Colleen Hattingh has joined Southern Bank's Wilmington banking center, according to a news release.

Hattingh is focused on consumer and professional relationship banking, as well as business banking, officials said in the release. Southern Bank is a wholly owned subsidiary of Southern BancShares with corporate headquarters in Mount Olive.

She brings more than 20 years of experience to the Southern Bank team, officials said.

Hattingh, who lives in Wilmington, is president of Cape Fear Rotary Club and has been actively involved with the United Way. She is a native of South Africa.