The Southern Bank Company announced the hiring of Richard O’Keefe as a business development officer in the bank’s specialty commercial lending division. Based in Atlanta, O’Keefe will develop new business opportunities, create solutions customized to customer needs and build the bank’s brand among the commercial finance community.

O’Keefe brings extensive experience in commercial finance with many years working in asset-based lending and factoring business development roles. Previously, at Advance Financial and The Commercial Finance Group he worked closely with startup and growth-oriented companies by crafting tailored working capital solutions to meet their changing business needs.

“Richard brings a level of expertise to the bank that supports our growing focus on providing financing for businesses who are looking for alternative, or non-traditional financing options. We welcome him to the team and are pleased to have him in the Atlanta market where we see lots of opportunity for growth and no shortage of businesses in need of working capital,” said Gates Little, president of The Southern Bank.

The Southern Bank Company is an Alabama-based community bank providing receivable based lines to commercial businesses through altLINE, which provides flexible working capital solutions to businesses with annual revenues of $1 million to $50 million.