Southern States Bancshares Insider Mark Chambers Boosts Stake by 54%

Rhea-AI Filing Summary

Southern States Bancshares, Inc. (SSBK) – CEO & Director Mark A. Chambers filed a Form 4 detailing option exercises on 20-Jun-2025.

• Mr. Chambers exercised 8 tranches of stock options, converting a total of 53,629 shares of common stock at strike prices ranging from $10.00 to $30.23.
• Following the transactions, his direct beneficial ownership rose to 109,685 shares, up from 71,056 reported after the first exercise line—an incremental increase of 38,629 shares. The total includes 4,670 unvested restricted shares and 637 dividend-reinvestment shares.
• All exercised options dated 2016-2022 are now fully depleted; 3,586 options granted in 2023-2024 remain outstanding.
• No open-market sales were reported. Transaction code “M” confirms these were option exercises rather than purchases on the secondary market.

Because shares were retained, the filing may signal insider confidence, but it provides no direct information on company fundamentals or upcoming events.

Positive

• CEO increased direct share ownership by 38,629 shares (≈54%) through option exercises, retaining all acquired stock.

Negative

• None.

Insights

Equity Research Analyst

TL;DR: CEO exercised 53.6k options, boosting holdings to 109.7k; no shares sold – mildly positive insider signal.

The bulk exercise clears out legacy options (2016-2022 vintages) at below-market strikes, shifting compensation from derivative to equity. The absence of sales indicates the CEO is retaining exposure rather than monetising. While routine, a 35%+ increase in direct ownership can reassure investors about alignment. Still, as exercises were likely scheduled (all fully vested), the informational value is moderate, especially without accompanying open-market buying.

Governance & Compensation Specialist

TL;DR: Option-exercise clean-up; legacy grants exhausted, only 3.6k options remain – governance neutral.

Exercising in bulk before the 2016 grant expiry (Jan-2026) is a standard housekeeping move. Remaining unexercised options (<2% of original grants) suggest future dilution risk from this insider is minimal. The filing flags no Rule 10b5-1 plan, but there is also no simultaneous disposition, limiting conflict-of-interest concerns. Overall impact on corporate governance perceptions is neutral-to-positive.

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
Estimated average burden
hours per response:			0.5

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^*

Chambers Mark

(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)

X	Director		10% Owner
X	Officer (give title below)		Other (specify below)
	Chief Executive 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		15,000	A	$10	71,056(1)(2)	D
Common Stock, par value $5.00 per share	06/20/2025		M		7,500	A	$14.5	78,556(1)(2)	D
Common Stock, par value $5.00 per share	06/20/2025		M		9,529	A	$16	88,085(1)(2)	D
Common Stock, par value $5.00 per share	06/20/2025		M		10,828	A	$20.1	98,913(1)(2)	D
Common Stock, par value $5.00 per share	06/20/2025		M		4,185	A	$20.03	103,098(1)(2)	D
Common Stock, par value $5.00 per share	06/20/2025		M		3,458	A	$20.61	106,556(1)(2)	D
Common Stock, par value $5.00 per share	06/20/2025		M		1,782	A	$30.23	108,338(1)(2)	D
Common Stock, par value $5.00 per share	06/20/2025		M		1,347	A	$26.42	109,685(1)(2)	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 OPTIONS (RIGHT TO BUY)	$10	06/20/2025		M			15,000	(3)	01/20/2026	Common Stock	15,000	$0	0	D
STOCK OPTIONS (RIGHT TO BUY)	$14.5	06/20/2025		M			7,500	(4)	01/21/2028	Common Stock	7,500	$0	0	D
STOCK OPTIONS (RIGHT TO BUY)	$16	06/20/2025		M			9,529	(5)	02/08/2029	Common Stock	9,529	$0	0	D
STOCK OPTIONS (RIGHT TO BUY)	$20.1	06/20/2025		M			10,828	(6)	01/22/2030	Common Stock	10,828	$0	0	D
STOCK OPTIONS (RIGHT TO BUY)	$20.03	06/20/2025		M			4,185	(7)	02/10/2031	Common Stock	4,185	$0	0	D
STOCK OPTIONS (RIGHT TO BUY)	$20.61	06/20/2025		M			3,458	(8)	02/09/2032	Common Stock	3,458	$0	0	D
STOCK OPTIONS (RIGHT TO BUY)	$30.23	06/20/2025		M			1,782	(9)	02/15/2033	Common Stock	1,782	$0	891	D
STOCK OPTIONS (RIGHT TO BUY)	$26.42	06/20/2025		M			1,347	(10)	02/21/2034	Common Stock	1,347	$0	2,695	D

Explanation of Responses:

1. Includes 4,670 in unvested restricted shares which will incrementally vest annually by 2/19/2028.

2. Includes 637 shares of common stock under the Southern States Bancshares, Inc. Dividend Reinvestment and Common Stock Purchase Plan.

3. These options were granted on 1/20/2016, vest in one-fifth increments over five years, and became fully vested and exercisable on 1/20/2021.

4. 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.

5. These options were granted on 2/08/2019, vest in one-third increments over three years, and became fully vested and exercisable on 2/08/2022.

6. These options were granted on 1/22/2020, vest in one-third increments over three years, and became fully vested and exercisable on 1/22/2023.

7. 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.

8. These options were granted on 2/9/2022, vest in one-third increments over three years, and became fully vested and exercisable on 2/9/2025.

9. These options were granted on 2/15/2023 and vest in one-third increments over three years.

10. These options were granted on 2/21/2024 and vest in one-third increments over three years.

Remarks:

	/s/ Mark A. Chambers, by Jeff Shanks as Attorney-in-Fact	06/23/2025
	** 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 Southern States Bancshares (SSBK) shares did CEO Mark Chambers acquire on 20-Jun-2025?

He acquired 53,629 shares by exercising vested stock options.

What is Mark Chambers’ total beneficial ownership in SSBK after the Form 4 transactions?

His direct beneficial ownership is now 109,685 common shares, including unvested restricted and dividend-reinvestment shares.

At what prices were the options exercised in the Form 4 filing?

Strike prices ranged from $10.00 to $30.23 per share across eight separate option grants.

Did the CEO sell any Southern States Bancshares shares in this filing?

No. All transactions were coded "M" (option exercise) with no dispositions reported.

How many stock options does Mark Chambers still hold after these exercises?

He retains 3,586 options from 2023-2024 grants that vest through 2026-2027.