BancorpSouth has consolidated its services in Columbus with a new 8,200-square foot building on Highway 45 North.
The new facility opened last Friday and is now the main BancorpSouth branch in Columbus.
“We took three call centers and combined them into one building,” Walter Thatcher, bank president, said.
BancorpSouth previously operated its main building in downtown Columbus with its mortgage arm off Military Road and another location just south of its new location on 45. Those offices are consolidated at the new building, and the bank still has a branch on Lehmberg Road in East Columbus.
Thatcher said the consolidation was a 2 1/2-year process. Bank officials looked all over Columbus for the right site. The city was expanding along Highway 45 North, so that became the obvious location, he said.
Hayes Rector was the manager at the smaller Highway 45 North location.
“It was more for the main office than the 45 office,” he said of the consolidation. The Main Street building was older and lacked the amenities needed to run a modern banking operation. However, no employees lost their jobs in the transition.
“It’s efficient and we think we’re in a better location to serve the public,” Thatcher said of the consolidation.
The consolidation means the new building can literally be a one-stop shop, he said. Mortgage services are available on the second floor. Customers who are interested in a loan can get more information when they come to cash a paycheck.
“We’re a true community bank,” said Buddy Staggers, president of BancorpSouth’s Starkville locations.
BancorpSouth made a deliberate decision to decentralize its operations and let local banks support local entities, he added.
“Nobody knows the people like we do in Columbus,” Rector said.
Thatcher said he often repeats the Golden Rule during employee training. The rule encourages people to treat others as they want to be treated. The bank has around 75 employees at its branches in Columbus, Starkville and West Point.
Thatcher said he is optimistic about the area’s growth potential. The new building has three empty offices waiting for new employees to help an increasing number of customers.
As jobs come into the region, the individuals working those jobs will need someone to help them with vehicle and home loans, and he and his staff will be there with a hand out — to shake theirs.
You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 41 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.