[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 66 (Thursday, May 21, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E936]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     CELEBRATION OF THE VALLEY BANK

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. BENNIE G. THOMPSON

                             of mississippi

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 21, 1998

  Mr. THOMPSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate as well as 
acknowledge the 100th birthday of The Valley Bank in Greenwood, 
Mississippi. Originally founded in 1898 in Rosedale, Mississippi, The 
Valley Bank has persevered, persisted, prevailed and prospered into a 
system of community banks with eleven locations across the Mississippi 
Delta extending into the states' capital at Jackson, one of the fastest 
growing cities in Mississippi.
  The Valley Bank was founded by David Reinach, W.B. Roberts, Saint 
Kohn, Isaac Kohn, Godfrey Frank, J.L. Wilson, and G.J. McGehee, Jr. It 
was the vision of these seven aspiring gentlemen to create a financial 
institution in the Mississippi Delta. With this vision, The Valley Bank 
has grown to become a well known bank throughout the country. In 1997, 
The Valley Bank ranked 78th out of 14,850 banks in the nation on its 
return on assets and return on equity to stockholders. In addition to 
that, The Valley Bank ranked #1 out of 126 banks in Mississippi in both 
loan volume and dollar amount of loans made under the Farm Service 
Agency and in business and industry loans.
  Mr. Speaker, in this day of mega-mergers where banks are being bought 
and sold, consolidated, and reaching across state lines, The Valley 
Bank remains one of the few banks that continues the tradition of 
personal service, customer satisfaction and community involvement. It 
is refreshing to know that The Valley Bank today is as old-fashioned as 
it was 100 years ago when it first opened its doors for business.
  Mr. Speaker, please join me in celebrating the 100th birthday of The 
Valley Bank. May it prosper for an additional 100 years based on the 
principle of dedicated personal service.

                          ____________________