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ucational, religious, health, youth, social, governmental, sports, athletic, economic and cultural pursuits.
To which Senator John C. Stennis made the following observation about Seal, “I first knew him w'hen he was in college at Mississippi State, and I was a circuit judge in that county, and I would see him from time to time. And I’ve taken great pride in seeing him develop and grow into a builder and a doer and a man of responsible good will. And he stands for the right kind of government, and for the right thing to be done, in connection with the people and an enterprise, be it banking or whatever it may be.”
From the earliest days of its existence, Hancock Bank has looked ahead to what South Mississippi could be; then it has tried to follow through, providing the personal leadership and the financial means to make the dreams possible. Every decade of service has been marked with challenges. And every decade, too, has been marked with growth—even in times of severe economic stress. From $8,000 to $900 million is significant growth, indeed, because it indicates the capacity to serve the needs of our customers and the country.
We measure our success not by events, profits, deposits, or numbers of branches, but by involvement with the people we serve each day. By the confidence those people have placed in us by saying, “Here, Hancock Bank, take care of my money for me.”
We measure our success by the success of the individual customers with whom we are in partnership as we watch their businesses prosper, for as our customers grow, we grow. We try to take a personal interest in all our clientele, from the largest companies to people from every walk of life.
“On-line” availability—twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week through automatic teller machines—has eliminated “banker’s hours” at Hancock Bank, giving our customers access to their money at any time of the day or night.
But, although technology is a major tool of our business, the only real difference in banks are the people. At Hancock, we enjoy a rare breed of individuals—stockholders, employees, customers—who make us what we are and they are all believers in the region and area we serve.
For over twenty years, our annual reports have highlighted some
phase of community life in our region. The reports are circulated nationwide and overseas as a means of calling attention to Mississippi’s virtues to interested businessmen and prospective industries.
From the piney woods to the waters of the world, South Mississippi and Hancock Bank’s past, present and future are tightly woven. Our trees take advantage of the long growing season and fertile soil to create a renewable natural resource that is the basis of industry of infinite variety. The forests also provide abundant pleasure for people who have a strong conservation ethic and a love for the clean, healthful environment that trees provide.
Water is the lifeblood of industry . . . the home of our renowned seafoods ... a source of transportation ... a key to national defense ... a highway to friendships and understanding ... a basis for international trade ... a lure for tourism ... a haven for sports and recreation ... an inspiration for creativity ... an unequalled serenity. Water, the source of life, is an everyday part of our lives.
The economy of the Mississippi Gulf Coast region enjoys diversification and balance. Industry—a dream held by early Coast pioneers—is today a reality. The development of prime industrial parks and seaways has attracted numerous and diverse industries which provide employment to thousands of South Mississippians at federal installations, in education, in health care, in tourism, at ports and harbors, in seafood, at industrial parks. From the depths of the sea to the outer reaches of space, South Mississippi is immersed in every phase of scientific development. It is with a tremendous sense of pride in serving the people of coastal Mississippi, and no small amount of faith in what they can accomplish, that Hancock Bank faces another century of service.
Whatever success the Bank has enjoyed during the past fifty-five years under the leadership of my father and me can be attributed by and large to the very fine supporting cast of associates we have had with us along this journey, and it’s time to acknowledge them and express gratitude.
To a Board of Directors who have always been forward-thinking as well as actively interested in the projects, problems and progress of the bank.
To a dedicated group of officers who have been hard working and