This text was obtained via automated optical character recognition.
It has not been edited and may therefore contain several errors.

---

HAVE YQU-A BANK ACCOUNT? START- ONE THEN WITH THE
BAY ST. LOUIS, MISS.
Interest grows both night and day, Call and see us right away; We’ll be glad to see you any time. Come yourself, or drop a line.
1
Merchant! Bank Declares Semi-Annual Dividend #f 5 Per Cent.	„
The old adage that nothing succeeds like success still lives and is exemplified from day to day, even in staid and prosaic Bay St. Louis business circles. This condition of success is analogous to the continued prosperity of the Merchants Bank, of this city. Since its origin some seven years since, when its birih resulted from the random conversation of two gentlemen friends, its success has been manifold and every year increasing, until today its further success is to be measured by time, and not by circumstance and conditions; for, with so large a clientelle of friends, and backed with a well-devised and systematic organization, obstacles, when appearing, are overcome, and this support rallies ever to its defense.
A regular monthly meeting of this well-known and popular institution was held a few evenings since in the directors’ room, with President R. R. Perkins in the chair. Being the ^une meeting, and the Bank’s fiscal year closing December 3lst, this was the semi-annual meeting. It was a time for a reviewing of “profit and loss” accounts, but there being no loss in a concern so well officered, the business was one to be discussed as to profits, always of interest to^the many stockholders of the bank, which are numerous, since the stock is so well distrib- I uted among the classes and the bank’s friends. The result was that a semiannual dividend of o per cent, was declared, and the balance, which exceeded the dividend, was ordered passed to the surplus account, now doubling the original par value of the bank’s stock. This dividend was ordered paid, and on July 1st, it will be noted that stockholders visiting the bank will make their exit with smiling countenances and celerity of step; for on that day they will be presented with the popular pink check. In the vernacular,' this will be like getting money from home!
Elsewhere in this' issue of The Echo will be found a quarterly statement of the Merchants Bank, as called for by the State auditor, and this statement speaks well and for itself, totalling up in figures larger than ever in the history of the bank. It might not be amiss to state incidentally and in parenthesis that this prosperity is an index to the condition of Bay St. Louis and the vicinity of Hancock county,, from which territory and within which radius the bank draws the bulk of its business. It discounts the threadworn story of hard times, and particularly, the scarcity of money hereabouts and the assertion so frequently and thoughtlessly made that our people are, in a measure, a shiftless and thriftless class to themselves.
r jwgo - y?
pSMp
x DECLARES DIVIDEND
4*&L
Of Five Per Cent. .For the Past Six Months—Surplus -Reserve Now Exceeds the Amount of Capital Stock --Annual Meeting For . Election of Officers to Be Held January 12.
At the December meeting of the Merchants Bank, held a few evenings since at the banking house of ihat institution, the directors reviewed the year’s work and found results that were extremely gratifying, which will prove good mews to the stockholders and outside patrons as well.’
The net earnings for the year will on December 31, from present figures obtainable, will exceed all previous years, thus proving a record-breaker, for have not the earnings of each year during the seven years of the bank’s existence broken the record of all previous years? The surplus now exceeds the capital, doubling the cash value of each share of stock, besides a net semi-annual dividend of 5 per cent was ordered paid.
Dividend checks will be paid the stockholders on January 1st, forming a most acceptable New Year’s gift. The Merchants Bank, ever since its organization, 'has paid to its stockholders a 10 per cent, dividend, with a liberal share of earnings passed to the surplus fund, until now, as stated above, the surplus has exceeded the capital. The bank will, no doubt, pay to its stockholders^ larger dividend than 10 per cent, next year, thus investors will receive bigger returns from their money.
The annual meeting of the stockholders of the Merchants Bank will be held on the evening of Wednesday, January 12, 1912, when a new Board of Directors will be elected for the ensuing year.-
Handsome calendars, for the friends and patrons of th« bank, have been received, and cards assigning each to the public will shortly be mailed. Each card will entitle the holder to a copy of the calendar, with the compliments of the Merchants Bank.
The year 1911 will go down in the history of the Merchants Bank as one of its most successful. Its management has been along broad and liberal lines consistent with good banking, and the lion’s share of the credit for the bank’s success is due to the cashier, Geo. R. Rea, who is untiring in his efforts, which are at all times constructive. Courteous to all, and a man of ability and of doing, he has 'the good will, friendship and confidence of all with
n/Vtnm Via Koa /laoli r»rrei	rtAmoa in