Anna Laurie McKibbens is a native of Alabama coming from a family with deep and historical ties to the state. She is and has been involved in a diverse set of business interests that span a multitude of industries from banking, construction materials, farming, leasing, insurance, petroleum product distribution and trucking.

The family-owned businesses in which she is involved currently employ over 550 Alabamians. The most well-known of these enterprises is Bryant Bank. 

As General Counsel and Assistant Secretary at Bryant Bank, McKibbens blends her legal expertise with a deep sense of purpose rooted in family and community.

From the start of her career, she sought roles that combined law and business, eventually bringing those skills back to the family-owned bank her father founded. 

Today, McKibbens is not only serving as a key leader at Bryant Bank, but also helping preserve and strengthen the culture of care, trust, and service that defines the Alabama-focused community bank.

For her, leadership is about more than transactions; it’s about people, relationships, and ensuring that Bryant Bank continues to serve as a cornerstone for Alabama families for generations to come. 

A legacy rooted in community 

Bryant Bank was founded in 2005 by Paul W. Bryant, Jr., with a mission that went far beyond financial services. He envisioned a bank that cared about relationships as much as numbers, where local decision-making and community investment would remain at the forefront.

From its beginnings in Tuscaloosa, the bank has grown thoughtfully across the state while remaining family-owned and deeply connected to the communities it serves.

Today, with 18 offices across Alabama, Bryant Bank continues to reflect its founding vision: strong relationships, exceptional service, and an unwavering commitment to Alabama families and their financial success and well-being. 

For McKibbens, that legacy is more than history–it’s personal. Building on her family’s foundation, she carries forward their vision with a purpose.

“What brings purpose to my work is carrying forward the legacy my father built while ensuring Bryant Bank remains a cornerstone of Alabama communities in the future,” she explains. 

McKibbens’ desire is to strengthen the community banking industry across the state. “For Alabama, family-owned businesses like Bryant Bank are vital because we understand that relationships matter,” she says. We know our customers’ stories, we invest in local initiatives,

and when challenges arise, we’re here to weather them together. And we strengthen the community banking industry in the state by serving and supporting other like minded community banks across the state. This work is deeply personal to me because Alabama isn’t just where we do business… it’s home.” 

Forging her own path

While her current role connects her to her family’s legacy, McKibbens forged her own path in business and law with the thought of returning home always in the back of her mind. After graduating from The University of Alabama, she knew that a law degree was her next step–but she also knew she didn’t want the traditional law firm route.

“After graduating, I knew that I wanted to go to law school, but I was not particularly interested in practicing law at a large firm. I knew I wanted to be in business.” 

That line of thinking led her to Southern Methodist University in Dallas, where she earned her law degree. She began her career as an in-house attorney, working across industries spanning banking and insurance before starting in the family’s construction materials business in Atlanta.

“With a law degree, I have had opportunities to work across lines of business in multiple industries, always learning something new,” she reflects. “That really appeals to my personality and professional interests.” 

These experiences were more than resumé-builders; they shaped McKibbens into a versatile leader capable of adapting to different business contexts which happens to be a quite valuable trait as she navigates the multi-entity family business.

She is equally at home in the corporate offices of Bryant Bank or walking levees by the ponds of Alabama Catfish. 

Cultivating community

When McKibbens talks about her proudest accomplishments, she points to the culture important to all of the various businesses in which she is involved but uses Bryant Bank as an example of the way that culture comes to life each year at the annual company picnic. 

“What I’m proudest of becomes clear every year at our annual Bryant Bank picnic,” she says.

“When I see our bankers gathering with their families, watching their children grow up year after year, and witnessing the genuine love and care our team members have for one another, I know we’ve built something truly special.” 

These moments represent far more than camaraderie; they’re the foundation of Bryant Bank’s long-term success.

“These aren’t just colleagues; they’re family,” she explains. “We celebrate each other’s milestones, support each other through challenges, and genuinely care about one another’s success and happiness.” 

She believes that when employees care for each other like family, that spirit naturally extends outward.

“What makes me most passionate about this work is knowing that we’ve created an environment where people don’t just have jobs–they have a community. When our bankers truly care for each other like family, that care extends to how they serve our customers and our communities. It’s the foundation of what makes Bryant Bank more than just a financial institution.” 

That culture of connection is what McKibbens hopes to preserve and strengthen for years to come in all of the businesses under the family umbrella.

“Seeing this culture continue and strengthen each year reminds me that we’re not just running a family business, but we’re also nurturing a family that happens to be in the business of helping Alabama families achieve their dreams. That’s the legacy I’m proud to help preserve and grow.” 

Inspired by strong women

Throughout her life, McKibbens has been surrounded by strong women whose leadership and resilience influenced her own approach.

One of the most memorable was a Tuscaloosa community activist, Mary Ann Phelps, who passed away earlier this year at age 93. 

“I’ve been incredibly fortunate to be surrounded by strong women who’ve shown me what true leadership looks like,” McKibbens reflects.

“One woman [Phelps] who inspired me was not a high-powered CEO, or a visionary entrepreneur, or a leader in medicine or education, but someone who had the talent and skills that would have made her impactful in any of those areas.” 

McKibbens recalls that as a child, she always wanted to get things right when Mrs. Phelps was around. As an adult, she came to appreciate Phelps’ serious-minded dedication to civic issues and her ability to motivate others. “Her day job was serving the community,” McKibbens says.

“She had a determined, strategic approach to civic issues. She knew how to motivate people and organize groups to get things done. She showed me that real impact happens when you work hard together.” 

Phelps’ influence continues to guide McKibbens as she leads and collaborates at Bryant Bank. The example of a woman who quietly but powerfully shaped her community serves as a reminder that impact is not measured only in titles, but in dedication, purpose, and persistence. 

A Woman of Impact

For McKibbens, her work is deeply engaged in legacy and community. She is fiercely committed to preserving her father’s founding vision while also preparing Bryant Bank for generations to come. 

In her view, community banks like Bryant Bank play a unique and vital role in Alabama’s economy and civic life. They know their customers personally, invest in local initiatives, and stand by communities in times of challenge.

“Family-owned businesses like Bryant Bank are vital because we understand that relationships matter,” she emphasizes.

That vision is both practical and personal. As McKibbens puts it, “We’re not just running a family business–we’re nurturing a family that happens to be in the business of helping Alabama families achieve their dreams.” 

Yellowhammer News is proud to name Anna Laurie McKibbens as a 2025 Woman of Impact.