Banking options abound in Hattiesburg
With the abundance of banking options in Hattiesburg, residents should have no problem finding a perfect fit for their banking needs.
Financial institutions with footprints in the area include The Citizens Bank, First Bancshares, The First – A National Banking Association, Southern Miss Federal Credit Union, Trustmark, Wells Fargo, Regions, PriorityOne, Citizens National Bank, Grand Bank for Savings, Great Southern National Bank, Magnolia State Bank, Federal Land Bank Association, BancorpSouth, Citizens Bank of Philadelphia, Hancock Bank, Pine Belt Federal Credit Union, Central Sunbelt Federal Credit Union, Camp Shelby Federal Credit Union, Hattiesburg-Laurel Federal Credit Union and Forrest County Teachers Federal Credit Union.
"Hattiesburg is a great place because it's such an open and accepting society," said M. Ray "Hoppy" Cole, president and CEO of The First – A National Banking Association. "Newcomers are accepted and treated well.
"There's a real entrepreneurial spirit in Hattiesburg, and it shows in the economic growth that we've had and how the whole economy has performed."
And the list of banking options continues to expand, with a PriorityOne branch among the newest additions. It opened in March near the intersection of U.S. 98 and Mississippi 589.
"Things have been going pretty good (at the new branch) — so far, so good," PriorityOne President Willie Macko said. "It's a fantastic location, and it's just like everything else — it's just a matter of time."
Pine Belt Federal Credit Union, which for more than 70 years was located on West Seventh Street, relocated Jan. 7 to 1808 Evelyn Gandy Parkway in Hattiesburg. The location employs five full-time and one part-time employee.
"We've been doing great, said manager Bobby Green in a previous story. "It's been going quite well, so we're really pleased with it."
In addition, Hancock Bank opened its newest branch last June at 12 Newtowne Loop, between Cole Road and Mississippi 589. The new location employs about 10 people.