FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

For more information, contact:
Investor Relations
228-435-8208
investorrelations@thepeoples.com

THE PEOPLES BANK APPOINTS
EVELYN HERRINGTON  SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT 

BILOXI, MS (October 17, 2011)—Evelyn Herrington has been appointed Senior Vice President at The Peoples Bank, announced Chevis C. Swetman, chairman and chief executive officer of the bank.

Herrington, a resident of Biloxi, has worked in banking for more than 30 years. She joined The Peoples Bank in 1995 and most recently has served as vice president of compliance.

“On behalf of our Board of Directors, we are proud to add a committed, dedicated executive like Evelyn to our senior management team,” said Swetman. “Evelyn has demonstrated the leadership skills to help our bank successfully navigate an increasingly complex regulatory environment,” Swetman added.

Herrington earned her bachelor’s degree from the University of Southern Mississippi. She is also a graduate of the Mississippi School of Banking and has earned the designation of Certified Regulatory Compliance Manager.

She received the Outstanding Academic Achievement in Management in 2004 as well as the Outstanding Leadership Award from the Mississippi Regulatory Compliance Group in Jackson, MS.

A native of Laurel, MS, she is currently serving her third term as president of Mercy Housing and Human Development.

Founded in 1896, with $821 million in assets as of June 30, 2011, The Peoples Bank operates 16 branches along the Mississippi Gulf Coast in Hancock, Harrison, Jackson and Stone counties. In addition to a comprehensive range of retail and commercial banking services, the bank also operates a trust and investment services department that has provided customers with financial, estate and retirement planning services since 1936. 

The Peoples Bank is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Peoples Financial Corporation, listed on the NASDAQ Capital Market under the symbol PFBX. Additional information is available on the Internet at www.thepeoples.com.

This news release contains forward-looking statements and reflects industry conditions, company performance and financial results. These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risk factors and uncertainties which could cause the Company’s actual results and experience to differ from the anticipated results and expectation expressed in such forward-looking statements.