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

---

Page 10
During World War II when most banks were rerusing savings accounts the Hancock not only accepted them but encouraged them -- on the basis that one of the bank's first obligations was to its depositors. The Hancock Bank was the first on the Coast to introduce the Christmas Savings Club plan. That was back just before World War I and was withdrawn temporarily during the war years to permit depositors to invest in Liberty Bonds and Stamps.
During the 75 year business span of the Hancock Bank it has seen the last stand of virgin pine in the state cut in its own Hancock County, but long before that happened it had begun pioneering with other organizations and individuals in promoting the reforestation program that has already put Mississippi in the position of raising more timber now than it cuts.
The Hancock Bank has seen the Coast grow from the Bay St. Louis Ferry and the gravel bed Old Spanish Trail (both of which it helped promote) to the present day modern bridge and super highway that pour over 40,000 cars a day into the Coast area as well as the super Interstate 10 Highway north of the coastline which connects Mississippi to her sister states.
It has assisted the Mississippi Gulf Coast to grow from an island, blocked off by two huge bays from prosperity, to a nationally recognized year round saltwater recreation land, the Riviera of America. It has helped the Coast make the transition from lumber to diversified industry.
The steady march of its branches across the face of Hancock, Harrison, and Pearl River Counties during the past 7 5 years is the best proof we can present of the steady surge forward of the communities they serve — for the presence of a bank is both the cause and effect of progress.
Up-dated reprint of original article by Ray M. Thompson