Educational
Background
Graduated Indianola Academy in 2010, attended Delta State University
Family/Background Information
Married to Jack Potter, one son - Bennett Potter, 1.5 years
Full Title/Position
Bank Secrecy Act Officer, Planters Bank & Trust Company
Number of Years at your current position -
Four years
Describe a day in the life of a Bank BSA
Officer.
A Bank BSA Officer ensures the bank complies with anti-money laundering laws and regulations in addition to monitoring suspicious financial activity to prevent money laundering, terrorist financing, and fraud.
We are tasked with keeping our customers and the bank safe from financial harm.
What led you to choose banking as your career path?
Although I initially set out to pursue a degree in Biology with a focus on plant research, life took an unexpected turn when I accepted a position as a bank teller. About nine years ago, Randy Randall approached me with an opportunity to apply for a role in the BSA Department at Planters Bank. It has been an incredible opportunity to grow my career in banking and as a BSA Officer.
Talk about some of your public service initiatives with the Humane Society and with the Pilot Club.
Some friends invited me to help walk dogs at a nearby rescue on weekends, and it was there that I truly discovered my love for animals—and how much they simply want to be loved in return. Not long after, someone in Indianola reached out about the urgent need for help at the Indianola Animal Shelter. That opportunity led me to join the Sunflower County Humane Society.
Through conversations with fellow rescue advocates, I realized there was a chance to provide local animals with a second chance by placing them in adoptive homes in
the Northeast. It quickly became my mission to find loving homes for as many shelter dogs as possible. With the support of my fellow Humane Society board members and dedicated shelter staff, we worked tirelessly to vet the animals and coordinate their adoptions and transports to the northeast. Witnessing these once-forgotten animals—many of them starved, terrified, and unfamiliar with kindness—transform into happy, healthy, and beloved family members is indescribably rewarding. Their resilience and capacity for love, despite their sometimes unfortunate start to life, inspires me every day.
I initially joined the Pilot Club for the camaraderie, but I quickly came to appreciate the meaningful impact it has on our community. I especially enjoy serving nursing home residents during their monthly birthday celebrations and educating others about brain safety—two efforts that reflect the heart of our mission.
Who is your biggest hero? Why?
My biggest hero is Tonia Cloutier, founder of Northbound Rescue Society, Midtown, CT. She saw a vision with shelter animals throughout the Mississippi Delta, She selflessly finds homes for, coordinates transport, and donates whatever is needed for Delta animal rescue groups. She always find a way to be a light for both humans and animals.
What inspires you the most in your professional life?
I get the opportunity each day to detect and prevent financial crime. Knowing that my attention to detail and commitment to compliance helps safeguard our customers and our bank from harm gives my work real purpose.
What advice do you have for young women looking to be involved in the banking industry?
My advice to young women interested in banking would be to stay confident, remain curious, and never underestimate the value of hard work. The banking industry offers a wide range of career opportunities. Learn the basics, ask questions, and don't be afraid to take on challenges.
