The free press. (Poplarville, Miss.) 1890-19??, 1919-02-06
FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF THIS
CITY COMPLETES 20 YEARS OF
LIFE UNDER ITS FIRST CHAR
TER TODAY.
IS REcHARTERED BY U. S. GOV
ERNMENT.
History of the Institution Dates Back
to 1895, When 1t Began Business
Here as the Bank of
Commerce.
(Hattiesburg American, Jan. 25.)

Twenty years ago today, the First
National Bank, of this city, was char
tered by the United States govern
ment. National banks are chartered
for only twenty years. Today its char
ter was renewed for another twenty
years by the comptroller Of the cur
rency, and its wheels will continue to
turn In the machinery of business,
looking as ever to the best interests
of South Mississippi. 1t has been born
again, coming out of the womb Of
and ambition, with the wisdom Of. ex-
perience and knowledge Of long OBJ
servation.
But the bank is older than twenty
years. 1t commenced business in
1895, as the Bank of Commerce. a
state institution, with a capital stock
OF $4,000. Since its reorganization, a
quarter of a century has passed. 1t
has seen Hattiesburg grow from a
small town to a city, the railroads and
towns Of South Mississippi grow
from few to many. 1t has witnessed
and aided the development Of every
Important industry within many miles
of Hattiesburg, and often its reach has
sextended even into other states. The
late captain of industry, Capt J. T.
1 Jones, is quoted as having said it had
contributed more to the development
of South Mississippi than any influ-
lence except the railroads.
Made National Bank.
January 25, 1897, the Bank of Com
merce was converted into national
bank, and chose the name National
. Bank of Commerce" 1t then had a
capital stock and undivided profits of
\ $65, 100000, deposits $156, 6,32053, and
\ total resources of $249,41234 Now it's
capital stock and undivided profits
sare $426,67364; deposits, $4,445,7 1871,
1 and total resources, $5,102, ,614.48. The
life and character of Hattiesburg and
I this section of Mississippi are told in
/ these results. A people are judged by
the monuments they build, and while
marble shafts bespeak their beautiful
eulogies, yet no expression commends
them more than the pyramids they
build Of trust, confidence, cohesion,
love and loyalty to one another. A COM
munity is blessed when it possesses
business leaders who, by their fore
sight, fairness, kindness and devotion
to the causes of a people make coop
Grafton easy, thus making outlet for
energy the latent resources of charac-
ter and material, thereby oiling the
ways to industry and progress.
This bank has solidly withstood fl
nancial panics, periods of initiation and
deflation, and while ever keeping the
interests of it's friends and community
to the fore, never failed to point out
the signs of the times, and the funda-
mentals that must control the desti-
nies of people.
Two Banks Merged.
In 1908 the National Bank of Com
merce and the First National Bank
were merged under the charter Of the
National Bank of Commerce, but
changing the name to First National
Bank of Commerce." to signify the un-
ion of interests. The combined depos-
it's were $1,183,9043O The results
since achieved testify the wisdom Of
the course and the harmony Of the or
ganization. All of the directors of
both banks became directors of the
institution, while the officers of the
National Bank of Commerce continued
the active heads of the bank.
January, 1918, feeling that First
National Bank of Commerce" was a
long name, for the convenience of it.
self and customers, the name was
changed to the shorter name, First
National Bank" which it now bears.
Personnel of Officers.
The officers and directors of the
bank are painstaking, thoughtful, pro
gressiye men. They have been fore
most In the civic and social life of the
community, and have lent themselves
freely to the public needs.
Capt ] P. Carter, it's president was
a valiant Confederate officer. He is a
learned lawyer, was ieutenant-gover
nor OF this state, a member of the
state constitutional convention, and
has been member of both bodies Of
our state legislature
r. w Foote, its active vice-presi-
dent, Is the only officer who has been
with the bank since it's organization