Columbia bank president to speak at noon Wednesday at SC State’s Belcher Hall
Lefft’s appearance is part of the SC State College of Business and Information Systems’ Executive Speaker Series. The series is open to all SC State students and employees, as well as the public.
Optus Bank, formerly Victory Savings Bank and South Carolina Community Bank, is a Minority Deposit Institution and a Community Development Financial Institution.
Before joining Optus Bank, Lefft held positions at Wells Fargo Bank NA in Charlotte, North Carolina, Columbia, and Orangeburg. She retired from Wells Fargo with 30 years of service in 2021. She has held various positions, including senior vice president and head of the Middle Market Credit Services Division, chief operating officer, area city executive E-Market Place director, and Community Banking CRA officer. Lefft also has held key leadership positions for departments of multi-national financial institutions in the Southeast, the Midwest and India.
She earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree with a double major in political science and economics from the University of South Carolina, and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Dayton in Ohio.
Her community service includes chair of Pearls of Service Foundation Inc., and board member representing the Midlands for the SC Bankers Association. Lefft also has planned, designed and executed several faith-based Women’s Retreats for the St. Marks United Methodist Women in Charlotte. She has also mentored women and men in navigating the corporate culture and served as a change agent “in the trenches” for diversity equity and inclusion throughout her career.
Prior service includes president of the Rock Hill, South Carolina, Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc., finance chair and treasurer for St. Mark's United Methodist Church, and vice president of the United Women of Faith. Her other community service has included the Boards of Directors of Discovery Place and the Palmetto Richland Cancer Center.
For more information about SC State's College of Business and Information Systems, visit https://scsu.edu/academics/college-of-business-and-information-systems/index.php .