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The information contained in this preliminary prospectus supplement is not complete and may be changed. This preliminary prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus are not an offer to sell the securities and are not soliciting an offer to buy the securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted.

Filed Pursuant to Rule 424(b)(5)
Registrant No. 333-237548

SUBJECT TO COMPLETION DATED JUNE 8, 2020

Preliminary Prospectus Supplement
(To Prospectus dated April 15, 2020)

[MISSING IMAGE: lg_greatsouthern-4cgrey.jpg]

% Fixed-to-Floating Rate Subordinated Notes due , 2030

We are offering $ million aggregate principal amount of our % Fixed-to-Floating Rate Subordinated Notes due , 2030, referred to herein as the “Notes.” The Notes will mature on , 2030. From and including the date of issuance to, but excluding, , 2025, the Notes will bear interest at a rate equal to % per annum, payable semi-annually in arrears on each and , commencing , 202 . From and including , 2025 to, but excluding, the maturity date or the date of earlier redemption, the Notes will bear interest at a floating rate per annum equal to a benchmark rate (which is expected to be Three-Month Term SOFR (as defined herein)) plus a spread of basis points, payable quarterly in arrears on , , and of each year, commencing on , 2025. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event that the benchmark rate is less than zero, then the benchmark rate shall be deemed to be zero.

We may, at our option, redeem the Notes (i) in whole or in part beginning with the interest payment date of , 2025, and on any interest payment date thereafter or (ii) in whole but not in part upon the occurrence of a “Tax Event,” a “Tier 2 Capital Event” or Great Southern Bancorp, Inc. becoming required to register as an investment company pursuant to the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, or the 1940 Act. The redemption price for any redemption is 100% of the principal amount of the Notes, plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon to, but excluding, the date of redemption. Any redemption of the Notes will be subject to the receipt of the approval of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, which we refer to as the Federal Reserve (or, as and if applicable, the rules of any appropriate successor bank regulatory agency) to the extent then required under applicable laws or regulations, including capital regulations. The Notes will not be convertible or exchangeable.

There is no sinking fund for the Notes. The Notes will be unsecured and subordinated in right of payment to the payment of our existing and future senior indebtedness, including all of our general creditors, and they will be structurally subordinated to all of our subsidiaries’ existing and future indebtedness and other obligations. The Notes are obligations of ours, Great Southern Bancorp, Inc., only and are not obligations of, and are not guaranteed by, any of our subsidiaries, including our bank subsidiary, Great Southern Bank. The holders of the Notes may be fully subordinated to interests held by the U.S. government in the event that we enter into a bankruptcy, receivership, insolvency, liquidation, or similar proceeding.

Currently, there is no public trading market for the Notes. We do not intend to list the Notes on any securities exchange or to have the Notes quoted on a quotation system.

Per Note

Total

Public offering price(1)

Underwriting discounts and commissions(2)

Proceeds to us, before expenses

(1)

Plus accrued interest, if any, from the original issue date.

(2)

The underwriters also will be reimbursed for certain expenses incurred in this offering. See “Underwriting” for details regarding compensation to be received by the underwriters in connection with this offering.

Investing in the Notes involves risk. You should refer to “Risk Factors” beginning on page S-12 of this prospectus supplement and on page 1 of the accompanying prospectus, and the risk factors under Item 1A of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019 and Part II, Item 1A of each subsequently filed Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, which are incorporated by reference herein, and carefully consider that information before investing in the Notes.

The Notes are not savings accounts, deposits or other obligations of Great Southern Bank or any of our nonbank subsidiaries. The Notes are not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, or the FDIC, or any other governmental agency or public or private insurer.

Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission, or the SEC, nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of the Notes or passed upon the adequacy or accuracy of this prospectus supplement or the accompanying prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

The underwriters expect to deliver the Notes to purchasers in book-entry form only through the facilities of The Depository Trust Company, or the DTC, and its direct participants, against payment therefor in immediately available funds, on or about , 2020, which is the business day following the date of pricing the subordinated notes (such settlement being referred to as “T+ ”). See “Underwriting” beginning on page S-48 of this prospectus supplement for details.

Book-Running Managers

Co-Manager

Janney Montgomery Scott

The date of this prospectus supplement is , 2020

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ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT

Unless otherwise indicated or unless the context requires otherwise, all references in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus to “Great Southern Bancorp,” “the Company,” “we,” “our,” “ours,” and “us” or similar references mean Great Southern Bancorp, Inc. References to “Great Southern Bank,” “Great Southern” or the “Bank” mean Great Southern Bank, which is our wholly owned bank subsidiary.

This document consists of two parts. The first part is this prospectus supplement, which describes the specific terms of this offering and certain other matters relating to us and our financial condition, and it adds to and updates information contained in the accompanying prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference into this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus. The second part is the accompanying prospectus, dated April 15, 2020, which provides more general information about the securities that we may offer from time to time, some of which may not apply to this offering. You should read carefully both this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus in their entirety, together with additional information described under the headings “Where You Can Find More Information” and “Incorporation of Certain Documents by Reference” before investing in the Notes.

If the information set forth in this prospectus supplement differs in any way from the information set forth in the accompanying prospectus, you should rely on the information set forth in this prospectus supplement. If the information conflicts with any statement in a document that we have incorporated by reference, then you should consider only the statement in the more recent document. You should not assume that the information appearing in this prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus or the documents incorporated by reference into those documents is accurate as of any date other than the date of the applicable document. Our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects may have changed since that date.

We have not authorized anyone to provide any information other than that contained or incorporated by reference into this prospectus supplement or in any free writing prospectus prepared by or on behalf of us or to which we have referred you. We take no responsibility for, and can provide no assurance as to the reliability of, any other information that others may give you. This prospectus supplement may be used only for the purpose for which it has been prepared.

Neither this prospectus supplement nor the accompanying prospectus constitutes an offer, or an invitation on our behalf or on behalf of the underwriters, to subscribe for and purchase any of the securities and may not be used for or in connection with an offer or solicitation by anyone in any jurisdiction in which such an offer or solicitation is not authorized or to any person to whom it is unlawful to make such an offer or solicitation.

The information contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus is not investment, legal or tax advice. You should consult your own legal counsel, accountants and other advisers for legal, tax, business, financial and related advice before investing in the Notes.

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WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

We file annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC pursuant to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the Exchange Act. Our filings with the SEC are available to the public on the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov. Our annual, quarterly and current reports and amendments to those reports are also available at our website at http://www.greatsouthernbank.com (by clicking “About Us” and then “Investor Relations”) under the “Investor Relations” tab. All Internet addresses provided in this prospectus supplement or in the accompanying prospectus are for informational purposes only and are not intended to be hyperlinks. In addition, the information on, or accessible through, our website, or any other website described herein, is not a part of, and is not incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference in, this prospectus supplement or the accompanying prospectus or other offering materials.

We also have filed the registration statement with the SEC relating to the securities offered by this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus. This prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus are part of that registration statement. You may obtain from the SEC copies of the registration statement and the related exhibits that we filed with the SEC when we registered such securities. The registration statement may contain additional information that may be important to you.

INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE

The SEC’s rules allow us to incorporate by reference in this prospectus supplement certain information in the documents that we file with it, which means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to those documents without restating that information in this prospectus supplement. The information incorporated by reference is an important part of this prospectus supplement and information that we file subsequently with the SEC will automatically update and, where applicable, supersede any information contained in previously-filed documents or contained in this prospectus supplement.

In all cases, you should rely on the later information over different information included in this prospectus supplement or incorporated by reference.

We incorporate by reference the documents listed below and any filings we make with the SEC under Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14, or 15(d) of the Exchange Act on or after the date of this prospectus supplement, provided, however, that we are not incorporating any information that is deemed “furnished” in accordance with the SEC’s rules, including, but not limited to, information furnished under either Item 2.02 or Item 7.01 of any Current Report on Form 8-K and corresponding information furnished under Item 9.01 as an exhibit thereto:

•

our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019, filed with the SEC on March 6, 2020 (including the portions of our Definitive Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A filed with the SEC on March 27, 2020 incorporated by reference in the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019);

•

our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2020, filed with the SEC on May 8, 2020;

•

our Current Reports on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on January 16, 2020, January 27, 2020, March 18, 2020, March 27, 2020 and May 12, 2020; and

•

the description of our common stock contained in our Form 8-A Registration Statement filed with the SEC on November 1, 1989, including any other amendments or reports filed for the purpose of updating such description.

Any statement contained in this prospectus supplement or in a document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference into this prospectus supplement will be deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of this prospectus supplement to the extent that a statement contained in this prospectus supplement or any other subsequently filed document that is deemed to be incorporated by reference into this prospectus supplement modifies or supersedes the statement. Any statement so modified or superseded will not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this prospectus supplement.

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We will provide to each person to whom a prospectus supplement is delivered, a copy of any or all of the information that has been incorporated by reference in the prospectus supplement but not delivered with the prospectus. You can obtain copies of the documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement, at no cost, by writing or calling us at the following address and telephone number:

Great Southern Bancorp, Inc.
Attn: Kelly Polonus, Investor Relations
P.O. Box 9009
Springfield, Missouri 65808
Telephone: (800) 749-7113

You should rely only on the information contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus or in any free writing prospectus prepared by or on behalf of us or to which we have referred you. We have not authorized anyone else to provide you with additional or different information.

You should assume that the information appearing in this prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus, any free writing prospectus with respect to the offering filed by us with the SEC and the documents incorporated by reference herein and therein is accurate only as of their respective dates. Our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects may have changed since those dates.

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A WARNING ABOUT FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus, including the documents that we incorporate by reference, contain or incorporate statements that are considered forward-looking statements within the meaning of and are intended to be covered by the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements typically are identified with use of terms such as “may,” “might,” “will,” “would,” “should,” “expect,” “plan,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “predict,” “potential,” “could,” “continue” and the negative of these terms and similar words, although some forward-looking statements may be expressed differently. Forward-looking statements also include, but are not limited to, statements regarding plans, objectives, expectations or consequences of announced transactions, known trends and statements about future performance, operations, products and services of the Company and its subsidiaries. Our ability to predict results or the actual effects of future plans or strategies is inherently uncertain. You should be aware that our actual results could differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements. The novel coronavirus disease, or COVID-19, pandemic is adversely affecting us, our customers, counterparties, employees, and third-party service providers, and the ultimate extent of the impacts on our business, financial position, results of operations, liquidity, and prospects is uncertain. Continued deterioration in general business and economic conditions, including further increases in unemployment rates, or turbulence in domestic or global financial markets could adversely affect our revenues and the values of our assets and liabilities, reduce the availability of funding, lead to a tightening of credit, and further increase stock price volatility. In addition, changes to statutes, regulations, or regulatory policies or practices as a result of, or in response to COVID-19, could affect us in substantial and unpredictable ways. Other factors that could cause or contribute to such differences include, but are not limited to:

•

expected revenues, cost savings, earnings accretion, synergies and other benefits from our merger and acquisition activities might not be realized within the anticipated time frames or at all, and costs or difficulties relating to integration matters, including but not limited to customer and employee retention, might be greater than expected;

•

changes in economic conditions, either nationally or in our market areas;

•

fluctuations in interest rates;

•

the risks of lending and investing activities, including changes in the level and direction of loan delinquencies and write-offs and changes in estimates of the adequacy of the allowance for loan losses;

•

the possibility of other-than-temporary impairments of securities held in our securities portfolio;

•

our ability to access cost-effective funding;

•

fluctuations in real estate values and both residential and commercial real estate market conditions;

•

the ability to adapt successfully to technological changes to meet customers’ needs and developments in the marketplace;

•

the possibility that security measures implemented might not be sufficient to mitigate the risk of a cyber-attack or cyber theft, and that such security measures might not protect against systems failures or interruptions;

•

legislative or regulatory changes that adversely affect our business, including, without limitation, the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010 and its implementing regulations, the overdraft protection regulations and customers’ responses thereto and the Tax Cut and Jobs Act of 2017;

•

changes in accounting policies and practices or accounting standards, including Accounting Standards Update 2016-13, Credit Losses (Topic 326), “Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments,” commonly referenced as the Current Expected Credit Loss model, which, upon adoption, is expected to result in an increase in our allowance for credit losses;

•

results of examinations of us by our regulators, including the possibility that the regulators may, among other things, require us to limit our business activities, change our business mix, increase our

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allowance for loan losses, write-down assets or increase our capital levels, or affect our ability to borrow funds or maintain or increase deposits, which could adversely affect our liquidity and earnings;

•

costs and effects of litigation, including settlements and judgments;

•

competition;

•

uncertainty regarding the future of LIBOR;

•

natural disasters, war, terrorist activities or civil unrest and their effects on economic and business environments in which we operate; and

•

other risks discussed under the heading “Risk Factors” in this prospectus supplement, as well as the risk factors included in the documents incorporated herein by reference, including under Item 1A of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019 and Part II, Item 1A of our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2020, all of which could cause actual results to differ from those set forth in the forward-looking statements.

There can be no assurance that other factors not currently anticipated by us will not materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on our forward-looking statements, which reflect management’s analysis and expectations only as of the date of such statements. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made, and the Company does not intend, and undertakes no obligation, to publicly revise or update forward-looking statements after the date of this prospectus supplement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by federal securities law.

Any investor in our securities should consider all risks and uncertainties disclosed in our SEC filings described above under the heading “Where You Can Find More Information,” all of which are accessible on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.

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PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT SUMMARY

This summary highlights selected information contained elsewhere in, or incorporated by reference into, this prospectus supplement. Because this is a summary, it may not contain all the information that is important to you in making your investment decision. You should carefully read this entire prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus, as well as the information to which we refer you and the information incorporated by reference herein, before deciding whether to invest in the Notes. You should pay special attention to the information contained under the caption entitled “Risk Factors” in this prospectus supplement and in the accompanying prospectus and the risk factors included under Item 1A of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019 and Part II, Item 1A of our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2020, to determine whether an investment in the Notes is appropriate for you.

Company Overview

We are a bank holding company and financial holding company headquartered in Springfield, Missouri and incorporated under the laws of the State of Maryland. We are the holding company for Great Southern Bank, a Missouri-chartered trust company (the equivalent of a commercial bank charter) that was originally formed in 1923. Great Southern offers a broad range of banking services through its 97 banking centers located in southern and central Missouri; the Kansas City, Missouri area; the St. Louis, Missouri area; eastern Kansas; northwestern Arkansas; the Minneapolis, Minnesota area and eastern, western and central Iowa. The Company also has commercial lending offices in Atlanta, Georgia; Chicago, Illinois; Dallas, Texas; Denver, Colorado; Omaha, Nebraska; and Tulsa, Oklahoma.

Great Southern is principally engaged in the business of originating commercial real estate loans, construction loans, other commercial loans, residential real estate loans and consumer loans and funding these loans by attracting deposits from the general public, obtaining brokered deposits and through borrowings from the Federal Home Loan Bank of Des Moines and others.

For many years, Great Southern has followed a strategy of emphasizing loan origination through residential, commercial and consumer lending activities in its market areas. The goal of this strategy is to be one of the leading providers of financial services in Great Southern’s market areas, while simultaneously diversifying assets and reducing interest rate risk by originating and holding adjustable-rate loans and fixed-rate loans, primarily with terms of five years or less, in its portfolio and by selling longer-term fixed-rate single-family mortgage loans in the secondary market. The Bank continues to emphasize real estate lending while also expanding and increasing its originations of commercial business loans.

Our common stock is listed on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the ticker symbol “GSBC.” For a discussion of risks and uncertainties involved with an investment in our securities, see the section of this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus titled “Risk Factors,” as well as the risk factors included under Item 1A of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019 and Part II, Item 1A of our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2020. Our principal executive offices are located at 1451 East Battlefield, Springfield, Missouri 65804-9009. Our telephone number is (417) 887-4400. Our website is www.greatsouthernbank.com; however, the information on our website is not a part of, and is not incorporated into, this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus.

COVID-19

The COVID-19 pandemic and resulting travel bans, closure of non-essential businesses, social distancing measures and government responses across the country have had a profound impact on the global economy, financial markets and how business has been conducted across all industries and have affected many of our customers and clients. We have taken proactive and disciplined steps to promote the safety and overall wellbeing of our employees, customers and stakeholders, as well as to manage our financial performance. Steps taken include activation of our business continuity plan, formation of a communication and action task force, cost containment measures, restrictions on business travel, conversion of in-person meetings to virtual and a work-from-home mandate.

On March 27, 2020, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (“CARES”) Act was signed into law. The CARES Act contains provisions to assist individuals and businesses, including the Small

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THE OFFERING

The following summary contains basic information about the Notes and is not complete. It does not contain all the information that may be important to you. For a more complete understanding of the Notes, you should read the section of this prospectus supplement entitled “Description of the Notes.”

Issuer:

Great Southern Bancorp, Inc.

Securities Offered:

% Fixed-to-Floating Rate Subordinated Notes due 2030

Aggregate Principal Amount:

Issue Price:

100%

Maturity Date:

The Notes will mature on , 2030.

Interest Rate:

From and including the date of original issuance to, but excluding, , 2025 or the date of earlier redemption, which we refer to as the “fixed rate period,” the Notes will bear interest at a rate of % per annum, payable semi-annually in arrears on and of each year, each of which we refer to as a “fixed rate interest payment date,” commencing on , 2020. The last fixed rate interest payment date for the fixed rate period will be , 2025, unless the Notes are earlier redeemed.

From and including , 2025 to, but excluding, the Maturity Date or the date of earlier redemption, which we refer to as the “floating rate period,” the Notes will bear interest at a floating rate per annum equal to the Benchmark rate (as defined under “Description of the Subordinated Notes — Interest”), which is expected to be Three-Month Term SOFR, plus a spread of basis points. For each quarterly interest period during the floating rate period, interest will be payable quarterly in arrears on , , and of each year, each of which we refer to as a “floating rate interest payment date” and, together with the fixed rate interest payment dates, the “interest payment dates,” commencing on , 2025. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Benchmark rate is less than zero, the Benchmark rate shall be deemed to be zero.

For each interest period during the floating rate period, “Three-Month Term SOFR” means the rate for Term SOFR for a tenor of three months that is published by the Term SOFR Administrator at the Reference Time for any interest period, as determined by the calculation agent after giving effect to the Three-Month Term SOFR Conventions (each as defined under “Description of the Subordinated Notes — Interest”).

Record Dates:

The record date for the Notes is the 15th day immediately preceding the applicable interest payment date.

No Guarantees:

The Notes are not guaranteed by any of our subsidiaries, including the Bank. As a result, the Notes will be structurally subordinated to the liabilities of our subsidiaries as discussed below under “Ranking.”

Ranking:

The Notes offered by this prospectus supplement will be issued by the Company under an indenture, dated as of , 2020, between the Company and U.S. Bank National Association, as

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trustee, which we refer to as the trustee, as amended and supplemented by a first supplemental indenture, dated as of , 2020, between the Company and the trustee. We refer to the subordinated indenture, as amended and supplemented by the first supplemental indenture, as the indenture.

The Notes will be our unsecured, subordinated obligations and:

•

will rank junior in right of payment and upon our liquidation to any of our existing and all future Senior Indebtedness (as defined and discussed under “Description of the Notes — Subordination” in this prospectus supplement);

•

will rank junior in right of payment and upon our liquidation to any of our existing and all of our future general creditors;

•

will rank equal in right of payment and upon our liquidation with any of our existing and all of our future indebtedness the terms of which provide that such indebtedness ranks equally with the Notes, including the $75.0 million aggregate principal amount of our 5.25% fixed-to-floating rate subordinated notes due August 15, 2026;

•

will rank senior in right of payment and upon our liquidation to any of our indebtedness the terms of which provide that such indebtedness ranks junior in right of payment to note indebtedness such as the Notes, including the approximately $25.8 million aggregate principal amount of our junior subordinated debentures issued to capital trust; and

•

will be effectively subordinated to our future secured indebtedness to the extent of the value of the collateral securing such indebtedness, and structurally subordinated to the existing and future indebtedness of our subsidiaries, including without limitation the Bank’s depositors, liabilities to general creditors and liabilities arising in the ordinary course of business or otherwise.

As of March 31, 2020, the Bank had $4.2 billion of deposits, $124.5 million of customer repurchase agreements and $1.3 million of short-term borrowings and other interest-bearing liabilities, to which the Notes will be structurally subordinated. As of March 31, 2020, the Company, at the holding company level, had no Senior Indebtedness ranking senior to the Notes, approximately $75.0 million of subordinated notes ranking on parity with the Notes and approximately $25.8 million of junior subordinated debentures issued to capital trust ranking junior to the Notes. For more information, see “Description of the Notes — Subordination” in this prospectus supplement.

The indenture does not limit the amount of additional indebtedness we or our subsidiaries may incur.

Optional Redemption:

We may, beginning with the interest payment date of , 2025, and on any interest payment date thereafter, redeem the Notes, in whole or in part, from time to time, subject to obtaining the prior approval of the Federal Reserve (or, as and if applicable, the rules of any appropriate successor bank regulatory agency) to the extent such approval is then

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required under the rules of the Federal Reserve (or such successor bank regulatory agency), at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the Notes to be redeemed plus accrued and unpaid interest to, but excluding, the date of redemption.

Special Redemption:

We may also redeem the Notes at any time, including prior to , 2025, at our option, in whole but not in part, subject to obtaining the prior approval of the Federal Reserve (or, as and if applicable, the rules of any appropriate successor bank regulatory agency) to the extent such approval is then required under the rules of the Federal Reserve (or such successor bank regulatory agency), if: (a) a change or announced prospective change in law occurs that could prevent us from deducting interest payable on the Notes for U.S. federal income tax purposes; (b) a subsequent event occurs that could preclude the Notes from being recognized as Tier 2 capital for regulatory capital purposes; or (c) we are required to register as an investment company under the 1940 Act; in each case, at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the Notes plus any accrued and unpaid interest to, but excluding, the redemption date. For more information, see “Description of the Notes — Redemption” in this prospectus supplement.

Sinking Fund:

There is no sinking fund for the Notes.

Further Issuances:

The Notes will initially be limited to an aggregate principal amount of $ million. We may from time to time, without notice to or consent of the holders, increase the aggregate principal amount of the Notes outstanding by issuing additional notes in the future with the same terms as the Notes, except for the issue date, the offering price and the first interest payment date, and such additional notes may be consolidated with the Notes issued in this offering and form a single series.

Use of Proceeds:

We estimate that the net proceeds from this offering, after deducting underwriting discounts and estimated expenses, will be approximately $ million.

We intend to use these proceeds for general corporate purposes, which may include repayment or redemption of outstanding indebtedness, the payment of dividends, providing capital to support our organic growth or growth through strategic acquisitions, capital expenditures, financing investments, repurchasing shares of our common stock, and for investments in the Bank as regulatory capital. See “Use of Proceeds” in this prospectus supplement.

Form and Denomination:

The Notes will be offered in book-entry form through the facilities of DTC in minimum denominations of $1,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof.

Listing:

The Notes will not be listed on any securities exchange or quoted on any quotation system. Currently there is no market for the Notes, and there can be no assurances that any public market for the Notes will develop.

Governing Law:

The Notes and the indenture will be governed by the laws of the State of New York.

Trustee:

U.S. Bank National Association.

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SUMMARY SELECTED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL INFORMATION

The following tables present selected historical financial data derived from our unaudited consolidated financial statements as of and for the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019, which are incorporated by reference herein, and selected historical financial data derived from our audited consolidated financial statements as of and for the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016 and 2015, which are incorporated by reference.

You should read the information set forth below, together with our consolidated financial statements and related notes, as well as our “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operation” included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019 and our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2020, which have been filed with the SEC and are incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement. See “Incorporation of Certain Documents by Reference.” Information for the three month periods ended March 31, 2020 and 2019 is derived from unaudited financial statements and has been prepared on the same basis as our audited financial statements and includes, in the opinion of management, all adjustments, consisting of only normal recurring adjustments, necessary to present fairly the data for such period. The results of operations for the three month period ended March 31, 2020 do not necessarily indicate the results which may be expected for any future period or the full year.

	March 31, 2020			December 31,
	March 31, 2020			2019			2018			2017			2016			2015
	(Dollars In Thousands)
Summary Statement of Condition Information:
Assets		$	5,073,020		$	5,015,072		$	4,676,200		$	4,414,521		$	4,550,663		$	4,104,189
Loans receivable, net			4,211,195			4,163,224			3,990,651			3,734,505			3,776,411			3,352,797
Allowance for loan losses			43,928			40,294			38,409			36,492			37,400			38,149
Available-for-sale securities			395,799			374,175			243,968			179,179			213,872			262,856
Other real estate owned and repossessions, net			4,979			5,525			8,440			22,002			32,658			31,893
Deposits			4,178,918			3,960,106			3,725,007			3,597,144			3,677,230			3,268,626
Total borrowings			225,955			412,374			397,594			324,097			416,786			406,797
Stockholders’ equity (retained earnings substantially restricted)			614,232			603,066			531,977			471,662			429,806			398,227
Common stockholders’ equity			614,232			603,066			531,977			471,662			429,806			398,227
Number of deposit accounts			228,746			228,247			227,240			230,456			231,272			217,139
Number of full-service offices			97			97			99			104			104			110

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	For the Three Months Ended March 31,						For the Year Ended December 31,
	2020			2019			2019			2018			2017			2016			2015
							(In Thousands)
Summary Statement of Operations Information:
Interest income:
Loans		$	54,130		$	54,556		$	223,047		$	198,226		$	176,654		$	178,883		$	177,240
Investment securities and other			3,344			2,802			11,947			7,723			6,407			6,292			7,111
			57,474			57,358			234,994			205,949			183,061			185,175			184,351
Interest expense:
Deposits			10,577			10,470			45,570			27,957			20,595			17,387			13,511
Federal Home Loan Bank advances			—			—			—			3,985			1,516			1,214			1,707
Short-term borrowings and repurchase agreements			649			922			3,635			765			747			1,137			65
Subordinated debentures issued to capital trust			216			267			1,019			953			949			803			714
Subordinated notes			1,094			1,094			4,378			4,097			4,098			1,578			—
			12,536			12,753			54,602			37,757			27,905			22,119			15,997
Net interest income			44,938			44,605			180,392			168,192			155,156			163,056			168,354
Provision for loan losses			3,871			1,950			6,150			7,150			9,100			9,281			5,519
Net interest income after provision for loan losses			41,067			42,655			174,242			161,042			146,056			153,775			162,835
Noninterest income:
Commissions			266			334			889			1,137			1,041			1,097			1,136
Service charges and ATM fees			4,758			4,958			20,898			21,695			21,628			21,666			19,841
Net realized gains on sales of loans			590			248			2,607			1,788			3,150			3,941			3,888
Net realized gains (losses) on sales of available-for-sale securities			—			10			(62)			2			—			2,873			2
Late charges and fees on loans			355			346			1,432			1,622			2,231			1,747			2,129
Gain (loss) on derivative interest rate products			(407)			(25)			(104)			25			28			66			(43)
Gain recognized on sale of business units			—			—			—			7,414			—			—			—
Gain (loss) on termination of loss sharing agreements			—			—			—			—			7,705			(584)			—
Amortization of income/expense related to business acquisition			—			—			—			—			(486)			(6,351)			(18,345)
Other income			1,805			1,579			5,297			2,535			3,230			4,055			4,973
			7,367			7,450			30,957			36,218			38,527			28,510			13,581

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	For the Three Months Ended March 31,						For the Year Ended December 31,
	2020			2019			2019			2018			2017			2016			2015
							(In Thousands)
Noninterest expense:
Salaries and employee benefits			18,169			15,640			63,224			60,215			60,034			60,377			58,682
Net occupancy and equip. expense			6,766			6,401			26,217			25,628			24,613			26,077			25,985
Postage			769			767			3,198			3,348			3,461			3,791			3,787
Insurance			382			666			2,015			2,674			2,959			3,482			3,566
Advertising			620			527			2,808			2,460			2,311			2,228			2,317
Office supplies and printing			235			259			1,077			1,047			1,446			1,708			1,333
Telephone			912			903			3,580			3,272			3,188			3,483			3,235
Legal, audit and other professional fees			598			712			2,624			3,423			2,862			3,191			2,713
Expense on other real estate and repossessions			479			620			2,184			4,919			3,929			4,111			2,526
Partnership tax credit investment amortization			—			91			365			575			930			1,681			1,680
Acquired deposit intangible asset amortization			289			325			1,190			1,562			1,650			1,910			1,750
Other operating expenses			1,596			1,584			6,656			6,187			6,878			8,388			6,776
			30,815			28,495			115,138			115,310			114,261			120,427			114,350
Income before income taxes			17,619			21,610			90,061			81,950			70,322			61,858			62,006
Provision for income taxes			2,751			3,998			16,449			14,841			18,758			16,516			15,564
Net income			14,868			17,612			73,612			67,109			51,564			45,342			46,502
Preferred stock dividends and discount accretion			—			—			—			—			—			—			554
Net income available to common shareholders		$	14,868		$	17,612		$	73,612		$	67,109		$	51,564		$	45,342		$	45,948

	At or For the Three Months Ended March 31,						At or For the Year Ended December 31,
	2020			2019			2019			2018			2017			2016			2015
							(Number of shares in thousands)
Per Common Share Data:
Basic earnings per common share		$	1.05		$	1.24		$	5.18		$	4.75		$	3.67		$	3.26		$	3.33
Diluted earnings per common share			1.04			1.23			5.14			4.71			3.64			3.21			3.28
Cash dividends declared			1.34			1.07			2.07			1.20			0.94			0.88			0.86
Book value per common share			43.61			38.36			42.29			37.59			33.48			30.77			28.67
Average shares outstanding			14,221			14,159			14,201			14,132			14,032			13,912			13,818
Period-end actual shares outstanding			14,084			14,171			14,261			14,151			14,088			13,968			13,888
Average fully diluted shares outstanding			14,299			14,267			14,330			14,260			14,180			14,141			14,000

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	At or For the Three Months Ended March 31,				At or For the Year Ended December 31,
	2020		2019		2019		2018		2017		2016		2015
					(Number of shares in thousands)
Earnings Performance Ratios:
Return on average assets(1)		1.20%		1.49%		1.52%		1.49%		1.16%		1.04%		1.14%
Return on average stockholders’ equity(2)		9.93		13.12		12.88		13.46		11.32		10.93		12.13
Non-interest income to average total assets		0.15		0.16		0.64		0.80		0.86		0.65		0.33
Non-interest expense to average total assets		2.48		2.41		2.37		2.56		2.56		2.76		2.81
Average interest rate spread(3)		3.54		3.75		3.62		3.75		3.59		3.93		4.44
Period-end interest rate spread		3.26		3.57		3.28		3.60		3.67		3.60		3.80
Net interest margin(4)		3.84		4.06		3.95		3.99		3.74		4.05		4.53
Efficiency ratio(5)		58.91		54.74		54.48		56.41		58.99		62.86		62.85
Net overhead ratio(6)		0.47		0.45		1.73		1.76		1.70		2.10		2.48
Common dividend pay-out ratio(7)		128.85		86.99		40.27		25.48		25.82		27.41		26.22

	At or For the Three Months Ended March 30,				At or For the Year Ended December 31,
	2020		2019		2019		2018		2017		2016		2015
Asset Quality Ratios(8):
Allowance for loan losses/period-end loans		1.06%		0.97%		1.00%		0.98%		1.01%		1.04%		1.20%
Non-performing assets/period-end loans and foreclosed assets		0.19		0.25		0.19		0.29		0.73		1.02		1.28
Allowance for loan losses/non-performing loans		832.13		833.53		891.66		609.67		324.23		265.60		230.24
Net charge-offs/average loans		0.02		0.17		0.10		0.13		0.26		0.29		0.20
Gross non-performing assets/period-end assets		0.16		0.22		0.16		0.25		0.63		0.86		1.07
Non-performing loans/period-end loans		0.12		0.11		0.11		0.16		0.30		0.37		0.49
Balance Sheet Ratios:
Loans to deposits		100.77%		102.43%		105.13%		107.13%		103.82%		102.70%		102.58%
Average interest-earning assets as a percentage of average interest-bearing liabilities		128.67		127.09		127.50		126.47		123.74		121.33		121.60
Capital Ratios:
Average common stockholders’ equity to average assets		12.1%		11.4%		11.8%		11.1%		10.2%		9.5%		9.4%
Period-end tangible common stockholders’ equity to assets(9)		12.0		11.2		11.9		11.2		10.5		9.2		9.6
Great Southern Bancorp, Inc.:
Tier 1 capital ratio		13.2		11.8		12.5		11.9		11.4		10.8		11.5

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	At or For the Three Months Ended March 30,				At or For the Year Ended December 31,
	2020		2019		2019		2018		2017		2016		2015
Total capital ratio		15.7		14.3		15.0		14.4		14.1		13.6		12.6
Tier 1 leverage ratio		12.3		11.5		11.8		11.7		10.9		9.9		10.2
Common equity Tier 1 ratio		12.6		11.3		12.0		11.4		10.9		10.2		10.8
Great Southern Bank:
Tier 1 capital ratio		13.2		12.5		13.1		12.4		12.3		11.8		11.0
Total capital ratio		14.2		13.4		14.0		13.3		13.2		12.7		12.1
Tier 1 leverage ratio		12.4		12.1		12.3		12.2		11.7		10.8		9.8
Common equity Tier 1 ratio		13.2		12.5		13.1		12.4		12.3		11.8		11.0

(1)

Net income divided by average total assets.

(2)

Net income divided by average stockholders’ equity.

(3)

Yield on average interest-earning assets less rate on average interest-bearing liabilities.

(4)

Net interest income divided by average interest-earning assets.

(5)

Non-interest expense divided by the sum of net interest income plus non-interest income.

(6)

Non-interest expense less non-interest income divided by average total assets.

(7)

Cash dividends per common share divided by earnings per common share.

(8)

Excludes non-performing loans and non-performing assets acquired in FDIC-assisted transactions.

(9)

Non-GAAP Financial Measure. In calculating this measure, we subtract intangible assets from common stockholders’ equity and from total assets. Management believes that the presentation of this measure excluding the impact of intangible assets provides useful supplemental information that is helpful in understanding our financial condition, as it provides a method to assess management’s success in utilizing our tangible capital as well as our capital strength. Management also believes that providing this measure excluding intangible assets, which is a subjective component of valuation, facilitates the comparison of us with our peers. In addition, management believes that this is a standard financial measure used in the banking industry to evaluate capital.

Set forth below are reconciliations of tangible common stockholders’ equity to common stockholders’ equity and tangible assets to total assets.

	At March 31,						At December 31,
	2020			2019			2019			2018			2017			2016			2015
Common stockholders’ equity		$	614,232		$	543,635		$	603,066		$	531,977		$	471,662		$	429,806		$	398,227
Less: intangible assets			7,809			8,963			8,098			9,288			10,850			12,500			5,758
Tangible common stockholders’ equity (a)		$	606,423		$	534,672		$	594,968		$	522,689		$	460,812		$	417,306		$	392,469
Total assets		$	5,073,020		$	4,778,220		$	5,015,072		$	4,676,200		$	4,414,521		$	4,550,663		$	4,104,189
Less: intangible assets			7,809			8,963			8,098			9,288			10,850			12,500			5,758
Tangible assets (b)		$	5,065,211		$	4,769,257		$	5,006,974		$	4,666,912		$	4,403,671		$	4,538,163		$	4,098,431
Tangible common stockholders’ equity to tangible assets (a)/(b)			11.97%			11.21%			11.88%			11.20%			10.46%			9.20%			9.58%

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RISK FACTORS

An investment in the Notes involves a number of risks. This prospectus supplement does not describe all those risks. Before you decide whether an investment in the Notes is suitable for you, you should carefully consider the risks described below relating to the offering as well as the risk factors concerning our business included in Item 1A of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019 and Part II, Item 1A of our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2020, in addition to the other information in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus, including our other filings which are incorporated by reference into this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus. See “Incorporation of Certain Documents by Reference” in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus for discussions of these other filings. This prospectus supplement is qualified in its entirety by those risk factors.

Risks Related to this Offering and Ownership of the Notes

You should not rely on indicative or historical data concerning SOFR.

The interest rate during the floating rate period will be determined using Three-Month Term SOFR (unless a Benchmark Transition Event and its related Benchmark Replacement Date occur with respect to Three-Month Term SOFR, in which case the rate of interest will be based on the next-available Benchmark Replacement). In the following discussion of the Secured Overnight Financing Rate (“SOFR”), when we refer to SOFR-linked Notes, we mean the Notes at any time when the interest rate on the Notes is or will be determined based on SOFR, including Three-Month Term SOFR. SOFR is published by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, or FRBNY, and is intended to be a broad measure of the cost of borrowing cash overnight collateralized by U.S. Treasury securities. FRBNY reports that SOFR includes all trades in the Broad General Collateral Rate, plus bilateral U.S. Treasury repurchase agreement, or repo, transactions cleared through the delivery-versus-payment service offered by the Fixed Income Clearing Corporation, or the FICC, a subsidiary of The Depository Trust & Clearing Corporation, or DTCC. SOFR is filtered by FRBNY to remove a portion of the foregoing transactions considered to be “specials.” According to FRBNY, “specials” are repos for specific-issue collateral which take place at cash-lending rates below those for general collateral repos because cash providers are willing to accept a lesser return on their cash in order to obtain a particular security.

FRBNY reports that SOFR is calculated as a volume-weighted median of transaction-level tri-party repo data collected from The Bank of New York Mellon, which currently acts as the clearing bank for the tri-party repo market, as well as general collateral finance repo transaction data and data on bilateral U.S. Treasury repo transactions cleared through the FICC’s delivery-versus-payment service. FRBNY states that it obtains information from DTCC Solutions LLC, an affiliate of DTCC. FRBNY currently publishes SOFR daily on its website at https://apps.newyorkfed.org/markets/autorates/sofr. FRBNY states on its publication page for SOFR that use of SOFR is subject to important disclaimers, limitations and indemnification obligations, including that FRBNY may alter the methods of calculation, publication schedule, rate revision practices or availability of SOFR at any time without notice. The foregoing Internet website is an inactive textual reference only, meaning that the information contained on the website is not part of this prospectus supplement or the accompanying prospectus or incorporated by reference herein or therein.

FRBNY started publishing SOFR in April 2018. FRBNY has also started publishing historical indicative SOFRs dating back to 2014, although this historical indicative data inherently involves assumptions, estimates and approximations. You should not rely on this historical indicative data or on any historical changes or trends in SOFR as an indicator of the future performance of SOFR.

SOFR may be more volatile than other benchmark or market rates.

Since the initial publication of SOFR, daily changes in the rate have, on occasion, been more volatile than daily changes in comparable benchmark or market rates, and SOFR over time may bear little or no relation to the historical actual or historical indicative data. In addition, the return on and value of the SOFR-linked Notes may fluctuate more than floating rate securities that are linked to less volatile rates.

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Changes in SOFR could adversely affect the amount of interest that accrues on the SOFR-linked Notes and the trading prices for the SOFR-linked Notes.

Because SOFR is published by FRBNY based on data received from other sources, we have no control over its determination, calculation or publication. There can be no assurance that SOFR will not be discontinued or fundamentally altered in a manner that is materially adverse to the interests of investors in the SOFR-linked Notes.

If the manner in which SOFR is calculated is changed, that change may result in a change in the amount of interest that accrues on the SOFR-linked Notes, which may adversely affect the trading prices of the SOFR-linked Notes. In addition, the interest rate on the SOFR-linked Notes for any day will not be adjusted for any modification or amendment to SOFR for that day that FRBNY may publish if the interest rate for that day has already been determined prior to such publication. Further, if the Benchmark rate on the SOFR-linked Notes during the floating rate period for any interest period declines to zero or becomes negative, interest will only accrue on the SOFR-linked Notes at a rate equal to the spread of % per annum with respect to that interest period. There is no assurance that changes in SOFR could not have a material adverse effect on the yield on, value of and market for the SOFR-linked Notes.

SOFR differs fundamentally from, and may not be a comparable substitute for, U.S. dollar LIBOR.

In June 2017, the Alternative Reference Rates Committee, or ARRC, convened by the Federal Reserve and FRBNY announced SOFR as its recommended alternative to the London interbank offered rate for U.S. dollar obligations, or U.S. dollar LIBOR. However, because SOFR is a broad U.S. Treasury repo financing rate that represents overnight secured funding transactions, it differs fundamentally from U.S. dollar LIBOR. For example, SOFR is a secured overnight rate, while U.S. dollar LIBOR is an unsecured rate that represents interbank funding over different maturities.

In addition, because SOFR is a transaction-based rate, it is backward-looking, whereas U.S. dollar LIBOR is forward-looking. Because of these and other differences, there can be no assurance that SOFR will perform in the same way as U.S. dollar LIBOR would have done at any time, and there is no guarantee that it is a comparable substitute for U.S. dollar LIBOR.

Any failure of SOFR to gain market acceptance could adversely affect the trading prices of the SOFR-linked Notes.

SOFR may fail to gain market acceptance. SOFR was developed for use in certain U.S. dollar derivatives and other financial contracts as an alternative to U.S. dollar LIBOR in part because it is considered to be a good representation of general funding conditions in the overnight U.S. Treasury repo market. However, as a rate based on transactions secured by U.S. Treasury securities, it does not measure bank-specific credit risk and, as a result, is less likely to correlate with the unsecured short-term funding costs of banks. This may mean that market participants would not consider SOFR to be a suitable substitute or successor for all of the purposes for which U.S. dollar LIBOR historically has been used (including, without limitation, as a representation of the unsecured short-term funding costs of banks), which may, in turn, lessen its market acceptance. Any failure of SOFR to gain market acceptance could adversely affect the return on, value of and market for the SOFR-linked Notes.

Any market for the SOFR-linked Notes may be illiquid or unpredictable.

Since SOFR is a relatively new market index, SOFR-linked debt securities likely will have no established trading market when issued, and an established trading market for the SOFR-linked Notes may never develop or may not be very liquid. Market terms for securities that are linked to SOFR, such as the spread over the base rate reflected in the interest rate provisions, may evolve over time, and as a result, trading prices of the SOFR-linked Notes may be lower than those of later-issued securities that are linked to SOFR. Similarly, if SOFR does not prove to be widely used in securities that are similar or comparable to the SOFR-linked Notes, the trading price of the SOFR-linked Notes may be lower than those of securities that are linked to rates that are more widely used. You may not be able to sell the SOFR-linked Notes at all or may not be able to sell the SOFR-linked Notes at prices that will provide you with a yield comparable to similar investments that have a developed secondary market, and may consequently suffer from increased pricing

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volatility and market risk. The manner of adoption or application of reference rates based on SOFR in the bond and equity markets may differ materially compared with the application and adoption of SOFR in other markets, such as the derivatives and loan markets. You should carefully consider how any potential inconsistencies between the adoption of reference rates based on SOFR across these markets may impact any hedging or other financial arrangements which you may put in place in connection with any acquisition, holding or disposal of the SOFR-linked Notes.

The interest rate for the Notes during the floating rate period may be determined based on a rate other than Three-Month Term SOFR.

Under the terms of the Notes, the interest rate on the Notes for each interest period during the floating rate period will be based on Three-Month Term SOFR, a forward-looking term rate for a tenor of three months that will be based on SOFR. Three-Month Term SOFR does not currently exist and is currently being developed under the sponsorship of the ARRC. There is no assurance that the development of Three-Month Term SOFR, or any other forward-looking term rate based on SOFR, will be completed. Uncertainty surrounding the development of forward-looking term rates based on SOFR could have a material adverse effect on the return on, value of and market for the Notes. If, at the commencement of the floating rate period for the Notes, the Federal Reserve and/or the FRBNY, or a committee officially endorsed or convened by the Federal Reserve and/or the FRBNY or any successor thereto (“Relevant Governmental Body”) has not selected or recommended a forward-looking term rate for a tenor of three months based on SOFR, the development of a forward-looking term rate for a tenor of three months based on SOFR that has been recommended or selected by the Relevant Governmental Body is not complete or the calculation agent determines that the use of a forward-looking rate for a tenor of three months based on SOFR is not administratively feasible, then the next-available Benchmark Replacement under the benchmark transition provisions will be used to determine the interest rate on the Notes during the floating rate period (unless a Benchmark Transition Event and its related Benchmark Replacement Date occur with respect to that next-available Benchmark Replacement).

Under the terms of the Notes, the calculation agent is expressly authorized to make determinations, decisions or elections with respect to technical, administrative or operational matters that it decides may be appropriate to reflect the use of Three-Month Term SOFR as the interest rate basis for the Notes in a manner substantially consistent with market practice, which are defined in the terms of the Notes as “Three-Month Term SOFR Conventions.” For example, assuming that a form of Three-Month Term SOFR is developed, it is not currently known how or by whom rates for Three-Month Term SOFR will be published. Accordingly, the calculation agent will need to determine the applicable Three-Month Term SOFR during the floating rate period. The calculation agent’s determination and implementation of any Three-Month Term SOFR Conventions could result in adverse consequences to the amount of interest that accrues on the Notes during the floating rate period, which could adversely affect the return on, value of and market for the Notes.

Any Benchmark Replacement may not be the economic equivalent of Three-Month Term SOFR.

Under the benchmark transition provisions of the Notes, if the calculation agent determines that a Benchmark Transition Event and its related Benchmark Replacement Date have occurred with respect to Three-Month Term SOFR, then the interest rate on the Notes during the floating rate period will be determined using the next-available Benchmark Replacement (which may include a related Benchmark Replacement Adjustment). However, the Benchmark Replacement may not be the economic equivalent of Three-Month Term SOFR. For example, Compounded SOFR, the first available Benchmark Replacement, is the compounded average of the daily Secured Overnight Financing Rates calculated in arrears, while Three-Month Term SOFR is intended to be a forward-looking rate with a tenor of three months. In addition, very limited market precedent exists for securities that use Compounded SOFR as the rate basis, and the method for calculating Compounded SOFR in those precedents varies. Further, the ISDA Fallback Rate, which is another Benchmark Replacement, has not yet been established and may change over time.

The implementation of Benchmark Replacement Conforming Changes could adversely affect the amount of interest that accrues on the Notes and the trading prices for the Notes.

Under the benchmark transition provisions of the Notes, if a particular Benchmark Replacement or Benchmark Replacement Adjustment cannot be determined, then the next-available Benchmark Replacement

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or Benchmark Replacement Adjustment will apply. These replacement rates and adjustments may be selected or formulated by (i) the Relevant Governmental Body (such as the ARRC), (ii) ISDA or (iii) in certain circumstances, the calculation agent. In addition, the benchmark transition provisions expressly authorize the calculation agent to make certain changes, which are defined in the terms of the Notes as “Benchmark Replacement Conforming Changes,” with respect to, among other things, the determination of interest periods, and the timing and frequency of determining rates and making payments of interest. The application of a Benchmark Replacement and Benchmark Replacement Adjustment, and any implementation of Benchmark Replacement Conforming Changes, could result in adverse consequences to the amount of interest that accrues on the Notes during the floating rate period, which could adversely affect the return on, value of and market for the Notes. Further, there is no assurance that the characteristics of any Benchmark Replacement will be similar to the then-current Benchmark that it is replacing, or that any Benchmark Replacement will produce the economic equivalent of the then-current Benchmark that it is replacing.

Our obligations under the Notes will be unsecured and subordinated to our existing and future Senior Indebtedness and general creditors.

Our obligations with respect to the Notes will be unsecured and rank junior to right of payment to all of our existing and future Senior Indebtedness. This means that we generally cannot make any payments on the Notes if we default on a payment of Senior Indebtedness and do not cure the default within the applicable grace period or if the Senior Indebtedness becomes immediately due because of a default and has not yet been paid in full. In addition, in the event of our bankruptcy, liquidation or dissolution, our assets would be available to pay obligations under the Notes only after we have made payments on all Senior Indebtedness. Neither the Notes nor the indenture limits our ability to incur additional indebtedness, including indebtedness that ranks senior in priority of payment to the Notes.

Holders of the Notes should only look to our assets as the source of payment of the Notes. The Notes are not obligations of, or guaranteed by, the Bank. In addition, because we are a holding company, our right to participate in the distribution of assets from any subsidiary, including the Bank, upon its liquidation or reorganization or otherwise (and thus the ability of holders of the Notes to benefit indirectly from such distribution) is subject to the prior claims of creditors of the subsidiary (including depositors of the Bank), except to the extent that we may be recognized as a creditor of that subsidiary. In the event of any such distribution of assets of the Bank, the claims of depositors and other general or subordinated creditors would be entitled to priority over the claims of holders of the Notes. Accordingly, the Notes will be effectively subordinated to all existing and future liabilities of our subsidiaries, including the Bank.

On a pro forma basis giving effect to the sale of the Notes, the Company, at the holding company level, would have had approximately $ million in total indebtedness outstanding as of March 31, 2020. There is no restriction in the indenture governing the Notes on the ability of the Company or the Bank to incur additional indebtedness or other liabilities.

As a consequence of the subordination of the Notes to our existing and future Senior Indebtedness, an investor in the Notes may lose all or some of its investment upon our insolvency, bankruptcy, liquidation, winding up or similar proceeding. In such an event, our assets would be available to pay the principal of, and any accrued and unpaid interest on, the Notes only after all of our Senior Indebtedness had been paid in full. In the event of our insolvency, bankruptcy, liquidation, dissolution, winding up or similar proceeding, any of our other general, unsecured obligations that do not constitute Senior Indebtedness, depending upon their respective preferences, will share pro rata in our remaining assets after we have paid all of our Senior Indebtedness in full. In any of the foregoing events, we may not have sufficient assets to make payments in respect of the Notes. As a result, if holders of the Notes receive any payments, they may receive less,

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ratably, than holders of secured indebtedness. In addition, the holders of any Senior Indebtedness could restrict or prohibit us from making payments on the Notes.

We are a holding company with limited operations and depend on our subsidiaries for the funds required to make payments of principal and interest on the Notes.

We are a separate and distinct legal entity from the Bank and our other subsidiaries. Our primary source of funds to make payments of principal and interest on the Notes and to satisfy any other financial obligations are dividends from the Bank. Our ability to receive dividends from the Bank is contingent on a number of factors, including the Bank’s ability to meet applicable regulatory capital requirements, the Bank’s profitability and earnings, and the general strength of its balance sheet. Various federal and state regulatory provisions limit the amount of dividends bank subsidiaries are permitted to pay to their holding companies without regulatory approval. In general, the Bank may only pay dividends from certain undivided profits and may not pay dividends if its capital is impaired. In addition, the Federal Reserve and the FDIC have issued policy statements stating that insured banks and financial and bank holding companies generally should pay dividends only out of current operating earnings.

Banks and their holding companies are required to maintain a capital conservation buffer of 2.5% in addition to satisfying other applicable regulatory capital ratios. Banking institutions that do not maintain capital in excess of the capital conservation buffer may face constraints on dividends, equity repurchases and executive compensation based on the amount of the shortfall. Accordingly, if the Bank fails to maintain the applicable minimum capital ratios and the capital conservation buffer, dividends to us (at the holding company level) from the Bank may be prohibited or limited, and we may not have funds to make principal and interest payments on the Notes.

In addition, state or federal banking regulators have broad authority to restrict the payment of dividends, including in circumstances where a bank under such regulator’s jurisdiction engages in (or is about to engage in) unsafe or unsound practices. Such regulators have the authority to require that the bank cease and desist from unsafe and unsound practices and to prevent a bank from paying a dividend if its financial condition is such that the regulator views the payment of a dividend to constitute an unsafe or unsound practice.

Accordingly, we can provide no assurance that we will receive dividends from the Bank in an amount sufficient to pay the principal of, or interest on, the Notes.

Regulatory guidelines may restrict our ability to pay the principal of, and accrued and unpaid interest on, the Notes, regardless of whether we are the subject of an insolvency proceeding.

As a bank holding company, our ability to pay the principal of, and interest on, the Notes is subject to the rules and guidelines of the Federal Reserve regarding capital adequacy. We intend to treat the Notes as “Tier 2 capital” under these rules and guidelines. The Federal Reserve guidelines generally require us to review the effects of the cash payment of Tier 2 capital instruments, such as the Notes, on our overall financial condition. The guidelines also require that we review our net income for the current and past four quarters, and the amounts we have paid on Tier 2 capital instruments for those periods, as well as our projected rate of earnings retention. Moreover, pursuant to federal law and the Federal Reserve regulations, as a bank holding company, we are required to act as a source of financial and managerial strength to the Bank and commit resources to its support, including the guarantee of a capital plan of an undercapitalized bank subsidiary. Such support may be required at times when we may not otherwise be inclined or able to provide it. As a result of the foregoing, we may be unable to pay accrued interest on the Notes on one or more of the scheduled interest payment dates, or at any other time, or the principal of the Notes at the maturity of the Notes.

If we were to be the subject of a bankruptcy proceeding under Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code, the bankruptcy trustee would be deemed to have assumed, and would be required to cure, immediately any deficit under any commitment that we have to any of the federal banking agencies to maintain the capital of the Bank, and any other insured depository institution for which we have such a responsibility, and any claim for breach of such obligation would generally have priority over most other unsecured claims.

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We may not be able to generate sufficient cash to service all of our debt, including the Notes.

Our ability to make scheduled payments of principal and interest or to satisfy our obligations in respect of our debt or to refinance our debt will depend on our future operating performance. Prevailing economic conditions (including interest rates), regulatory constraints, including, among other things, limitations on distributions to us from our subsidiaries and required capital levels with respect to certain of our subsidiary banks and nonbanking subsidiaries, and financial, business and other factors, many of which are beyond our control, will also affect our ability to meet these needs. We may not be able to generate sufficient cash flows from operations, or obtain future borrowings in an amount sufficient to enable us to pay our debt, or to fund our other liquidity needs. We may need to refinance all or a portion of our debt on or before maturity. We may not be able to refinance any of our debt when needed on commercially reasonable terms or at all.

The Notes will be the obligations of the Company and not obligations of the Bank or any of our other subsidiaries, and will be structurally subordinated to the debt and other liabilities of the Bank and our other subsidiaries, which will not guarantee the Notes.

Because we are a holding company, our rights and the rights of our creditors, including the holders of the Notes, to participate in the assets of any subsidiary during its liquidation or reorganization will be subject to the prior claims of the subsidiary’s creditors unless we are ourselves a creditor with recognized claims against the subsidiary. Any loans that we make to the Bank would be subordinate in right of payment to deposits and to other indebtedness of the Bank. Claims from creditors (other than us) against our subsidiaries may include long-term and medium-term debt and substantial obligations related to deposit liabilities, federal funds purchased, securities sold under repurchase agreements, and other short-term borrowings, as well as liabilities to general creditors. The Notes are not obligations of, or guaranteed by, the Bank or our other subsidiaries, and our subsidiaries have no obligation to pay any amounts due on the Notes. The indenture does not contain any limitation on the amount of debt or other obligations that the Bank or our other subsidiaries may incur hereafter.

Holders of the Notes will have limited rights, including limited rights of acceleration, if there is an event of default.

Payment of principal of the Notes may be accelerated only in the case of certain bankruptcy-related events with respect to us. Thus, you have no right to accelerate the payment of principal of the Notes if we fail to pay principal or interest on the Notes or if we fail in the performance of any of our other obligations under the Notes. See “Description of the Notes — Events of Default; Limitation on Suits.”

The Notes do not restrict our ability to incur additional debt, to repurchase our securities or to take other actions that could negatively impact holders of the Notes, and the indenture governing the Notes does not contain any financial covenants.

Neither we nor any of our subsidiaries is restricted from incurring additional indebtedness or other liabilities, including additional senior or subordinated indebtedness, under the indenture. If we incur additional indebtedness or liabilities, our ability to pay our obligations on the Notes could be adversely affected. We expect that we will incur additional indebtedness and other liabilities from time to time. In addition, we are not restricted under the indenture from granting or incurring a lien on any of our assets, selling or otherwise disposing of any of our assets, paying dividends or issuing or repurchasing our securities.

In addition, there are no financial covenants in the indenture governing the Notes. You are not protected under the indenture in the event of a highly leveraged transaction, reorganization, default under our existing indebtedness, restructuring, merger or similar transaction that may adversely affect you.

Our credit ratings may not reflect all risks of an investment in the Notes.

Our credit ratings are an assessment of our ability to pay our obligations as they become due. Consequently, real or anticipated changes in our credit ratings will generally affect the trading value of the Notes. Our credit ratings, however, may not reflect the potential risks related to the market or other factors on the value of the Notes. Furthermore, because your return on the Notes depends upon factors in addition

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to our ability to pay our obligations, an improvement in our credit ratings will not reduce the other investment risks related to the Notes. A credit rating is not a recommendation to buy, sell or hold securities and may be revised or withdrawn by the rating agency at any time.

The Notes are not insured or guaranteed by the FDIC.

The Notes are not savings accounts, deposits or other obligations of our bank subsidiary or any of our nonbank subsidiaries. The Notes are not insured by the FDIC or any other governmental agency or public or private insurer. The Notes are ineligible and may not be used as collateral for a loan by us or the Bank.

We cannot assure you that an active trading market will develop for the Notes.

There is currently no trading market for the Notes, and we do not intend to apply for listing of the Notes on any securities exchange or to have the Notes quoted on a quotation system. Although we have been informed by the underwriters that they intend to make a market in the Notes after the offering is completed, the underwriters may cease market-making at any time without notice. In addition, the liquidity of the trading market in the Notes and the market price quoted for the Notes may be adversely affected by changes in the overall market for this type of security and by changes in our financial performance or prospects or in the prospects for companies in our industry generally. As a result, we cannot assure you that an active trading market will develop for the Notes. If an active trading market does not develop or is not maintained, the market price and liquidity of the Notes may be adversely affected. In that case you may not be able to sell your Notes at a particular time or you may not be able to sell your Notes at a favorable price.

If a trading market for the Notes develops, changes in the debt markets, among others, could adversely affect your ability to liquidate your investment in the Notes and the market price of the Notes.

If a trading market for the Notes develops, many factors will affect that market and the trading value of the Notes. These factors include: the method of calculating the principal, premium, if any, interest or other amounts payable, if any, on the Notes; the time remaining to the maturity of the Notes; the ranking of the Notes; the redemption features of the Notes; the outstanding amount of subordinated notes with terms identical to the Notes offered hereby; the prevailing interest rates being paid by other companies similar to us; our financial condition, financial performance and future prospects; the level, direction and volatility of market interest rates generally; general economic conditions and conditions of the capital markets in the United States; and geopolitical conditions and other financial, political, regulatory, and judicial events that affect the capital markets generally. The condition of the financial markets and prevailing interest rates have fluctuated significantly in the past and are likely to fluctuate in the future. Such fluctuations could adversely affect the trading market (if any) for, and the market price of, the Notes.

We will act as the initial calculation agent and may have economic interests adverse to the interests of the holders of the Notes.

The calculation agent will determine the interest rate during the floating rate period. We will act as the initial calculation agent for the Notes. Any exercise of discretion by us under the terms of the Notes, including, without limitation, any discretion exercised by us acting as calculation agent, could present a conflict of interest. In making the required determinations, decisions and elections, we may have economic interests that are adverse to the interests of the holders of the Notes, and those determinations, decisions or elections could have a material adverse effect on the yield on, value of and market for the Notes. Any determination by us, as the calculation agent, will be final and binding absent manifest error.

Because the Notes may be redeemed at our option under certain circumstances prior to their maturity, you may be subject to reinvestment risk.

Subject to the prior approval of the Federal Reserve, to the extent that such approval is then required, we may redeem all or a portion of the Notes on , 2025 and on any interest payment date thereafter prior to their stated maturity date. In addition, at any time at which any Notes remain outstanding, subject to the prior approval of the Federal Reserve, to the extent that such approval is then required, we may redeem the Notes in whole but not in part upon the occurrence of a “Tax Event,” a “Tier 2 Capital Event” or if we

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are required to register as an investment company pursuant to the 1940 Act. In the event that we redeem the Notes, holders of the Notes will receive only the principal amount of the Notes plus any accrued and unpaid interest to, but excluding, such earlier redemption date. If any redemption occurs, holders of the Notes will not have the opportunity to continue to accrue and be paid interest to the stated maturity date. Any such redemption may have the effect of reducing the income or return that you may receive on an investment in the Notes by reducing the term of the investment. If this occurs, you may not be able to reinvest the proceeds at an interest rate comparable to the rate paid on the Notes. See “Description of the Notes — Redemption” in this prospectus supplement.

Investors should not expect us to redeem the Notes on or after the date on which they become redeemable at our option. Under Federal Reserve regulations, unless the Federal Reserve authorizes us in writing to do otherwise, we may not redeem the Notes unless they are replaced with other Tier 2 capital instruments or unless we can demonstrate to the satisfaction of the Federal Reserve that, following redemption, we will continue to hold capital commensurate with our risk.

The amount of interest payable on the Notes will vary on and after , 2025.

During the fixed rate period, the Notes will bear interest at an initial rate of % per annum. Thereafter, the Notes will bear interest at a floating rate per annum equal to the Benchmark rate (which is expected to be Three-Month Term SOFR) plus basis points, subject to the provisions under “Description of the Subordinated Notes — Interest.” The per annum interest rate that is determined at the reference time for each interest period will apply to the entire quarterly interest period following such determination date even if the Benchmark rate increases during that period.

Floating rate notes bear additional risks not associated with fixed rate debt securities. These risks include fluctuation of the interest rates and the possibility that you will receive an amount of interest that is lower than expected. We have no control over a number of matters that may impact prevailing interest rates, including, without limitation, economic, financial, and political events that are important in determining the existence, magnitude, and longevity of market volatility, and other risks and their impact on the value of, or payments made on, the Notes. In recent years, interest rates have been volatile, and that volatility may be expected in the future.

The level of Benchmark rate (which is expected to be the Three-Month Term SOFR) may affect our decision to redeem the Notes.

We are more likely to redeem the Notes on or after , 2025 if the interest rate on them is higher than that which would be payable on one or more other forms of borrowing. If we redeem the Notes prior to their maturity date, holders may not be able to invest in other securities that yield as much interest as the Notes.

Holders of the Notes will have no rights against the publishers of the Benchmark rate (which is expected to be the Three-Month Term SOFR).

Holders of the Notes will have no rights against the publishers of the Benchmark, even though the amount they receive on each interest payment date after , 2025 will depend upon the level of the Benchmark rate (which is expected to be the Three-Month Term SOFR). The publishers of the Benchmark rate are not in any way involved in this offering and have no obligations relating to the Notes or the holders of the Notes.

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CAPITALIZATION

The following table sets forth our capitalization, including regulatory capital ratios, on a consolidated basis, as of March 31, 2020:

•

on an actual basis; and

•

on an “as adjusted” basis after giving pro forma effect to the sale of the Notes offered hereby for total net proceeds of approximately $ million after deducting the underwriting discount and estimated expenses.

The “as adjusted” information below is illustrative only and our capitalization following the closing of this offering will be adjusted based on the final terms of this offering. You should read this table in conjunction with the unaudited consolidated financial statements and notes thereto and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” included in our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2020, the audited consolidated financial statements and notes thereto and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019, and the “Use of Proceeds” section of this prospectus supplement, together with the other information included or incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus.

	At March 31, 2020
	Actual			As adjusted
	(dollars in thousands)
Cash and cash equivalents		$	240,494
Liabilities:
Deposits			4,178,918
Securities sold under reverse repurchase agreements with customers			124,484
Short term borrowings and other interest-bearing liabilities			1,312
Subordinated debentures issued to capital trusts			25,774
Subordinated notes			74,385
Accrued interest payable and other liabilities			53,915
Total liabilities			4,458,788
Stockholders’ equity:
Serial preferred stock; $.01 par value; authorized 1,000,000 shares; issued and outstanding at March 31, 2020 – 0 shares			—
Common stock; $.01 par value; authorized 20,000,000 shares; issued and outstanding at March 31, 2020 – 14,083,820 shares			141
Additional paid-in capital			33,958
Retained earnings			524,922
Accumulated other comprehensive income			55,211
Total stockholders’ equity			614,232
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity		$	5,073,020
Capital Ratios
Common equity tier 1 to risk-weighted assets			12.6%
Tier 1 capital to risk-weighted assets			13.2%
Total capital to risk-weighted assets			15.7%
Tier 1 leverage to average assets			12.3%

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DESCRIPTION OF THE NOTES

The following summary of the % Fixed-to-Floating Rate Subordinated Notes due 2030, or the Notes, does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by the Subordinated Indenture (as defined below) and the Notes, including the definitions therein of certain terms. Unless otherwise specified, capitalized terms used in this summary have the meanings specified in the Subordinated Indenture. The following description of the particular terms of the Subordinated Indenture and the Notes supplements, and to the extent inconsistent therewith replaces, the description of the general terms and provisions of subordinated debt in the accompanying prospectus, to which description we refer you. For purposes of this “Description of the Subordinated Notes,” references to the “Company,” “we” and “us” include only Great Southern Bancorp, Inc. and not its consolidated subsidiaries.

General

The Notes offered hereby will be issued under a subordinated debt indenture, dated as of , 2020, as amended and supplemented by a supplemental indenture, dated as of , 2020, between the Company and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee, which together we refer to in this summary as the Subordinated Indenture.

The Notes will be our general unsecured, subordinated obligations and will rank senior to our existing junior subordinated debentures with aggregate principal amount of approximately $25.8 million as of March 31, 2020, and equally with all of our other unsecured, subordinated obligations from time to time outstanding, including our existing $75.0 million aggregate principal amount of 5.25% fixed-to-floating rate subordinated notes due August 15, 2026. The Notes will rank junior to all of our existing and future Senior Indebtedness (as defined below) to the extent and in the manner set forth in the Subordinated Indenture. In addition, the Notes will be effectively subordinated to all of our secured indebtedness to the extent of the value of the collateral securing such indebtedness. The Notes will be structurally subordinated to all of the existing and future liabilities and obligations of our subsidiaries, including the deposit liabilities and claims of other creditors of our subsidiary bank, Great Southern Bank. See “— Subordination.” The Notes will be obligations of Great Southern Bancorp, Inc. only and will not be obligations of, and will not be guaranteed by, any of our subsidiaries.

The Notes will mature on , 2030, which we refer to as the Maturity Date, unless previously redeemed or otherwise accelerated. The Notes are not convertible into, or exchangeable for, equity securities, other securities or assets of the Company or its subsidiaries. There is no sinking fund for the Notes. We intend for the Notes to qualify (subject to applicable limitations) as Tier 2 capital under applicable capital regulations, guidance, and interpretations of the Federal Reserve. We do not intend to apply for the listing of the Notes on any securities exchange or the quotation of the Notes on any quotation system. The Notes will be issued in minimum denominations of $1,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof.

Beginning with the interest payment date of , 2025, and on any interest payment date thereafter, we may, at our option, subject to obtaining the prior approval of the Federal Reserve to the extent such approval is then required under the rules of the Federal Reserve (or, as and if applicable, the rules of any successor appropriate bank regulatory agency), which we refer to as Federal Reserve Approval, redeem the Notes, in whole or in part, at a price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the Notes to be redeemed plus any accrued and unpaid interest to, but excluding, the redemption date. The Notes may not be redeemed by us prior to , 2025, except that we may, at our option, subject to Federal Reserve Approval, redeem the Notes in whole, but not in part, prior to maturity, including prior to , 2025, upon the occurrence of a “Tax Event” or a “Tier 2 Capital Event” (as such terms are defined in the Subordinated Indenture) or if we are required to register as an investment company pursuant to the 1940 Act, in each case, at a price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the Notes to be redeemed plus any accrued and unpaid interest to, but excluding, the redemption date. Any partial redemption will be made in accordance with the applicable procedures of The Depository Trust Company, which we refer to, together with its successors, as DTC. See “— Redemption.”

Further Issues

The Subordinated Indenture does not limit the amount of Notes that we may issue from time to time in one or more series. The Subordinated Indenture permits us to increase the principal amount of the Notes

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by issuing additional Notes on the same terms and conditions as the Notes (except for any differences in the issue price and interest accrued prior to the date of issuance of the additional Notes), and with the same CUSIP number as the Notes, provided that the additional Notes are fungible with the Notes for United States federal income tax purposes. The Notes and any additional Notes issued by the Company will rank equally and ratably and shall be treated as a single series of securities for all purposes under the Supplemental Indenture.

Interest

From and including the date of original issuance to, but excluding, , 2025 or the date of earlier redemption, which we refer to as the “fixed rate period,” the Notes will bear interest at a rate of % per annum, payable semi-annually in arrears on and of each year, with each such payment date being referred to as a “fixed rate interest payment date,” commencing on , 202 . The last fixed rate interest payment date for the fixed rate period will be , 2025, unless the Notes are earlier redeemed.

From and including , 2025 to, but excluding, the Maturity Date or the date of earlier redemption, which we refer to as the “floating rate period,” the Notes will bear interest at a floating rate per annum equal to the Benchmark rate (which is expected to be Three-Month Term SOFR) plus a spread of basis points. For each quarterly interest period during the floating rate period, interest will be payable quarterly in arrears on , , and of each year, each of which is referred to as a “floating rate interest payment date” and together with the fixed rate interest payment dates, the “interest payment dates,” commencing on , 2025. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Benchmark rate is less than zero, the Benchmark rate shall be deemed to be zero.

For the purpose of calculating the interest on the Notes for each interest period during the floating rate period when the Benchmark is Three-Month Term SOFR, “Three-Month Term SOFR” means the rate for Term SOFR for a tenor of three months that is published by the Term SOFR Administrator at the Reference Time for any interest period, as determined by the calculation agent after giving effect to the Three-Month Term SOFR Conventions. We will act as the initial calculation agent.

The following definitions apply to the foregoing definition of Three-Month Term SOFR:

“Benchmark” means, initially, Three-Month Term SOFR; provided that if the calculation agent determines on or prior to the Reference Time for any interest period that a Benchmark Transition Event and its related Benchmark Replacement Date have occurred with respect to Three-Month Term SOFR or the then-current Benchmark, then “Benchmark” means the applicable Benchmark Replacement for such interest period and any subsequent interest periods.

“FRBNY’s Website” means the website of the FRBNY at http://www.newyorkfed.org, or any successor source. The foregoing Internet website is an inactive textual reference only, meaning that the information contained on the website is not part of this prospectus supplement or the accompanying prospectus or incorporated by reference herein or therein.

“Reference Time” with respect to any determination of the Benchmark means (1) if the Benchmark is Three-Month Term SOFR, the time determined by the calculation agent after giving effect to the Three-Month Term SOFR Conventions, and (2) if the Benchmark is not Three-Month Term SOFR, the time determined by the calculation agent after giving effect to the Benchmark Replacement Conforming Changes.

“Relevant Governmental Body” means the Federal Reserve and/or the FRBNY, or a committee officially endorsed or convened by the Federal Reserve and/or the FRBNY or any successor thereto.

“SOFR” means the secured overnight financing rate published by the FRBNY, as the administrator of the Benchmark (or a successor administrator), on the FRBNY’s Website.

“Term SOFR” means the forward-looking term rate for the applicable Corresponding Tenor based on SOFR that has been selected or recommended by the Relevant Governmental Body.

“Term SOFR Administrator” means any entity designated by the Relevant Governmental Body as the administrator of Term SOFR (or a successor administrator).

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“Three-Month Term SOFR Conventions” means any determination, decision or election with respect to any technical, administrative or operational matter (including with respect to the manner and timing of the publication of Three-Month Term SOFR, or changes to the definition of “interest period,” timing and frequency of determining Three-Month Term SOFR with respect to each interest period and making payments of interest, rounding of amounts or tenors, and other administrative matters) that the calculation agent decides may be appropriate to reflect the use of Three-Month Term SOFR as the Benchmark in a manner substantially consistent with market practice (or, if the calculation agent decides that adoption of any portion of such market practice is not administratively feasible or if the calculation agent determines that no market practice for the use of Three-Month Term SOFR exists, in such other manner as the calculation agent determines is reasonably necessary).

The terms “Benchmark Replacement,” “Benchmark Replacement Conforming Changes,” “Benchmark Replacement Date,” “Benchmark Transition Event” and “Corresponding Tenor” have the meanings set forth below under the heading “— Effect of Benchmark Transition Event.”

Notwithstanding the foregoing paragraphs related to the determination of interest, if the calculation agent determines on or prior to the relevant Reference Time that a Benchmark Transition Event and its related Benchmark Replacement Date (each as defined below) have occurred with respect to Three-Month Term SOFR, then the provisions set forth below under the heading “— Effect of Benchmark Transition Event,” which we refer to as the “benchmark transition provisions,” will thereafter apply to all determinations of the interest rate on the Notes for each interest period during the floating rate period. In accordance with the benchmark transition provisions, after a Benchmark Transition Event and its related Benchmark Replacement Date have occurred, the interest rate on the Notes for each interest period during the floating rate period will be an annual rate equal to the Benchmark Replacement plus basis points.

Absent manifest error, the calculation agent’s determination of the interest rate for an interest period for the Notes will be binding and conclusive on you, the trustee and us.

Interest shall be calculated on the basis of a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months during the fixed rate period and on the basis of a 360-day year and the actual number of days elapsed during the floating rate period. Dollar amounts resulting from that calculation will be rounded to the nearest cent, with one-half cent being rounded upward.

Interest on the Notes, subject to certain exceptions, will accrue during the applicable interest period. When we use the term “interest period,” we mean the period from and including the immediately preceding interest payment date in respect of which interest has been paid or duly provided for or, if no interest has been paid or duly provided for, from and including the date of issuance of the Notes to, but excluding, the applicable interest payment date or the Maturity Date or date of earlier redemption, if applicable. If a fixed rate interest payment date or the Maturity Date falls on a day that is not a business day, then the interest payment or the payment of principal and interest at maturity will be paid on the next succeeding business day, but the payments made on such dates will be treated as being made on the date that the payment was first due and the holders of the Notes will not be entitled to any further interest or other payments. If a floating rate interest payment date falls on a day that is not a business day, then such floating rate interest payment date will be postponed to the next succeeding business day unless such day falls in the next succeeding calendar month, in which case such floating rate interest payment date will be accelerated to the immediately preceding business day, and, in each such case, the amounts payable on such business day will include interest accrued to, but excluding, such business day.

Interest on each Note will be payable to the person in whose name such Note is registered on the fifteenth day immediately preceding the applicable interest payment date, whether or not such day is a business day. Any interest which is payable, but is not punctually paid or duly provided for, on any interest payment date shall cease to be payable to the holder on the relevant record date by virtue of having been a holder on such date, and such defaulted interest may be paid by us to the person in whose name the Notes are registered at the close of business on a special record date for the payment of defaulted interest, or in any other lawful manner not inconsistent with the requirements of any securities exchange on which the Notes may be listed. However, interest that is paid on the Maturity Date will be paid to the person to whom the principal will be payable. Interest will be payable by wire transfer in immediately available funds

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in U.S. dollars at the office of the principal paying agent or, at our option in the event the Notes are not represented by global notes, by check mailed to the address of the person specified for payment in the preceding sentences.

If the then-current Benchmark is Three-Month Term SOFR, the calculation agent will have the right to establish the Three-Month Term SOFR Conventions, and if any of the foregoing provisions concerning the calculation of the interest rate and interest payments during the floating rate period are inconsistent with any of the Three-Month Term SOFR Conventions determined by the calculation agent, then the relevant Three-Month Term SOFR Conventions will apply. Furthermore, if the calculation agent determines that a Benchmark Transition Event and its related Benchmark Replacement Date have occurred with respect to Three-Month Term SOFR at any time when any of the Notes are outstanding, then the foregoing provisions concerning the calculation of the interest rate and interest payments during the floating rate period will be modified in accordance with the benchmark transition provisions.

“Business day” means (i) each Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday which is not a day on which banking institutions in New York are authorized or obligated by law or executive order to close or (ii) a day on which the corporate trust office of the trustee is not closed for business.

Ranking

The Notes are our general unsecured, subordinated obligations and are:

•

junior in right of payment to any of our existing and future Senior Indebtedness;

•

equal in right of payment with any of our existing and future subordinated indebtedness;

•

senior to our obligations relating to any junior subordinated debt securities issued to our capital trust subsidiaries;

•

effectively subordinated to all of our secured indebtedness to the extent of the value of the collateral securing such indebtedness; and

•

structurally subordinated to any existing and future liabilities and obligations of our subsidiaries, including the deposit liabilities and claims of other creditors of our subsidiary bank, Great Southern Bank.

Subordination

The Notes are junior in right of payment to the prior payment in full of all our Senior Indebtedness. This means that, under certain circumstances where we may not be making payments on all of our debt obligations as they become due, the holders of all of our Senior Indebtedness will be entitled to receive payment in full of all amounts that are due or will become due on their debt securities before the holders of the Notes will be entitled to receive any amounts under the Notes. These circumstances include when we make a payment or distribute assets to creditors upon our liquidation, dissolution, winding up or reorganization.

These subordination provisions mean that if we are insolvent, a direct holder of a specific amount of our Senior Indebtedness may ultimately receive more of our assets than a direct holder of the same amount of Notes, and our creditor that is owed a specific amount may ultimately receive more of our assets than a direct holder of the same amount of Notes. The Subordinated Indenture does not limit our ability to incur Senior Indebtedness or general obligations, including indebtedness ranking equally with the Notes or secured debt.

Holders of the Notes may not accelerate the maturity of the Notes, except upon an event of default. See “— Events of Default” below.

The Subordinated Indenture provides that, unless all principal of and any premium or interest on Senior Indebtedness has been paid in full, no payment or other distribution may be made in respect of any Notes under the following circumstances:

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in the event of any insolvency or bankruptcy case or proceedings, or any receivership, liquidation, reorganization, dissolution, winding up or other similar proceedings or events involving payment by us or distribution of our assets to creditors;

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in the event and during the continuation of any default in the payment of principal of (or premium, if any) or interest on any Senior Indebtedness beyond any applicable grace period with respect thereto, or in the event any judicial proceeding shall be pending with respect to any such default; or

•

in the event that any Notes have been declared due and payable before their stated maturity.

If the trustee or any holders of Notes receive any payment or distribution that is prohibited under the subordination provisions, and if this fact is made known to the trustee or holders at or prior to the time of such payment or distribution, then such payment or distribution shall be held in trust for the benefit of and is to be paid over or delivered to the holders of Senior Indebtedness.

Further, in the event of any insolvency or bankruptcy case or proceedings, or any receivership, liquidation, reorganization, assignment for the benefit of creditors or other similar proceedings or events involving us or our assets, any creditors in respect of general obligations will be entitled to receive payment in full of all amounts due or to become due on or in respect of such general obligations, before any amount is made available for payment or distribution to the holders of the Notes.

Even if the subordination provisions prevent us from making any payment when due on the Notes, we will be in default on our obligations under the Notes if we do not make the payment when due. This means that the trustee and the holders of Notes can take action against us, but they will not receive any money until the claims of the holders of Senior Indebtedness have been fully satisfied.

The Subordinated Indenture allows the holders of Senior Indebtedness to obtain a court order requiring us and any holder of Notes to comply with the subordination provisions.

The Subordinated Indenture defines “Senior Indebtedness” as the principal (and premium, if any) of, unpaid interest and all other amounts payable in respect of the below list of our indebtedness, whether such indebtedness exists as of the date of the Subordinated Indenture or is created, incurred or assumed after such date:

•

all obligations for borrowed money;

•

all obligations evidenced by debentures, notes, debt securities or other similar instruments;

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all obligations in respect of letters of credit, security purchase facilities or bankers acceptances or similar instruments (or reimbursement obligations with respect thereto);

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all obligations to pay the deferred purchase price of property or services, except trade accounts payable arising in the ordinary course of business;

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indebtedness secured by any mortgage, pledge, lien, charge, encumbrance or any security interest existing on property owned by us;

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obligations associated with derivative products including, but not limited to, interest rate and currency future or exchange contracts, foreign exchange contracts, swap agreements (including interest rate and foreign exchange rate swap agreements), cap agreements, floor agreements, collar agreements, options, interest rate future or option contracts, commodity contracts, and similar arrangements;

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purchase money debt and similar obligations;

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obligations to our general creditors;

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a deferred obligation of, or any such obligation, directly or indirectly guaranteed by, us which obligation is incurred in connection with the acquisition of any business, properties or assets not evidenced by a note or similar instrument given in connection therewith;

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all obligations of the type referred to in the foregoing subclauses above of other persons for the payment of which we are responsible or liable as obligor, guarantor or otherwise, whether or not

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classified as a liability on a balance sheet prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (GAAP); and

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any renewals, amendments, deferrals, supplements, extensions, refundings or replacements of any of the foregoing.

However, Senior Indebtedness does not include:

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the Notes;

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any indebtedness to a subsidiary;

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trade accounts payable arising in the ordinary course of business;

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any indebtedness that by its terms ranks on an equal basis with, or is not superior to, the Notes, including: our existing $75.0 million aggregate principal amount of our 5.25% fixed-to-floating rate subordinated notes due August 15, 2026 and our existing junior subordinated debentures with aggregate principal amount of approximately $25.8 million as of March 31, 2020; and

•

any indebtedness which is subordinated to indebtedness of the Company to substantially the same extent as, or to a greater extent than, the Notes are subordinated.

The Notes and the Subordinated Indenture do not contain any limitation on the amount of Senior Indebtedness that we may hereafter incur.

We are a holding company and substantially all of our assets are held by our direct and indirect subsidiaries. We rely on dividends and other payments or distributions from our subsidiaries to pay the interest on our debt obligations (such as the Notes offered hereby), which interest expense was $1.3 million and $1.4 million for March 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively (holding company only). Federal and state bank regulations impose certain restrictions on the ability of our bank subsidiaries to pay dividends directly or indirectly to us, to make any extensions of credit to us or certain of our affiliates and to invest in our stock or securities. These regulations also prevent us from borrowing from our bank subsidiaries unless the loans are secured by collateral. Accordingly, we may not have access to sufficient cash to make payments on the Notes. See “Risk Factors” in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus and “Item 1A. Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019 and “Item 1A Risk Factors” in Part II of our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2020.

Because we are a holding company, our right and the rights of our creditors, including holders of the Notes, to participate in any distribution of assets of any of our subsidiaries upon their liquidation, reorganization, dissolution, winding up or otherwise would be subject to the prior claims of creditors of that subsidiary (except to the extent that we are a creditor with a recognized claim). In the event of any such distribution of assets of our bank subsidiaries due in part to their status as insured depository institutions, the claims of depositors and other general or subordinated creditors of such bank subsidiaries would be entitled to priority over claims of shareholders of such bank subsidiary, including us as its parent holding company and any creditor of ours, such as holders of the Notes. As of March 31, 2020, Great Southern Bank had $4.2 billion of deposits, $124.5 million of customer repurchase agreements and $1.3 million of short-term borrowings and other interest-bearing liabilities, to which the Notes will be structurally subordinated.

No Additional Amounts

In the event that any payment on the Notes is subject to withholding of any U.S. federal income tax or other tax or assessment (as a result of a change in law or otherwise), we will not pay additional amounts with respect to such tax or assessment. For a discussion relating to certain U.S. federal income tax consequences of the ownership and disposition of the Notes, see “U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations.”

Redemption

We may, at our option, beginning with the interest payment date of , 2025, but not prior thereto (except upon the occurrence of certain events specified below), and on any interest payment date thereafter, redeem the Notes, in whole or in part, from time to time, subject to obtaining the Federal Reserve

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Approval, at a price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the Notes being redeemed plus accrued and unpaid interest to, but excluding, the date of redemption.

The Notes may not otherwise be redeemed prior to the Maturity Date, except that we may also, at our option, redeem the Notes, in whole, but not in part, subject to obtaining the Federal Reserve Approval, at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the Notes being redeemed plus accrued and unpaid interest to, but excluding, the date of redemption, at any time, including before , 2025, upon the occurrence of:

•

a “Tax Event,” defined in the Subordinated Indenture to mean the receipt by us of an opinion of independent tax counsel to the effect that as a result of (a) an amendment to or change (including any announced prospective amendment or change) in any law or treaty, or any regulation thereunder, of the United States or any of its political subdivisions or taxing authorities; (b) a judicial decision, administrative action, official administrative pronouncement, ruling, regulatory procedure, regulation, notice or announcement, including any notice or announcement of intent to adopt or promulgate any ruling, regulatory procedure or regulation (any of the foregoing, an “administrative or judicial action”); or (c) an amendment to or change in any official position with respect to, or any interpretation of, an administrative or judicial action or a law or regulation of the United States that differs from the previously generally accepted position or interpretation, in each case, which change or amendment or challenge becomes effective or which pronouncement, or decision or challenge is announced on or after the original issue date of the Notes, there is more than an insubstantial risk that interest payable by us on the Notes is not, or, within 90 days of the date of such opinion, will not be, deductible by us, in whole or in part, for United States federal income tax purposes;

•

a “Tier 2 Capital Event,” defined in the Subordinated Indenture to mean our good faith determination that, as a result of (a) any amendment to, or change in, the laws, rules or regulations of the United States (including, for the avoidance of doubt, any agency or instrumentality of the United States, including the Federal Reserve and other federal bank regulatory agencies) or any political subdivision of or in the United States that is enacted or becomes effective after the original issue date of the Notes; (b) any proposed change in those laws, rules or regulations that is announced or becomes effective after the original issue date of the Notes; or (c) any official administrative decision or judicial decision or administrative action or other official pronouncement interpreting or applying those laws, rules, regulations, policies or guidelines with respect thereto that is announced after the original issue date of the Notes, there is more than an insubstantial risk that we will not be entitled to treat the Notes then outstanding as “Tier 2 Capital” (or its equivalent) for purposes of the capital adequacy rules or regulations of the Federal Reserve (or, as and if applicable, the capital adequacy rules or regulations of any successor appropriate federal banking agency) as then in effect and applicable to us, for so long as any Notes are outstanding; or

•

the Corporation becoming required to register as an investment company pursuant to the 1940 Act.

In the event of any redemption of the Notes, we will deliver or cause to be delivered a notice of redemption (which notice may be conditional in our discretion on one or more conditions precedent, and the redemption date may be delayed until such time as any or all of such conditions have been satisfied or revoked by us if we determine that such conditions will not be satisfied) to each holder of Notes (with a copy to the trustee) not less than 30 nor more than 60 days prior to the redemption date.

Any partial redemption will be made in accordance with DTC’s applicable procedures among all of the holders of the Notes. If any Note is to be redeemed in part only, the notice of redemption relating to such Note shall state that it is a partial redemption and the portion of the principal amount thereof to be redeemed. A replacement Note in principal amount equal to the unredeemed portion thereof will be issued in the name of the holder thereof upon cancellation of the original note. The Notes are not subject to redemption or prepayment at the option of the holders.

Events of Default

The only “events of default” with respect to the Notes under the Subordinated Indenture that will result in acceleration of maturity of the Notes are certain events related to our bankruptcy or insolvency, whether voluntary or involuntary, or certain events related to the insolvency of Great Southern Bank or any

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successor thereof or any depository institution subsidiary of ours in the future that represents 80% or more of our consolidated assets. If such an event of default with respect to the Notes occurs and is continuing, the principal amount of all of the Notes shall become and be immediately due and payable without any declaration or other action on the part of the trustee or any holder of the Notes. If an event of default with respect to Notes occurs and is continuing, the trustee may enforce its rights and the rights of the holders of the Notes by any judicial proceedings that the trustee deems to be most effectual to do so.

The maturity of the Notes may only be accelerated upon the occurrence of an event of default described above. There is no right of acceleration of the payment of principal of the Notes upon a default in the payment of principal of or interest on the Notes or in the performance of any of our covenants or agreements contained in the Notes, in the Subordinated Indenture or any of our other obligations or liabilities, including the following events of default: (i) a default in the payment of principal of the Notes when due, whether at maturity, by acceleration of maturity or otherwise, (ii) a default in the payment of interest on the Notes when due, which continues for 30 days, and (iii) our default in the performance, or breach, of any term, covenant or warranty of ours in the Subordinated Indenture, and continuance of such default or breach for a period of 90 days after there has been given, by registered or certified mail, to us by the trustee or to us and the trustee by the holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Notes a written notice specifying such default or breach and requiring it to be remedied and stating that such notice is a notice of default under the Subordinated Indenture. If a default in the payment of principal of or interest on the Notes occurs and is continuing under the Subordinated Indenture, the trustee and holders of Notes will have a right to institute suit directly against us for the collection of such overdue payment. Other than upon a default in the payment of principal of or interest on the Notes, the holders of the Notes will have limited rights to institute proceedings to enforce the terms of the Subordinated Indenture.

Modification

From time to time, we, together with the trustee, may, without the consent of the holders of Notes, enter into one or more supplemental indentures to the Subordinated Indenture for one or more of the following purposes:

•

to provide for the assumption by a successor corporation of our obligations under the Subordinated Indenture;

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to add to our covenants and events of default for the benefit of the holders of Notes or to surrender any right or power conferred upon us by the Subordinated Indenture or make any change that does not adversely affect the legal rights of the holders of the Notes;

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to permit or facilitate the issuance of Notes in bearer form or in uncertificated form;

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to cure ambiguities, omissions, defects or inconsistencies, so long as the amendment does not adversely affect the interests of the holders of Notes;

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to appoint a successor trustee with respect to the Notes, and to make any change necessary to provide for the appointment of more than one trustee;

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to establish the form or terms of a series of Notes;

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to make any change to the Subordinated Indenture that (i) neither applies to any Note of any series created prior to the execution of such supplemental indenture and entitled to the benefit of such provision nor modifies the rights of any Note holder with respect to such provision, or (ii) shall become effective only when there is no such Note outstanding;

•

to secure the Notes;

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to permit or facilitate the defeasance, covenant defeasance or discharge of the Notes, provided that such action does not adversely affect the interests of holders of the Notes;

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to comply with the rules or regulations of any securities exchange or automated quotation system on which the Notes may then be listed or traded;

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to effect or maintain the qualification of the Subordinated Indenture under the Trust Indenture Act; or

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to implement any Three-Month Term SOFR Conventions or any benchmark transition provisions after a Benchmark Transition Event and its related Benchmark Replacement Date have occurred (or in anticipation thereof).

The Subordinated Indenture permits us and the trustee, with the consent of the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of each series of the outstanding Notes affected thereby, to modify the Subordinated Indenture in a manner affecting the rights of the holders of the Notes of such series; provided that no modification may, without the consent of the holders of each outstanding Note affected:

•

change the maturity of the principal of any Note or the timing of an interest payment on a Note;

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reduce the principal amount or the rate of interest of any Note;

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reduce the amount of the principal of any Note which would be due and payable upon a declaration of acceleration;

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change our obligation to maintain an office or agency for payment of any Note principal or interest and other matters specified in the Subordinated Indenture;

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impair the right to institute suit for the enforcement of any such due and payable obligation;

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modify the provisions of the Subordinated Indenture with respect to the subordination of the Notes in a manner adverse to the Note holders;

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reduce the percentage of any series, the consent of whose holders is required for any such supplemental indenture, or the consent of whose holders is required for any waiver provided for in the Subordinated Indenture; or

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modify any of the provisions of the Subordinated Indenture relating to the execution of supplemental indentures with the consent of holders of the Notes or modify any provisions relating to the waiver by holders of the Notes of past defaults and covenants, except to increase any required percentage or to provide that other provisions of the Subordinated Indenture cannot be modified or waived without the consent of the holder of each outstanding security affected thereby.

Consolidation, Merger, Sale of Assets and Other Transactions

We will not consolidate with or merge into any other person or sell, convey, transfer, lease or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of our properties and assets to any person, unless:

•

if we consolidate with or merge into another person or sell, convey, transfer, lease or otherwise dispose of substantially all of our properties and assets to any person, the successor is a corporation, association partnership, limited liability company, joint stock company or business trust organized and validly existing under the laws of the United States of America or any state or the District of Columbia, and the successor, if not Great Southern Bancorp, Inc., expressly assumes our obligations relating to the Notes and the Subordinated Indenture;

•

immediately after giving effect to the transaction, no “default” or “event of default” shall have occurred and be continuing; and

•

certain other conditions described in the Subordinated Indenture are met.

The above provisions do not apply to a merger for which the Company is the surviving entity. The general provisions of the Subordinated Indenture do not limit the rights of Great Southern Bancorp, Inc. to enter into transactions, such as a highly leveraged transaction, that may adversely affect the holders of the Notes.

Satisfaction and Discharge

The Subordinated Indenture provides that when, among other things, all Notes not previously delivered to the trustee for cancellation:

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have become due and payable,

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will become due and payable at their stated maturity within one year, or

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are to be called for redemption within one year under arrangements satisfactory to the trustee for the giving of notice of redemption by the trustee,

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and we irrevocably deposit or cause to be deposited with the trustee as trust funds in trust for such purpose money in an amount sufficient to pay and discharge the entire indebtedness on the Notes not previously delivered to the trustee for cancellation, for the principal and any premium and interest to the date of such deposit (in the case of Notes which have become due and payable) or to the Maturity Date or the date of redemption, as the case may be;

•

then, upon our request, the Subordinated Indenture will cease to be of further effect, and we will be deemed to have satisfied and discharged the Subordinated Indenture with respect to the Notes. However, we will continue to be obligated to pay all other sums due under the Subordinated Indenture and to provide the officers’ certificates and opinions of counsel described in the Subordinated Indenture.

Defeasance

We may at any time terminate all of our obligations under the Notes, except for certain obligations, including those respecting the defeasance trust. Our obligations will be deemed to have been discharged if the following applicable conditions have been satisfied:

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we have irrevocably deposited in trust with the trustee money or U.S. government obligations for the payment of principal and interest on the Notes to maturity;

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such defeasance will not result in a breach or violation, or constitute a default under, any other material agreement or instrument to which we are a party;

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we have delivered to the trustee an opinion of counsel to the effect that holders of the Notes will not recognize income, gain or loss for United States federal income tax purposes as a result of such defeasance and will be subject to United States federal income tax on the same amount and in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such defeasance had not occurred; and

•

certain other conditions set forth in the Subordinated Indenture.

Any defeasance of the Notes pursuant to the Subordinated Indenture will be subject to our obtaining the prior approval of the Federal Reserve and any additional requirements that the Federal Reserve may impose with respect to defeasance of the Notes. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if, due to a change in law, regulation or policy subsequent to the issue date of the Notes the Federal Reserve does not require that defeasance of instruments be subject to Federal Reserve approval in order for the instrument to be accorded Tier 2 capital treatment, then no such approval of the Federal Reserve will be required for such defeasance.

Effect of Benchmark Transition Event

Benchmark Replacement. If the calculation agent determines that a Benchmark Transition Event and its related Benchmark Replacement Date have occurred on or prior to the Reference Time in respect of any determination of the Benchmark on any date, then the Benchmark Replacement will replace the then-current Benchmark for all purposes relating to the Notes during the floating rate period in respect of such determination on such date and all determinations on all subsequent dates.

Benchmark Replacement Conforming Changes. In connection with the implementation of a Benchmark Replacement, the calculation agent will have the right to make Benchmark Replacement Conforming Changes from time to time.

Certain Defined Terms. As used herein:

“Benchmark Replacement” means the Interpolated Benchmark with respect to the then-current Benchmark, plus the Benchmark Replacement Adjustment for such Benchmark; provided that if (a) the calculation agent cannot determine the Interpolated Benchmark as of the Benchmark Replacement Date or

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(b) the then-current Benchmark is Three-Month Term SOFR and a Benchmark Transition Event and its related Benchmark Replacement Date have occurred with respect to Three-Month Term SOFR (in which event no Interpolated Benchmark with respect to Three-Month Term SOFR shall be determined), then “Benchmark Replacement” means the first alternative set forth in the order below that can be determined by the calculation agent as of the Benchmark Replacement Date:

(1)

Compounded SOFR;

(2)

the sum of: (a) the alternate rate that has been selected or recommended by the Relevant Governmental Body as the replacement for the then-current Benchmark for the applicable Corresponding Tenor and (b) the Benchmark Replacement Adjustment;

(3)

the sum of: (a) the ISDA Fallback Rate and (b) the Benchmark Replacement Adjustment;

(4)

the sum of: (a) the alternate rate that has been selected by the calculation agent as the replacement for the then-current Benchmark for the applicable Corresponding Tenor, giving due consideration to any industry-accepted rate as a replacement for the then-current Benchmark for U.S. dollar-denominated floating rate securities at such time, and (b) the Benchmark Replacement Adjustment.

“Benchmark Replacement Adjustment” means the first alternative set forth in the order below that can be determined by the calculation agent as of the Benchmark Replacement Date:

(1)

the spread adjustment, or method for calculating or determining such spread adjustment (which may be a positive or negative value or zero), that has been selected or recommended by the Relevant Governmental Body for the applicable Unadjusted Benchmark Replacement;

(2)

if the applicable Unadjusted Benchmark Replacement is equivalent to the ISDA Fallback Rate, then the ISDA Fallback Adjustment; and

(3)

the spread adjustment (which may be a positive or negative value or zero) that has been selected by the calculation agent giving due consideration to any industry-accepted spread adjustment or method for calculating or determining such spread adjustment, for the replacement of the then-current Benchmark with the applicable Unadjusted Benchmark Replacement for U.S. dollar-denominated floating rate securities at such time.

“Benchmark Replacement Conforming Changes” means, with respect to any Benchmark Replacement, any technical, administrative or operational changes (including changes to the definition of “interest period,” timing and frequency of determining rates with respect to each interest period and making payments of interest, rounding of amounts or tenors, and other administrative matters) that the calculation agent decides may be appropriate to reflect the adoption of such Benchmark Replacement in a manner substantially consistent with market practice (or, if the calculation agent decides that adoption of any portion of such market practice is not administratively feasible or if the calculation agent determines that no market practice for use of the Benchmark Replacement exists, in such other manner as the calculation agent determines is reasonably necessary).

“Benchmark Replacement Date” means the earliest to occur of the following events with respect to the then-current Benchmark:

(1)

in the case of clause (1) of the definition of “Benchmark Transition Event,” the relevant Reference Time in respect of any determination;

(2)

in the case of clause (2) or (3) of the definition of “Benchmark Transition Event,” the later of (a) the date of the public statement or publication of information referenced therein and (b) the date on which the administrator of the Benchmark permanently or indefinitely ceases to provide the Benchmark; or

(3)

in the case of clause (4) of the definition of “Benchmark Transition Event,” the date of the public statement or publication of information referenced therein.

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For the avoidance of doubt, for purposes of the definitions of Benchmark Replacement Date and Benchmark Transition Event, references to the Benchmark also include any reference rate underlying the Benchmark (for example, if the Benchmark becomes Compounded SOFR, references to the Benchmark would include SOFR).

For the avoidance of doubt, if the event giving rise to the Benchmark Replacement Date occurs on the same day as, but earlier than, the Reference Time in respect of any determination, the Benchmark Replacement Date will be deemed to have occurred prior to the Reference Time for such determination.

“Benchmark Transition Event” means the occurrence of one or more of the following events with respect to the then-current Benchmark:

(1)

if the Benchmark is Three-Month Term SOFR, (a) the Relevant Governmental Body has not selected or recommended a forward-looking term rate for a tenor of three months based on SOFR, (b) the development of a forward-looking term rate for a tenor of three months based on SOFR that has been recommended or selected by the Relevant Governmental Body is not complete or (c) we determine that the use of a forward-looking rate for a tenor of three months based on SOFR is not administratively feasible;

(2)

a public statement or publication of information by or on behalf of the administrator of the Benchmark announcing that such administrator has ceased or will cease to provide the Benchmark, permanently or indefinitely, provided that, at the time of such statement or publication, there is no successor administrator that will continue to provide the Benchmark;

(3)

a public statement or publication of information by the regulatory supervisor for the administrator of the Benchmark, the central bank for the currency of the Benchmark, an insolvency official with jurisdiction over the administrator for the Benchmark, a resolution authority with jurisdiction over the administrator for the Benchmark or a court or an entity with similar insolvency or resolution authority over the administrator for the Benchmark, which states that the administrator of the Benchmark has ceased or will cease to provide the Benchmark permanently or indefinitely, provided that, at the time of such statement or publication, there is no successor administrator that will continue to provide the Benchmark; or

(4)

a public statement or publication of information by the regulatory supervisor for the administrator of the Benchmark announcing that the Benchmark is no longer representative.

“Compounded SOFR” means the compounded average of SOFRs for the applicable Corresponding Tenor, with the rate, or methodology for this rate, and conventions for this rate being established by the calculation agent in accordance with:

(1)

the rate, or methodology for this rate, and conventions for this rate selected or recommended by the Relevant Governmental Body for determining compounded SOFR; provided that:

(2)

if, and to the extent that, the calculation agent determines that Compounded SOFR cannot be determined in accordance with clause (1) above, then the rate, or methodology for this rate, and conventions for this rate that have been selected by the calculation agent giving due consideration to any industry-accepted market practice for U.S. dollar-denominated floating rate securities at such time.

For the avoidance of doubt, the calculation of Compounded SOFR shall exclude the Benchmark Replacement Adjustment (if applicable) and the spread of basis points per annum.

“Corresponding Tenor” with respect to a Benchmark Replacement means a tenor (including overnight) having approximately the same length (disregarding business day adjustment) as the applicable tenor for the then-current Benchmark.

“Interpolated Benchmark” with respect to the Benchmark means the rate determined for the Corresponding Tenor by interpolating on a linear basis between: (1) the Benchmark for the longest period (for which the Benchmark is available) that is shorter than the Corresponding Tenor, and (2) the Benchmark for the shortest period (for which the Benchmark is available) that is longer than the Corresponding Tenor.

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“ISDA” means the International Swaps and Derivatives Association, Inc. or any successor.

“ISDA Definitions” means the 2006 ISDA Definitions published by ISDA, as amended or supplemented from time to time, or any successor definitional booklet for interest rate derivatives published from time to time.

“ISDA Fallback Adjustment” means the spread adjustment (which may be a positive or negative value or zero) that would apply for derivatives transactions referencing the ISDA Definitions to be determined upon the occurrence of an index cessation event with respect to the Benchmark for the applicable tenor.

“ISDA Fallback Rate” means the rate that would apply for derivatives transactions referencing the ISDA Definitions to be effective upon the occurrence of an index cessation date with respect to the Benchmark for the applicable tenor excluding the applicable ISDA Fallback Adjustment.

“Unadjusted Benchmark Replacement” means the Benchmark Replacement excluding the Benchmark Replacement Adjustment.

The terms “FRBNY’s Website,” “Reference Time,” “Relevant Governmental Body,” “SOFR” and “Term SOFR” have the meanings set forth above under the heading “— Interest.”

Determinations and Decisions

The calculation agent is expressly authorized to make certain determinations, decisions and elections under the terms of the Notes, including with respect to the use of Three-Month Term SOFR as the Benchmark for the floating rate period and under the benchmark transition provisions. Any determination, decision or election that may be made by the calculation agent under the terms of the Notes, including any determination with respect to a tenor, rate or adjustment or of the occurrence or non-occurrence of an event, circumstance or date and any decision to take or refrain from taking any action or any selection:

•

will be conclusive and binding on the holders of the Notes and the trustee absent manifest error;

•

if made by us as calculation agent, will be made in our sole discretion;

•

if made by a calculation agent other than us, will be made after consultation with us, and the calculation agent will not make any such determination, decision or election to which we reasonably object; and

•

notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Subordinated Indenture, shall become effective without consent from the holders of the Notes, the trustee or any other party.

Form, Denomination, Transfer, Exchange and Book-Entry Procedures

The Notes offered hereby will be issued only in fully registered form, without interest coupons, and in minimal denominations of $1,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof.

The Notes offered hereby will be evidenced by a global note which will be deposited with, or on behalf of, DTC, or any successor thereto, and registered in the name of Cede & Co., or Cede, as nominee of DTC. Except as set forth below, record ownership of the global note may be transferred, in whole or in part, only to another nominee of DTC or to a successor of DTC or its nominee.

The global note will not be registered in the name of any person, or exchanged for Notes that are registered in the name of any person, other than DTC or its nominee, unless one of the following occurs:

•

DTC notifies us that it is unwilling or unable to continue acting as the depositary for the global note, or DTC has ceased to be a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act, and in either case we fail to appoint a successor depositary; or

an event of default with respect to the Notes represented by the global note has occurred and is continuing.

In those circumstances, DTC will determine in whose names any securities issued in exchange for the global note will be registered. Any such Notes in certificated form will be issued in minimum denominations

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of $1,000 and multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof and may be transferred or exchanged only in such minimum denominations.

DTC or its nominee will be considered the sole owner and holder of the global note for all purposes, and as a result:

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you cannot get Notes registered in your name if they are represented by the global note;

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you cannot receive certificated (physical) notes in exchange for your beneficial interest in the global note;

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you will not be considered to be the owner or holder of the global note or any note it represents for any purpose; and

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all payments on the global note will be made to DTC or its nominee.

The laws of some jurisdictions require that certain kinds of purchasers (for example, certain insurance companies) can only own securities in definitive (certificated) form. These laws may limit your ability to transfer your beneficial interests in the global note to these types of purchasers.

Only institutions (such as a securities broker or dealer) that have accounts with the DTC or its nominee (called “participants”) and persons that may hold beneficial interests through participants (including through Euroclear Bank SA/NV or Clearstream Banking, société anonyme, as DTC participants) can own a beneficial interest in the global note. The only place where the ownership of beneficial interests in the global note will appear and the only way the transfer of those interests can be made will be on the records kept by DTC (for their participants’ interests) and the records kept by those participants (for interests of persons held by participants on their behalf).

Secondary trading in bonds and notes of corporate issuers is generally settled in clearing-house (that is, next-day) funds. In contrast, beneficial interests in a global note usually trade in DTC’s same-day funds settlement system, and settle in immediately available funds. We make no representations as to the effect that settlement in immediately available funds will have on trading activity in those beneficial interests.

We will make cash payments of interest on and principal of the global note to Cede, the nominee for DTC, as the registered owner of the global note. We will make these payments by wire transfer of immediately available funds on each payment date.

You may exchange or transfer the Notes at the corporate trust office of the trustee for the Notes or at any other office or agency maintained by us for those purposes. We will not require payment of a service charge for any transfer or exchange of the Notes, but Great Southern Bancorp, Inc. may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any applicable tax or other governmental charge.

We have been informed that, with respect to any cash payment of interest on or principal of the global note, DTC’s practice is to credit participants’ accounts on the payment date with payments in amounts proportionate to their respective beneficial interests in the Notes represented by the global note as shown on DTC’s records, unless DTC has reason to believe that it will not receive payment on that payment date. Payments by participants to owners of beneficial interests in Notes represented by the global note held through participants will be the responsibility of those participants, as is now the case with securities held for the accounts of customers registered in “street name.”

We also understand that neither DTC nor Cede will consent or vote with respect to the Notes. We have been advised that under its usual procedures, DTC will mail an “omnibus proxy” to us as soon as possible after the record date. The omnibus proxy assigns Cede’s consenting or voting rights to those participants to whose accounts the Notes are credited on the record date identified in a listing attached to the omnibus proxy.

Because DTC can only act on behalf of participants, who in turn act on behalf of indirect participants, the ability of a person having a beneficial interest in the principal amount represented by the global note to pledge the interest to persons or entities that do not participate in the DTC book-entry system, or otherwise take actions in respect of that interest, may be affected by the lack of a physical certificate evidencing its interest.

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DTC has advised us that it will take any action permitted to be taken by a holder of notes (including the presentation of notes for exchange) only at the direction of one or more participants to whose account with DTC interests in the global note are credited and only in respect of such portion of the principal amount of the Notes represented by the global note as to which such participant has, or participants have, given such direction.

DTC has also advised us as follows: DTC is a limited purpose trust company organized under the laws of the State of New York, a “banking organization” within the meaning of the New York Banking Law, a member of the Federal Reserve System, a “clearing corporation” within the meaning of the Uniform Commercial Code, as amended, and a “clearing agency” registered pursuant to the provisions of Section 17A of the Exchange Act. DTC was created to hold securities for its participants and facilitate the clearance and settlement of securities transactions between participants through electronic book-entry changes in accounts of its participants. Participants include securities brokers and dealers, banks, trust companies and clearing corporations and may include certain other organizations. Certain of such participants (or their representatives), together with other entities, own DTC. Indirect access to the DTC system is available to other entities such as banks, brokers, dealers and trust companies that clear through or maintain a custodial relationship with a participant, either directly or indirectly. The rules applicable to DTC and its direct and indirect participants are on file with the SEC.

The policies and procedures of DTC, which may change periodically, will apply to payments, transfers, exchanges and other matters relating to beneficial interests in the global note. We and the trustee have no responsibility or liability for any aspect of DTC’s or any participants’ records relating to beneficial interests in the global note, including for payments made on the global note, and we and the trustee are not responsible for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any of those records.

Calculation Agent

We will appoint a calculation agent for the Notes prior to the commencement of the floating rate period and will keep a record of such appointment at our principal offices, which will be available to any holder of the Notes upon request. In addition, we or an affiliate of ours may assume the duties of the calculation agent. We will act as the initial calculation agent.

The Trustee

The trustee for the holders of Notes issued under the Subordinated Indenture is U.S. Bank National Association. If an event of default with respect to the Notes occurs, and is not cured, the trustee will be required to use the degree of care of a prudent person in the conduct of his or her own affairs in the exercise of its powers. The trustee will be under no obligation to exercise any of its rights or powers under the Subordinated Indenture at the request of any holders of the Notes, unless they have offered to the trustee security or indemnity satisfactory to the trustee.

U.S. Bank National Association, in the future, may be the trustee under other indentures pursuant to which we issue debt. Pursuant to the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, if a default occurs with respect to the securities of any series, the trustee will be required to eliminate any conflicting interest as defined in the Trust Indenture Act or resign as trustee with respect to the securities of that series within 90 days of such default, unless such default were cured, duly waived or otherwise eliminated.

Payment and Paying Agents

We will pay principal and interest on the Notes at the corporate trust office of the trustee or at the office of any paying agent that we may designate.

We will pay any interest on the Notes to the registered owner of the Notes at the close of business on the record date for the interest, except in the case of defaulted interest. Interest payable at maturity of the Notes will be paid to the registered holder to whom principal is payable. We may at any time designate additional paying agents or rescind the designation of any paying agent.

Any moneys deposited with the trustee or any paying agent, or then held by us in trust, for the payment of the principal of and interest on any Note that remains unclaimed for two years after the

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MATERIAL U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSIDERATIONS

The following is a general discussion of certain U.S. federal income tax consequences of the ownership and disposition of the Notes offered hereby. This summary is for general information only, does not provide a complete analysis of all potential tax considerations, and is based on the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, the “Code,” administrative pronouncements, judicial decisions and final, temporary and proposed regulations of the United States Department of Treasury, or the Treasury Regulations, as well as existing interpretations relating thereto, all as of the date hereof, and changes to any of which subsequent to the date of this prospectus supplement may affect the tax consequences described herein (possibly with retroactive effect). As a result, the tax considerations when owning or disposing of the Notes could differ from those described below. We have not sought, and will not seek, any ruling from the Internal Revenue Service, or the “IRS,” with respect to the statements made and the conclusions reached in this summary, and we cannot assure you that the IRS will agree with such statements and conclusions nor that the IRS will not assert, or a court would not sustain, a challenge to one or more of the tax consequences described below.

Except where otherwise noted, this discussion addresses only those beneficial owners of the Notes that are purchased by an initial holder at their original issue price for cash and that are held as “capital assets” within the meaning of Section 1221 of the Code for U.S. federal income tax purposes (generally, property held for investment). This summary does not address the tax consequences to subsequent purchasers of the Notes or any persons who hold the Notes other than as capital assets. In addition, this summary does not address the tax laws of any state, local or non-U.S. jurisdiction or other U.S. federal tax laws (such as estate and gift taxes) other than U.S. federal income tax law, nor does it address any consequences that may result pursuant to Treasury Regulations promulgated under Section 385 of the Code with respect to any holder that is considered related to us for purposes of such Treasury Regulations. We intend, and by acquiring any Notes each beneficial owner of a Note will agree, to treat the Notes as indebtedness for U.S. federal income tax purposes, and this discussion assumes such treatment.

This discussion does not address all aspects of U.S. federal income taxation that may be applicable to beneficial owners of the Notes in light of their particular circumstances, or to a class of beneficial owners subject to special treatment under U.S. federal income tax laws, such as:

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entities treated as partnerships or S corporations for U.S. federal income tax purposes or persons who hold the Notes through entities treated as partnerships or S corporations for U.S. federal income tax purposes,

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financial institutions and banks,

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insurance companies,

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qualified insurance plans,

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tax-exempt organizations,

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qualified retirement plans and individual retirement accounts,

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governmental entities,-

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brokers, dealers or traders in securities or currencies,

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regulated investment companies,

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real estate investment trusts or grantor trusts,

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persons whose functional currency is not the U.S. dollar,

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persons subject to the alternative minimum tax provisions of the Code,

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persons who purchase or sell the Notes as part of a wash sale,

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persons who hold the Notes as part of a “hedge,” “straddle” or other risk reduction mechanism, “constructive sale,” or “conversion transaction,” as these terms are used in the Code,

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U.S. expatriates,

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persons subject to special tax accounting rules as a result of any item of gross income with respect to the Notes being taken into account in an applicable financial statement (as defined in Section 451 of the Code),

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Non-U.S. Holders (as defined below) who are present in the United States for 183 days or more in a taxable year, and

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controlled foreign corporations, passive foreign investment companies and regulated investment companies and shareholders of such corporations.

You are urged to consult your tax advisor with regard to the application of the U.S. federal income tax laws to your particular situation as well as any tax consequences arising under other U.S. federal tax laws or the laws of any state, local or non-U.S. taxing jurisdiction.

Tax Consequences to U.S. Holders

This section applies to you if you are a “U.S. Holder.” As used herein, the term “U.S. Holder” means a beneficial owner of a Note that is, for U.S. federal income tax purposes:

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an individual citizen or resident of the United States,

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a corporation, or other entity treated as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes, created or organized in or under the laws of the United States, any state therein or the District of Columbia,

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an estate, the income of which is subject to U.S. federal income taxation regardless of its source, or

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a trust: (a) if a court within the United States is able to exercise primary supervision over its administration and one or more United States persons have authority to control all substantial decisions of the trust; or (b) that has a valid election in effect under applicable Treasury Regulations to be treated as a United States person for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

If any entity treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes is a beneficial owner of Notes, the treatment of a partner in the partnership generally will depend upon the status of the partner and upon the activities of the partner and the partnership. Such partnerships and partners in partnerships considering an investment in the Notes are urged to consult their tax advisors about the U.S. federal income tax consequences of owning and disposing of Notes.

Payments of Interest and Original Issue Discount on the Notes. It is expected and this discussion assumes that either the issue price of the Notes will equal the stated redemption price at maturity of the Notes or if the issue price is less than the stated redemption price at maturity, the difference will be a de minimis amount (as set forth in the applicable Treasury Regulations). If, however, the issue price of a Note is less than the stated redemption amount at maturity and the difference is more than a de minimis amount (as set forth in the applicable Treasury Regulations), then a U.S. Holder will be required to include the difference in income as original issue discount, which we refer to as “OID,” as it accrues in accordance with a constant yield method. Stated interest on a Note will generally be taxable to a U.S. Holder as ordinary income at the time such interest is received or accrued, depending on the U.S. Holder’s regular method of accounting for U.S. federal income tax purposes. See the discussion below under “— Backup Withholding and Information Reporting” regarding certain information we may be required to provide the IRS with respect to payments to U.S. Holders and circumstances under which we may be required to withhold U.S. federal income tax on payments to U.S. Holders.

The Notes will initially bear interest at a fixed annual rate. From and including , 2025, the Notes will bear interest at a variable rate equivalent to the Benchmark rate plus a fixed mark-up. Under applicable Treasury Regulations, a debt instrument will qualify as a “variable rate debt instrument” if (a) its issue price does not exceed the total noncontingent principal payments due under the debt instrument by more than a specified de minimis amount and (b) the debt instrument provides for stated interest, paid or compounded at least annually, at current values of a single fixed rate and one or more qualified floating rates. A “qualified floating rate” is any variable rate where variations in the value of such rate can reasonably be expected to measure contemporaneous variations in the cost of newly borrowed funds in the currency in which the debt instrument is denominated, if the value of the rate on any date during the term of the debt

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instrument is set no earlier than three months prior to the first day on which that value is in effect and no later than one year following that first day. In addition, proposed Treasury Regulations, which may be relied upon by taxpayers in advance of finalization, provide that any qualified floating rate referencing an interbank offered rate together with any qualified floating rate that is a fallback rate in anticipation of such reference rate becoming unavailable should be treated as a single qualified floating rate. Under the foregoing definition, the Notes are expected to be treated as variable rate debt instruments for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Under this characterization, payments treated as qualified stated interest, referred to herein as “QSI,” on the Notes will generally be taxable to U.S. Holders as ordinary interest income at the time such interest payments are accrued or received, depending on the U.S. Holder’s regular method of accounting for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

For U.S. federal income tax purposes, OID is the excess of the stated redemption price at maturity of a debt instrument over its issue price, if such excess equals or exceeds a specified de minimis amount (generally 1∕4 of 1% of the debt instrument’s stated redemption price at maturity multiplied by, for an obligation that is not an installment obligation under applicable Treasury Regulations, the number of complete years to maturity of such debt instrument; we do not expect the Notes to be treated as an installment obligation). The issue price of an issue of debt instruments equals the first price at which a substantial amount of the debt instruments has been sold (ignoring sales to bond houses, brokers or similar persons or organizations acting in the capacity of underwriters, placement agents or wholesalers). The stated redemption price at maturity of a debt instrument is the sum of all payments provided by the debt instrument other than payments of QSI. The term QSI generally means stated interest that is unconditionally payable in cash at least annually at a single fixed rate, but as discussed below, special rules are applicable to a variable rate debt instrument. A U.S. Holder (regardless of its method of tax accounting) will be required to include OID in ordinary income as it accrues in accordance with a constant yield method based on a compounding of interest.

Under applicable Treasury Regulations, in order to determine the amount of QSI and OID in respect of the Notes, an equivalent fixed rate debt instrument must be constructed. The equivalent fixed rate debt instrument is a hypothetical instrument that has terms that are identical to those of the Notes, except that the equivalent fixed rate debt instrument provides for fixed rate substitutes in lieu of the actual rates on the Notes. The equivalent fixed rate debt instrument is constructed in the following fashion: (i) first, the initial fixed rate is replaced with a qualified floating rate such that the fair market value of the Notes as of the Notes’ issue date would be approximately the same as the fair market value of an otherwise identical debt instrument that provides for the replacement qualified floating rate rather than the fixed rate, and (ii) second, each floating rate (including the floating rate determined under (i) above) is converted into a fixed rate substitute (which, in each case, will generally be the value of each floating rate as of the issue date of the Notes).

Once the equivalent fixed rate debt instrument has been constructed pursuant to the foregoing rules, the amount of OID and QSI, if any, are determined for the equivalent fixed rate debt instrument by applying the general OID rules to the equivalent fixed rate debt instrument, and a U.S. Holder of the Notes will account for such OID and QSI as if the U.S. Holder held the equivalent fixed rate debt instrument. For each accrual period, appropriate adjustments will be made to the amount of QSI or OID assumed to have been accrued or paid with respect to the “equivalent” fixed rate debt instrument in the event that such amounts differ from the actual amount of interest accrued or paid on the Notes during the accrual period.

The Treasury Regulations provide special rules for determining the yield and maturity of a debt instrument such as the Notes that provide an issuer with the option to call the instrument at specified times. The Treasury Regulations generally deem an issuer to exercise a call option in a manner that minimizes the yield on the debt instrument for purposes of determining whether a debt instrument is issued with OID. Under the terms of the Notes, if the initial fixed rate substitute on the equivalent fixed rate debt instrument (as determined in the manner described above) is greater than the fixed rate substitute of the floating rate (as determined in the manner described above), the Notes will be presumed not to be called and OID with respect to the Notes will be calculated as described above. If, however, the initial fixed rate substitute on the equivalent fixed rate debt instrument (as determined in the manner described above) is less than the fixed rate substitute of the floating rate (as determined in the manner described above), the yield on the Notes will be minimized if the Notes are called immediately before the change in the interest rate on , 2025 and therefore the Notes will be treated as maturing on such date for OID purposes. This assumption is

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made solely for purposes of determining whether the Notes are issued with OID for U.S. federal income tax purposes, and is not an indication of our intention to call or not to call the Notes at any time. If, contrary to this presumption, the Notes are not called prior to the change in the interest rate on , 2025, then, solely for OID purposes, the Notes will be deemed to be reissued at their adjusted issue price on , 2025. This deemed reissuance should not give rise to taxable gain or loss to U.S. Holders.

Based upon current market conditions and the manner in which the interest rates on the Notes are determined, the Company expects that the equivalent fixed rate debt instrument (as determined in the manner described above) would be treated as having a single fixed interest rate throughout the term of the Notes for purposes of calculating OID. Accordingly, solely for purposes of determining QSI and OID, as of the issue date of the Notes, the Company expects that the Notes will be presumed to remain outstanding until maturity, all interest on the Notes will be treated as QSI and the Notes will not be treated as having been issued with any OID.

Sale, Exchange, Redemption, Retirement or Other Taxable Disposition. Upon the sale, exchange, redemption, retirement or other taxable disposition (including early redemption) of a Note, a U.S. Holder generally will recognize taxable gain or loss equal to the difference between (i) the amount of cash and the fair market value of any property received (excluding any amount attributable to accrued but unpaid interest, which will be taxable as ordinary interest income to the extent the U.S. Holder has not previously included the accrued interest in income) and (ii) such U.S. Holder’s adjusted tax basis in the Note. A U.S. Holder’s adjusted tax basis in the Note generally will equal the cost of the Note to the U.S. Holder less any principal payments previously received by such U.S. Holder. Any gain or loss generally will be capital gain or loss, and will be long-term capital gain or loss if, at the time of the disposition, the U.S. Holder has held the Note for more than one year. Long-term capital gains recognized by certain non-corporate U.S. Holders (including certain individuals) are generally subject to preferential tax rates. A non-corporate taxpayer may deduct up to $3,000 ($1,500 for married individuals filing separately) of net capital losses against ordinary income in any year, and any excess capital losses which are not used to reduce ordinary income in a particular taxable year may be carried forward to, and treated as capital losses incurred in, future years. A corporate taxpayer may deduct capital losses only against capital gains, and any net capital loss can generally be carried back three years and carried forward five years. U.S. Holders are urged to consult their tax advisor regarding such limitations.

Backup Withholding and Information Reporting. Information returns generally will be filed with the IRS in connection with interest payments on the Notes and the proceeds from a sale or other disposition (including a retirement or redemption) of the Notes. Backup withholding (currently at a rate of 24%) may be imposed on these payments unless the U.S. Holder provides the applicable withholding agent with a correct taxpayer identification number, or TIN, and certifies under penalties of perjury that the TIN is correct as well as certain other information, including that the holder has not been notified by the IRS that it is subject to backup withholding due to a prior underreporting of interest or dividends, or otherwise establishes an exemption from backup withholding. Backup withholding is not an additional tax; the amount of any backup withholding from a payment to a U.S. Holder generally will be allowable as a credit against the U.S. Holder’s U.S. federal income tax liability, and the U.S. Holder may be entitled to a refund of any amounts withheld under the backup withholding rules that exceed such U.S. Holder’s income tax liability, provided in each case the required information is timely furnished to the IRS. U.S. Holders are urged to consult their tax advisor regarding qualification for an exemption from backup withholding and the procedures for establishing such exemption, if applicable.

Net Investment Income Tax. A U.S. Holder who is an individual is subject to a 3.8% tax on the lesser of: (a) the U.S. Holder’s “net investment income” for the relevant taxable year; and (b) the excess of the U.S. Holder’s modified adjusted gross income for the relevant taxable year over a specified amount. The specified amount is $250,000 for married individuals filing jointly, $125,000 for married individuals filing separately, and $200,000 for other individuals. Estates and trusts are subject to similar rules. Net investment income generally includes gross income from interest on the Notes and net gain attributable to the disposition of certain property, such as the Notes, less certain deductions, unless such interest income or net gains are derived in the ordinary course of the conduct of a trade or business (other than a trade or business that consists of certain passive or trading activities), as well as, among other items, other interest, dividends, capital gains and rental or royalty income received by such person or entity. U.S. Holders that are

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individuals, estates or trusts are urged to consult their tax advisors regarding the effect, if any, of the net investment income tax on their purchase, ownership and disposition of Notes.

Tax Consequences to Non-U.S. Holders

You are a “Non-U.S. Holder” for purposes of this discussion if you are a beneficial owner of the Notes that is an individual, corporation, estate or trust for U.S. federal income tax purposes and, in each case, are not a U.S. Holder.

Withholding. Subject to the discussions below under “— Information Reporting and Backup Withholding” and “— FATCA Withholding,” payments of interest on the Notes to any Non-U.S. Holder will be exempt from U.S. federal income and withholding tax provided that:

•

such payments are not effectively connected with the conduct by such Non-U.S. Holder of a trade or business in the United States (or, if a treaty applies, are not attributable to a permanent establishment or fixed base maintained by the Non-U.S. Holder in the United States);

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such Non-U.S. Holder does not own, actually or constructively, 10 percent or more of the total combined voting power of all classes of our voting stock;

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such non-U.S. Holder is not a controlled foreign corporation (as defined in Section 957(a) of the Code) that, for U.S. federal income tax purposes is related (within the meaning of Section 864(d)(4) of the Code) to us;

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such Non-U.S. Holder is not a bank that is receiving the interest on an extension of credit made pursuant to a loan agreement entered into in the ordinary course of its trade or business; and

•

the statement requirement set forth in Section 871(h) or Section 881(c) of the Code has been fulfilled with respect to the beneficial owner, as discussed below.

The statement requirement referred to in the preceding paragraph will generally be fulfilled if the Non-U.S. Holder provides a properly executed IRS Form W-8BEN or W-8BEN-E (or appropriate substitute or successor form or such other form as the IRS may prescribe) to the applicable withholding agent certifying, under penalties of perjury, that it is not a “United States person” (as defined in the Code) and provides its name and address. If the Non-U.S. Holder holds the Notes through a financial institution or other agent acting on its behalf, such holder may be required to provide the appropriate certifications to its agent. The holder’s agent may then be required to provide the appropriate certifications to the applicable withholding agent, either directly or through other intermediaries. Special rules apply to foreign estates and trusts, and in certain circumstances, certifications as to foreign status of trust owners or beneficiaries may have to be provided to the applicable withholding agent. In addition, special rules apply to qualified intermediaries that enter into withholding agreements with the IRS.

A Non-U.S. Holder that cannot satisfy the requirements described in the preceding paragraphs generally will be subject to U.S. federal withholding tax at the rate of 30% with respect to payments of interest on the Notes, unless (i) the Non-U.S. Holder provides a properly completed IRS Form W-8BEN or Form W-8BEN-E (or any applicable successor form) and other required documentation evidencing its entitlement to an exemption from (or a reduction of) withholding under an applicable income tax treaty, or (ii) the Non-U.S. Holder provides a properly completed IRS W-8ECI stating that the payments of interest on the Notes are effectively connected with the conduct by the Non-U.S. Holder of a trade or business in the United States (and, in the event that an income tax treaty is applicable, payments of interest are also attributable to a U.S. permanent establishment or fixed base maintained by such Non-U.S. Holder in the United States, as applicable) and the Non-U.S. Holder meets the certification requirement discussed in the following section.

Non-U.S. Holders should consult their tax advisors about the specific methods for satisfying these requirements. A claim for exemption will not be valid if the person receiving the applicable form has actual knowledge or reason to know that the statements on the form are false.

Sale, Exchange, Redemption, Retirement or Other Taxable Disposition. Subject to the discussions below under “— Information Reporting and Backup Withholding” and “— FATCA Withholding,” except

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with respect to accrued and unpaid interest (which is subject to the rules discussed above under “— Withholding”), a Non-U.S. Holder will generally not be subject to United States federal income tax or withholding tax on gain realized on the sale, exchange or other disposition of the Notes, unless (a) that holder is an individual who is present in the United States for 183 days or more during the taxable year of the disposition and certain other requirements are met or (b) the gain is effectively connected with the conduct of a United States trade or business of the holder (and, if required by an applicable income tax treaty, is attributable to a U.S. permanent establishment or fixed base maintained in the United States by the Holder). If the exception under (a) applies, the Non-U.S. holder will generally be subject to tax equal to 30% on the gain realized except as provided under an applicable treaty. If the exception under (b) applies, the Non-U.S. Holder will be subject to U.S. federal income tax in the same manner as a U.S. Holder unless an applicable treaty provides otherwise, and if such holder is a corporation, it may be subject to an additional branch profits tax at a rate of 30% (or such lower rate provided by an applicable treaty).

Income or Gain Effectively Connected with a U.S. Trade or Business. If a Non-U.S. Holder is engaged in a trade or business in the United States, and if interest on the Notes or gain from the sale, exchange or other disposition of the Notes is effectively connected with the conduct of such trade or business (and, if a treaty applies, such income or gain is attributable to a permanent establishment or fixed base maintained by such Non-U.S. Holder in the United States, as applicable), the Non-U.S. Holder generally will be subject to U.S. federal income tax on such interest or gain in the same manner as if it were a U.S. Holder. Such Non-U.S. Holder will be required to provide to the applicable withholding agent a properly executed IRS Form W-8ECI (or appropriate substitute form) in order to claim an exemption from withholding tax. In addition, if such a Non-U.S. Holder is a foreign corporation, it may be subject to a branch profits tax, at a 30% rate (or such lower rate provided by an applicable treaty), on its effectively connected earnings and profits for the taxable year, subject to certain adjustments.

Information Reporting and Backup Withholding. Any payments of interest on the Notes to a Non-U.S. Holder will generally be reported to the IRS and to the Non-U.S. Holder. Copies of these information returns also may be made available under the provisions of a specific treaty or agreement to the tax authorities of the country in which the Non-U.S. Holder is a resident. Backup withholding (currently at a rate of 24%) generally will not apply to “reportable payments” if a Non-U.S. Holder satisfies the statement requirement described under “— Withholding” above, or the holder otherwise establishes an exemption, provided that no applicable withholding agent has actual knowledge or reason to know that the holder is a United States person. The proceeds of a disposition (including a retirement or redemption) effected outside the United States by a Non-U.S. Holder of the Notes to or through a foreign office of a broker generally will not be subject to backup withholding or related information reporting. If that broker is, however, for U.S. tax purposes, a United States person, a controlled foreign corporation, a foreign person 50% or more of whose gross income from all sources for certain periods is effectively connected with a trade or business within the United States, or a foreign partnership that is engaged in the conduct of a trade or business in the United States or that has one or more partners that are United States persons who in the aggregate hold more than 50% of the income or capital interests in the partnership, such information reporting requirements will apply (but backup withholding generally will not apply) unless that broker has documentary evidence in its files of such holder’s status as a Non-U.S. Holder. Backup withholding is not an additional tax; any amounts withheld under the backup withholding rules will generally be allowed as a credit against the Non-U.S. Holder’s U.S. federal income tax liability and the Non-U.S. Holder may be entitled to a refund of any amounts withheld under the backup withholding rules that exceed such Non-U.S. Holder’s income tax liability, provided in each case the required information is timely furnished to the IRS. The information reporting requirements described herein may apply regardless of whether backup withholding is required.

FATCA Withholding

Sections 1471 through 1474 of the Code and applicable Treasury Regulations thereunder (commonly referred to as “FATCA”) impose a 30% withholding tax on “withholdable payments” made to a “foreign financial institution” (including amounts paid to a foreign financial institution on behalf of a holder) unless the foreign financial institution enters into an agreement with the IRS to collect and provide to the IRS on an annual basis substantial information regarding its U.S. account holders (which includes certain equity and debt holders, as well as certain account holders that are non-U.S. entities with U.S. owners) or an exception applies. FATCA also imposes the same withholding tax of 30% on withholdable payments made to a

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foreign entity that is not a financial institution (as a beneficial owner), subject to certain exceptions, unless such entity provides the withholding agent with a certification as to its FATCA status and, in certain cases, identifies any “substantial” U.S. owner (generally, any specified United States person that directly or indirectly owns more than a specified percentage of such entity). The term “withholdable payment” includes interest paid with respect to the Notes and, subject to the discussion of proposed Treasury Regulations below, the gross proceeds of the sale or other disposition of the Notes.

Proposed Treasury Regulations have been issued that, when finalized, will provide for the repeal of the 30% withholding tax that would have applied to payments of gross proceeds from the sale, exchange or other disposition of the Notes. In the preamble to the proposed regulations, the government provided that taxpayers may rely upon this repeal until the issuance of final regulations. Potential holders are encouraged to consult with their tax advisors regarding the possible implications of FATCA on an investment in the Notes.

In the case of withholdable payments made to a “foreign financial institution” (e.g., a foreign bank or broker, or certain foreign investment entities), as a beneficial owner or as an intermediary, this tax generally will be imposed, subject to certain exceptions, unless such institution (i) has agreed to (and does) comply with the requirements of an agreement with the United States, which we refer to as an “FFI Agreement,” or (ii) is required by (and does comply with) applicable foreign law enacted in connection with an intergovernmental agreement between the United States and a foreign jurisdiction, which we refer to as an “IGA,” to, among other things, collect and provide to the U.S. tax authorities or other relevant tax authorities certain information regarding U.S. account holders of such institution and, in either case, such institution provides the withholding agent with a certification as to its FATCA status.

If a Note is held through a foreign financial institution that has agreed to comply with the requirements of an FFI Agreement or is subject to similar requirements under applicable foreign law enacted in connection with an IGA, such foreign financial institution (or, in certain cases, a person paying amounts to such foreign financial institution) generally will be required, subject to certain exceptions, to withhold tax on payments made to (i) a person (including an individual) that fails to provide any required information or documentation or (ii) a foreign financial institution that has not agreed to comply with the requirements of an FFI Agreement and is not subject to similar requirements under applicable foreign law enacted in connection with an IGA.

Non-U.S. Holders, and U.S. Holders holding the Notes through a non-U.S. intermediary, should consult with their own tax advisors regarding the possible application of FATCA to the Notes.

THE FOREGOING DISCUSSION IS FOR GENERAL INFORMATION ONLY AND IS NOT A SUBSTITUTE FOR AN INDIVIDUAL ANALYSIS OF THE TAX CONSEQUENCES RELATED TO THE NOTES TO YOU. WE URGE YOU TO CONSULT A TAX ADVISOR REGARDING THE PARTICULAR FEDERAL, STATE, LOCAL AND FOREIGN TAX CONSEQUENCES RELATED TO THE NOTES TO YOU.

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BENEFIT PLAN INVESTOR CONSIDERATIONS

The following is a summary of material considerations arising under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, or ERISA, and Section 4975 of the Code that may be relevant if you are acting on behalf of, are using assets of, or are a fiduciary of, employee benefit plans that are subject to Part 4 of Subtitle B of Title I of ERISA (such as a profit sharing, pension, or other qualified retirement plans (“ERISA Plans”)), individual retirement accounts, or IRAs, Keogh plans or other plans and other arrangements subject to Section 4975 of the Code (collectively with ERISA Plans, the “Plans”, and each a “Plan”), or if you are acting on behalf of or using assets of an entity that is deemed to hold assets of a Plan.

ERISA and Section 4975 of the Code impose certain requirements and duties on Plans, fiduciaries of Plans, and entities (including certain insurance company general accounts) whose underlying assets are deemed “plan assets” (as defined in U.S. Department of Labor regulation 29 C.F.R. Section 2510.3-101, as modified by Section 3(42) of ERISA (the “plan asset regulations”)) by reason of a Plan’s investment therein (a “Plan Asset Entity”).

Employee benefit plans sponsored by a governmental agency, certain benefit plans sponsored by not for profit organizations or churches and certain non-U.S. plans are not subject to Part 4 of Subtitle B of Title I of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code (referred to as Non-ERISA Arrangements), but may be subject to laws that are substantially similar (each, a “Similar Law”).

The following discussion summarizes certain aspects of ERISA, the Code and Similar Laws that may affect the decision by a Plan or Non-ERISA Arrangement to invest in the Notes. It is general in nature and is not intended to be a complete discussion of applicable laws and regulations pertaining to an investment in the Notes by a Plan or Non-ERISA Arrangement. Nor is the following discussion intended to be legal advice. It is based on applicable law and regulations in effect as of the date of this prospectus supplement; we do not undertake any obligation to update this discussion as a result of changes in applicable law or regulations. Fiduciaries of Plans and Non-ERISA Arrangements should consult their own legal counsel before purchasing the Notes. References herein to the purchase, holding or disposition of Notes also refer to the purchase, holding or disposition of any beneficial interest in the Notes.

Fiduciary Considerations

Before investing in the Notes, the fiduciary of an ERISA Plan should consider whether an investment will satisfy the applicable requirements set forth in Part 4 of Title I of ERISA, including whether the investment:

•

will satisfy the prudence and diversification standards of ERISA;

•

will be made solely in the interests of the participants and beneficiaries of the Plan;

•

is permissible under the terms of the Plan and its investment policies and other governing instruments; and

•

is for the exclusive purpose of providing benefits to the participants and beneficiaries of the Plan and for defraying the reasonable expenses of administering the Plan.

The fiduciary of a Plan should consider all relevant facts and circumstances, including the limitations imposed on transferability, whether the Notes will provide sufficient liquidity in light of the foreseeable needs of the Plan, that the Notes are unsecured and subordinated, and the tax consequences of the investment. The fiduciary of a Non-ERISA Arrangement should consider whether an investment in the Notes satisfies its obligations imposed under Similar Laws and whether an investment is consistent with the terms of the governing instruments of the Non-ERISA Arrangement.

Prohibited Transactions

Section 406 of ERISA and Section 4975 of the Code may prohibit Plans, fiduciaries of Plans and Plan Asset Entities from engaging in certain transactions involving the assets of a Plan and those persons who have specified relationships with the Plan, called “parties in interest” under ERISA and “disqualified persons” under Section 4975 of the Code (referred to herein as “parties in interest”) unless relief is available

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under an applicable statutory, regulatory or administrative exemption. Parties in interest who engage in a non-exempt prohibited transaction may be subject to excise taxes or other liabilities, and the transaction may be subject to rescission. If you are acting on behalf on an IRA that you maintain or a beneficiary maintains, engaging in a prohibited transaction can result in the IRA losing its tax exempt status and its assets will be deemed to be distributed to you or the beneficiary, as applicable, in a taxable distribution. In addition, a fiduciary of a Plan who permits the Plan to engage in a transaction that the fiduciary knows or should know is a prohibited transaction may be liable to the Plan for any loss the Plan incurs as a result of the transaction or for any profits the fiduciary earned in the transaction. Similar Laws may include prohibitions applicable to Non-ERISA Arrangements that are similar to the prohibited transaction rules contained in ERISA and the Code. A fiduciary considering an investment in the Notes should consider whether the investment, including the holding or disposition of the Notes, may constitute or give rise to such a prohibited transaction for which an exemption is not available.

Without regard to whether the Notes may cause our assets to be treated as plan assets under the plan asset regulations, we, the underwriters and our current and future affiliates may be parties in interest with respect to many Plans, and the purchase, holding or disposition of the Notes by, on behalf of, or with the assets of, any such Plan could give rise to a prohibited transaction under ERISA or the Code. For example, a purchase of the Notes may be deemed to represent a direct or indirect sale of property, extension of credit or furnishing of services between us and an investing Plan, which would be prohibited if we are a party in interest with respect to the Plan unless exemptive relief is available.

A prospective purchaser that is, or is acting on behalf of, or with the assets of, a Plan may wish to consider the exemptive relief available under the following prohibited transaction class exemptions, or PTCEs: (a) the in-house asset manager exemption (PTCE 96-23); (b) the insurance company general account exemption (PTCE 95-60); (c) the bank collective investment fund exemption (PTCE 91-38); (d) the insurance company pooled separate account exemption (PTCE 90-1); and (e) the qualified professional asset manager exemption (PTCE 84-14). In addition, ERISA Section 408(b)(17) and Section 4975(d)(20) of the Code may provide limited exemptive relief for the purchase and sale of the Notes, provided that neither we nor certain of our affiliates have or exercise any discretionary authority or control over, or render any investment advice with respect to, the assets of the Plan involved in the transaction, and provided further that the Plan pays no more, and receives no less than, adequate consideration (as defined in the exemption) in connection with the transaction (the so-called “service provider exemption”). There can be no assurance, however, that any of these administrative or statutory exemptions will be available with respect to a transaction involving the Notes or with respect to any particular Plan. Prospective purchasers should consult their own legal counsel to determine whether any purchase will constitute a prohibited transaction and whether exemptive relief is available.

Plan Look-Through

As noted above, the plan asset regulations provide that the assets of an entity may be deemed assets of a Plan by reason of that Plan’s investment in equity interests of the entity (so-called “Plan look-through”) unless an exemption under the plan assets regulations applies. If our assets were deemed to be assets of a Plan that purchased Notes, among other things, the provisions of ERISA and Section 4975 of the Code that apply to the Plan would apply to transactions in which we engage. There will not be Plan look-through if the investment by Plans is in a form other than an equity interest, which is defined in the plan asset regulations to mean an interest other than an instrument that is treated as indebtedness under applicable local law and which has no substantial equity features. Prospective purchasers should consult their own legal counsel to determine whether the Notes will be treated as indebtedness with no substantial equity features for purposes of the plan asset regulations.

Representations and Obligations

Each purchaser or holder of a Note, including each fiduciary who causes an entity to purchase or hold a Note, shall be deemed to have represented and warranted on each day such purchaser or holder holds such Note that either:

•

it is neither a Plan, Plan Asset Entity nor a Non-ERISA Arrangement, and it is not purchasing or holding the Note on behalf of, or with the assets of, any Plan or Non-ERISA Arrangement; or

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UNDERWRITING

Piper Sandler & Co. is acting as representative of the underwriters named below. Subject to the terms and conditions stated in the underwriting agreement, each underwriter named below has severally agreed to purchase from us, and we have agreed to sell to that underwriter, the principal amount of subordinated notes set forth opposite that underwriter’s name at the public offering price less the underwriting discounts set forth on the cover page of this prospectus supplement:

Underwriters	Principal Amount of Notes
Piper Sandler & Co.		$
Keefe, Bruyette & Woods, Inc.
Janney Montgomery Scott LLC
Total		$

The underwriting agreement provides that the obligations of the underwriters to purchase the Notes offered hereby are subject to certain conditions precedent and that the underwriters are obligated to purchase all of the Notes offered by this prospectus supplement if any of the Notes are purchased. The underwriters’ obligations to purchase the Notes from us are several and not joint.

We have agreed to indemnify the underwriters against some specified types of liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and to contribute to payments the underwriter may be required to make in respect of any of these liabilities.

Discounts

The following table shows the per Note and total underwriting discounts we will pay the underwriters:

	Per Note					%
	Total				$

Notes sold by the underwriters to the public initially will be offered at the public offering price set forth on the cover of this prospectus supplement. If all the Notes are not sold at the public offering price, the underwriter may change such offering price and the other selling terms. The offering of the Notes by the underwriters is subject to receipt and acceptance and subject to the underwriters’ right to reject any order in whole or in part.

We estimate that our total expenses of the offering, excluding underwriting discounts, will be approximately $ . We have also agreed to reimburse the underwriters for their legal fees and certain other expenses, up to a maximum of $ in the aggregate, incurred in connection with this offering, unless otherwise agreed to by the parties. In accordance with FINRA Rule 5110, these reimbursed fees and expenses are deemed underwriting compensation for this offering.

No Sales of Similar Securities

We have agreed, for a period from the date of the underwriting agreement through and including the closing date of the offering, not to, without the prior consent of the underwriters, directly or indirectly, issue, offer or sell, or enter into any agreement to sell, any debt securities (excluding deposit obligations) of the Company or its subsidiaries, other than the Notes.

No Public Trading Market

There is currently no public trading market for the Notes. In addition, we have not applied and do not intend to apply to list the Notes on any securities exchange or to have the Notes quoted on a quotation system. The underwriters have advised us that they intend to make a market in the Notes. However, the underwriters are not obligated to do so and may discontinue any market-making in the Notes at any time in their sole discretion. Therefore, we cannot assure you that a liquid trading market for the Notes will develop, that you

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will be able to sell your Notes at a particular time, or that the price you receive when you sell will be favorable. If an active trading market for the Notes does not develop, the market price and liquidity of the Notes may be adversely affected. If the Notes are traded, they may trade at a discount from their initial offering price, depending on prevailing interest rates, the market for similar securities, the credit ratings for the Notes, our operating performance and financial condition, general economic conditions and other factors.

Price Stabilization; Short Positions

In connection with this offering of the Notes, the underwriters may engage in overallotment, stabilizing transactions, syndicate covering transactions or the imposition of penalty bids in connection with this offering in accordance with Regulation M under the Exchange Act. Overallotment involves sales in excess of the offering size, which create a short position for the underwriters. Stabilizing transactions involve bids to purchase the Notes in the open market for the purpose of pegging, fixing, or maintaining the price of the Notes. Stabilizing transactions may cause the price of the Notes to be higher than it would otherwise be in the absence of those transactions. If the underwriter engages in stabilizing transactions, it may discontinue them at any time. A syndicate covering transaction is the bid for or the purchase of Notes on behalf of the underwriter to reduce a short position incurred by the underwriter in connection with the offering. A penalty bid is an arrangement permitting the underwriter to reclaim the selling concession otherwise accruing to a syndicate member in connection with the offering if the Notes originally sold by such syndicate member are purchased in a syndicate covering transaction and therefore have not been effectively placed by such syndicate member.

Neither we nor the underwriters make any representation or prediction as to the direction or magnitude of any effect that the transactions described above may have on the price of the Notes. In addition, neither we nor the underwriters make any representation that the underwriter will engage in these transactions or that these transactions, once commenced, will not be discontinued without notice.

The information on the underwriters’ websites and any information contained in any other websites maintained by the underwriters is not part of this prospectus, has not been approved or endorsed by us or the underwriters and should not be relied upon by investors.

Other Relationships

The underwriters and their affiliates have engaged in, and may in the future engage in, investment banking and other commercial dealings in the ordinary course of business with us or our affiliates. They have received, or may in the future receive, customary fees and commissions for these transactions.

In addition, in the ordinary course of their business activities, the underwriters and their affiliates may make or hold a broad array of investments, including, without limitation, serving as counterparties to certain derivative and hedging arrangements and actively trade debt and equity securities (or related derivative securities) and financial instruments (including bank loans) for their own account and for the accounts of their customers. Such investments and securities activities may involve securities and/or instruments of ours or our affiliates. If the underwriters or their affiliates have a lending relationship with us, they may hedge their credit exposure to us consistent with their customary risk management policies. The underwriters and their affiliates could hedge such exposure by entering into transactions which consist of either the purchase of credit default swaps or the creation of short positions in our securities, including potentially the Notes offered hereby. Any such credit default swaps or short positions could adversely affect future trading prices of the Notes offered hereby. The underwriters and their affiliates may also make investment recommendations and/or publish or express independent research views in respect of such securities or financial instruments and may hold, or recommend to clients that they acquire, long and/or short positions in such securities and instruments.

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PROSPECTUS

GREAT SOUTHERN BANCORP, INC.

$350,000,000
Debt Securities, Common Stock, Preferred Stock, Depositary Shares,
Purchase Contracts, Warrants, Rights and Units

We may offer and sell from time to time, in one or more series, our debt securities, which may consist of notes, debentures, or other evidences of indebtedness, shares of our common stock or preferred stock, depositary shares, purchase contracts, warrants, rights and units comprised of two or more of these securities in any combination. The debt securities, preferred stock and depositary shares we may offer may be convertible into or exchangeable for other securities of ours. The aggregate offering price of the securities offered by us under this prospectus will not exceed $350,000,000.

This prospectus provides you with a general description of these securities. Each time any securities are offered pursuant to this prospectus, we will provide you with a prospectus supplement, and, if necessary, a pricing supplement, that will describe the specific amounts, prices and terms of the securities being offered. These supplements may also add, update or change information contained in this prospectus. To understand the terms of the securities offered, you should carefully read this prospectus with the applicable supplements, which together provide the specific terms of the securities being offered.

We may offer and sell the securities to or through one or more underwriters, dealers and agents, or directly to purchasers, on a continuous or delayed basis.

Our common stock is listed on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbol “GSBC.”

Investing in our securities involves risks. See the section entitled “Risk Factors” contained on page 6 of this prospectus, and the risk factors that may be included in the applicable prospectus supplement and in our periodic reports and other documents we file with or furnish to the Securities and Exchange Commission.

These securities are not deposits or obligations of a bank or savings association and are not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other governmental agency.

This prospectus may be used to offer and sell securities only if accompanied by the prospectus supplement for those securities.

Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or determined that this prospectus or the accompanying prospectus supplement is accurate or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

The date of this prospectus is April 15, 2020

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IMPORTANT NOTICE ABOUT INFORMATION PRESENTED IN THIS PROSPECTUS AND THE ACCOMPANYING PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT

We may provide information to you about the securities being offered in three separate documents that progressively provide more detail:

•

this prospectus, which provides general information, some of which may not apply to your securities;

•

the accompanying prospectus supplement, which describes the terms of the securities, some of which may not apply to your securities; and

•

if necessary, a pricing supplement, which describes the specific terms of your securities.

If the terms of your securities vary among the pricing supplement, the prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus, you should rely on the information in the following order of priority:

•

the pricing supplement, if any;

•

the prospectus supplement; and

•

the prospectus.

We include cross-references in this prospectus and the accompanying prospectus supplement to captions in these materials where you can find further related discussions. The following table of contents and the table of contents included in the accompanying prospectus supplement provide the pages on which these captions are located.

Unless indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, we have not taken any action that would permit sales of these securities in any jurisdiction outside the United States. If you are an investor outside the United States, you should inform yourself about and comply with any restrictions as to the offering of the securities and the distribution of this prospectus and any prospectus supplement.

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ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS

This prospectus is part of a registration statement that we filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or the “SEC,” utilizing a “shelf” registration process. Under this shelf registration process, we may from time to time offer and sell the securities described in this prospectus in one or more offerings, up to a total initial aggregate offering price for all offerings of $350,000,000. This prospectus provides you with a general description of the securities we may offer. Each time these securities are offered, we will provide a prospectus supplement that will contain specific information about the terms of the offeringand include a discussion of any risk factors or other special considerations that apply to the securities and the offering. The prospectus supplement may also add, update or change information contained in this prospectus. You should read this prospectus, the applicable prospectus supplement and any pricing supplement together with the additional information described under the heading “Where You Can Find More Information.”

The registration statement containing this prospectus, including exhibits to the registration statement, provides additional information about us and the securities offered under this prospectus. The registration statement may be read at the SEC’s website mentioned under “Where You Can Find More Information.”

All references in this prospectus to the “Company,” “we,” “us,” “our” or similar references mean Great Southern Bancorp, Inc. and its consolidated subsidiaries and all references in this prospectus to “Great Southern Bancorp” or “Great Southern Bancorp, Inc.” mean Great Southern Bancorp, Inc. excluding its subsidiaries, in each case unless otherwise expressly stated or the context otherwise requires. When we refer to “Great Southern Bank,” “Great Southern” or the “Bank” in this prospectus, we mean our wholly owned subsidiary, Great Southern Bank, which is a Missouri-chartered trust company.

WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

We have filed with the SEC a registration statement under the Securities Act of 1933, or the “Securities Act,” that registers the offer and sale of the securities that may be offered under this prospectus. The registration statement, including the attached exhibits and schedules included or incorporated by reference in the registration statement, contains additional relevant information about us. The rules and regulations of the SEC allow us to omit certain information included in the registration statement from this prospectus. In addition, we file reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, or the “Exchange Act.” The SEC maintains a website that contains reports, proxy and information statements, and other information regarding issuers that file electronically with the SEC, accessible to the public at www.sec.gov.

The SEC allows us to “incorporate by reference” information into this prospectus. This means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to another document that we file separately with the SEC. The information incorporated by reference is considered to be a part of this prospectus, except for any information that is superseded by information that is included directly in this document or in a more recent incorporated document.

This prospectus incorporates by reference the documents listed below that we have previously filed with the SEC (excluding any portion of these documents that has been furnished to and deemed not to be filed with the SEC).

	Report(s)			Period(s) of Report(s) or Date(s) Filed
	• Annual Report on Form 10-K			For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019
	• Current Reports on Form 8-K			Filed on January 16, 2020, January 27, 2020, March 18, 2020 and March 27, 2020
	• Registration Statement on Form 8-A (for the description of our common stock), and all amendments or reports filed for the purpose of updating such description			Filed on November 1, 1989

We also incorporate by reference all future documents that we file with the SEC under Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act after the date of our initial registration statement relating to the securities until the completion of the offering of the securities covered by this prospectus or until we terminate

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this offering, excluding any document or portion thereof that has been furnished to and deemed not to be filed with the SEC. The information incorporated by reference contains information about us and our business, financial condition and results of operations and is an important part of this prospectus.

You can obtain any of the documents incorporated by reference in this document through us, or from the SEC through the SEC’s web site at www.sec.gov. Documents incorporated by reference are available from us without charge, excluding any exhibits to those documents, unless the exhibit is specifically incorporated by reference in those documents. You can obtain documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus by requesting them in writing or by telephone from us at the following address:

Great Southern Bancorp, Inc.
Attn: Kelly Polonus, Investor Relations
P.O. Box 9009
Springfield, Missouri 65808
(800) 749-7113

We make available, through our website at www.greatsouthernbank.com (by clicking “About Us” and then “Investor Relations”), our annual reports on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K, and any amendments to those reports filed with or furnished to the SEC pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act as soon as reasonably practicable after we electronically file such material with, or furnish it to, the SEC. This reference to our website is for the convenience of investors as required by the SEC and shall not be deemed to incorporate any information on the website into this registration statement.

You should rely only on the information contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement. We have not authorized anyone to give any information or make any representation about us that is different from, or in addition to, those contained in this prospectus or in any of the materials that we have incorporated into this prospectus. If anyone does give you information of this sort, you should not rely on it. If you are in a jurisdiction where offers to sell, or solicitations of offers to purchase, the securities offered by this document are unlawful, or if you are a person to whom it is unlawful to direct these types of activities, then the offer presented in this document does not extend to you. The information contained in this document speaks only as of the date of this document unless the information specifically indicates that another date applies.

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SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This prospectus, the applicable prospectus supplements and the other documents we incorporate by reference in this prospectus, may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements often include the words “believes,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “estimates,” “forecasts,” “intends,” “plans,” “targets,” “potentially,” “probably,” “projects,” “outlook” or similar expressions or future or conditional verbs such as “may,” “will,” “should,” “would” and “could.” Forward-looking statements can be identified by the fact that they do not relate strictly to historical or current facts.

By their nature, forward-looking statements are subject to numerous assumptions, risks, and uncertainties. A number of factors could cause actual conditions, events, or results to differ significantly from those described in the forward-looking statements. These factors include, but are not limited to, those which may be set forth in the applicable prospectus supplements and those under the heading “Risk Factors” included in our Annual Reports on Form 10-K and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, and other factors described in our periodic reports filed from time to time with the SEC. Actual results, performance or achievement could differ materially from those contained in these forward-looking statements for a variety of reasons, including, without limitation, those discussed under “Risk Factors” in the applicable prospectus supplement and in other information contained in our publicly available filings with the SEC. Other unknown or unpredictable factors also could have a material adverse effect on us and our business, financial condition and results of operations.

We encourage you to understand forward-looking statements to be strategic objectives rather than absolute forecasts of future performance. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made, and are inherently subject to uncertainties, risks and changes in circumstances that are difficult to predict. We are not under any obligation to, nor do we intend to, publicly update or review any of these forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, even if experience or future events make it clear that any expected results expressed or implied by those forward-looking statements will not be realized. Please carefully review and consider the various disclosures made in the applicable prospectus supplement and in our other reports filed with the SEC that attempt to advise interested parties of the risks and factors that may affect our business, results of operations, financial condition or prospects.

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PROSPECTUS SUMMARY

This summary provides a general description of the securities that may be offered by this prospectus. This summary is not complete and does not contain all of the information that may be important to you. For a more complete understanding of us and the terms of the securities to be offered, you should read carefully this entire prospectus, including the “Risk Factors” section, the applicable prospectus supplement for the securities and the other documents we refer to and incorporate by reference. In particular, we incorporate important business and financial information into this prospectus by reference.

The Securities We May Offer

We may use this prospectus to offer securities in an aggregate amount of up to $350,000,000 in one or more offerings. A prospectus supplement, which we will provide each time we offer securities, will describe the amounts, prices and detailed terms of the securities and may describe risks associated with an investment in the securities in addition to those described in the “Risk Factors” section of this prospectusand the documents incorporated by reference. We will also include in the prospectus supplement, where applicable, information about material United States federal income tax considerations relating to the securities. Terms used in this prospectus will have the meanings described in this prospectus unless otherwise specified.

We may sell the securities to or through underwriters, dealers or agents or directly to purchasers. We, as well as any agents acting on our behalf, reserve the sole right to accept or to reject in whole or in part any proposed purchase of our securities. Each prospectus supplement will set forth the names of any underwriters, dealers or agents involved in the sale of our securities described in that prospectus supplement and any applicable fee, commission or discount arrangements with them.

Debt Securities

We may sell debt securities, which may be senior or subordinated in priority of payment. We will provide a prospectus supplement that describes the ranking, whether senior or subordinated, the specific designation, the aggregate principal amount, the purchase price, the maturity, the redemption terms, the interest rate or manner of calculating the interest rate, the time of payment of interest, if any, the terms for any conversion or exchange, including the terms relating to the adjustment of any conversion or exchange mechanism, the listing, if any, on a securities exchange and any other specific terms of the debt securities being offered.

Common Stock

We may sell shares of our common stock, par value $0.01 per share. In a prospectus supplement, we will describe the aggregate number of shares offered and the offering price or prices of the shares.

Preferred Stock; Depositary Shares

We may sell shares of our preferred stock, par value $0.01 per share, in one or more series. In a prospectus supplement, we will describe the specific designation, the aggregate number of shares offered, the dividend rate or manner of calculating the dividend rate, the dividend periods or manner of calculating the dividend periods, the ranking of the shares of the series with respect to dividends, liquidation and dissolution, the stated value of the shares of the series, the voting rights of the shares of the series, if any, whether and on what terms the shares of the series will be convertible or exchangeable, whether and on what terms we can redeem the shares of the series, whether we will offer depositary shares representing shares of the series and if so, the fraction or multiple of a share of preferred stock represented by each depositary share, whether we will list the preferred stock or depositary shares on a securities exchange and any other specific terms of the series of preferred stock.

Purchase Contracts

We may issue purchase contracts, including purchase contracts issued as part of a unit with one or more other securities, for the purchase or sale of our debt securities, preferred stock, depositary shares or common stock. The price of our debt securities or price per share of our common stock, preferred stock or

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depositary shares, as applicable, may be fixed at the time the purchase contracts are issued or may be determined by reference to a specific formula contained in the purchase contracts. We may issue purchase contracts in such amounts and in as many distinct series as we wish.

Warrants

We may sell warrants to purchase our debt securities, shares of preferred stock, depositary shares or shares of our common stock. In a prospectus supplement, we will inform you of the exercise price and other specific terms of the warrants, including whether our or your obligations, if any, under any warrants may be satisfied by delivering or purchasing the underlying securities or their cash value.

Rights

We may distribute rights to the holders of our common stock or other securities to purchase a specified number of shares of our common stock or other securities that the holder owns as of a record date set by our board of directors. In a prospectus supplement, we will inform you of the exercise price and other specific terms of the rights.

Units

We may sell any combination of one or more of the other securities described in this prospectus, together as units. In a prospectus supplement, we will describe the particular combination of securities constituting any units and any other specific terms of the units.

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RISK FACTORS

An investment in our securities involves various risks. Before making an investment decision, you should carefully consider the risks described under “Risk Factors” in the applicable prospectus supplement and in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, and in our updates to those Risk Factors in our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, together with all of the other information appearing in this prospectus or incorporated by reference into this prospectus and any applicable prospectus supplement, in light of your particular investment objectives and financial circumstances. In addition to those risk factors, there may be additional risks and uncertainties of which management is not aware or that management deems immaterial. Our business, financial condition or results or operations could be materially adversely affected by any of these risks. The trading price of our securities could decline due to any of these risks, and you may lose all or part of your investment.

GREAT SOUTHERN BANCORP, INC.

Great Southern Bancorp, Inc. is a bank holding company and financial holding company incorporated under the laws of the State of Maryland. We conduct our business primarily through our wholly owned subsidiary, Great Southern Bank, a Missouri-chartered trust company (the equivalent of a commercial bank charter) that was originally formed in 1923. Headquartered in Springfield, Missouri, Great Southern offers a broad range of banking services through its 97 banking centers located in southern and central Missouri; the Kansas City, Missouri area; the St. Louis, Missouri area; eastern Kansas; northwestern Arkansas; the Minneapolis, Minnesota area and eastern, western and central Iowa. Great Southern also operates commercial loan production offices in Atlanta, Georgia; Chicago, Illinois; Dallas, Texas; Denver, Colorado; Omaha, Nebraska; and Tulsa, Oklahoma. In addition, Great Southern has a mortgage lending office in Springfield, Missouri.

At December 31, 2019, on a consolidated basis, we had total assets of $5.0 billion, deposits of $4.0 billion and stockholders’ equity of $603.1 million.

Our common stock is listed on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the ticker symbol “GSBC.” Our principal executive offices are located at 1451 East Battlefield, Springfield, Missouri 65804-9009. Our telephone number is (417) 887-4400.

Additional information about us and our subsidiaries is included in documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus. See “Where You Can Find More Information” on page 1 of this prospectus.

USE OF PROCEEDS

We intend to use the net proceeds from the sale of the securities for general corporate purposes unless otherwise indicated in the prospectus supplement relating to a specific issue of securities. Our general corporate purposes may include, without limitation, financing acquisitions, redeeming or repurchasing our securities, extending credit to, or funding investments in, our subsidiaries and repaying, reducing or refinancing indebtedness.

The precise amounts and the timing of our use of the net proceeds will depend upon market conditions, our subsidiaries’ funding requirements, the availability of other funds and other factors. Until we use the net proceeds from the sale of any of our securities for general corporate purposes, we expect to use the net proceeds to reduce our indebtedness or for temporary investments. We expect that we will, on a recurrent basis, engage in additional financings as the need arises to finance our corporate strategies, to fund our subsidiaries, to finance acquisitions or otherwise.

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DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES

We may issue senior debt securities or subordinated debt securities. Senior debt securities will be issued under an indenture, referred to as the “senior indenture,” between us and a senior indenture trustee to be named in the applicable prospectus supplement. Subordinated debt securities will be issued under a separate indenture, referred to as the “subordinated indenture,” between us and a subordinated indenture trustee to be named in the applicable prospectus supplement. The senior indenture and the subordinated indenture are sometimes collectively referred to in this prospectus as the “indentures.” The indentures will be subject to and governed by the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended. A copy of the form of each of these indentures is included as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part.

The following briefly describes the general terms and provisions of the debt securities which may be offered and the indentures governing them. The particular terms of the debt securities offered, and the extent, if any, to which these general provisions may apply to the debt securities so offered, will be described in a prospectus supplement relating to those securities. The following descriptions of the indentures are not complete and are subject to, and are qualified in their entirety by reference to, all the provisions of the respective indentures.

General

The indentures permit us to issue the debt securities from time to time, without limitation as to aggregate principal amount, and in one or more series. The indentures also do not limit or otherwise restrict the amount of other indebtedness which we may incur or other securities which we or our subsidiaries may issue, including indebtedness which may rank senior to the debt securities. Nothing in the subordinated indenture prohibits the issuance of securities representing subordinated indebtedness that is senior or junior to the subordinated debt securities.

Unless we give you different information in the prospectus supplement, the senior debt securities will be unsubordinated obligations and will rank equally with all of our other unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness. Payments on the subordinated debt securities will be subordinated to the prior payment in full of all of our senior debt, as described under “— Subordination” and in the applicable prospectus supplement.

We may issue debt securities if the conditions contained in the applicable indenture are satisfied. These conditions include the establishment of the terms of the debt securities being issued in or pursuant to a supplemental indenture or resolutions adopted by our board of directors. Such terms may include:

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the title and series designation;

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the aggregate principal amount and the limit, if any, on the aggregate principal amount or initial issue price of the debt securities which may be issued under the applicable indenture;

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the principal amount payable, whether at maturity or upon earlier acceleration;

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whether the principal amount payable will be determined with reference to an index, formula or other method which may be based on one or more currencies, currency units, composite currencies, commodities, equity indices or other indices;

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whether the debt securities will be issued as original issue discount securities (as defined below);

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the date or dates on which the principal of the debt securities is payable;

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any fixed or variable interest rate or rates per annum or the method or formula for determining an interest rate;

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the date from which any interest will accrue;

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any interest payment dates;

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whether the debt securities are senior or subordinated, and if subordinated, the terms of the subordination;

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the price or prices at which the debt securities will be issued, which may be expressed as a percentage of the aggregate principal amount of those debt securities;

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the stated maturity date;

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whether the debt securities are to be issued in global form;

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any sinking fund requirements;

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any provisions for redemption, the redemption price and any remarketing arrangements;

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the denominations of the securities or series of securities;

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whether the debt securities are denominated or payable in United States dollars or a foreign currency or units of two or more foreign currencies;

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any restrictions on the offer, sale and delivery of the debt securities;

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the place or places where payments or deliveries on the debt securities will be made and may be presented for registration of transfer or exchange;

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whether any of the debt securities will be subject to defeasance in advance of the date for redemption or the stated maturity date;

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the terms, if any, upon which the debt securities are convertible into other securities of ours and the terms and conditions upon which any conversion will be effected, including the initial conversion price or rate, the conversion period and any other provisions in addition to or instead of those described in this prospectus;

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a description of any documents or certificates that must be received prior to the issuance of any definitive securities;

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whether and under what circumstances additional amounts will be paid to non-U.S. citizens in connection with any tax, assessment or governmental charge and whether securities may be redeemed in lieu of paying such additional fees;

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the identity of each security registrar or paying agent (if other than the trustee);

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any provisions granting special rights to securities holders upon the occurrence of specified events;

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any deletions from, modifications of, or additions to any default events or covenants set forth in the form of indenture;

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the portion of the principal amount payable upon the declaration of acceleration of the maturity of any securities;

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the date any bearer securities of or within the series and any temporary global security representing outstanding securities shall be dated, if other than the date of original issuance; and

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any other terms of the debt securities which are not inconsistent with the provisions of the applicable indenture.

The debt securities may be issued as “original issue discount securities” which bear no interest or interest at a rate which at the time of issuance is below market rates and which will be sold at a substantial discount below their principal amount. If the maturity of any original issue discount security is accelerated, the amount payable to the holder of the security will be determined by the applicable prospectus supplement, the terms of the security and the relevant indenture, but may be an amount less than the amount payable at the maturity of the principal of that original issue discount security. Special federal income tax and other considerations relating to original issue discount securities will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement.

Under the indentures, the terms of the debt securities of any series may differ and we may, without the consent of the holders of the debt securities of any series, reopen a previous series of debt securities and issue additional debt securities of that series or establish additional terms of that series.

Please see the prospectus supplement and any related pricing supplement you have received or will receive for the terms of the specific debt securities we are offering.

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You should be aware that special United States federal income tax, accounting and other considerations may apply to the debt securities. The prospectus supplement relating to an issue of debt securities will describe these considerations.

Ranking of Debt Securities; Holding Company Structure

Senior Debt Securities. Payment of the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on senior debt securities will rank on a parity with all of our other unsecured and unsubordinated debt.

Subordinated Debt Securities. Payment of the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on subordinated debt securities will be junior in right of payment to the prior payment in full of all of our senior debt, including senior debt securities. We will state in the applicable prospectus supplement relating to any subordinated debt securities the subordination terms of the securities as well as the aggregate amount of outstanding debt, as of the most recent practicable date, that by its terms would be senior to those subordinated debt securities. We will also state in that prospectus supplement limitations, if any, on the issuance of additional senior debt.

Holding Company Structure. The debt securities will be our exclusive obligations. We are a holding company and substantially all of our consolidated assets are held by our subsidiaries, including Great Southern Bank. Accordingly, our cash flows and our ability to service our debt, including the debt securities, are dependent upon the results of operations of our subsidiaries and the distribution of funds by our subsidiaries to us. Various statutory and regulatory restrictions, however, limit directly or indirectly the amount of dividends our subsidiaries can pay, and also restrict certain subsidiaries from making investments in or loans to us.

Because we are a holding company, the debt securities will be effectively subordinated to all existing and future liabilities, including indebtedness, customer deposits, trade payables, guarantees and lease obligations, of our subsidiaries. Therefore, our rights and the rights of our creditors, including the holders of the debt securities, to participate in the assets of any subsidiary upon that subsidiary’s liquidation or reorganization will be subject to the prior claims of the subsidiary’s creditors and, if applicable, its depositors, except to the extent that we may ourselves be a creditor with recognized claims against the subsidiary, in which case our claims would still be effectively subordinate to any security interest in, or mortgages or other liens on, the assets of the subsidiary and would be subordinate to any indebtedness of the subsidiary senior to that held by us. If a receiver or conservator were appointed for Great Southern Bank, the Federal Deposit Insurance Act recognizes a priority in favor of the holders of withdrawable deposits (including the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation as subrogee or transferee) over general creditors. Claims for customer deposits would have a priority over any claims that we may ourselves have as a creditor of Great Southern Bank. Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, the applicable indenture will not limit the amount of indebtedness or other liabilities that we and our subsidiaries may incur.

Registration and Transfer

Holders may present debt securities in registered form for transfer or exchange for other debt securities of the same series at the offices of the applicable indenture trustee according to the terms of the applicable indenture and the debt securities.

Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, the debt securities will be issued in fully registered form, and in denominations of $1,000 and any integral multiple thereof.

No service charge will be required for any transfer or exchange of the debt securities but we generally may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge payable in connection with any transfer or exchange.

Payment and Place of Payment

We will pay or deliver principal and any premium and interest in the manner, at the places and subject to the restrictions set forth in the applicable indenture, the debt securities and the applicable prospectus supplement. However, at our option, we may pay any interest by check mailed to the holders of registered debt securities at their registered addresses.

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Global Securities

Each indenture provides that we may issue debt securities in global form. If any series of debt securities is issued in global form, the prospectus supplement will describe any circumstances under which beneficial owners of interests in any of those global debt securities may exchange their interests for debt securities of that series and of like tenor and principal amount in any authorized form and denomination. See “Description of Global Securities.”

Redemption and Repurchase

The debt securities of any series may be redeemable at our option, may be subject to mandatory redemption pursuant to a sinking fund or otherwise, or may be subject to repurchase by us at the option of the holders, in each case upon the terms, at the times and at the prices set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement and pricing supplement, if any.

Conversion or Exchange Rights

If debt securities may be convertible into or exchangeable for shares of our equity securities or other securities of ours, the terms and conditions of conversion or exchange will be stated in the applicable prospectus supplement. The terms will include, among others, the following:

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the conversion or exchange price;

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the conversion or exchange period;

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provisions regarding the convertibility or exchangeability of the debt securities, including who may convert or exchange;

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events requiring adjustment to the conversion or exchange price;

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provisions affecting conversion or exchange in the event of our redemption of the debt securities; and

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any anti-dilution provisions, if applicable.

Absence of Limitation on Indebtedness and Liens; Absence of Event Risk Protection

Unless otherwise stated in the prospectus supplement relating to a series of debt securities, the indentures will not limit the amount of indebtedness, guarantees or other liabilities that we and our subsidiaries may incur and will not prohibit us or our subsidiaries from creating or assuming liens on our properties, including the capital stock of Great Southern Bank or any of our other subsidiaries. Unless otherwise provided in the related prospectus supplement, the indentures will not require us to maintain any financial ratios or specified levels of net worth, revenues, income, cash flow or liquidity, and will not contain provisions which would give holders of the debt securities the right to require us to repurchase their debt securities in the event we undergo a takeover, recapitalization or similar restructuring or change in control.

Events of Default

Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, the following are events of default under the senior indenture with respect to the senior debt securities and under the subordinated indenture with respect to the subordinated debt securities:

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default in the payment of any principal or premium or make-whole amount, if any, on the debt securities when due;

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default in the payment of any interest or additional amounts on the debt securities, or of any coupon pertaining thereto, when due, which continues for 30 days;

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default in the deposit of any sinking fund payment on the debt securities when due;

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default in the performance or breach of any other obligation contained in the applicable indenture for the benefit of that series of debt securities (other than defaults or breaches otherwise specifically addressed), which continues for 90 days after written notice of the default or breach;

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specified events in bankruptcy or insolvency; and

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any other event of default provided with respect to the debt securities of any series.

Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, if an event of default occurs and is continuing for any series of senior debt securities, unless the principal amount of all senior debt securities of that particular series has already become due and payable, the indenture trustee or the holders of not less than 25% in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding senior debt securities of that series may declare all amounts, or any lesser amount provided for in the senior debt securities of that series, to be immediately due and payable.

Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, no event of default described in the first, second, third, fourth or sixth bullet points above will permit acceleration of the payment of the principal of the subordinated debt securities. Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, if an event of default described under the fifth bullet point above shall have occurred and be continuing, unless the principal amount of all the subordinated debt securities of a particular series has already become due and payable, the indenture trustee or the holders of not less than 25% in aggregate principal amount of the subordinated debt securities of that series may declare all amounts or any lesser amount provided for in the subordinated debt securities of that series to be immediately due and payable.

At any time after the applicable indenture trustee or the holders have accelerated a series of debt securities, but before the applicable indenture trustee has obtained a judgment or decree for payment of money due, the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of outstanding debt securities of that series may rescind and annul that acceleration and its consequences, provided that all payments and/or deliveries due, other than those due as a result of acceleration, have been made and all events of default have been remedied or waived.

The holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of any series may waive any default with respect to that series, except a default:

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in the payment of any amounts due and payable or deliverable under the debt securities of that series; or

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in an obligation contained in, or a provision of, an indenture which cannot be modified under the terms of that indenture without the consent of each holder of each series of debt securities affected.

The holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of a series may direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the applicable indenture trustee or exercising any trust or power conferred on the indenture trustee with respect to debt securities of that series, provided that any direction is not in conflict with any rule of law or the applicable indenture and the trustee may take other actions, other than those that might lead to personal liability, not inconsistent with the direction. Subject to the provisions of the applicable indenture relating to the duties of the indenture trustee, before proceeding to exercise any right or power under the indenture at the direction of the holders, the indenture trustee is entitled to receive from those holders security or indemnity satisfactory to the indenture trustee against the costs, expenses and liabilities which it might incur in complying with any direction.

A holder of any debt security of any series will have the right to institute a proceeding with respect to the applicable indenture or for any remedy under the indenture, if:

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that holder has previously given to the indenture trustee written notice of a continuing event of default with respect to debt securities of that series;

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the holders of not less than 25% in principal amount of the outstanding securities of that series have made written request and offered the indenture trustee indemnity satisfactory to the indenture trustee to institute that proceeding as indenture trustee;

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the indenture trustee has not received from the holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series a direction inconsistent with the request; and

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the indenture trustee fails to institute the proceeding within 60 days.

However, the holder of any debt security or coupon has the right to receive payment of the principal of (and premium or make-whole amount, if any) and interest on, and any additional amounts in respect of, such debt security or payment of such coupon on the respective due dates (or, in the case of redemption, on the redemption date) and to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment.

We are required to furnish to the indenture trustees annually a statement as to the performance of our obligations under the indentures and as to any default in that performance of which we are aware.

Modification and Waiver

Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, we and the applicable indenture trustee may amend and modify each indenture or debt securities under that indenture with the consent of holders of at least a majority in principal amount of each series of all debt securities then outstanding under the indenture affected. However, without the consent of each holder of any debt security issued under the applicable indenture, we may not amend or modify that indenture to:

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change the stated maturity date of the principal of (or premium or make-whole amount, if any, on), or any installment of principal or interest on, any debt security issued under that indenture;

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reduce the principal amount of or any make-whole amount, the rate of interest on or any additional amounts payable in respect thereof, or any premium payable upon the redemption of any debt security issued under that indenture;

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reduce the amount of principal of an original issue discount security or make-whole amount, if any, issued under that indenture payable upon acceleration of its maturity or provable in bankruptcy;

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change the place or currency of payment of principal or any premium or any make-whole amount or interest on any debt security issued under that indenture;

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impair the right to institute suit for the enforcement of any payment or delivery on or with respect to any debt security issued under that indenture;

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reduce the percentage in principal amount of debt securities of any series issued under that indenture, the consent of whose holders is required to modify or amend the indenture or to waive compliance with certain provisions of the indenture;

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modify any of the provisions of the sections of the indenture dealing with supplemental indentures with the consent of holders of the debt securities, waiver of past defaults or waiver of certain covenants, except to increase the required percentage of holders to effect such an action or to provide that other provisions of the indenture cannot be modified or waived without the consent of the holder of each outstanding debt security affected thereby; or

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make any change that adversely affects the right to convert or exchange any security or decrease the conversion/exchange rate or increase the conversion/exchange price.

The holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of any series issued under that indenture may, with respect to that series, waive past defaults under the indenture, except as described under “— Events of Default.”

Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, we and the applicable indenture trustee may also amend and modify each indenture without the consent of any holder for any of the following purposes:

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to evidence the succession of another person to us;

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to add to our covenants for the benefit of the holders of all or any series of debt securities;

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to add events of default for the benefit of the holders of all or any series of debt securities;

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to add or change any provisions of the indentures to facilitate the issuance of bearer securities;

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to change or eliminate any of the provisions of the applicable indenture in respect of any series of debt securities, so long as any such change or elimination will become effective only in respect of any series of securities when there is no outstanding security of that series which is entitled to the benefit of that provision;

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to establish the form or terms of debt securities of any series;

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to evidence and provide for the acceptance of appointment by a successor indenture trustee;

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to cure any ambiguity, to correct or supplement any provision in the applicable indenture, or to make any other provisions with respect to matters or questions arising under that indenture, so long as the interests of holders of debt securities of any series are not adversely affected in any material respect by the actions taken to cure, correct or supplement a provision in an indenture;

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to secure securities;

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to close the indenture with respect to the authentication and delivery of additional series of securities or to qualify or maintain qualifications of the applicable indenture under the Trust Indenture Act; or

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to supplement any of the provisions of an indenture as is necessary to permit or facilitate the defeasance or discharge of any series of securities under specified provisions of the indenture, provided that any such action shall not adversely affect the interests of the holders of securities of such series or any other series of securities under the indenture in any material respect.

Voting

The indentures contain provisions for convening meetings of the holders of debt securities of a series. A meeting will be permitted to be called at any time by the applicable trustee, and also, upon request, by us or the holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of such series, in any such case upon notice given as provided in such indenture. Except for any consent that must be given by the holder of each debt security affected by the modifications and amendments of an indenture described above, any resolution presented at a meeting or adjourned meeting duly reconvened at which a quorum is present may be adopted by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series represented at such meeting. The quorum at any meeting called to adopt a resolution, and at any reconvened meeting, will be persons holding or representing a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of a series. However, if any action is to be taken relating to a consent or waiver which may be given by the holders of at least a specified percentage in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of a series, the persons holding such percentage will constitute a quorum.

Notwithstanding the preceding paragraph, except as referred to above, any resolution relating to a request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action that may be made, given or taken by the holders of a specified percentage, which is less than a majority, of the aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of a series may be adopted at a meeting or adjourned meeting duly reconvened at which a quorum is present by the affirmative vote of such specified percentage.

Any resolution passed or decision taken at any properly held meeting of holders of debt securities of any series will be binding on all holders of such series.

Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions, the indentures provide that if any action is to be taken at a meeting with respect to any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action that such indenture expressly provides may be made, given or taken by the holders of a specified percentage in principal amount of all outstanding debt securities affected by such action, or of the holders of such series and one or more additional series:

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there shall be no minimum quorum requirement for such meeting; and

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the principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of such series that vote in favor of such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action shall be taken into

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account in determining whether such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action has been made, given or taken under such indenture.

Consolidation, Merger and Sale of Assets

Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, we may consolidate or merge with or into any other person, and we may sell, lease or convey all or substantially all of our assets to any person, provided that:

(i)

the resulting entity, if other than Great Southern Bancorp, Inc., is an entity organized and existing under the laws of the United States of America or any U.S. state or the District of Colombia and expressly assumes our obligations to: (1) pay or deliver the principal and any premium or make-whole amount, if any, and any interest on, the debt securities; and (2) perform and observe all of our other obligations under the indentures and supplemental indentures; and

(ii)

immediately after giving effect to the transaction, no event of default under the indenture, and no event that, after notice or the lapse of time, or both, would become an event of default under the indenture, shall have occurred and be continuing.

The indentures do not provide for any right of acceleration in the event of a consolidation, merger, sale of all or substantially all of the assets, recapitalization or change in our stock ownership. In addition, the indentures do not contain any provision which would protect the holders of debt securities against a sudden and dramatic decline in credit quality resulting from takeovers, recapitalizations or similar restructurings.

International Offering

If specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, we may issue debt securities outside the United States. Those debt securities will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement. In connection with any offering outside the United States, we will designate paying agents, registrars or other agents with respect to the debt securities, as specified in the applicable prospectus supplement.

We will describe in the applicable prospectus supplement whether our debt securities issued outside the United States: (1) may be subject to certain selling restrictions; (2) may be listed on one or more foreign stock exchanges; and (3) may have special United States tax and other considerations applicable to an offering outside the United States.

Defeasance

We may terminate or “defease” our obligations under the applicable indenture with respect to the debt securities of any series by taking the following steps:

(1)

depositing irrevocably with the indenture trustee an amount, which through the payment of interest, principal or premium, if any, will provide an amount sufficient to pay the entire amount of the debt securities:

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in the case of debt securities denominated in U.S. dollars, U.S. dollars or U.S. government obligations;

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in the case of debt securities denominated in a foreign currency, of money in that foreign currency or foreign government obligations of the foreign government or governments issuing that foreign currency; or

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a combination of money and U.S. government obligations or foreign government obligations, as applicable;

(2)

delivering:

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an opinion of independent counsel that the holders of the debt securities of that series will have no federal income tax consequences as a result of the defeasance and will be subject to federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such defeasance had not occurred;

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an opinion of independent counsel that registration is not required under the Investment Company Act of 1940;

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an opinion of counsel that all conditions precedent to the defeasance have been complied with; and

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officers’ certificates certifying as to compliance with the applicable indenture and other matters; and

(3)

paying all other amounts due under the indenture.

Further, the defeasance cannot cause an event of default under the indenture or any other material agreement or instrument and no event of default under the indenture can exist at the time the defeasance occurs.

Subordination

The subordinated debt securities will be subordinated in right of payment to all “senior debt,” as defined in the subordinated indenture. In certain circumstances relating to our liquidation, dissolution, receivership, reorganization, insolvency or similar proceedings, the holders of all senior debt will first be entitled to receive payment in full before the holders of the subordinated debt securities will be entitled to receive any payment on the subordinated debt securities.

In addition, we may make no payment on the subordinated debt securities in the event:

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there is an event of default with respect to any senior debt which permits the holders of that senior debt to accelerate the maturity of the senior debt; and

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the default is the subject of judicial proceedings or we receive notice of the default from an authorized person under the subordinated indenture.

By reason of this subordination in favor of the holders of senior debt, in the event of an insolvency our creditors who are not holders of senior debt or the subordinated debt securities may recover less, proportionately, than holders of senior debt and may recover more, proportionately, than holders of the subordinated debt securities. Unless otherwise specified in the prospectus supplement relating to the particular series of subordinated debt securities, “senior debt” is defined in the subordinated indenture as the principal, premium, if any, unpaid interest (including interest accruing on or after the filing of any petition in bankruptcy or for reorganization relating to Great Southern Bancorp, Inc. whether or not a claim for post-filing interest is allowed in such proceeding), fees, charges, expenses, reimbursement and indemnification obligations, and all other amounts payable under or in respect of the following indebtedness of Great Southern Bancorp, Inc. for money borrowed, whether any such indebtedness exists as of the date of the indenture or is created, incurred, assumed or guaranteed after such date:

(i)

any debt (a) for money borrowed by Great Southern Bancorp, Inc., or (b) evidenced by a bond, note, debenture, or similar instrument (including purchase money obligations) given in connection with the acquisition of any business, property or assets, whether by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise, but shall not include any account payable or other obligation created or assumed in the ordinary course of business in connection with the obtaining of materials or services, or (c) which is a direct or indirect obligation which arises as a result of banker’s acceptances or bank letters of credit issued to secure obligations of Great Southern Bancorp, Inc., or to secure the payment of revenue bonds issued for the benefit of Great Southern Bancorp, Inc. whether contingent or otherwise;

(ii)

any debt of others described in the preceding clause (i) which Great Southern Bancorp, Inc. has guaranteed or for which it is otherwise liable;

(iii)

the obligation of Great Southern Bancorp, Inc. as lessee under any lease of property which is reflected on Great Southern Bancorp’s balance sheet as a capitalized lease; and

(iv)

any deferral, amendment, renewal, extension, supplement or refunding of any liability of the kind described in any of the preceding clauses (i), (ii) and (iii).

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“Senior debt” does not include (1) any such indebtedness, obligation or liability referred to in clauses (i) through (iv) above as to which, in the instrument creating or evidencing the same or pursuant to which the same is outstanding, it is provided that such indebtedness, obligation or liability is not superior in right of payment to the subordinated debt securities, or ranks pari passu with the subordinated debt securities, (2) any such indebtedness, obligation or liability which is subordinated to indebtedness of Great Southern Bancorp, Inc. to substantially the same extent as or to a greater extent than the subordinated debt securities are subordinated, (3) any indebtedness to a subsidiary of Great Southern Bancorp, Inc. and (4) the subordinated debt securities.

The subordinated indenture does not limit or prohibit the incurrence of additional senior debt, which may include indebtedness that is senior to the subordinated debt securities, but subordinate to our other obligations. Any prospectus supplement relating to a particular series of subordinated debt securities will set forth the aggregate amount of our indebtedness senior to the subordinated debt securities as of a recent practicable date.

The prospectus supplement may further describe the provisions, if any, which may apply to the subordination of the subordinated debt securities of a particular series.

Restrictive Covenants

The indentures do not contain any significant restrictive covenants. The prospectus supplement relating to a series of senior or subordinated debt securities may describe certain restrictive covenants, if any, to which we may be bound under the applicable indenture.

Governing Law

Unless indicated otherwise in the applicable prospectus supplement, the indentures and the debt securities will be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York.

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DESCRIPTION OF COMMON STOCK AND PREFERRED STOCK

Our authorized capital stock consists of:

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20,000,000 shares of common stock, par value $.01 per share; and

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1,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $.01 per share.

As of December 31, 2019, there were 14,261,052 shares of our common stock outstanding and no shares of our preferred stock outstanding.

In this section we describe certain features and rights of our capital stock. The summary does not purport to be exhaustive and is qualified in its entirety by reference to our charter and bylaws and to applicable Maryland law.

Common Stock

We may issue, either separately or together with other securities, shares of common stock. Upon our receipt of the full specified purchase price, the common stock issued will be fully paid and nonassessable. A prospectus supplement relating to an offering of common stock, or other securities convertible or exchangeable for, or exercisable into, common stock, will describe the relevant offering terms, including the number of shares offered, the initial offering price, and market price and dividend information, as well as, if applicable, information on other related securities.

Except as described below under “— Anti-takeover Effects — Voting Limitation,” each holder of common stock is entitled to one vote for each share on all matters to be voted upon by the common stockholders. There are no cumulative voting rights. Subject to preferences to which holders of any shares of preferred stock may be entitled, holders of common stock will be entitled to receive ratably any dividends that may be declared from time to time by our board of directors out of funds legally available for that purpose. In the event of our liquidation, dissolution or winding up, holders of common stock will be entitled to share in our assets remaining after the payment or provision for payment of our debts and other liabilities, and the satisfaction of the liquidation preferences of the holders of the shares of any series of our preferred stock then outstanding. Holders of common stock have no preemptive or conversion rights or other subscription rights. There are no redemption or sinking fund provisions that apply to the common stock. The rights, preferences and privileges of the holders of common stock are subject to, and may be adversely affected by, the rights of the holders of shares of any series of preferred stock that we may designate in the future.

Preferred Stock

The following summary contains a description of the general terms of the preferred stock that we may issue. The specific terms of any series of preferred stock offered by us for sale will be described in the prospectus supplement relating to that series of preferred stock. The terms of any series of preferred stock may differ from the terms described below. The description of certain provisions of the preferred stock below and in any prospectus supplement may not be complete. You should refer to the articles supplementary to our charter with respect to the establishment of a series of preferred stock, which will be filed with the SEC in connection with the offering of such series of preferred stock, for the complete terms of such series of preferred stock.

General. Our charter permits our board of directors to authorize the issuance of up to 1,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $0.01, in one or more series, without stockholder action. The board of directors can fix the designation, powers, preferences and rights of each series. Therefore, without stockholder approval (except as may be required by the rules of the NASDAQ Stock Market or any other exchange or market on which our securities may then be listed or quoted), our board of directors can authorize the issuance of preferred stock with voting, dividend, liquidation and conversion and other rights that could dilute the voting power or other rights or adversely affect the market value of our common stock and may assist management in impeding any unfriendly takeover or attempted change in control. See “— Anti-Takeover Effects — Authorized Shares.”

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The preferred stock has the terms described below unless otherwise provided in the prospectus supplement relating to a particular series of the preferred stock. You should read the prospectus supplement relating to the particular series of the preferred stock being offered for specific terms, including:

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the designation of the series of preferred stock and the number of shares offered;

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the amount of liquidation preference per share, if any;

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the price at which the preferred stock will be issued;

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the dividend rate, or method of calculation, the dates on which dividends will be payable, whether dividends will be cumulative or non-cumulative and, if cumulative, the dates from which dividends will commence to cumulate;

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any listing of the preferred stock being offered on any securities exchange or other securities market;

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any voting rights;

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any redemption or sinking fund provisions;

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any conversion provisions;

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whether interests in the preferred stock being offered will be represented by depositary shares; and

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any other specific terms of the preferred stock being offered.

Unless otherwise specified in the prospectus supplement, each series of preferred stock will rank equally as to dividends and liquidation rights in all respects with each other series of preferred stock. The rights of holders of shares of each series of preferred stock will be subordinate to those of our general creditors.

Rank. Any series of the preferred stock will, with respect to the priority of the payment of dividends and the priority of payments upon our liquidation, winding up and dissolution, rank:

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senior to our common stock and all classes and series of other stock issued by us the terms of which specifically provide that such other stock will rank junior to the preferred stock (referred to as “junior securities”);

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equally with all other classes and series of stock issued by us the terms of which specifically provide that such stock will rank equally with the preferred stock (referred to as “parity securities”); and

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junior to all other classes and series of stock issued by us the terms of which specifically provide that such stock will rank senior to the preferred stock.

Dividends. Holders of the preferred stock of each series will be entitled to receive, when, as and if declared by our board of directors, cash dividends at such rates and on such dates described, if any, in the applicable prospectus supplement. Different series of preferred stock may be entitled to dividends at different rates or based on different methods of calculation. The dividend rate may be fixed or variable or both. Dividends will be payable to the holders of record as they appear on our stock books on record dates fixed by our board of directors, as specified in the applicable prospectus supplement.

Dividends on any series of preferred stock may be cumulative or non-cumulative, as described in the applicable prospectus supplement. If our board of directors does not declare a dividend payable on a dividend payment date on any series of non-cumulative preferred stock, then the holders of that non-cumulative preferred stock will have no right to receive a dividend for that dividend payment date, and we will have no obligation to pay the dividend accrued for that period, whether or not dividends on that series are declared payable on any future dividend payment dates. Dividends on any series of cumulative preferred stock will accrue from the date we initially issue shares of such series or such other date specified in the applicable prospectus supplement.

No full dividends may be declared or paid or funds set apart for the payment of any dividends on any parity securities unless dividends have been paid or set apart for payment on the preferred stock. If full dividends are not paid, the preferred stock will share dividends pro rata with the parity securities. No dividends may be declared or paid or funds set apart for the payment of dividends on any junior securities

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unless full cumulative dividends for all dividend periods terminating on or prior to the date of the declaration or payment will have been paid or declared and a sum sufficient for the payment set apart for payment on the preferred stock.

Rights Upon Liquidation. If we dissolve, liquidate or wind up our affairs, either voluntarily or involuntarily, the holders of each series of preferred stock will be entitled to receive, before any payment or distribution of assets is made to holders of junior securities, liquidating distributions in the amount described in the applicable prospectus supplement relating to that series of preferred stock, plus an amount equal to accrued and unpaid dividends and, if the series of preferred stock is cumulative, for all dividend periods prior to that point in time. If the amounts payable with respect to the preferred stock of any series and any other parity securities are not paid in full, the holders of the preferred stock of that series and of the parity securities will share proportionately in the distribution of our assets in proportion to the full liquidation preferences to which they are entitled. After the holders of preferred stock and the parity securities are paid in full, they will have no right or claim to any of our remaining assets.

Because we are a holding company, our rights and the rights of our creditors and of our stockholders, including the holders of any shares of preferred stock then outstanding, to participate in the assets of any subsidiary upon the subsidiary’s liquidation or recapitalization will be subject to the prior claims of the subsidiary’s creditors except to the extent that we may ourselves be a creditor with recognized claims against the subsidiary.

Redemption. We may provide that a series of preferred stock may be redeemable, in whole or in part, at our option or at the option of the holder of the stock. In addition, a series of preferred stock may be subject to mandatory redemption pursuant to a sinking fund or otherwise. The redemption provisions that may apply to a series of preferred stock, including the redemption dates and the redemption prices for that series, will be described in the prospectus supplement.

In the event of partial redemptions of preferred stock, whether by mandatory or optional redemption, our board of directors will determine the method for selecting the shares to be redeemed, which may be by lot or pro rata or by any other method determined by our board of directors to be equitable.

On or after a redemption date, unless we default in the payment of the redemption price, dividends will cease to accrue on shares of preferred stock called for redemption. In addition, all rights of holders of the shares being redeemed will terminate except for the right to receive the redemption price.

Voting Rights. Unless otherwise described in the applicable prospectus supplement, holders of preferred stock will have no voting rights except as otherwise required by law or in our charter.

Under regulations and interpretations adopted by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (the “Federal Reserve Board”) and its staff, if the holders of any series of preferred stock are or become entitled to vote for the election of directors, such series will be deemed a class of voting securities, and a company holding 25% or more of the series, or a lesser percentage if it otherwise exercises a “controlling influence” over us, will be subject to regulation as a bank holding company under the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956, as amended. In addition, at the time the series is deemed a class of voting securities, any other bank holding company will be required to obtain the prior approval of the Federal Reserve Board under the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956, as amended, to acquire or retain more than 5% of that series. Any other person (other than a bank holding company), either individually or acting through or in concert with others, will be required to obtain the non-objection of the Federal Reserve Board under the Change in Bank Control Act of 1978, as amended, to acquire or retain 10% or more of that series.

Exchangeability. We may provide that the holders of shares of preferred stock of any series may be required at any time or at maturity to exchange those shares for our debt securities. The applicable prospectus supplement will specify the terms of any such exchange.

Anti-takeover Effects

Certain provisions of our charter and bylaws and Maryland and federal law may have the effect of delaying, deferring or preventing a change in control of our company and that would operate only with respect to extraordinary corporate transactions, such as a merger, reorganization, tender offer, sale or transfer

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of substantially all assets, or liquidation. These provisions may have the effect of discouraging a future transaction that individual stockholders may believe is in their best interests or in which stockholders may receive a substantial premium for their shares over the then current market price. As a result, if you want to participate in such a transaction, you might not have an opportunity to do so.

Authorized Shares. Our charter authorizes the issuance of 20,000,000 shares of common stock and 1,000,000 shares of preferred stock. These shares of common stock and preferred stock provide our board of directors with as much flexibility as possible to effect, among other transactions, financings, acquisitions, stock dividends, stock splits and the exercise of employee stock options. However, these additional authorized shares may also be used by the board of directors consistent with its fiduciary duty to deter future attempts to gain control of us. The board of directors also has sole authority to determine the terms of any one or more series of preferred stock, including voting rights, conversion rates, and liquidation preferences. As a result of the ability to fix voting rights for a series of preferred stock, the board has the power, to the extent consistent with its fiduciary duties, to issue a series of preferred stock to persons friendly to the incumbent management and directors in order to attempt to block a tender offer, merger or other unsolicited transaction by which a third party seeks control of us.

Voting Limitation. Our charter generally prohibits any stockholder that beneficially owns more than 10% of the outstanding shares of our common stock from voting shares in excess of this limit. This provision limits the voting power of a beneficial owner of more than 10% of the outstanding shares of our common stock in a proxy contest or on other matters on which such person is entitled to vote.

The Maryland General Corporation Law contains a control share acquisition statute which, in general terms, provides that where a stockholder acquires issued and outstanding shares of a corporation’s voting stock (referred to as control shares) within one of several specified ranges (one-tenth or more but less than one-third, one-third or more but less than a majority, or a majority or more), approval by stockholders of the control share acquisition must be obtained before the acquiring stockholder may vote the control shares. The required stockholder vote is two-thirds of all votes entitled to be cast, excluding “interested shares,” defined as shares held by the acquiring person, officers of the corporation and employees who are also directors of the corporation. A corporation may, however, opt-out of the control share statute through a charter or bylaw provision, which we have done pursuant to our bylaws. Accordingly, the Maryland control share acquisition statute does not apply to acquisitions of shares of our common stock. Though not anticipated, we could decide to become subject to the Maryland control share acquisition statute by amending our bylaws to eliminate the opt-out provision. See “— Amendment of Charter and Bylaws.”

Board of Directors. Except with respect to any directors who may be elected by any series of preferred stock, our board of directors is divided into three classes, each of which contains approximately one-third of the members of the board. The members of each class generally are elected for a term of three years, with the terms of office of all members of one class expiring each year so that approximately one-third of the total number of directors is elected each year. The classification of directors, together with the provisions in our charter described below that limit the ability of stockholders to remove directors and that permit only the remaining directors to fill any vacancies on the board of directors, have the effect of making it more difficult for stockholders to change the composition of the board of directors. As a result, at least two annual meetings of stockholders will be required for the stockholders to change a majority of the directors, whether or not a change in the board of directors would be beneficial and whether or not a majority of stockholders believe that such a change would be desirable. Our charter provides that stockholders may not cumulate their votes in the election of directors.

Our bylaws provide that we will have the number of directors fixed from time to time by our board of directors. Our bylaws also provide that vacancies in the board of directors may be filled by a majority vote of the directors then in office, though less than a quorum, and any director so chosen shall hold office for the remainder of the full term of the class of directors in which the vacancy occurred. Our charter provides that, subject to the rights of the holders of any series of preferred stock then outstanding, directors may be removed from office only for cause and only by the vote of the holders of at least 80% of the voting power of the then-outstanding shares of capital stock entitled to vote generally in the election of directors (after giving effect to the 10% voting limitation described under “— Voting Limitation”), voting together as a single class.

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Special Meetings of Stockholders. Our bylaws provide that special meetings of stockholders may be called by our President or our board of directors by vote of a majority of the whole board (meaning the total number of directors we would have if there were no vacancies). Our bylaws also provide that a special meeting of stockholders shall be called by our Secretary on the written request of stockholders entitled to cast at least a majority of all votes entitled to be cast at the meeting.

Action by Stockholders without a Meeting. Our bylaws provide that, except as described in the following sentence, any action required or permitted to be taken at a meeting of stockholders may instead be taken without a meeting if a unanimous consent which sets forth the action is given in writing or by electronic transmission by each stockholder entitled to vote on the matter. Our bylaws also provide that, unless our charter provides otherwise, the holders of any class of our stock, other than common stock, that is entitled to vote generally in the election of directors may act without a meeting by delivering a consent in writing or by electronic transmission of the stockholders entitled to cast not less than the minimum number of votes that would be necessary to approve the action at a meeting of stockholders if we give notice of the action so taken to each stockholder within ten days after the action is taken.

Business Combinations with Certain Persons. Our charter provides that certain business combinations (for example, mergers, share exchanges, significant asset sales and significant stock issuances) involving “interested stockholders” of the Company require, in addition to any vote required by law, the approval of the holders of at least 80% of the voting power of the outstanding shares of stock entitled to vote in the election of directors, voting together as a single class, unless either (i) a majority of the disinterested directors have approved the business combination or (ii) certain fair price and procedure requirements are satisfied. An “interested stockholder” generally means a person who is a greater than 10% stockholder of the Company or who is an affiliate of the Company and at any time within the past two years was a greater than 10% stockholder of the Company.

The Maryland General Corporation Law contains a business combination statute that prohibits a business combination between a corporation and an interested stockholder (one who beneficially owns 10% or more of the voting power) for a period of five years after the interested stockholder first becomes an interested stockholder, unless the transaction has been approved by the board of directors before the interested stockholder became an interested stockholder or the corporation has exempted itself from the statute pursuant to a charter provision. After the five-year period has elapsed, a corporation subject to the statute may not consummate a business combination with an interested stockholder unless (i) the transaction has been recommended by the board of directors and (ii) the transaction has been approved by the vote of at least (a) 80% of the votes entitled to be cast by outstanding shares of the corporation’s voting stock, voting together as a single voting group and (b) two-thirds of the votes entitled to be cast by holders of the corporation’s voting stock other than shares owned by the interested stockholder. This approval requirement need not be met if certain fair price and terms criteria have been satisfied. We have opted-out of the Maryland business combination statute through a provision in our charter.

Prevention of Greenmail. Our charter generally prohibits us from acquiring any of our own equity securities from a beneficial owner of 5% or more of our voting stock unless: (i) the acquisition is approved by the holders of at least 80% of our voting stock not owned by the seller, voting together as a single class; (ii) the acquisition is made as part of a tender or exchange offer by us or a subsidiary of ours to purchase securities of the same class on the same terms to all holders of such securities; (iii) the acquisition is pursuant to an open market purchase program approved by a majority of our board of directors, including a majority of the disinterested directors; or (iv) the acquisition is at or below the market price of our common stock and is approved by a majority of our board of directors, including a majority of the disinterested directors.

Amendment of Charter and Bylaws. Our charter generally may be amended upon approval by the board of directors and the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of our common stock. The amendment of certain provisions of our charter, however, requires the vote of the holders of at least 80% of the outstanding shares of capital stock entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, (after giving effect to the 10% voting limitation described under “— Voting Limitation”), voting together as a single class. These include provisions relating to: the issuance of preferred stock; voting limitations on greater than 10% stockholders; the number, classification, election and removal of directors; certain business combinations

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with greater than 10% stockholders; the prevention of greenmail, indemnification of directors and officers and limitations on director and officer liability; and amendments to our charter and bylaws.

Our bylaws may be amended either by the board of directors, by a vote of a majority of the whole Board, or by our stockholders, by the vote of the holders of at least 80% of the voting power of the outstanding shares of capital stock entitled to vote generally in the election of directors (after giving effect to the 10% voting limitation described under “— Voting Limitation”), voting together as a single class.

Advance Notice Provisions. Our bylaws provide that we must receive written notice of any stockholder proposal for business at an annual meeting of stockholders not less than 90 days or more than 120 days before the anniversary of the preceding year’s annual meeting. If the date of the current year annual meeting is advanced by more than 20 days or delayed by more than 60 days from the anniversary date of the preceding year’s annual meeting, we must receive written notice of the proposal no earlier than the close of business on the 120th day prior to the date of the annual meeting and no later than the close of business on the later of the 90th day prior to the annual meeting or the tenth day following the first to occur of the day on which notice of the date of the meeting is mailed or otherwise transmitted or the day on which public announcement of the date of the meeting date is first made.

Our bylaws also provide that we must receive written notice of any stockholder director nomination for a meeting of stockholders not less than 90 days or more than 120 days before the date of the meeting. If, however, less than 100 days’ notice or prior public announcement of the date of the meeting is given or made to stockholders, we must receive notice of the nomination no later than the tenth day following day on which notice of the date of the meeting is mailed or otherwise transmitted or the day on which public announcement of the date of the meeting date is first made, whichever occurs first.

Federal Law. The Bank Holding Company Act of 1956, as amended, requires any “bank holding company,” as defined in the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956, as amended, to obtain the approval of the Federal Reserve Board before acquiring 5% or more of any class of our voting securities. Any entity that is a holder of 25% or more of any class of our voting securities, or a holder of a lesser percentage if such holder otherwise exercises a “controlling influence” over us, is subject to regulation as a bank holding company under the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956, as amended. Under the Change in Bank Control Act of 1978, as amended, any person (or persons acting in concert), other than a bank holding company, is required to notify the Federal Reserve Board before acquiring 10% or more of any class of our voting securities.

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DESCRIPTION OF DEPOSITARY SHARES

We may offer depositary shares, which will be evidenced by depositary receipts representing fractional interests in shares of preferred stock of any series. In connection with the issuance of any depositary shares, we will enter into a deposit agreement with a depositary, which will be named in the applicable prospectus supplement. The following briefly summarizes the material provisions of the deposit agreement and of the depositary shares and depositary receipts, other than pricing and related terms disclosed for a particular issuance in an accompanying prospectus supplement. This description is not complete and is subject to, and qualified in its entirety by reference to, all provisions of the applicable deposit agreement, depositary shares and depositary receipts. You should read the particular terms of any depositary shares and any depositary receipts that are offered and any deposit agreement relating to a particular series of preferred stock described in more detail in a prospectus supplement. The prospectus supplement will also state whether any of the generalized provisions summarized below do not apply to the depositary shares or depositary receipts being offered.

General

We may, at our option, elect to offer fractional shares of preferred stock, rather than full shares of preferred stock. In such event, we will issue receipts for depositary shares, each of which will represent a fraction of a share of a particular series of preferred stock.

The shares of any series of preferred stock represented by depositary shares will be deposited under a deposit agreement between us and the depositary we select. Each owner of a depositary share will be entitled to all the rights and preferences of the underlying preferred stock, including any dividend, voting, redemption, conversion and liquidation rights described in the particular prospectus supplement, in proportion to the applicable fraction of a share of preferred stock represented by such depositary share.

The depositary shares will be evidenced by depositary receipts issued pursuant to the deposit agreement. Depositary receipts will be distributed to those persons purchasing the fractional shares of preferred stock in accordance with the terms of the applicable prospectus supplement.

Dividends and Other Distributions

The preferred stock depositary will distribute all cash dividends or other cash distributions received in respect of the deposited preferred stock to the record holders of depositary shares relating to the preferred stock in proportion to the number of depositary shares owned by the holders.

In the case of a distribution other than in cash, the preferred stock depositary will distribute any property received by it other than cash to the record holders of depositary shares entitled to receive it. If the preferred stock depositary determines that it is not feasible to make such a distribution, it may, with our approval, sell the property and distribute the net proceeds from the sale to the holders of the depositary shares.

The amounts distributed in any such distribution, whether in cash or otherwise, will be reduced by any amount required to be withheld by us or the preferred stock depositary on account of taxes.

Redemption, Conversion and Exchange of Preferred Stock

If a series of preferred stock represented by depositary shares is to be redeemed, the depositary shares will be redeemed from the proceeds received by the preferred stock depositary resulting from the redemption, in whole or in part, of that series of preferred stock. The depositary shares will be redeemed by the preferred stock depositary at a price per depositary share equal to the applicable fraction of the redemption price per share payable in respect of the shares of preferred stock redeemed.

Whenever we redeem shares of preferred stock held by the preferred stock depositary, the preferred stock depositary will redeem as of the same date the number of depositary shares representing shares of preferred stock redeemed. If fewer than all the depositary shares are to be redeemed, the depositary shares to be redeemed will be selected by the preferred stock depositary by lot or ratably or by any other equitable method, in each case as we may determine.

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If a series of preferred stock represented by depositary shares is to be converted or exchanged, the holder of depositary receipts representing the shares of preferred stock being converted or exchanged will have the right or obligation to convert or exchange the depositary shares evidenced by the depositary receipts.

After the redemption, conversion or exchange date, the depositary shares called for redemption, conversion or exchange will no longer be outstanding. When the depositary shares are no longer outstanding, all rights of the holders will end, except the right to receive money, securities or other property payable upon redemption, conversion or exchange.

Voting Deposited Preferred Stock

Upon receipt of notice of any meeting at which the holders of any series of deposited preferred stock are entitled to vote, the preferred stock depositary will mail the information contained in the notice of meeting to the record holders of the depositary receipts evidencing the depositary shares relating to that series of preferred stock. Each record holder of the depositary receipts on the record date will be entitled to instruct the preferred stock depositary to vote the amount of the preferred stock represented by the holder’s depositary shares. The preferred stock depositary will try, if practical, to vote the amount of such series of preferred stock represented by such depositary shares in accordance with such instructions.

We will agree to take all reasonable actions that the preferred stock depositary determines are necessary to enable the preferred stock depositary to vote as instructed. The preferred stock depositary will abstain from voting shares of any series of preferred stock held by it for which it does not receive specific instructions from the holders of depositary shares representing those preferred shares.

Amendment and Termination of Deposit Agreement

The form of depositary receipt evidencing the depositary shares and any provision of the deposit agreement may at any time be amended by agreement between us and the preferred stock depositary. However, any amendment that materially and adversely alters any existing right of the holders of depositary receipts will not be effective unless the amendment has been approved by the holders of depositary receipts representing at least a majority of the depositary shares then outstanding. Every holder of an outstanding depositary receipt at the time any such amendment becomes effective will be deemed, by continuing to hold the depositary receipt, to consent and agree to the amendment and to be bound by the deposit agreement, as amended.

We may direct the preferred stock depositary to terminate the deposit agreement at any time by mailing notice of termination to the record holders of the depositary receipts then outstanding at least 30 days prior to the date fixed for termination. Upon termination, the preferred stock depositary will deliver to each holder of depositary receipts, upon surrender of those receipts, such number of whole shares of the series of preferred stock represented by the depositary shares together with cash in lieu of any fractional shares, to the extent we have deposited cash for payment in lieu of fractional shares with the preferred stock depositary. In addition, the deposit agreement will automatically terminate if:

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all of the shares of the preferred stock deposited with the preferred stock depositary have been withdrawn, redeemed, converted or exchanged; or

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there has been a final distribution in respect of the deposited preferred stock in connection with our liquidation, dissolution or winding up.

Charges of Preferred Stock Depositary; Taxes and Other Governmental Charges

We will pay all transfer and other taxes and governmental charges arising solely from the existence of the depositary arrangements. We also will pay charges of the preferred stock depositary in connection with the initial deposit of preferred stock and any redemption of preferred stock. Holders of depositary receipts will pay other transfer and other taxes and governmental charges and such other charges, including a fee for the withdrawal of shares of preferred stock upon surrender of depositary receipts, as are expressly provided in the deposit agreement to be for their accounts.

Prospective purchasers of depositary shares should be aware that special tax, accounting and other issues may be applicable to instruments such as depositary shares.

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Resignation and Removal of Depositary

The preferred stock depositary may resign at any time by delivering to us notice of its intent to do so, and we may at any time remove the preferred stock depositary, any such resignation or removal to take effect upon the appointment of a successor preferred stock depositary meeting the requirements specified in the deposit agreement and its acceptance of such appointment.

Miscellaneous

The preferred stock depositary will forward all reports and communications from us that are delivered to the preferred stock depositary and that we are required to furnish to the holders of the deposited preferred stock.

Neither we nor the preferred stock depositary will be liable if we are or the preferred stock depositary is prevented or delayed by law or any circumstances beyond our or its control in performing our or its obligations under the deposit agreement. Our obligations and the obligations of the preferred stock depositary under the deposit agreement will be limited to performance in good faith of the duties under the deposit agreement and we and the preferred stock depositary will not be obligated to prosecute or defend any legal proceeding in respect of any depositary shares, depositary receipts or shares of preferred stock unless satisfactory indemnity is furnished. We and the preferred stock depositary may rely upon written advice of counsel or accountants, or upon information provided by holders of depositary receipts or other persons believed to be competent and on documents believed to be genuine.

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DESCRIPTION OF PURCHASE CONTRACTS

We may issue purchase contracts, including purchase contracts issued as part of a unit with one or more other securities, for the purchase or sale of our debt securities, common stock, preferred stock or depositary shares.

The price of our debt securities, or the price per share of our common stock, preferred stock or depositary shares, as applicable, may be fixed at the time the purchase contracts are issued or may be determined by reference to a specific formula contained in the purchase contracts. We may issue purchase contracts in such amounts and in as many distinct series as we wish.

The applicable prospectus supplement may contain, where applicable, the following information about the purchase contracts issued under it:

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whether the purchase contracts obligate the holder to purchase or sell, or both purchase and sell, our debt securities, common stock, preferred stock or depositary shares, as applicable, and the nature and amount of each of those securities, or method of determining those amounts;

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whether the purchase contracts are to be prepaid or not;

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whether the purchase contracts are to be settled by delivery, or by reference or linkage to the value, performance or level of our debt securities, common stock, preferred stock or depositary shares;

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any acceleration, cancellation, termination or other provisions relating to the settlement of the purchase contracts; and

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whether the purchase contracts will be issued in fully registered or global form.

The applicable prospectus supplement will describe the terms of any purchase contracts. The preceding description and any description of purchase contracts in the applicable prospectus supplement does not purport to be complete and is subject to and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the purchase contract agreement and, if applicable, collateral arrangements and depositary arrangements relating to such purchase contracts.

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DESCRIPTION OF WARRANTS

We may issue warrants for the purchase of our debt securities, or shares of our common stock or preferred stock or depositary shares. Warrants may be issued independently or together with any of our debt securities, shares of common stock or preferred stock or depositary shares offered by any prospectus supplement and may be attached to or separate from the debt securities, shares of common stock or preferred stock or depositary shares. The warrants may be issued under warrant agreements to be entered into between us and a warrant agent, as is named in the prospectus supplement relating to the particular issue of warrants. The warrant agent will act solely as our agent in connection with the warrants and will not assume any obligation or relationship of agency or trust for or with any holders of warrants or beneficial owners of warrants.

The following outlines some of the anticipated general terms and conditions of the warrants. Further terms of the warrants and any applicable warrant agreement will be stated in the applicable prospectus supplement. The following description and any description of the warrants in a prospectus supplement is subject to and qualified in its entirety by reference to the actual terms and provisions of the warrants and any applicable warrant agreement.

General

If warrants are offered, the prospectus supplement will describe the terms of the warrants, including the following:

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the offering price;

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the designation, aggregate principal amount and terms of the debt securities purchasable upon exercise of any debt warrants and the price at which such debt securities may be purchased upon such exercise;

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the number of shares purchasable upon exercise of any common stock warrants and the price at which such shares of common stock may be purchased upon such exercise;

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the designation, number of shares and terms of the preferred stock or depositary shares purchasable upon exercise of any preferred stock warrants and the price at which such shares of preferred stock may be purchased upon such exercise;

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if applicable, the date on and after which the warrants and the related debt securities, common stock, preferred stock or depositary shares will be separately transferable;

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the date on which the right to exercise the warrants will commence and the date on which such right will expire;

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whether the warrants will be issued in registered or bearer form; and

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any other terms of the warrants.

If in registered form, warrants may be presented for registration of transfer, and may be exercised at the corporate trust office of the warrant agent or any other office indicated in the prospectus supplement. Before the exercise of their warrants, holders of warrants will not have any of the rights of holders of the securities purchasable upon such exercise.

Exercise of Warrants

Each warrant will entitle the holder to purchase such principal amount of debt securities or such number of shares of common stock or preferred stock or depositary shares at such exercise price as shall in each case be set forth in, or can be calculated according to information contained in, the prospectus supplement relating to the warrant. Warrants may be exercised at such times as are set forth in the prospectus supplement relating to such warrants. After the close of business on the expiration date of the warrants, or such later date to which such expiration date may be extended by us, unexercised warrants will become void.

Subject to any restrictions and additional requirements that may be set forth in the prospectus supplement, warrants may be exercised by delivery to the warrant agent of the certificate evidencing such

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warrants properly completed and duly executed and of payment as provided in the prospectus supplement of the amount required to purchase the debt securities or shares of common stock or preferred stock or depositary shares purchasable upon such exercise. The exercise price will be the price applicable on the date of payment in full, as set forth in the prospectus supplement relating to the warrants. Upon receipt of such payment and the certificate representing the warrants to be exercised, properly completed and duly executed at the corporate trust office of the warrant agent or any other office indicated in the prospectus supplement, we will, as soon as practicable, issue and deliver the debt securities or shares of common stock or preferred stock or depositary shares purchasable upon such exercise. If fewer than all of the warrants represented by such certificate are exercised, a new certificate will be issued for the remaining amount of warrants.

Additional Provisions

The exercise price payable and the number of shares of common stock or preferred stock or depositary shares purchasable upon the exercise of each stock warrant will be subject to adjustment in certain events, including:

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the issuance of a stock dividend to holders of common stock or preferred stock, respectively;

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a combination, subdivision or reclassification of common stock or preferred stock, respectively; or

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any other event described in the applicable prospectus supplement.

In lieu of adjusting the number of shares of common stock or preferred stock or depositary shares purchasable upon exercise of each stock warrant, we may elect to adjust the number of stock warrants. We also may, at our option, reduce the exercise price at any time. No fractional shares will be issued upon exercise of stock warrants, but we will pay the cash value of any fractional shares otherwise issuable. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in case of our consolidation, merger, or sale or conveyance of our property as an entirety or substantially as an entirety, the holder of each outstanding stock warrant will have the right upon the exercise thereof to the kind and amount of shares of stock and other securities and property, including cash, receivable by a holder of the number of shares of common stock or preferred stock or depositary shares into which such stock warrants were exercisable immediately prior thereto.

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DESCRIPTION OF RIGHTS

This section describes the general terms of the rights to purchase common stock or other securities that we may offer using this prospectus. Further terms of the rights will be stated in the applicable prospectus supplement. The following description and any description of the rights in a prospectus supplement may not be complete and is subject to and qualified in its entirety by reference to the terms of any agreement relating to the rights.

Rights may be issued independently or together with any other security and may or may not be transferable. As part of the rights offering, we may enter into a standby underwriting or other arrangement under which the underwriters or any other person would purchase any securities that are not purchased in such rights offering. The prospectus supplement relating to any rights we offer will describe the specific terms of the offering and the rights, including:

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the record date for determining security holders entitled to the rights distribution;

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the number of rights issued and the number of shares of common stock or other securities that may be purchased upon exercise of the rights;

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the exercise price of the rights;

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the steps required to exercise the rights;

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the date on which the rights will become effective and the date on which the rights will expire;

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whether the rights will include oversubscription rights, so that the holder may purchase more securities if other holders do not purchase their full allotments;

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whether we intend to sell the shares of common stock or other securities that are not purchased in the offering to an underwriter or other purchaser under a contractual standby commitment or other arrangement; and

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our ability to withdraw or terminate the rights offering prior to the expiration date of the rights.

Prior to the exercise of their rights, holders of rights will not have any of the rights of holders of the securities purchasable upon the exercise of the rights, and will not be entitled to, among other things, vote or receive dividend payments or other distributions on the securities purchasable upon exercise.

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DESCRIPTION OF UNITS

Units will consist of any combination of one or more of the other types of securities described in this prospectus. The applicable prospectus supplement or supplements will also describe:

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the designation and the terms of the units and of any combination of the securities constituting the units, including whether and under what circumstances those securities may be held or traded separately;

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any additional terms of the agreement governing the units;

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any additional provisions for the issuance, payment, settlement, transfer or exchange of the units or of the securities constituting the units; and

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whether the units will be issued in fully registered form.

The terms and conditions described under “Description of Debt Securities,” “Description of Warrants,” and “Description of Common Stock and Preferred Stock” will apply to each unit that includes such securities and to the securities included in each unit, unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement.

We will issue the units under one or more unit agreements to be entered into between us and a unit agent. We may issue units in one or more series, which will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement.

DESCRIPTION OF GLOBAL SECURITIES

Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, we may issue the securities in the form of one or more fully registered global securities that will be deposited with a depository or its nominee identified in the applicable prospectus supplement and registered in the name of that depository or its nominee. In those cases, one or more registered global securities will be issued in a denomination or aggregate denominations equal to the portion of the aggregate principal or face amount of the securities to be represented by registered global securities. Unless and until it is exchanged in whole for securities in definitive registered form, a registered global security may not be transferred except as a whole by and among the depository for the registered global security, the nominees of the depository or any successors of the depository or those nominees.

If not described below, any specific terms of the depository arrangement with respect to any securities to be represented by a registered global security will be described in the prospectus supplement relating to those securities. We anticipate that the following provisions will apply to all depository arrangements.

Ownership of beneficial interests in a registered global security will be limited to persons, called participants, that have accounts with the depository or persons that may hold interests through participants. Upon the issuance of a registered global security, the depository will credit, on its book-entry registration and transfer system, the participants’ accounts with the respective principal or face amounts of the securities beneficially owned by the participants. Any dealers, underwriters or agents participating in the distribution of the securities will designate the accounts to be credited.

Ownership of beneficial interests in a registered global security will be shown on, and the transfer of ownership interests will be effected only through, records maintained by the depository, with respect to interests of participants, and on the records of participants, with respect to interests of persons holding through participants. The laws of some states may require that some purchasers of securities take physical delivery of these securities in definitive form. These laws may impair your ability to own, transfer or pledge beneficial interests in registered global securities.

So long as the depository, or its nominee, is the registered owner of a registered global security, that depository or its nominee, as the case may be, will be considered the sole owner or holder of the securities represented by the registered global security for all purposes. Except as described below, owners of beneficial interests in a registered global security will not be entitled to have the securities represented by the registered global security registered in their names, will not receive or be entitled to receive physical delivery of the securities in definitive form and will not be considered the owners or holders of the securities. Accordingly,

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each person owning a beneficial interest in a registered global security must rely on the procedures of the depository for that registered global security and, if that person is not a participant, on the procedures of the participant through which the person owns its interest, to exercise any rights of a holder under the applicable indenture, warrant agreement or unit agreement. We understand that under existing industry practices, if we request any action of holders or if an owner of a beneficial interest in a registered global security desires to give or take any action that a holder is entitled to give or take, the depository for the registered global security would authorize the participants holding the relevant beneficial interests to give or take that action, and the participants would authorize beneficial owners owning through them to give or take that action or would otherwise act upon the instructions of beneficial owners holding through them.

Payments of principal of, and premium, if any, and interest on, debt securities, and any payments to holders with respect to other securities represented by a registered global security registered in the name of a depository or its nominee will be made to the depository or its nominee, as the case may be, as the registered owner of the registered global security. None of Great Southern Bancorp, Inc., the trustees, the warrant agents, the unit agents or any preferred stock depositary, as applicable, will have any responsibility or liability for any aspect of the records relating to or the payments made on account of beneficial ownership interests in the registered global security or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any records relating to those beneficial ownership interests.

We expect that the depository for any of the securities represented by a registered global security, upon receipt of any payment of principal, premium, interest or other distribution of underlying securities or other property to holders on that registered global security, will immediately credit participants’ accounts in amounts proportionate to their respective beneficial interests in that registered global security as shown on the records of the depository. We also expect that payments by participants to owners of beneficial interests in a registered global security held through participants will be governed by standing customer instructions and customary practices, as is now the case with the securities held for the accounts of customers in bearer form or registered in “street name,” and will be the responsibility of those participants.

If the depository for any of these securities represented by a registered global security is at any time unwilling or unable to continue as depository or ceases to be a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act, and a successor depository registered as a clearing agency under the Exchange Act is not appointed by us within 90 days, we will issue securities in definitive form in exchange for the registered global security that had been held by the depository. In addition, under the terms of the indenture for any debt securities, we may at any time and in our sole discretion decide not to have any of such securities represented by one or more registered global securities. We understand, however, that, under current industry practices, the depository would notify its participants of our request, but will only withdraw beneficial interests from a global security at the request of each participant. We would issue definitive certificates in exchange for any such interests withdrawn. Any securities issued in definitive form in exchange for a registered global security will be registered in the name or names that the depository gives to the applicable trustee, warrant agent, unit agent or other relevant agent of ours or theirs. It is expected that the depository’s instructions will be based upon directions received by the depository from participants with respect to ownership of beneficial interests in the registered global security that had been held by the depository.

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PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

We may sell the securities in several ways, including:

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through underwriters or dealers;

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through agents;

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in “at the market” offerings, within the meaning of Rule 415(a)(4) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), to or through a market maker or into an existing trading market on an exchange or otherwise;

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directly to purchasers or to a single purchaser;

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directly to our stockholders, including as a dividend or distribution or in a subscription rights offering; or

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through a combination of any of these methods of sale.

The prospectus supplement with respect to a particular offering of securities will set forth the terms of the offering of such securities, including the name or names of any underwriters, dealers or agents, the price at which such securities are offered, the proceeds to us from such offering, any underwriting discounts and other items constituting underwriters’ compensation, any selling commissions to dealers or agents, any discounts or concessions allowed or reallowed or paid to dealers or agents and any securities exchanges on which such securities may be listed. Dealer and agents participating in offerings of our securities may be deemed to be “underwriters” as that term is defined in the Securities Act.

Underwriters, dealers, agents and other persons may be entitled, under agreements that they may enter into with us, to indemnification by us against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act, in connection with their participation in our offerings.

If we use underwriters in the sale, the securities will be acquired by the underwriters for their own account and may be resold from time to time in one or more transactions, including negotiated transactions, at a fixed public offering price or at varying prices determined at the time of sale. The securities may be either offered to the public through underwriting syndicates represented by managing underwriters or by underwriters without a syndicate. Any initial public offering price and any discounts or concessions allowed or reallowed or paid to dealers may be changed from time to time. The applicable prospectus supplement will state any material relationships between the underwriters and us and the nature of the underwriters’ obligation to take and pay for securities.

Securities also may be offered directly by us or through agents designated by us from time to time. Any such agent will be named, and the terms of any such agency (including any commissions payable by us to any such agent) will be set forth, in the prospectus supplement relating to such securities. Unless otherwise indicated in such prospectus supplement, any such agent will act on a best efforts basis for the period of its appointment. Agents named in a prospectus supplement may be deemed to be underwriters (within the meaning of the Securities Act) of the securities described in such prospectus supplement and, under agreements which may be entered into with us, may be entitled to indemnification by us against certain civil liabilities under the Securities Act or to contribution with respect to payments which the agents may be required to make in respect of such liabilities.

We may enter into derivative or other hedging transactions with financial institutions. These financial institutions may in turn engage in sales of securities to hedge their position, deliver this prospectus in connection with some or all of those sales and use the securities covered by this prospectus to close out any short position created in connection with those sales. We may also sell securities short using this prospectus and deliver securities covered by this prospectus to close out such short positions, or loan or pledge securities to financial institutions that in turn may sell the securities using this prospectus. We may pledge or grant a security interest in some or all of the securities covered by this prospectus to support a derivative or hedging position or other obligations and, if we default in the performance of our obligations, the pledgees or secured parties may offer and sell the securities from time to time pursuant to this prospectus.

Underwriters and agents may be customers of, engage in transactions with, or perform services for, us and our subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business.

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If so indicated in a prospectus supplement, we will authorize underwriters, dealers or other agents of ours to solicit offers by certain specified entities to purchase securities from us pursuant to contracts providing for payment and delivery at a future date. The obligations of any purchaser under any such contract will not be subject to any conditions except those described in such prospectus supplement. Such prospectus supplement will set forth the commissions payable for solicitations of such contracts.

Underwriters and agents may from time to time purchase and sell securities in the secondary market, but are not obligated to do so, and there can be no assurance that there will be a secondary market for the securities or liquidity in the secondary market if one develops. From time to time, underwriters and agents may make a market in the securities but are not obligated to do so and may cease to do so at any time.

One or more firms, referred to as “remarketing firms,” may also offer or sell the securities, if the prospectus supplement so indicates, in connection with a remarketing arrangement upon their purchase. Remarketing firms will act as principals for their own accounts or as agents for us. These remarketing firms will offer or sell the securities in accordance with a redemption or repayment pursuant to the terms of the securities. The prospectus supplement will identify any remarketing firm and the terms of its agreement, if any, with us and will describe the remarketing firm’s compensation. Remarketing firms may be deemed to be underwriters in connection with the securities they remarket. Remarketing firms may be entitled under agreements that may be entered into with us to indemnification by us against certain civil liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act, and may be customers of, engage in transactions with or perform services for us in the ordinary course of business.

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IMPORTANT NOTICE ABOUT INFORMATION PRESENTED IN THIS PROSPECTUS AND THE ACCOMPANYING PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT		i
ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS		1
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION		1
SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS		3
PROSPECTUS SUMMARY		4
RISK FACTORS		6
GREAT SOUTHERN BANCORP, INC.		6
USE OF PROCEEDS		6
DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES		7
DESCRIPTION OF COMMON STOCK AND PREFERRED STOCK		17
DESCRIPTION OF DEPOSITARY SHARES		23
DESCRIPTION OF PURCHASE CONTRACTS		26
DESCRIPTION OF WARRANTS		27
DESCRIPTION OF RIGHTS		29
DESCRIPTION OF UNITS		30
DESCRIPTION OF GLOBAL SECURITIES		30
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION		32
LEGAL MATTERS		34
EXPERTS		34