A soap dispensing assembly has a container housing having an interior that retains soap. The container housing has an opening which communicates with the interior. A pump unit secured to the top of the container housing at a location separate from the opening. The pump unit includes a dispensing assembly through which soap from the interior is dispensed. A lid that is removably coupled to the opening to allow for a quick replenishment of the soap without having to remove the pump unit. The pump unit can also include an actuator that has a soap outlet, with the actuator is pivoted to draw soap from the interior of the container housing to the soap outlet.