Video: BancorpSouth New CEO Sees Opportunities For Growth

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TUPELO, MISS. (WCBI) –  It’s day seven on the job for BancorpSouth’s new CEO, and  Dan Rollins is in motion.

“I’ve met lots of people , get to see and visit and that’s what I need to do is get immersed in the culture at BancorpSouth,” Rollins said. 

Whether he’s meeting with former CEO Aubrey Patterson, who’s retiring after 22 years in that position, or getting to know loan officers, Rollins is learning as much as he can about the financial institution.

The 53 year old Texas native served as president and chief operating officer of Houston based Prosperity Bank. He says there is a lot of opportunity for growth in the banking industry, especially in the area of consolidation.

“As banks consolidate the question is where will those opportunities be and I will tell you I think they will be all around us I think we will have those opportunities within our footprint and outside of our footprint,” he said. 

Rollins knows Mississippi’s banking industry has felt the brunt of the recession, but he believes there are many strengths throughout BancorpSouth that will keep the financial institution not only surviving, but also thriving.

“Certainly the economic activities and issues they’ve had to deal with these ;ast few years have impacted their performance, but the people here, as I’ve met hundreds of BancorpSouth teammates , the passion they show to take care of their customers and the passion to grow the bank is very impressive,” Rollins said. 

During his six years as president and C.O.O of Prosperity Bank, Rollins helped guide a rapid expansion of that institution.  He says he looks forward to helping grow BancorpSouth, but understandably, doesn’t have any drastic plans for change.  He wants to spend the next few weeks and months getting to know everything he can about the bank, its employees and the community.