Cadence Bank History

Helping people, companies and communities prosper.

It started in 1876

In 1876, in the back of a hardware store in Verona, Mississippi, a new approach to banking was born – an approach built on longevity and the principle that neighbors should help neighbors. It was based on the idea that to better serve a customer is to understand what is right for them.

Today, the sentiment remains the same

We’ve come a long way since then, but our commitment to helping people, companies and communities prosper is still the same.

Some important milestones

1876: It all began in the back of a hardware store	Raymond Trice and Company, a modest mercantile operation in Verona, Mississippi, received a perpetual charter to set up a bank in its store.
1886: Moving Uptown	Raymond Trice and Company moved its banking operations to nearby Tupelo and changed its name to Bank of Lee County, which later became the Bank of Tupelo.
1966: Bank of Mississippi	After growing our footprint far beyond the Tupelo area, the Bank of Tupelo changed its name to Bank of Mississippi to more accurately reflect its reach.
1987: Going Statewide	Bank of Mississippi merged with First Mississippi National Bank, becoming the state’s first truly statewide bank.
1992: Crossing State Lines	The Federal Interstate Banking Law passed, allowing BancorpSouth, Inc. to extend its reach into Tennessee through the purchase of Volunteer Bank of Jackson.
1998: The Twin States	Subsequent mergers and acquisitions along with de novo and branch expansion resulted in the company having operations in Alabama.
1999: Becoming BancorpSouth	Bank of Mississippi officially changed its name to BancorpSouth, signaling an intention to expand to surrounding states.
1999: Insuring the Future	BancorpSouth entered the property and casualty business with the acquisition of Stewart, Sneed, Hewes Insurance, an agency that was, at the time, the largest independent insurance agency in Mississippi.
2000: Jumping Up in the Rankings	BancorpSouth merged with First United Bancshares, entering Arkansas, Louisiana and Texas, creating a $9 billion bank that ranked in the top 100 banking companies in America.
2003: A Growing Family	BancorpSouth acquired Wright & Percy Insurance, the oldest and largest independent insurance agency in Louisiana, with locations in Baton Rouge, Shreveport, Lake Charles and Alexandria. In that same year, BancorpSouth merged with Ramsey, Krug, Farrell and Lensing, one of the largest independent insurance agencies in Arkansas.
2006: Welcome to the Sunshine State	BancorpSouth entered Florida with the opening of a branch in Destin.
2016: Growing Fast	BancorpSouth continued to expand quickly over a decade with locations in new markets, such as Springfield, Missouri; Hot Springs, Rogers and Jonesboro, Arkansas. BancorpSouth expanded its Texas presence with locations in Dallas, Austin, Houston and Sugar Land. Locations were also added in Conway and Fayetteville, Arkansas; in Chattanooga, Tennessee; and in Lake Charles, Lafayette and Gonzales, Louisiana.
2017: Twenty Years on the Big Board	BancorpSouth celebrated its 20-year anniversary of being traded on the New York Stock Exchange.
2018: By Any Other Name	BancorpSouth Insurance Services, Inc., a subsidiary of BancorpSouth Bank, officially changed its name to BXS Insurance. BancorpSouth Bank acquired Ouachita Independent Bank in Louisiana and First State Bank of Central Texas and Icon Bank of Texas, National Association, both in Texas.
2019: A Massive Milestone	BancorpSouth reached over $20 billion in assets. BancorpSouth acquired Grand Bank of Texas in Texas, Merchants Bank in Alabama, Summit Bank, National Association in Florida and Texas Star Bank in Texas.
2020: A Brighter Future	BancorpSouth became the first Mississippi-based public company to join the CEO Action for Diversity & Inclusion™ pledge, as a declaration of its commitment to cultivating a diverse and inclusive workplace. BancorpSouth acquired Texas First State Bank, expanding its market presence in Waco, Texas and Killeen-Temple, Texas metropolitan statistical areas.
2021: More Neighbors	BancorpSouth acquired FNB Bank and National United, expanding its market presence in Alabama, Georgia, Tennessee and Texas.
Also in 2021: New Cadence	The company completed its transformational merger with Cadence Bancorporation, the parent company of Cadence Bank, N.A., which had been formed on the heels of the global financial crisis by a group of accomplished banking industry veterans with a powerful vision to revitalize banks through fresh capital and experienced management. The company was renamed Cadence Bank, with its stock continuing to trade on the New York Stock Exchange but under the symbol “CADE”. The merger created a new, even better bank dedicated to meeting customers where they are in their financial journey, providing expert advice and a broad array of products and services to help them reach their goals.
2022: Ringing in a New Look	Cadence Bank celebrated the launch of a new logo by ringing the opening bell at the New York Stock Exchange. Throughout 2022, Cadence rolled out a footprint-wide branch rebranding, a new website, and an updated mobile and online experience as part of the company's long-term brand identity, signifying a renewed commitment to serving our customers with a streamlined, fully integrated team of experts.
2023: Reinvesting	Cadence Insurance, Inc. (Cadence Insurance), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Cadence Bank, was acquired by Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. The transaction strategically positions Cadence for long-term growth and success, allowing reinvestment of the capital from the sale into growing the company's core banking business and fulfilling short- and long-term strategic initiatives.