About Us
A bank that truly cares about the communities it serves
Everything we do is driven by our customer-first culture.
We started small, way back in 1884. Over the years, we've grown up, merging with other banks and opening offices across Southern Ohio. Along the way, we've served generations of families, assisted countless local businesses, and earned 5-star ratings from a national organization that assesses bank financial strength. But rather than dwell on past accomplishments, Southern Hills Community Bank looks to the future as an opportunity to build new relationships, offer additional services, and do everything possible to improve the financial lives of our customers.
Letter from the President
Dear Friends and Customers,
When I first joined the banking industry in 2004, I quickly learned that banking is about people, not just numbers. Over the years, I’ve had the privilege of meeting countless individuals, families, and business owners who trust us with their financial future. These relationships are what drive me and our team at Southern Hills Community Bank to provide the best banking experience possible. You are not just a number to us, you are our friends and neighbors. Our employees are local to the communities they serve which drives home their commitment to you!
At Southern Hills Community Bank, we believe in personalized service, strong relationships, and local commitment—values that have earned us a Five-Star Rating from Bauer Financial. This recognition is a testament to our financial strength and dedication to serving you with excellence. We take great pride in being a trusted, stable, and community-focused bank.
Your Community, Your Bank!
We are more than just a bank—we are your neighbors, your friends, and your partners in financial success. We make it a priority to know our customers by name, understand your unique goals, and provide the tools and guidance you need to succeed. Whether you're opening your first savings account, purchasing a home, or growing your business, our team is here to support you every step of the way.
Our Mission and Vision
Our Mission is to serve, empower and build our customers, employees and communities.
Our Vision is to experience growth and profitability while remaining an independent bank focusing on our customers, employees and communities.
Our Core Values
Our employees focus on these core values daily in order to provide top-notch service to you, every time. You are never just a transaction to us. You are a meaningful connection in every interaction.
- Relationships
- Knowledge
- Integrity
- Availability
- Engagement
- Adaptability
Our Commitment to You
Personalized Customer Service – We take the time to listen, understand, and provide solutions that fit your needs. Enhanced Digital Banking – Access your finances anytime, anywhere, with secure and easy-to-use online banking tools. Financial Strength & Security – Your trust is our top priority, and we continuously invest in the latest security measures to protect your accounts.
A Personal Note
Outside of the bank, I enjoy spending time with family, volunteering in the community, and attending local events that support local businesses. These experiences reinforce my belief that strong relationships and community is built on trust, integrity, and making meaningful connections—the same values that guide us at Southern Hills Community Bank.
As we look ahead, we remain committed to providing the highest level of service, strengthening relationships, and supporting the financial success of our community. Because at Southern Hills Community Bank, it’s more than just banking—it’s Your Community, Your Bank!
Thank you for choosing Southern Hills Community Bank. We are honored to be your financial partner and look forward to serving you for years to come. If you ever have any questions or need assistance, contact us, because we would love to hear from you!
Sincerely,
Lindsay M. Cloud President
Get to know the community bank working hard for you
Southern Hills Community Bank originated as Leesburg Building and Loan Association Company in February 1884. The association merged with Fairfield Building and Loan Association in 1927.
In October 1936, the company federalized, becoming Leesburg Federal Savings and Loan Association. With total assets of just $63,323.56, it was the only federal savings and loan in Highland County. The association later merged with Fidelity Building and Loan in Greenfield Ohio in 1975.
Jeffrey D. Cloud, the current CEO, was hired in June 1993. After reorganizing and revitalizing the institution and changing its name to Leesburg Federal Savings Bank in 1997, Mr. Cloud began searching for opportunities to grow and expand our market area. A new branch office was built in Greenfield in 2004. In April 2011, the bank merged with The Home Builders Association of Lynchburg and changed its name to Southern Hills Community Bank. In July 2014, the institution changed its organization type to a Mutual Saving Bank - an FDIC-insured institution supervised by the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC).
Cloud continued his efforts to position the institution as a strong, well-capitalized, full-service community bank serving Southern Ohio, with its three Highland County locations. In October 2017, Southern Hills merged with Ripley Federal Savings Bank, which had offices located in Ripley and Georgetown, Ohio. In April 2018, Southern Hills merged with The Adams County Building and Loan Company, with offices in West Union and Peebles, Ohio. In January 2019, Southern Hills opened a branch office in Hillsboro, Ohio.
Southern Hills has served its loyal and deeply appreciated customer base for over 140 years. With offices in Highland, Brown and Adams counties, we now serve these counties and portions of surrounding counties nestled in the rural rolling hills of Southern Ohio. Cloud has established a “customer-first” culture built on relationships developed and loyally maintained over generations. We offer a warm, friendly environment where customers, prospects and patrons are always welcome and wanted. We know you and we take care of you because you are our customers.
With a strong board of directors and the veteran leadership of a highly skilled senior management team, Southern Hills is poised to continue its journey providing another hundred years of reliable, “customer-first” service to the deserving communities in its market footprint.
These accomplished professionals provide oversight to Southern Hills Community Bank while always keeping in mind the best interests of our customers and communities.
- Craig H. Turner, Chairman
- Jeffrey D. Cloud, CEO
- Lindsay M. Cloud, CPA, President, CFO
- John H. Lawler
- Randy T. Brodt
- Jerry Waits
- Michael Penn
- Robert D. Carey
- William Armintrout
This veteran team of community bankers and community leaders have devoted decades to Southern Ohio communities as advisors, partners, organizers, contributors, and participants. Each individual has spent most of their career to the financial services industry and developed tremendous expertise in and beyond their field of specialty.
Executive Officers
- Jeffrey D. Cloud: Chief Executive Officer
- Lindsay M. Cloud, CPA: President, CFO
- D. Ryan Page: Senior Vice President, Lending
Officers
- Betsy L. Pasley: Vice President, Human Resources
- Monica M. Smith: Vice President, Loan Operations Manager
- Beth Staggs: Vice President, Deposit Operations Manager, Board Secretary
- Stacie Rolfe: Vice President, IT Manager, ISO, Security Officer
- Laura Musselman: Vice President, Branch Administrator, Customer Service Manager
- Jenn Moore: Assistant Vice President, BSA/Compliance Officer
Our front-line leaders welcome customers with friendly faces and smiles. They serve and advise with compassion. They take care of customer needs and protect customer interests.
- Breann Sines: Greenfield Office
- Brenda Brown: Lynchburg Office
- Heather Burba: Hillsboro Office
- Amiee Havens: Georgetown Office
- Amy Vogler: West Union Office
- John Fitzpatrick: Ripley Office
To serve, empower and build our customers, employees and communities.
To experience growth and profitability while remaining an independent bank focusing on our customers, employees and communities.
Our Core Values
Relationships
We develop, nurture and preserve quality connections with our customers and employees. Our appreciation, support and loyalty to our communities is unwavering. We are local and here to stay, you can bank on that.
Knowledge
We are skilled professionals that embrace educational opportunities in the rapidly changing banking environment to better serve our customers and communities. We can be your greatest asset.
Integrity
We have built our reputation on being honest and trustworthy with every decision, every time. We keep our promises. You can always deposit your trust in us.
Availability
We are passionate and dedicated employees that are accessible, responsive and supportive to your needs. We will exceed your expectations. We invest our time in you.
Engagement
We appreciate and champion our employees while providing a fun, motivating and rewarding culture creating a friendly, caring and welcoming environment for our customers. Our smiles are free, so don’t worry, bank happy.
Adaptability
We know we must be flexible and willing to pivot at any time in order to be successful. Our focus is on the lasting impact of our forward-thinking decisions, rather than short-term profits or rewards. We can turn on a dime.
Southern Hills Community Bank Serving the Community with 5-Star Strength
Leesburg, Ohio - September 2025: BauerFinancial, Inc., the Nation’s Premier Bank Rating Firm, proudly acknowledges that Southern Hills Community Bank, Leesburg, OH, has earned its highest, 5-Star rating for 48 consecutive quarters. Having maintained its financial strength and stability for over a decade, Southern Hills Community Bank has also earned an “Exceptional Performance Bank” distinction. This designation is reserved solely for those banks that have earned and maintained Bauer’s 5-Star Rating for ten years (40 consecutive quarters), or longer. This latest rating was assigned in September 2025, based on June 30, 2025 financial data, and signifies that Southern Hills Community Bank continues to be one of the strongest banks in the nation.
“Bauer rates banks based on their overall financial condition,” reports Karen Dorway, president of the rating firm, “and has been doing so for over 40 years. Bauer does not rate based on how much a bank gives back to its community, but sometimes I wish we could. The employees of community banks, like Southern Hills Community Bank, feel a responsibility to help their community grow and thrive,” continues Dorway. “It gives me great pleasure to acknowledge that a bank that measures its success by the success of its neighbors and friends, does so from such a solid financial foundation.”
Since its inception in 1884, Southern Hills Community Bank has been an enthusiastic supporter of the people and organizations in the communities it serves, which is also where its employees live, work and play. A dedicated banking partner, yes, but so much more. Supporting the community is what it does, and what it has done for 141 years. This community-focused bank wouldn’t have it any other way.