As we approach this milestone event for our county, Peoples Bank is honored to be able to be the Pioneer Sponsor for our Bicentennial Celebration. Two hundred years of Simpson County is such a monumental reason to celebrate.
One hundred and sixteen years ago, just a year after our beautiful courthouse was constructed on the dirt roads of Main Street, Mendenhall, business leaders Col. Sidney McLaurin and Dewitt Enochs first opened the doors of Peoples Bank. They had a commitment to providing service to rural Simpson County, which was largely ignored by the Jackson-based banks.
At the same time, McLaurin and Enochs convinced A.S. Davis to assume the role of Cashier, beginning the long legacy of the Davis family’s involvement in the growth and prosperity of the bank and the community.
Sidney Davis, son of A.S. Davis, joined the bank in 1932. He quickly earned “legendary status” in central Mississippi for his personal approach to the bank’s customers. As an example, Mr. Davis convinced then-President Brent Durr, who had succeeded Sidney Davis’ father in leadership of the bank, to rescind the Board’s decision to close the bank temporarily during the Great Depression. As banks locked their doors across the nation, Peoples Bank was fully prepared to follow suit until Davis took the sign off the door while saying “This bank will not close,” a decision detailed later by writers of the Los Angeles Times, who compared Davis to the screen character of George Bailey in It’s A Wonderful Life. More banks closed in America that day than any day before or since. The largest banks in Mississippi closed that day. Peoples Bank did not.
Now, Dennis Ammann serves as the fourth generation CEO, following in the footsteps of his father, grandfather, and great-grandfather. “To me, Simpson County is not only the bank’s headquarters – it’s my home”, said Ammann.
Peoples Bank has maintained that true community bank outlook and is still located in central Mississippi. Our Operations Department is just across the street from the original 1908 bank location in downtown Mendenhall.
Peoples Bank currently operates five offices with locations in Collins, Magee, Mendenhall and Richland with an asset size of $430 million. In addition to being a full-service bank, Peoples Bank has expanded into many areas of specialties, including being recognized as a Small Business Administration (SBA) Preferred Lender, designated as a Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI), and Community Development Bankers Association (CDBA) member. Recently, we’ve helped create or retain almost 18,000 jobs for our communities.
Our focus is still just as clear as it was in the very beginning. Peoples Bank’s mission is to make each community served better by providing superior and responsible financial products, design services that increase economic opportunity, create financial stability, and improve the quality of life for the people and businesses in each community.
CEO Dennis Ammann concludes, “While many community banks have sold out to regional banks, I’m proud that we still call Simpson County our home. The majority of our loans and deposit customers reside in Simpson County, so we have a vested interest in helping Simpson County prosper.”
