Citizens Bank and Trust Company

In December 1945, as the world was reshaping itself, a group of local businessmen in St. Tammany Parish, Louisiana, saw a need for a financial institution built for the community, by the community. They founded Citizens Bank & Trust Co. with a clear mission: to serve the people and businesses of their parish. The bank opened its doors in January 1946 with just eight employees and a foundational principle of maintaining a personal connection with every customer. The bank quickly established itself as a forward-thinking institution. In a significant move for the era, Citizens Bank & Trust introduced the first drive-up banking window in St. Tammany Parish in 1954, signaling an early focus on customer convenience. This commitment to blending modern services with a community focus allowed the bank to grow steadily from its single location. Over the decades, the bank expanded its physical footprint. A pivotal moment in its modern history was the acquisition by Southern Missouri Bancorp, which was announced in September 2022. This merger represented a major strategic step, integrating the community-focused Louisiana bank into a larger regional network. The deal, valued at approximately $140 million, brought Citizens' $1 billion in assets into the Southern Bank family, expanding the combined entity's reach across four states. Today, Citizens Bank & Trust operates as part of this larger organization, a testament to its successful journey from a small-town institution to a key part of a major regional bank.