Peoples Financial Corporation (the “Company”) was established as a one bank holding company on December 18, 1984. The Company is headquartered in Biloxi, Mississippi. At December 31, 2003, the Company operated in the state of Mississippi through its wholly-owned subsidiary, The Peoples Bank, Biloxi, Mississippi (“the Bank”). The Company is now engaged, through this subsidiary, in the banking business. The Bank is the Company’s principal asset and primary source of revenue.
The Company’s wholly-owned bank subsidiary is The Peoples Bank, which was originally chartered in 1896 in Biloxi, Mississippi. The Bank is a state chartered bank whose deposits are insured under the Federal Deposit Insurance Act. The Bank is not a member of the Federal Reserve System. The legal name of the Bank was changed to The Peoples Bank, Biloxi, Mississippi, during 1991.
The Bank currently offers a variety of loan and deposit services to individuals and small to middle market businesses within its trade area. Deposit services include interest bearing and non-interest bearing checking accounts, savings accounts, certificates of deposit, and IRA accounts. The Bank also offers a non-deposit funds management account, which is not insured by the FDIC. Loan services include business, real estate, construction, personal and installment loans, with an emphasis on commercial lending. The Bank also offers a variety of other functions including collection services, asset management and trust services, wire services, safe deposit box facilities, night drop facilities, cash management, automated teller machines and Internet, or home, banking.
The Bank also provides services to customers representing a wide variety of industries including seafood, retail, hospitality, gaming and construction. While the Company has pursued external growth strategies on a limited basis, its primary focus has been on internal growth by the Bank through the establishment of new branch locations and an emphasis on strong customer relationships.
The Main Office, operations center and asset management and trust services of the Bank are located in downtown Biloxi, MS. The Bank also has sixteen (16) branches located throughout Harrison, Hancock, Jackson and Stone Counties. The Bank has automated teller machines (“ATM”) at its Main Office, all branch locations and at numerous non-proprietary locations.
The Bank’s Asset Management and Trust Services Department offers personal trust, agencies and estate services including living and testamentary trusts, executorships, guardianships, and conservatorships. Benefit accounts maintained by the Department primarily include self-directed individual retirement accounts. Escrow management, stock transfer and bond paying agency accounts are available to corporate customers.