Southern Bank: how it compares with its peers
Against 9 MO banks with half to twice its assets, Southern Bank's strongest measure in Q2 2026 is return on assets (1.53% vs. a 1.29% peer median). Its weakest relative measure is assets per employee ($7.1M vs. $7.7M).
| Measure | Southern Bank | Peer median | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| Return on assets Annualized net income over average assets. | 1.53% | 1.29% | Top third Ahead of 78% of peers |
| Net interest margin Annualized net interest income over earning assets. | 3.71% | 3.83% | Middle third Ahead of 44% of peers |
| Efficiency ratio Noninterest expense per dollar of revenue. Lower is better. | 49.89% | 62.77% | Top third Ahead of 78% of peers |
| Assets per employee Total assets over full-time-equivalent staff. | $7.1M | $7.7M | Bottom third Ahead of 33% of peers |
| Loans to deposits Net loans and leases over total deposits. | 98.13% | 91.65% | Context |
What it means for lending operations
Its efficiency ratio of 49.89% is better than the 62.77% peer median. Banks that already run lean usually find their next gains in loan growth: faster digital applications and fewer borrowers abandoning a slow document chase.
Banks closest in size
- Great Southern Bank Reeds Spring, MO · $5.53B
- First State Community Bank Farmington, MO · $4.51B
- The Bank of Missouri Perryville, MO · $4.23B
- First Bank St. Louis, MO · $6.65B
- Oakstar Bank Springfield, MO · $3.29B
- Academy Bank, National Association Kansas City, MO · $3.23B
Questions about Southern Bank
How big is Southern Bank?
Southern Bank, established in 1887, is headquartered in Poplar Bluff, MO. It reported $5.19B in total assets in its Q2 2026 FDIC call report and operates 69 offices.
What is Southern Bank's return on assets?
1.53% annualized in Q2 2026, against a 1.29% median for 9 MO banks with half to twice its assets, ahead of 78% of them.
What is Southern Bank's efficiency ratio?
49.89% in Q2 2026: it spent about 50 cents in noninterest expense for each dollar of revenue. The peer median is 62.77%, and lower is better.
Is Southern Bank growing its loans?
Net loans grew 7.1% over the year to Q2 2026, while deposits grew 2.8%.
Sources and method
Figures are from the FDIC’s public call report data for the quarter ending 06/30/2026, via FDIC BankFind. Return on assets and net interest margin are annualized year to date. Peers are MO banks with half to twice its assets in the same quarter, excluding this bank. The page refreshes daily, so new quarters appear as banks file. Compare another bank or see every Missouri bank ranked.