To the Leader-Call
With his announcement that Marcus Robinson, formerly with Regions Bank in Hattiesburg, has been named president and chief executive officer (CEO) of Magnolia State Bank, board chairman Thomas Brown has secured an ideal leader for Magnolia’s expansion into the Hattiesburg market and has also created a unique father-son working relationship.
Among Magnolia Bank’s employees in Bay Springs is Marcus Robinson’s father, Ray, the executive vice president, who has worked for Magnolia for 25 years. This is an unusual situation in this area’s banking business.
Ray Robinson’s reaction to working for his son: “I have no qualms whatsoever. He is an excellent leader, well-educated and makes others want to follow. I do not consider it ‘working for my son,’ but ‘working with my son.’ You see, I know his talents, his integrity, his ability and his experience. I know his ability to deal with people.”
Ray described his wife as being, “stunned, overwhelmed and so excited with joy that it brought tears to her eyes.”
Marcus Robinson echoed his father’s statement about working for the same bank. “I don’t really perceive him as working for me. I very much consider us working together. For me, it’s an honor to get to work with him.”
Thomas Brown emphasized that, “I am not retiring. For many years, I have been chairman of the board, president and CEO and I will continue full time work and maintain my same office in Bay Springs as chairman of the board.”
“The bank has grown tremendously since our opening in Laurel four years ago and in Petal two years ago,” Brown said. “With Marcus’ leadership and knowledge of the Hattiesburg market, I expect our office in Hattiesburg will be just as successful. With Hattiesburg coming on, it is time to add additional talent to our management team.”
Marcus Robinson, started with Deposit Guaranty Bank in Jackson in 1984 as a credit analyst and later became a loan officer and senior lender in the Jackson, Hattiesburg and Meridian locations. He joined Regions Bank in 2003, where he focused on commercial and industrial lending. He was involved in syndications, asset-based loans and real estate credits for corporate accounts throughout south Mississippi.
“Banking, for me, began June 1, 1956, straight out of high school,” Ray Robinson said. I intended to work the summer and enter college in the fall. When the pay checks began coming in, by the time fall rolled around, I was deep in the working groove and decided to pursue a banking career without the benefit of a college education.”
“I began at the bottom in banking with First National Bank in Jackson (now Trustmark National Bank) and gained experience through the ranks and joined a small bank in Bay Springs in 1970 and later joined Magnolia as executive vice president. I’m now in my 25th year here. If you do the math, it’s more than 52 years of banking.”
Marcus Robinson attended Jones Junior College and graduated from Mississippi State University with a degree in Banking and Finance. Robinson also graduated from the Stonier School of Banking at the University of Delaware.
He is a native of Bay Springs, lives in Hattiesburg and is married to the former Jan Jenkins of Laurel. Marcus and Jan have four daughters: Emily, 21, Betsy, 17, Julie, 15 and Lucy, 13.
“A part of my decision-making process in accepting the job was the opportunity to work with my Dad. I have the highest respect for him and the chance to work with him is a once in a lifetime opportunity.”
“Only with Laurel and Petal, these offices have provided us with $50 million in new deposits and $50 million in new loans,” According to Brown. “That’s like a new bank in itself. With a banker the caliber of Marcus Robinson joining MSB, it should give our customers and employees the comfort of knowing that Magnolia Bank is here to stay.”
Magnolia State Bank, a community bank with assets of $205 million, is located in Bay Springs, Laurel, Heidelberg, Taylorsville and Petal. The bank has received regulatory approval to open an office in Hattiesburg.
Magnolia has more than 60 employees. Recently, the Mississippi Business Journal named Magnolia one of the Best 50 Places to Work in Mississippi.
