ARKADELPHIA, Arkansas — Southern Bancorp Bank, a Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) and one of the nation’s oldest and most impactful community development banks, has announced the promotion of Andrea Tugwell to Retail Regional Director, West Region.
“Andrea’s well-deserved promotion is a reflection of her dedication to our mission and her ability to lead with integrity and care,” said Seun Aiyese, Head of Retail at Southern Bancorp Bank. “She has consistently demonstrated a passion for serving others, and we’re excited to see her continue to grow in this expanded role.”
Over the years, Tugwell has held a number of different roles in retail banking. She began her banking career in January 2002 as a teller at Superior Bank in Malvern, a branch that later became Elk Horn Bank and ultimately Southern Bancorp Bank, marking the beginning of her long-standing tenure with the CDFI. In 2009, she became a Personal Banker at the Southern Bancorp’s Main Branch in Arkadelphia, and by April 2010, she stepped into her first branch leadership role as Branch Manager of its Arkadelphia-Pine Street location. Most recently, she served as Retail Market Manager, overseeing the bank’s Bismarck, Gurdon, and Arkadelphia-Pine Street branches.
In her new role, Tugwell will lead the retail operations in six markets and 15 branches across the bank’s West Region, including Arkadelphia-Main, Arkadelphia-Pine Street, Bismarck, El Dorado-Main, El Dorado-Hillsboro, Glenwood, Gurdon, Hamburg, Hot Springs-Airport, Hot Springs-Central, Hot Springs-Eastgate, Little Rock-12th Street, Lockesburg, Malvern, and Mount Ida.
Outside of work, Tugwell enjoys spending time with her husband of 23 years, Dusty, and their two sons, Jack and Leighton. Andrea is deeply involved in her local community, and she and her family are very active with local sports, including golf, baseball, and basketball.