Two Mississippi-based banks with presences in Baton Rouge had different earning reports today. Community bank Britton & Koontz says its earnings for 2008 were up, while regional powerhouse BancorpSouth was down for the year.
Britton & Koontz says it earned $3.5 million, or $1.65 per share, compared with $3 million, or $1.42 per share in 2007. The increase came, despite a 10% dip in fourth-quarter earnings, from $924,280 in 2007, to $865,352. Britton & Koontz has six branches in Mississippi and Louisiana and $413.1 million in assets.
BancorpSouth says its earnings for 2008 dropped to $120.4 million, or $1.45 per diluted share, compared with $137.9 million, or $1.69 per diluted share, for 2007. Earnings also declined for the fourth quarter ending Dec. 31. The company says it made $16.8 million, or 20 cents per diluted share, compared with $32.2 million, or 39 cents per diluted share, a year earlier. BancorpSouth has assets of $13.5 billion and operates in nine states.
