serving our communities
At Genesis Bank, serving our communities is part of who we are. Our team shows up, gets involved, and puts real time and care into the places we call home. Whether we’re supporting students, volunteering alongside local nonprofits, or teaching financial skills in schools and neighborhood programs, our goal is simple: be a steady, helpful presence for our neighbors.
Below are a few ways our team has invested in our communities this year.
Backpack Giveaway & Support for Students in Benoit
Each year, our Benoit branch hosts a Backpack Giveaway for local students preparing to return to school. In a town where the local K–12 school closed due to budget cuts, our team has stepped in to help meet basic educational needs. From adopting a group of Special Education students to supplying school essentials and
warm clothing, this initiative helps ensure every child starts the school year with confidence and support.
Hope Exchange Partnership
Faith & Finances Program
Through Hope Exchange’s 12-week Faith & Finances class, we walk alongside individuals working to break free from financial barriers like low credit, predatory lending, and limited access to banking. Genesis team members volunteer weekly to offer encouragement, practical banking knowledge, and personal guidance as participants build healthier financial habits. Graduates are also offered a savings account with a matching incentive to help them keep moving forward.
Art + Soil Community Garden
Our team also volunteers at the Art + Soil Community Garden, which addresses food insecurity in the Broadmoor neighborhood. From planting vegetables before Thanksgiving to helping local residents start small home gardens, our staff works side-by-side with neighbors to support healthier, more resilient communities.
Banker in Every Classroom – McLaurin Elementary
As part of the Mississippi Young Bankers “Banker in Every Classroom” initiative, Genesis Bank participates in bringing real-life financial lessons into local schools. In 2024, our Flowood Market President visited three sixth-grade classes, teaching nearly 60 students the basics of saving, credit, and responsible money management. This program reaches thousands of Mississippi students each year and helps spark early financial confidence.
Consumer Lending & Financial Counseling in Rural Mississippi
Genesis Bank has served rural Benoit for more than 120 years as the town’s only bank and one of only nine banks in Bolivar County. In a community where many residents were previously unbanked or underbanked, our presence fills a critical need by offering fair, accessible financial services close to home. Without a local bank, many families would have no choice but to rely on high-cost payday lenders and pawn shops.
We provide one-on-one financial counseling that helps people understand their cash flow, credit, and long-term goals. Each session walks through a borrower’s budget, credit report, and personal financial priorities so they can make decisions with clarity and confidence. These conversations often become the foundation for healthier financial habits and better access to credit.
Why This Work Matters
Small-dollar consumer loans are often the only affordable option for households facing urgent needs. These loans help cover core expenses like utilities during extreme weather, back-to-school costs, emergency repairs, and even funeral expenses. For many families, this kind of support prevents deeper financial hardship and keeps them connected to a trusted community bank rather than predatory alternatives.
Local Roots, Local Leadership
Our Benoit Market President, Alice Herbison, lives in the community and has met personally with hundreds of borrowers. Her team brings both financial expertise and a deep understanding of local challenges. This connection strengthens the fabric of Benoit and ensures residents have reliable, compassionate partners when they need guidance the most.
Genesis Hope Foundation
The Genesis Hope Foundation is our mission-aligned nonprofit affiliate, built to expand the work we already do in financially underserved communities. While it will operate independently, it shares our commitment to helping low-income and moderate-income families build stability and long-term resilience.
The foundation will focus on financial counseling, education, and targeted emergency grants for families facing urgent needs like utilities, transportation repairs, or essential household expenses. As it grows, the foundation plans to broaden its support to include credit-builder programs, small-business financial guidance, and other community-driven initiatives. It represents our long-term investment in creating hope, opportunity, and lasting change across Mississippi.