Loan Center in Springfield. Great Southern Bancorp, Inc. is a public company, and its common stock (ticker: GSBC) is listed on the NASDAQ Global Select stock exchange.

March 14, 2025

Great Southern Bank Celebrates Debbie Worthington’s Career in Business Banking

Springfield, Mo. – Great Southern Bank is celebrating the remarkable career of Debbie Worthington, who is retiring as a senior business banking relationship manager after more than 13 successful years with the company. Worthington’s impressive career spans over three decades in banking, beginning in 1982 at Citizen’s Home Bank, where she served for 22 years until its acquisition by Sun Security Bank.

Debbie joined Great Southern Bank in 2011 following its acquisition of Sun Security Bank. She initially served as a commercial lender before transitioning to the business banking division as a dedicated business banking relationship manager. In this role, she provided agricultural-related loans and developed lasting relationships with business clients. Her unwavering commitment to excellence has made a significant impact on the communities she has served.

In addition to her professional accomplishments, Worthington has been a dedicated community leader. She served on the board of the Chamber of Commerce for many years and is currently a DACO Community Foundation board member. She also serves as board secretary for the Community Development Corporation in Stockton, where she plays a pivotal role in bridge-gap financing and downtown revitalization efforts.

A lifelong resident of Dadeville, Missouri, Debbie enjoys spending time with her family, including following her five grandsons in their school activities, and assisting her husband with their cattle operation.

To honor Debbie’s retirement, Great Southern Bank is hosting an open house on her last day, March 31. From 10 a.m. until 4 p.m., the community is invited to stop by and congratulate Debbie at our Greenfield Banking Center, located at 507 Lake Street. Light refreshments will be provided, including pie from Cooky’s Cafe.

March 11, 2025

Great Southern Bank Announces New Next-Generation Banking Center in Springfield

Springfield, Mo. – Great Southern Bank is excited to announce plans for a newly constructed, next-generation banking center at its Benton & Chestnut location in Springfield, Missouri. The new building, located at 723 N. Benton, will be designed to provide customers with a fresh, modern banking experience while incorporating innovative designs, processes, and technology.

Construction on the new building is scheduled to begin this month, with completion anticipated in the fourth quarter of the year. Once completed, the new banking center will offer enhanced convenience, flexibility, and upgraded tools for both customers and staff.

To accommodate the construction, Great Southern Bank will install a temporary banking center on the property. The temporary facility, which features both a lobby and drive-thru, will begin serving customers on March 24, 2025. This arrangement ensures that customers can continue accessing all banking services during the transition.

“Great Southern Bank is committed to providing our customers with the best possible banking experience,” said Laura Smith, chief retail banking officer. “The new Benton & Chestnut banking center is part of our ongoing efforts to innovate and improve our services while maintaining the convenience and accessibility our customers value.”

Demolition of the current building will begin after the temporary facility opens, with construction of the new building beginning thereafter. Great Southern Bank will keep customers informed about the progress of the project and the official opening date of the new banking center.

The Benton & Chestnut location is one of 12 Great Southern Bank facilities in Springfield, including 11 banking centers and an Express Center.

February 6, 2025

Great Southern Bank Names Two New Executives

Springfield, Mo. – Great Southern Bank has named Laura Smith as the new vice president, chief retail banking officer, and Stacy Fender as the vice president, director of communications and marketing. These promotions follow the retirements of two longtime executives in December 2024.

As vice president, chief retail banking officer, Smith oversees Great Southern’s 89 banking centers in Missouri, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Arkansas and Nebraska, as well as the Investments and Training departments. She joined Great Southern’s Investments department in 2003, later managing that department for 15 years before being appointed to lead the Company’s retail banking division.

As vice president, director of communications and marketing, Fender oversees public relations, internal communications, marketing, and community relations. She has more than 25 years of experience in marketing, public relations, and internal communications. Prior to joining Great Southern, Fender spent the bulk of her career in the healthcare industry, most recently as director of marketing for a regional health system. She joined Great Southern in June 2024.

In December 2024, the former vice president, chief retail banking officer, Kris Conley, and the former vice president, chief communications and marketing officer, Kelly Polonus, retired from Great Southern Bank after 26 and 22 years, respectively. Both announced retirement in 2023 to ensure a smooth leadership transition.

December 4, 2024

Great Southern Bank Names Rob Fulp Market President of Springfield

Springfield, Mo. – Great Southern Bank has named Rob Fulp as market president of the Springfield region. As the market president, along with his responsibilities as the Springfield regional managing director, Fulp will collaborate with the Bank’s commercial lines of business: credit, VIP banking, and treasury services, to ensure that Springfield-area business and retail customers have full access to the Bank’s wide array of products and services. He will also lead the effort to deploy Great Southern’s resources to address social, health and economic concerns to help build stronger communities in the market area.

President and CEO Joe Turner said, “Since Rob left retirement to join the Great Southern team in 2023, we’ve benefited from his expertise and leadership. His deep knowledge of Springfield and his connections to area civic and charitable organizations addressing critical community needs make him a natural fit for this role. We’re excited for what’s to come.”

Fulp commented, “It’s a true privilege to work alongside Joe Turner and the amazing team members at the headquarters of Great Southern Bank here in Springfield. As market president I’m thrilled to continue working side-by-side with these high-level professionals while bringing the Bank’s many resources to bear to address community needs. I couldn’t be more excited.”

Fulp’s banking career has spanned more than 40 years, and his support of local civic and charitable activities also spans decades. He currently serves on the board of CoxHealth, as chairman of the Alliance of Healthcare Education, as trustee of the Missouri State Foundation, as executive advisory board chairman of the Missouri State University College of Business, and as board trustee of the Breast Cancer Foundation of the Ozarks. Honors and accolades include the State of Missouri’s Missourian Award, the Missouri Governor’s Silent Hero Award, the Missouri State University Golden Bear Award, a seven-time Biz 417 Biz 100 honoree, and one of Ingram’s 50 Missourians You Should Know.

Headquartered in Springfield, Mo., with $5.9 billion in assets, Great Southern offers a broad range of banking services to customers. The Company operates 89 retail banking centers in Missouri, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Arkansas and Nebraska; seven commercial lending offices in Atlanta, Charlotte, Chicago, Dallas, Denver, Omaha, Phoenix, and one Home Loan Center in Springfield. Great Southern Bancorp, Inc. is a public company, and its common stock (ticker: GSBC) is listed on the NASDAQ Global Select stock exchange.