Regional bank improves ranking on Post-Dispatch list

Southern Missouri Bancorp Inc., the parent company of Southern Missouri Bank, improved its ranking from 31st last year to 26th this year in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch ranking of Missouri's Top 50 Public Companies.

The company ranked even higher on two specific categories: it was seventh in percent gain in stock price and 16th in profit growth.

The article reported that the company's stock price increased 29.70 percent from $18.89 on May 1, 2002, to $24.50 on May 1, 2003.

Growth and profit from continuing operations increased $2.31 million or 49.1 percent.

"We are very pleased that the only publicly traded company headquartered in Poplar Bluff continues to improve its ranking among Missouri's public companies, most of which are headquartered in St. Louis and Kansas City," said Greg Steffens, Southern Missouri Bank president and CEO.

The company also ranked among the top 50 in a similar Kansas City Star ranking.

"We have invested in personnel and technology to improve customer service and operating efficiencies. This has helped us grow at a faster pace than our market," Steffens added.

Southern Missouri Bank has eight offices in Poplar Bluff, Kennett, Dexter, Doniphan, Van Buren and Qulin.