News

BancorpSouth, Inc., announced today branch openings in the area affected by Hurricane Katrina. BancorpSouth also announced a series of disaster relief measures to assist BancorpSouth customers in the areas affected by the storm.

   - All branches in the Jackson, Mississippi, area are now open with
     regular banking hours.
   - In the Laurel, Mississippi, area the West Laurel, Bay Springs,
     Ellisville and Waynesboro offices are now open. The West Laurel office
     will also be open on Monday, Labor Day.
   - In the Hattiesburg/Petal area, the 98 Place, Westwood and Eastbrook
     Petal offices have resumed operation. The 98 Place office will be open
     for special hours on Saturday. All these offices will be open on Labor
     Day.
   - On the Mississippi Gulf Coast, the Cedar Lake Biloxi and Ocean Springs
     offices will open with special hours on Saturday, September 3, and on
     Labor Day.

Special disaster relief measures for BancorpSouth customers residing in FEMA's Individual Assistance Areas include:

   - Upon request, all consumer, credit card and commercial loan customers
     may qualify for a payment and/or maturity date extension as needed with
     no extension fees and deferred interest for customers in affected
     areas.
   - BancorpSouth's Mortgage Loan Department will make every effort to work
     with customers in affected areas to minimize or prevent delinquencies
     based on investor guidelines.
   - Late fees will be waived on all consumer, commercial, mortgage and
     credit card loans for up to ninety (90) days for customers in affected
     areas.
   - BancorpSouth will work with our customers in affected areas to provide
     short-term loans with preferred interest rates and other favorable
     terms.
   - BancorpSouth will consider waiving any savings and certificate of
     deposit early withdrawal penalties consistent with prudent and safe
     practices within the affected area.
   - BancorpSouth will not charge overdraft fees during the emergency
   - BancorpSouth will waive the service charge on personal and small
     business checking accounts during the emergency.
   - BancorpSouth also stands ready to assist and support our National Guard
     and military personnel who are assisting in the affected area.

In announcing the disaster relief measures, Aubrey Patterson, BancorpSouth Chairman and CEO said, "BancorpSouth recognizes there are individual circumstances that will need to be addressed. As usual, our bankers will work closely with customers who have special needs and concerns. All of us in the BancorpSouth family continue to be concerned about our customers, our fellow staff members and their families who were affected by Hurricane Katrina."

For questions or additional information, call BancorpSouth's Customer Service Center toll-free at 1-888-797-7711.

BancorpSouth, Inc., is a financial holding company headquartered in Tupelo, Mississippi. Its principal subsidiary is BancorpSouth Bank, a commercial and retail banking business operating banking and mortgage locations and automated teller machines in Arkansas, Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi, Tennessee and Texas communities. The Bank also provides personal and corporate trust services as well as investment services through its subsidiary BancorpSouth Investment Services, Inc., and insurance services through BancorpSouth Insurance Services, Inc. BancorpSouth's common stock is traded on the New York Stock exchange under the symbol "BXS."

SOURCE: BancorpSouth, Inc.