The decision to go public was mainly made to offer liquidity to our stockholders. The financial institution has a long history of progressive vision and bucking trends. In 1972, it opened the first branch location in the history of Neshoba County. About the same time, it purchased its own computer system and started doing data processing in-house when other institutions were outsourcing the work. And in 1980, Citizens Holding Company was formed which, according to Hester, was one of the first of its kind in Mississippi.
Citizens also has a loan production office in Meridian.
It employs 170 people. Growth, particularly over the last several years, has been healthy. The process of going public began about a year ago. The biggest hurdle was the first step gaining SEC approval. First we filed a regulatory statement with the SEC, said Robert Smith, vice president and controller.