the first, a national banking association ("the first") is owned by the holding company, the first bancshares, inc. incorporated on june 23, 1995, the holding company is located in hattiesburg, mississippi. the first began operating on august 5, 1996 from its home office in the oak grove community in hattiesburg. the first has aggressively expanded since its beginning with the acquisition of first national bank of wiggins in 2006, the acquisition of eight whitney bank branches in 2011, the de novo expansion into ocean springs in 2013, the acquisition of first national bank of baldwin county in 2013 and the most recent acquisition of bay bank in mobile, alabama in 2014. the bank currently has 30 offices in south mississippi, louisiana, and south alabama.