SouthState Bank Executive Named to Industry Power List

Tara Edmonds, who oversees payment strategy for the bank, has been recognized by American Banker.

Updated on Oct. 1, 2026 in Banking

Isometric editorial illustration of a clean, minimalist geometric structure, representing the structural strength of modern financial payment systems. — SouthState Bank senior vice president Tara Edmonds was named to the American Banker 'Most Powerful Women in Banking NEXT' list for her payment strategy initiatives. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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American Banker named Tara Edmonds to its Most Powerful Women in Banking NEXT list for her contributions to financial services. Edmonds currently serves as the senior vice president of enterprise payments strategy at SouthState Bank.

Why it matters

Recognition of bank leadership provides insight into the strategic priorities of financial institutions serving the region, specifically regarding digital payments and asset modernization. These leadership focus areas often signal the future availability and speed of consumer financial tools.

Tara Edmonds has logged 13 years of employment at SouthState Bank, advancing from a part-time teller role to her current executive position. Her team is currently developing a tokenized deposit initiative designed with a 1:1 collateralization ratio.

The players

Tara Edmonds

The senior vice president of enterprise payments strategy at SouthState Bank who chairs the institution's enterprise payments steering committee.

SouthState Bank

A financial institution headquartered in North Carolina that provides retail banking services, credit products, and digital payment solutions to consumers.

American Banker

An industry publication that tracks financial sector trends and provides professional recognition through its annual power lists.

The details

Edmonds led a cross-functional initiative in 2025 to modernize the bank's real-time payment capabilities by integrating RTP and FedNow systems. This effort required coordination across legal, compliance, risk, and technology departments to create a framework for tokenized deposits. The bank's current strategy focuses on these digital assets and instant payment systems to streamline infrastructure.

2013: Tara Edmonds started her career at SouthState Bank as a part-time teller.
2018: Edmonds moved into information technology roles at the bank.
2025: Edmonds led efforts to modernize real-time payment capabilities.
October 1, 2026: American Banker published the Most Powerful Women in Banking NEXT list.

Money Landscape

The push for instant payment modernization follows the widespread adoption of the Federal Reserve's FedNow Service across the banking sector. This shift represents a move away from legacy processing towards real-time digital infrastructure for household transactions.

As financial institutions modernize their payment frameworks, consumers may see faster processing times for transfers and new digital asset options. Consult with your banker to understand how these upgrades affect your existing accounts or payment speeds.

The takeaway

The move toward real-time payments and tokenized deposits signals a long-term shift in how banks manage consumer funds and transaction speed. Keep an eye on your bank's future digital service updates to see if your primary payment methods are changing.