Walter M. “Sonny” Deriso, Jr., was the Founding Chairman and a Director of Atlantic Capital Bank and Atlantic Capital Bancshares, Inc. Previously, Deriso served as Vice Chairman of Synovus Financial Corp. and as CEO, director, and board chairman of Security Bank & Trust Company of Albany.

Deriso began his professional career as an attorney and practiced law in Albany from 1972-1991. He served as President/CEO of Security Bank and Trust Company of Albany, a Synovus Bank, from 1991-1997, and as Vice-Chairman of Synovus from 1997-2005. He also served as Chairman of Atlantic Capital Bank and Atlantic Capital Bancshares, Inc. in Atlanta from their founding in 2006 until their merger with SouthState Corporation in 2022.

Deriso has served as chairman of numerous boards, including Georgia Bankers Association, Georgia Chamber of Commerce, Georgia Regional Transportation Authority, and the Georgia Historical Society. He has served as a Trustee of Emory University. From 2005 to 2012, he served as Chairman of the capital campaign for Emory University that successfully raised $1.697 billion, at that time the largest capital campaign in Georgia’s history. He and his wife, Judy, are currently co-chairing a capital campaign for Phoebe Putney Healthcare’s Phoebe Foundation.

He received the Marion Luther Brittain Service Award from Emory University in 1968, was listed in 2011 in Atlanta Business Chronicle’s 100 Most Influential Atlantans, was recognized in 2017 by Atlanta Business Chronicle as a Most-Admired CEO, and was listed in Georgia Trend’s 100 Most Influential Georgians in 2022.

Deriso graduated from Emory College with a BA in History and received his J.D. with Distinction from Emory University School of Law. In 1968 he joined the U.S. Army Reserve and served with the 449th Field Depot until 1974.