From hand-written interest calculations and microfiche to mobile apps and real-time transfers, Century Bank has seen a lot of change since 1903. In this episode, Chairman Mr. Doug, President & CEO Van, and CFO Lauren Mizell sit down to look back at how a small hometown bank in Lucedale grew, adapted, and stayed personal in a rapidly changing world.
We talk about the decision to rebrand from Bank of Lucedale to Century Bank, why “adapt and change” has been the key to surviving more than a century, and how technology reshaped everything—from posted ledgers and dumb terminals to Windows PCs, online banking, and mobile apps. You’ll also hear real stories from financial crises, regulatory waves, and what it took to keep a four-star rating through tough times.
Then we shift to what really matters: people and community. Lauren walks through how the bank has invested over $950,000 (and now crossing the $1 million mark) into early childhood education through the Early Learning Collaborative and Head Start, why reading is “a chance at life,” and how partnerships like Feeding the Gulf Coast are helping provide hundreds of thousands of meals to local families. We also highlight the bank’s Work. Serve. Play. culture, fraud prevention outreach, and new financial literacy efforts in local schools.
Finally, each leader shares the one piece of advice that’s guided them: from “remember, it’s other people’s money” to servant-hearted leadership and keeping a clean loan portfolio—wisdom for anyone who cares about stewardship, leadership, and long-term trust. You’ll learn:

  • What banking looked like before computers (hand-calculated interest, posted ledgers, microfiche)
  • Why the bank changed its name from Bank of Lucedale to Century Bank—and how it opened the door for growth
  • How technology transformed daily banking work, from dumb terminals to Windows and mobile banking
  • The impact of regulations and why “easy banking” is mostly a myth
  • How Lucedale and George County’s growth, infrastructure, and local businesses all tie together
  • Why knowing your customer and tailoring solutions is still the heart of community banking
  • How Century Bank has invested in early learning, Head Start, and financial literacy for kids
  • The story behind Feeding the Gulf Coast support and 250,000+ meals
  • The Work. Serve. Play. culture and what it means for employees and customers
  • Timeless leadership advice on stewardship, service, and making good loans

🌐 Learn more about Century Bank: https://www.centurybankms.com
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