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. 
 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.

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.

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.

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.

 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.