From press and staff reports
The Kosciusko Rotary Club hosted speaker Darren Milner on Monday, Dec. 1, where he provided members with an in-depth look at the recent merger between Holmes County Bank and Bank of Commerce and what the transition means for local customers and the community.
The Rotary Club meets each Monday at noon at Jason’s Southern Table. Those interested in attending may contact any member for information.
Milner, who serves on the marketing team and works in lending and human resources for Bank of Commerce, said the merger has brought expanded services and new technology while preserving the local, community-focused feel customers expect.
“This really was more than a name change,” Milner told Rotarians. “But at the same time, everything that matters stayed the same. You’re still banking with the same people. Nobody lost a job. And all our services remain in-house.”
The Bank of Commerce, founded 134 years ago and headquartered in Greenwood, previously operated 10 branches across Mississippi. The addition of the five former Holmes County Bank locations expands its footprint to 15 branches, including sites in Charleston, Oxford, Starkville, Columbus, West Point, Carrollton, Lexington, Goodman, West, Morton and Attala County.
Milner highlighted the bank’s longstanding interest in establishing a presence in Kosciusko—an effort that dates back nearly a decade. When the opportunity finally aligned through the merger, he said, both institutions viewed it as a natural fit.
“They’ve always grown organically, and Kosciusko was a community they had wanted to be in for years,” Milner said. “This made sense for them geographically and for us in terms of what we could offer.”
One of the biggest improvements has been access to expanded products and upgraded technology, including ACH services, enhanced credit card processing, student checking accounts and more robust online tools. The bank also recently opened a new branch on the Holmes Community College campus, a partnership Milner described as “fun, exciting, and long overdue.”
“Being on the Holmes campus gives us a chance to serve students and staff better than ever before,” he said. “It also keeps our young customers with us when they go off to college, which is important for long-term relationships.”
Milner emphasized that despite the merger, customers can still expect hometown service.
“All loans, accounts and decisions continue to be handled here,” he said. “We may send a few things to Greenwood, but they come right back. Nothing has slowed down.”
He also praised Bank of Commerce’s deep commitment to community involvement, describing the institution as eager to support local events, nonprofits and civic organizations.
“They absolutely love their communities,” Milner said. “They want to invest in Kosciusko.”
Milner noted that Bank of Commerce leaders who visited Kosciusko for a recent after-hours business event were impressed with the town and its downtown district.
“They just kept talking about downtown,” he said with a smile. “We’re excited about what the future holds,” he added.
