Southern States Bank Executive Boosts Stake to 109K Shares Through Option Exercise

Rhea-AI Filing Summary

Gregory B. Smith, Chief Risk Officer of Southern States Bancshares (SSBK), exercised stock options and increased his holdings on June 20, 2025. The transactions included:

• Exercise of 7,500 stock options at $14.50 per share (granted 1/21/2018)
• Exercise of 3,865 stock options at $20.03 per share (granted 2/10/2021)

Following these transactions, Smith now beneficially owns 109,183 shares, including 3,022 unvested restricted shares that will vest incrementally through February 19, 2028. Both exercised option grants had previously become fully vested - the 2018 grant on 1/21/2021 and the 2021 grant on 2/10/2024. This insider activity demonstrates continued confidence in the company by a key executive officer.

SEC Form 4

FORM 4

UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP

Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940

OMB APPROVAL

OMB Number:			3235-0287
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Check this box if no longer subject to Section 16. Form 4 or Form 5 obligations may continue. See Instruction 1(b).

Check this box to indicate that a transaction was made pursuant to a contract, instruction or written plan for the purchase or sale of equity securities of the issuer that is intended to satisfy the affirmative defense conditions of Rule 10b5-1(c). See Instruction 10.

1. Name and Address of Reporting Person^*

Smith Gregory B.

(Last) (First) (Middle)

615 QUINTARD AVE

(Street)

ANNISTON AL 36201

(City) (State) (Zip)

2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol
Southern States Bancshares, Inc. [ SSBK ]

5. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer
(Check all applicable)

	Director		10% Owner
X	Officer (give title below)		Other (specify below)
	Chief Risk Officer

3. Date of Earliest Transaction (Month/Day/Year)
06/20/2025

4. If Amendment, Date of Original Filed (Month/Day/Year)

6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing (Check Applicable Line)

X	Form filed by One Reporting Person
	Form filed by More than One Reporting Person

Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
1. Title of Security (Instr. 3)	2. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year)	2A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year)	3. Transaction Code (Instr. 8)		4. Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed Of (D) (Instr. 3, 4 and 5)			5. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 3 and 4)	6. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4)	7. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4)
			Code	V	Amount	(A) or (D)	Price
Common Stock, par value $5.00 per share	06/20/2025		M		7,500	A	$14.5	105,318(1)	D
Common Stock, par value $5.00 per share	06/20/2025		M		3,865	A	$20.03	109,183(1)	D

Table II - Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned (e.g., puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities)
1. Title of Derivative Security (Instr. 3)	2. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security	3. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year)	3A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year)	4. Transaction Code (Instr. 8)		5. Number of Derivative Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D) (Instr. 3, 4 and 5)		6. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date (Month/Day/Year)		7. Title and Amount of Securities Underlying Derivative Security (Instr. 3 and 4)		8. Price of Derivative Security (Instr. 5)	9. Number of derivative Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 4)	10. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4)	11. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4)
				Code	V	(A)	(D)	Date Exercisable	Expiration Date	Title	Amount or Number of Shares
STOCK OPTION (RIGHT TO BUY)	$14.5	06/20/2025		M			7,500	(2)	01/21/2028	Common Stock	7,500	$0	0	D
STOCK OPTION (RIGHT TO BUY)	$20.03	06/20/2025		M			3,865	(3)	02/10/2031	Common Stock	3,865	$0	0	D

Explanation of Responses:

1. Includes 3,022 in unvested restricted shares which will incrementally vest annually by 2/19/2028.

2. These options were granted on 1/21/2018, vest in one-third increments over three years, and became fully vested and exercisable on 1/21/2021.

3. These options were granted on 2/10/2021, vest in one-third increments over three years, and became fully vested and exercisable on 2/10/2024.

Remarks:

	/s/ Gregory B. Smith, by Jeff Shanks as Attorney-in-Fact	06/24/2025
	** Signature of Reporting Person	Date
Reminder: Report on a separate line for each class of securities beneficially owned directly or indirectly.
* If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 4 (b)(v).
** Intentional misstatements or omissions of facts constitute Federal Criminal Violations See 18 U.S.C. 1001 and 15 U.S.C. 78ff(a).
Note: File three copies of this Form, one of which must be manually signed. If space is insufficient, see Instruction 6 for procedure.
Persons who respond to the collection of information contained in this form are not required to respond unless the form displays a currently valid OMB Number.

FAQ

How many SSBK stock options did Chief Risk Officer Gregory Smith exercise on June 20, 2025?

Gregory Smith exercised two sets of stock options on June 20, 2025: 7,500 options at an exercise price of $14.50 and 3,865 options at an exercise price of $20.03, for a total of 11,365 options exercised.

What is Gregory Smith's total SSBK share ownership after exercising his options?

Following the reported transactions, Gregory Smith owns 109,183 shares directly, which includes 3,022 unvested restricted shares that will incrementally vest annually through February 19, 2028.

When were SSBK's stock options originally granted to Gregory Smith?

The first set of options (7,500 shares) was granted on January 21, 2018, and the second set (3,865 shares) was granted on February 10, 2021. Both sets of options were fully vested at the time of exercise, with the 2018 grant vesting on January 21, 2021, and the 2021 grant vesting on February 10, 2024.

What position does Gregory Smith hold at Southern States Bancshares (SSBK)?

Gregory Smith serves as the Chief Risk Officer at Southern States Bancshares, Inc. (SSBK).

How many unvested restricted SSBK shares does Gregory Smith still own?

Gregory Smith owns 3,022 unvested restricted shares that will incrementally vest annually through February 19, 2028.